第7章

MaybeSarahHoodwasnotpretty，buttherewassomethingaboutherleanfaceandshiningeyesthatmadeyoulooktwicebeforeyouweresureofit，andbythattimeyouhadgotsousedtoher，youlikedherbetterasshewas，andwouldn’thavechangedherforanything。Mrs。Fritzhadaprettyfaceanddressesandmanners，andsodidHannahDover，onlyshetalkedtoomuch。SoI

studiedthemandrememberedwhatthePrincesshadsaid，andI

wonderedifsheheardsomeonesaythatPeterJusticebeathiswife，orifsheshoweditinherfaceandmanner。Sheremindedmeofascaredcowslipthathadbeencutandlaidinthesunanhour。Idon’tknowasthatexpressesit。Perhapsaflowercouldn’tlookscared，butitcouldbewiltedandfaded。I

wonderedifsheeverhadbrighthair，laughingeyes，andredinherlipsandcheeks。Shemusthavebeenprettyifshehad。

AtlastIreachedmymother。Therewasnothingscaredorfadedabouther，andshewasdreadfullysicktoo，onceinawhilesinceshehadthefever。Shewasalittlebitofawoman，colouredlikeawildrosepetal，faceandbody——apieceofpinkporcelainDutch，fathersaid。Shehadbrowneyes，hairlikesilk，andshealwayshadthreebestdresses。Therewasoneofalpacaorwoollen，ofblack，grayorbrown，andtwosilks。Alwaystherewasafinerustlyblackonewithabonnetandmantletomatch，andthenasofter，fineroneofeithergoldbrown，likeherhair，ordaintygray，likeadove’swing。Whenthesegrewtoooldforfineuse，sheworethemtoSunday-schoolandhadafreshoneforbest。Therewasanewgrayinherclosetathome，sosheputontheoldbrownto-day，andshewaslovelyinit。

Usuallytheministerdidn’tcomeforchurchservicesuntilSunday-schoolwashalfover，sothesuperintendentreadachapter，DaddyDebsprayed，andallofusstoodupandsang：

“RingOuttheJoyBells。“Thenthesuperintendentreadthelessonoverasimpressivelyashecould。Thesecretarymadehisreport，wesanganothersong，gatheredthepennies，andeachteachertookaclassandtalkedoverthelessonafewminutes。

Thenwerepeatedtheverseswehadcommittedtomemorytoourteachers；thememberofeachclasswhohadlearnedthenicesttexts，andknewthembest，wasselectedtorecitebeforetheschool。Beginningwiththelittlestpeople，wecametothebigfolks。Eachonerecitedtwotextsuntiltheyreachedtheclassabovemine。Wewalkedtothefront，stoodinsidethealtar，madealittlebow，andthesuperintendentkeptscore。IcouldseethatmotherappearedworriedwhenLeon’snamewascalledforhisclass，forshehadn’theardhim，andshewasafraidhewouldforget。

AmongthefunnythingsaboutLeonwasthis：whileyouhadtodriveotherboysofhisagetorecite，youalmosthadtoholdhimtokeephimfromit。Fathersaidhewasbornforapoliticianorapreacher，ifhewouldbegood，andgrowintotherightkindofamantodosuchresponsiblework。

“IforgotseverallastSabbath，soIhavethirteento-day，“hesaidpolitely。

Ofcoursenooneexpectedanythinglikethat。YouneverknewwhatmighthappenwhenLeondidanything。Hemusthavebeenaboutsixteen。Hewasaslenderlad，havingalmostsandyhair，likehisEnglishgrandfather。Heworeawhiteruffledshirtwithabroadcollar，andcuffsturningbackoverhisblackjacket，andhistrousersfittedhisslightlegsclosely。Thewindwhippedhissoftblacktiealittleandruffledthelighthairwhereitwaslongestandwavyabovehisforehead。Suchaperfectpictureofinnocenceyouneversaw。Therewasonepartofhimthatcouldn’tbedescribedanybetterthanthewayMr。Rienzitoldabouthisbrotherinhis“AddresstotheRomans，“inMcGuffey’sSixth。“Thelookofheavenonhisface“stayedmostofthetime；

