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y；　were　now　tobegin。　And；　while　his　heart　was　speaking；　he　found　himself　before　his　mother。　Her　face　was　full　oftears；　and　for　a　long　while　they　looked　at　each　other；　saying　nothing。　And　once　again；　he　tried　toread　the　mystery　of　that　face—which；　as　it　had　never　before　been　so　bright　and　pained　with　love；had　never　seemed　before　so　far　from　him；　so　wholly　in　munion　with　a　life　beyond　his　life。　He　wanted　to　fort　her；　but　the　night　had　given　him　no　language；　no　second　sight；　no　power　to　seeinto　the　heart　of　any　other。　He　knew　only—and　now；　looking　at　his　mother；　he　knew　that　he　couldnever　tell　it—that　the　heart　was　a　fearful　place。　She　kissed　him；　and　she　said：　‘I’m　mighty　proud；Johnny。　You　keep　the　faith。　I’m　going　to　be　praying　for　you　till　the　Lord　puts　me　in　my　grave。’
　　Then　he　stood　before　his　father。　In　the　moment　that　he　forced　himself　to　raise　his　eyes　andlook　into　his　father’s　face；　he　felt　in　himself　a　stiffening；　and　a　panic　and　a　blind　rebellion；　and　ahope　for　peace。　The　tears　still　on　his　face；　and　smiling　still；　he　said：　‘Praise　the　Lord。’
　　‘Praise　the　Lord；’　said　his　father。　He　did　not　move　to　touch　him；　did　not　kiss　him；　did　notsmile。　They　stood　before　each　other　in　silence；　while　the　saints　rejoiced；　and　John　struggled　tospeak　the　authoritative；　the　living　word　that　would　conquer　the　great　division　between　his　fatherand　himself。　But　it　did　not　e；　the　living　word；　in　the　silence　something　died　in　John；　andsomething　came　alive。　It　came　to　him　that　he　must　testify：　his　tongue　only　could　bear　witness　tothe　wonders　he　had　seen。　And　he　remembered；　suddenly；　the　text　of　a　sermon　he　had　once　heardhis　father　preach。　And　he　opened　his　mouth；　feeling；　as　he　watched　his　father；　the　darkness　roarbehind　him；　and　the　very　earth　beneath　him　seem　to　shake；　yet　he　gave　to　his　father　their　montestimony。　‘I’m　saved；’　he　said；　‘and　I　know　I’m　saved。’　And　then；　as　his　father　did　not　speak；　herepeated　his　father’s　text：　‘My　witness　is　in　Heaven　and　my　record　is　on　high。’
　　‘It　e　from　your　mouth；’　said　his　father　then。　‘I　want　to　see　you　live　it。　It’s　more　than　anotion；’
　　‘I’m　going　to　pray　God；’　said　John—and　his　voice　shook；　whether　with　joy　or　grief　hecould　not　say—‘to　keep　me；　and　make　me　strong　…　to　stand　…　to　stand　against　the　enemy　…　andagainst　everything　and　everybody　…　that　wants　to　cut　down　my　soul。’
　　Then　his　tears　came　down　again；　like　a　wall　between　him　and　his　father。　His　Aunt　Florencecame　and　took　him　in　her　arms。　Her　eyes　were　dry；　and　her　face　was　old　in　the　savage；　morninglight。　But　her　voice；　when　she　spoke；　was　gentler　that　he　had　ever　known　it　to　be　before。
　　‘You　fight　the　good　fight；’　she　said；　‘you　hear？　Don’t　you　get　weary；　and　don’t　you　getscared。　Because　I　know　the　Lord’s　done　laid　His　hands　on　you。’
　　‘Yes；’　he　said；　weeping；　‘yes。　I’m　going　to　serve　the　Lord。’
　　‘Amen！’　cried　Elisha。　‘Bless　our　God！’
　　The　filthy　streets　rang　with　the　early…morning　light　as　they　came　out　of　the　temple。
　　They　were　all　there；　save　young　Ella　Mae；　who　had　departed　while　John　was　still　on　thefloor—she　had　a　bad　cold；　said　Praying　Mother　Washington；　and　needed　to　have　her　rest。　Now；　inthree　groups；　they　walked　the　long；　gray；　silent　avenue：　Praying　Mother　Washington　withElizabeth　and　Sister　McCandless　and　Sister　Price；　and　before　them　Gabriel　and　Florence；　andElisha　and　John　ahead。
