第17部分(第1/7 页)

‘Amen；　bless　the　Lord！’　cried　Praying　Mother　Washington。

‘What　book　was　it；　Richard？’

‘Oh；　I　don’t　remember。　Just　a　book。’

‘You　smiled。’

‘You　was　mighty　pretty。’

She　took　her　sodden　handkerchief　out　of　her　bag；　and　dried　her　eyes；　and　dried　her　eyesagain；　looking　down　the　avenue。

‘Yes；’　said　Sister　Price；　gently；　‘you　just　thank　the　Lord。　You　just　let　the　tears　fall。　I　knowyour　heart　is　full　this　morning。’

‘The　Lord’s　done　give　you；’　said　Praying　Mother　Washington；　‘a　mighty　blessing—andwhat　the　Lord　gives；　can’t　no　man　take　away。’

‘I　open；’　said　Sister　McCandless；　‘and　no　man　can　shut。　I　shut；　and　no　man　can　open。’

‘Amen；’　said　Sister　Price。　‘Amen。’

‘Well；　I　reckon；’　Florence　said；　‘your　soul　is　praising　God　this　morning。’

He　looked　straight　ahead；　saying　nothing；　holding　his　body　more　rigid　than　an　arrow‘You　always　been　saying；’　Florence　said；　‘how　the　Lord　would　answer　your　prayer。’　Andshe　looked　sideways　at　him；　with　a　little　smile。

‘He　going　to　learn；’　he　said　at　last；　‘that　it　ain’t　all　in　the　singing　and　the　shouting—the　wayof　holiness　is　a　hard　way。　He　got　the　steep　side　of　the　mountain　to　climb。’

‘But　he　got　you　there；’　she　said；　‘ain’t　he　to　help　him　when　he　stumbles；　and　to　be　a　goodexample？’

‘I’m　going　to　see　to　it；’　he　said；　‘that　he　walks　right　before　the　Lord。　The　Lord’s　done　puthis　soul　in　my　charge—and　I　ain’t　going　to　have　that　boy’s　blood　on　my　hands。’

‘No；’　she　said；　mildly；　‘I　reckon　you　don’t　want　that。’

Then　they　heard　the　siren；　and　the　headlong；　warning　bell。　She　watched　his　face　as　helooked　outward　at　the　silent　avenue　and　at　the　ambulance　that　raced　to　carry　someone　to　healing；or　to　death。

‘Yes；’　she　said；　‘that　wagon’s　in