again，therewasadealishtwinklethatsparkledandflashedwhilehewasthinkingupsomethingmischievoustodo。Whenhewasfightingangry，andgoingtothrashAbsalomSaundersordietrying，hewasplainwhiteandhiseyeswerelikesteel。Mothercalledhim“Weiscope，“halfthetime。Icanonlyspellthewaythatsounds，butitmeans“white-head，“andshealwaysusedthatnamewhenshelovedhimmost。“Thelookofheaven“wasstrongonhisfacenow。

“One，“saidtherecordingsecretary。

“Jesuswept，“answeredLeonpromptly。

Therewasnotasoundinthechurch。Youcouldalmosthearthebutterfliespass。Fatherlookeddownandlaidhislowerlipinfoldswithhisfingers，likehedidsometimeswhenitwouldn’tbehavetosuithim。

“Two，“saidthesecretaryafterjustabreathofpause。

LeonlookedoverthecongregationeasilyandthenfastenedhiseyesonAbramSaunders，thefatherofAbsalom，andsaidreprovingly：“Givenotsleeptothineeyesnorslumbertothineeyelids。“

Abramstraightenedupsuddenlyandblinkedinastonishment，whilefatherheldfasttohislip。

“Three，“calledthesecretaryhurriedly。

LeonshiftedhisgazetoBetsyAlton，whohadn’tspokentohernextdoorneighbourinfiveyears。

“Hatredstirrethupstrife，“hetoldhersoftly，“butlovecoverethallsins。“

Thingsweresoquietitseemedasiftheairwouldsnap。

“Four。“

Themildblueeyestravelledbacktothemen’ssideandsettledonIsaacThomas，amantoolazytoplowandsowlandhisfatherhadlefthim。Theywerenotsomild，andthevoicewastouchedwithcommand：“Gototheant，thousluggard，considerherwaysandbewise。“

Stillthatsilence。

“Five，“saidthesecretaryhurriedly，asifhewisheditwereover。Backcametheeyestothewomen’ssideandpastallquestionlookedstraightatHannahDover。

“Asajewelofgoldinaswine’ssnout，soisafairwomanwithoutdiscretion。“

“Six，“saidthesecretaryandlookedappealinglyatfather，whosefacewasfilledwithdismay。

AgainLeon’seyescrossedtheaisleandhelookeddirectlyatthemanwhomeverybodyinthecommunitycalled“Stiff-neckedJohnny。“

Ithinkhewasratherproudofit，heworkedsohardtokeepthemdoingit。

“Liftnotupyourhornonhigh：speaknotwithastiffneck，“

Leoncommandedhim。

Towardthedoorsomeonetittered。

“Seven，“calledthesecretaryhastily。

Leonglancedaroundtheroom。

“Buthowgoodandhowpleasantitisforbrethrentodwelltogetherinunity，“heannouncedindelightedtonesasifhehadfounditoutbyhimself。

“Eight，“calledthesecretarywithsomethinglikeabreathofrelief。

Ourangelboyneverhadlookedsoangelic，andhewasbeamingonthePrincess。

“Thouartallfair，mylove；thereisnospotinthee，“hetoldher。

Laddiewouldthrashhimforthat。

Instantlyafter，“Nine，“herecitedstraightatLaddie：“Imadeacovenantwithmineeyes；whythenshouldIthinkuponamaid？“

Morethanonegiggledthattime。

“Ten！“camealmostsharply。

Leonlookedscaredforthefirsttime。Heactuallyseemedtoshiver。Maybeherealizedatlastthatitwasaprettyseriousthinghewasdoing。Whenhespokehesaidthesewordsinthemostsurprisedvoiceyoueverheard：“Iwasalmostinallevilinthemidstofthecongregationandassembly。“