　　‘You　know；　the　Lord　is　a　wonder；’　said　the　praying　mother。　‘Don’t　you　know；　all　this　weekHe　just　burdened　my　soul；　and　kept　me　a…praying　and　a…weeping　before　Him？　Look　like　I　justcouldn’t　get　no　ease　nohow—and　I　know　He　had　me　a…tarrying　for　that　boy’s　soul。’
　　　‘Well；　amen；’　said　Sister　Price。　‘Look　like　the　Lord　just　wanted　this　church　to　rock。　Youremember　how　He　spoke　through　Sister　McCandless　Friday　night；　and　told　us　to　pray；　and　He’dwork　a　mighty　wonder　in　our　midst？　And　He　done　moved—hallelujah—He　done　troubledeverybody’s　mind。’
　　‘I　just　tell　you；’　said　Sister　McCandless；　‘all　you　got　to　do　is　listen　to　the　Lord；　He’ll　leadyou　right　every　time；　He’ll　move　every　time。　Can’t　nobody　tell　me　my　God　ain’t　real。’
　　‘And　you　see　the　way　the　Lord　worked　with　young　Elisha　there？’　said　Praying　MotherWashington；　with　a　calm；　sweet　smile。　‘Had　that　boy　down　there　on　the　floor　a…prophesying　intongues；　amen；　just　the　very　minute　before　Johnny　fell　out　a…screaming；　and　a…crying　before　theLord。　Look　like　the　Lord　was　using　Elisha　to　say：　“It’s　time；　boy；　e　on　home。”　’
　　‘Well；　He　is　a　wonder；’　said　Sister　Price。　‘And　Johnny’s　got　two　brothers　now。’
　　Elizabeth　said　nothing。　She　walked　with　her　head　bowed；　hands　clasped　lightly　before　her。
　　Sister　Price　turned　tom　look　at　her；　and　smiled。
　　‘I　know；’　she　said；　‘you’s　a　mighty　happy　woman　this　morning。’
　　Elizabeth　smiled　and　raised　her　head；　but　did　not　look　directly　at　Sister　Price。　She　lookedahead；　down　the　long　avenue；　where　Gabriel　walked　with　Florence；　where　John　walked　withElisha。
　　‘Yes；’　she　said；　at　last。　‘I　began　praying。　And　I　ain’t　sopped　praying　yet。’
　　‘Yes；　Lord；’　said　Sister　Price；　‘can’t　none　of　us　stop　praying　till　we　see　His　blessed　face。’
　　‘But　I　bet　you　didn’t　never　think；’　said　Sister　McCandless；　with　a　laugh；　‘that　little　Johnnywas　going　to　jump　up　so　soon；　and　get　religion。　Bless　our　God！’
　　‘The　Lord　is　going　to　bless　that　boy；　you　mark　my　words；’　said　Praying　MotherWashington。
　　‘Shake　hands　with　the　preacher；　Johnny。’
　　‘Got　a　man　in　the　Bible；　son；　who　liked　music；　too。　And　he　got　to　dancing　one　day　beforethe　Lord。　You　reckon　you　going　to　dance　before　the　Lord　one　of　these　days？’
　　‘Yes；　Lord；’　said　Sister　Price；　‘the　Lord　done　raised　you　up　a　holy　son。　He　going　to　fortyour　grey　hairs。’
　　Elizabeth　found　that　her　tears　were　falling；　slowly；　bitterly；　in　the　morning　light。　‘I　pray　theLord；’　she　said；　‘to　bear　him　up　on　every　side。’
　　‘Yes；’　said　Sister　McCandless；　gravely；　‘it’s　more　than　a　notion。　The　Devil　rises　on　everyhand。’
　　Then；　in　silence；　they　came　to　the　wide　crossing　where　the　tramline　ran。　A　lean　cat　stalkedthe　gutter　and　fled　as　they　approached；　turned　to　watch　them；　with　yellow；　malevolent　eyes；　fromthe　ambush　of　a　dustbin。　A　gray　bird　flew　above　them；　above　the　electric　wires　for　the　tram　line；and　perched　on　the　metal　cornice　of　a　roof。　Then；　far　down　the　avenue；　they　heard　a　siren；　and　the　clanging　of　a　bell；　and　looked　up　to　see　the　ambulance　speed　past　them　on　the　way　to　the　hospitalthat　was　near　the　church。
　　‘Another　soul　struck　down；’　murmured　Sister　McCandless。　‘Lord　have　mercy。’
　　‘He　said　in　the　last　days　evil　would　abound；’　said　Sister　Price。
　　‘Well；　yes；　He　did　say　it；’　said　Praying　Mother　Washington；　‘and　I’m　so　glad　He　told　us　Hewouldn’t　leave　us　fortless。’
　　‘’When　ye　see　all　these　things；　know　that　your　salvation　is　at　hand；’　said　SisterMcCandless。　‘A　thousand　shall　fall　at　thy　side；　and　ten　thousand　at　thy　right　hand—but　it　ain’tgoing　to　e　nigh　thee。　So　glad；　amen；　this　morning；　bless　my　Redeemer。’
　　‘You　remember　that　day　when　you　e　into　the　store？’
　　‘I　didn’t　think　you　never　looked　at　me。’
　　‘Well—you　was　mighty　pretty。’
　　‘Didn’t　little　Johnny　never　say　nothing；’　asked　Praying　Mother　Washington；　‘to　make　youthink　the　Lord　was　working　in　his　heart？’
　　‘He　always　kind　of　quiet；’　said　Elizabeth。　‘He　don’t　say　much。’
　　‘No；’　said　Sister　McCandless；　‘he　ain’t　like　all　these　rough　young　one　nowadays—he　gotsome　respect　for　his　elders。　You　done　raised　him　mighty　well；　Sister　Grimes。’
　　‘It　was　his　birthday　yesterday；’　Elizabeth　said。
　　‘No！’　cried　Sister　Price。　‘How　old　he　got　to　be　yesterday？’
　　‘He　done　made　fourteen；’　she　said。
　　‘You　hear　that？’　said　Sister　Price；　with　wonder。　‘The　Lord　done　saved　that　boy’s　soul　onhis　birthday！’
　　‘Well；　he　got　two　birthdays　now；’　smiled　Sister　McCandless；　‘just　like　he　got　two　brothers—one　in　the　flesh；　and　one　in　the　Spirit。’
　　‘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　ing；　ain’t；　one　day　for　everybody？’
　　‘I　pray；’　he　said；　‘it　finds　you　ready；　sister。’
　　‘Is　it　going　to　find　you　ready？’　she　asked。
　　‘I　know　my　name　is　written　in　the　Book　of　Life；’　he　said。　‘I　know　I’m　going　to　look　on　mySavior’s　face　in　glory。’
　　‘Yes；’　she　said；　slowly；　‘we’s　all　going　to　be　together　there。　Mama；　and　you；　and　me；　andDeborah—and　what　was　the　name　of　that　little　girl　who　died　not　long　after　I　left　home？’
　　‘What　little　girl　who　died？’　he　asked。　‘A　lot　of　folks　died　after　you　left　home—you　leftyour　mother　on　her　dying　bed。’
　　‘This　girl　was　a　mother；　too；’　she　said。　‘Look　like　she　went　north　all　by　herself；　and　had　herbaby；　and　died—weren’t　nobody　to　help　her。　Deborah　wrote　me　about　it。　Sure；　you　ain’t　forgottenthat　girl’s　name；　Gabriel！’
　　Then　his　step　faltered—seemed；　for　a　moment；　to　drag。　And　he　looked　at　her。　She　smiled；and　lightly　touched　his　arm。
　　‘You　ain’t　forgotten　her　name；’　she　said。　‘You　can’t　tell　me　you　done　forgot　her　name。　Isyou　going　to　look　on　her　face；　too？　Is　her　name　written　in　the　Book　of　Life？’
　　In　utter　silence　they　walked　together；　her　hand　still　under　his　trembling　arm。
　　　‘Deborah　didn’t　never　write；’　she　at　last　pursued；　‘about　what　happened　to　the　baby。　Didyou　ever　see　him？　You　going　to　meet　him　in　Heaven；　too？’
　　‘The　Word　tell　us；’　he　said；　‘to　let　the　dead　bury　the　dead。　Why　you　want　to　go　rummagingaround　back　there；　digging　up　things　what’s　all　forgotten　now？　The　Lord；　He　knows　my　life—Hedone　forgive　me　a　long　time　ago。’
　　‘Look　like；’　she　said；　‘you　think　the　Lord’s　a　man　like　you；　you　think　you　can　fool　Himlike　you　fool　men；　and　you　think　He　forgets；　like　men。　But　God　don’t　forget　nothing；　Gabriel—ifyour　name’s　down　there　in　the　Book；　like　you　say；　it’s　got　all　what　you　done　right　down　there　withit。　And　you　going　to　answer　for　it；　too。’
　　‘I　done　answered；’　he　said；　‘already　before　my　God。　I　ain’t　got　to　answer　now；　in　front　ofyou。’
　　She　opened　her　handbag；　and　took　out　the　letter。
　　‘I　been　carrying　this　letter　now；’　she　said；　‘for　more　than　thirty　years。　And　I　beenwondering　all　that　time　if　I’d　ever　talk　to　you　about　it。’
　　And　she　looked　at　him。　He　was　looking；　unwillingly；　at　the　letter；　which　she　held　tightly　inone　hand。　It　was　old；　and　dirty；　and　brown；　and　torn；　he　recognized　Deborah’s　uncertain；　tremblinghand；　and