“Eleven。“

PerhapsthesewordsareintheBible。TheyarenottheretoreadthewayLeonrepeatedthem，forheputashortpauseafterthefirstname，andheglancedtowardourfather：“JesusChrist，theSAME，yesterday，andto-day，andforever！“

Sureasyoulivemymother’sshouldersshook。

“Twelve。“

SuddenlyLeonseemedtobeforsaken。Hesurelyshrankinsizeandappearedabused。

“Whenmyfatherandmymotherforsakeme，thentheLordwilltakemeup，“heannounced，andlookedashappyovertheendingashehadseemedforlornatthebeginning。

“Thirteen。“

“TheLordisonmyside；Iwillnotfear；whatcanmandountome？“inquiredLeonofeveryoneinthechurch。Thenhesoberlymadeabowandwalkedtohisseat。

Father’svoicebrokethatsilence。“Letuskneelinprayer，“hesaid。

Hetookastepforward，knelt，laidhishandsonthealtar，closedhiseyesandturnedhisfaceupward。

“OurHeavenlyFather，wecomebeforeTheeinatryingsituation，“

hesaid。“Thywordoftruthhasbeenspokentousbyathoughtlessboy，whetherinaspiritofhelpfulnessorofjest，Thouknowest。Sincewearereasoningcreatures，itlittlemattersinwhatformThytruthcomestous；theessentialthingisthatwesoftenourheartsforitsentrance，andgrowingracebyitsapplication。TearsofcompassionsuchasourdearSaviourweptareinoureyesthismorningaswepleadwithTheetohelpustoapplythesewordstothebettermentofthiscommunity。“

Thenfatherbegantopray。IftheLordhadbeenstandingsixfeetinfrontofhim，andhislifehaddependedonwhathesaid，hecouldhaveprayednoharder。Goodnessknowshowfathersremember。Hebeganat“Jesuswept“andtoldaboutthissinfulworldandwhyHeweptoverit；thenoneatatimehetookthoseothertwelveversesandhammeredthemdownwheretheybelongedmuchharderthanLeonevercouldbymerelylookingatpeople。

Afterthatheprayedallaroundeachonesoferventlythatthosewhohadbeenhittheveryworstcriedaloudandsaid：“Amen！“

Youwouldn’tthinkanyonecoulddoathinglikethat；butI

heardandsawmyfatherdoit。

Whenhearosethetearswererunningdownhischeeks，andbeforehimstoodLeon。Hewaswhiteascouldbe，buthespokeoutloudlyandclearly。

“Pleaseforgiveme，sir；Ididn’tintendtohurtyourfeelings。

Pleaseeveryoneforgiveme。Ididn’tmeantooffendanyone。

Ithappenedthroughhuntingshortverses。Alltheshortonesseemedtobelikethat，andtheymademethink——“

Hegotnofarther。Fathermusthavebeenafraidofwhathemightsaynext。HethrewhisarmsaroundLeon’sshoulders，drewhimtotheseat，andwiththetearsstillrolling，helaughedashappilyasyoueverheard，andhecried：“`SweepingthroughtheGates！’

Alljoinin！“

Youneverheardsuchsinginginyourlife。Thatwasanotherwonderfulthing。Myfatherdidn’tknowthenotes。Hecouldn’tsing；hesaidsohimself。Neithercouldhalfthepeoplethere，yetallofthemweresingingatthetopsoftheirvoices，andI

don’tbelievetheangelsinHeavencouldmakegrandermusic。Myfatherwasleading：

“These，thesearethey，whointheconflictdire——“

YoucouldtellEmanuelRipleyhadbeeninthewarfromthewayheroared：

“Boldlyhavestoodamidstthehottestfire——“

TheWidowFallsoaredaboveallofthemonthenextline；hermanwasthere，andmaybeshewaslonelyandwouldhavebeengladtogotohim：

“Jesusnowsays，`Comeuphigher——’“

Thenmylittlemother：

“WashedinthebloodoftheLamb——“

Likethunderallofthemrolledintothechorus：

“Sweepin，throughthegatestotheNewJerusalem——“

Youwouldn’thavebeenleftoutofthatcompanyforanythinginallthisworld，andnothingelseevercouldmakeyouwanttogosobadlyastoheareveryonesing，straightfromtheheart，agrandoldsonglikethat。Itisnorightwaytohavetositandkeepstill，andpayotherpeoplemoneytosingaboutHeaventoyou。Nomatterifyoucan’tsingbynote，ifyourheartandsoularefull，untiltheyarerunningover，sothatyouareforcedtosingasthosepeopledid，whetheryoucanornot，youaresuretobestraightonthewaytotheGates。

Beforethreelineswerefinishedmyfatherwaskeepingtimelikeachoirmaster，hisfaceallbeamingwithshininglight；motherwasrockingonhertoeslikeawoodrobinonatwigattwilight，andattheendofthechorusshecried“Glory！“rightoutloud，andturnedandstarteddowntheaisle，shakinghandswitheveryone，singingasshewent。WhenshereachedBetsyAltonsheheldherhandandledherdowntheaislestraighttowardRachelBrown。

WhenRachelsawthemcomingshehurriedtomeetthem，andtheyshookhandsandweregladtomakeupasanytwopeopleyoueversaw。Itmusthavebeenperfectlydreadfultoseeawomaneverydayforfiveyears，andnottogiveherapie，whenyoufeltsureyourswerebetterthanshecouldmake，orloanheranewpattern，ortellherfirstwhohadababy，orwasmarried，ordead，oranythinglikethat。Itwasnowondertheyfeltglad。Mothercameon，andasshepassedmetheverseswereallfinishedandeveryonebegantalkingandmoving。JohnnyDoverforgothisneckandshookhandstoo，andfatherpronouncedthebenediction。Healwayshadtowhentheministerwasn’tthere，becausehewasordainedhimself，andyoudidn’tdarepronouncethebenedictionunlessyouwere。

Everyonebegantalkingagain，andwonderingiftheministerwouldn’tcomesoon，andsomeonewentouttosee。TherewasmotherstandingonlyafewfeetfromthePrincess，andIthoughtofsomething。Ihadseenitdoneoftenenough，butIneverhadtrieditmyself，yetIwantedtosobadly，therewasnotimetothinkhowscaredIwouldbe。Itookmother’shandandledherafewstepsfartherandsaid：“Mother，thisismyfriend，PamelaPryor。“

IbelieveIdiditfairlywell。Mothermusthavebeensurprised，butsheputoutherhand。

“Ididn’tknowMissPryorandyouwereacquainted。“

“It’sonlybeenalittlewhile，“Itoldher。“ImetherwhenI

wasonsomebusinesswiththeFairies。Theyknoweverythingandtheytoldmeherfatherwasbusy“——Ithoughtshewouldn’twantmetotellthathewasplainCROSS，whereeveryonecouldhear，soI

said“busy“forpoliteness——“andhermothernotverystrong，andthatshewasagoodgirl，anddreadfullylonesome。Can’tyoudosomething，mother？“

“Well，Ishouldthinkso！“saidmother，forherheartwassoftasroseleaves。Maybeyouwon’tbelievethis，butit’squitetrue。

MymothertookthePrincess’armandledhertoSallyandShelley，andintroducedhertoallthegirls。Bythetimetheministercameandmotherwentbacktoherseat，shehadforgottenallaboutthe“indisposed“wordshedisliked，andasyoulive！

sheinvitedthePrincesstogohomewithustodinner。Shestoodtallandstraight，hereyesverybright，andhercheeksalittleredderthanusual，assheshookhandsandsaidafewpleasantwordsthatwerelikefromabook，theyfittedandweresoright。