第38章

ImadeupmymindthatitwasofenoughimportancetocallforthebiggestprayerIcouldthinkofandthatIwouldgoupinthebarntothetopwindow，standonabeam，andturnmyfacetotheeast，whereJesususedtobe，andI’dwrestlewiththeLordforfreedom，asJacobwrestledwiththeAngelonthebanksoftheJabbokinthelandofAmmon。IwasjustgettingupsteamtoprayashardaseverIcould；fordaysI’dbeenthinkingofit，andI

wasnearlytothepointwhereonemorekilldeercryingacrosstheskywouldhavesentmeheadlongfromtheschoolhouseanywherethatmyfeetwereonearth，andtheairdidn’tsmelloffriedpotatoes，kraut，sweat，anddogs，likeitdidwheneveryousatbesideClarissaPolk。WhenIwenttosupperonenight；fatherhadbeentoGroveville，andhewasbusyoverhispapers。Afterhefinishedtheblessing，heseemedworried，atlasthesaidthefundswereallout，andthecountywouldmakenoappropriationsoschoolwouldhavetoclosenextweek。

Wellthatbeatsme！IhadfaithinthatprayerIwasgoingtomake，andheretheverythingIintendedtoaskforhappenedbeforeIprayed。IdecidedIwouldsavetheprayeruntilthenexttimeIcouldn’tstandanythinganotherminute，andthenI

wouldtryitwithallmymight，andseeifitreallydidanygood。AftersupperIwentoutthebackdoor，spreadmyarmswide，andrandowntheorchardtothefenceingreatbounds，thefastestIeverwentinmylife。Iclimbedmypulpitinthecornerandtriedtoseehowmuchairmylungswouldholdwithoutbursting，whileIwavedmyarmsandshoutedatthetopofmyvoice：“PraiseyetheLord！PraisedbeHisholyname！“

“Ker-awk！“criedanoldblueheronamongthecowslipsbelowme。

Ihadalmostscaredittodeath，anditaroseonflappingwingsandpaidmebackbyfrighteningmesoIscreamedasIdodgeditsshadow。

“Whatisallthis？“askedfatherbehindme。

“Comeupandtakeaseat，andI’lltrytotellyou，“Isaid。

Sohesteppedonmypulpitandsatonthetoprail，whileIstoodbetweenhisknees，putmyarmsaroundhisneck，tookoffhishatandloosenedhishairsothewindcouldwaveit，andmakehisheadfeelcoolandgood。Hishaircurledalittleanditwasblackandfine。Hischeekswerepinkandhiseyesthebrightestblue，withlonglashes，andheavierbrowsthananyothermanI

everhaveseen。Hewasthebestlooking——alwayssocleanandfresh，andyouneverhadtobeafraidofhim，unlessyouhadbeenabad，sinfulchild。Ifyouwereallright，youwouldwalkintohisarms，playwithhishair，kisshimallyoupleased，andtherewasn’tathingonearthyoucouldn’ttellhim，exceptingasecretyouhadpromisedtokeep。

SoIexplainedallthis，andmoretoo。AbouthowIwantedtohuntfortheflowers，toseewhichbloomedfirst，andwatchinwhatorderthebirdscame，andnowitwasasplendidtimetolocatenests，becausetherewerenoleaves，soIcouldseeeasily，andhowgladmotherwouldbetoknowwherethebluegoosenested，andherwhiteturkeyhen；becauseshewantedhergeeseallblue，andtheturkeysallwhite，asfastasshecouldmanage。

EverylittlethingthattroubledmeorthatIwanted，Itoldhim。

Hesatthereandhecouldn’thavelistenedwithmoreinterestorbeenquieterifIhadbeenabishop，whichisthebiggestthingthateverhappenedatourhouse；hisnamewasNindeandhecamefromChicagotodedicateourchurchwhenitwasnew。Sofatherlistenedandthoughtandheldhisarmsaroundme，and——

“AndyouthinktheLordwasatthebottomofthethingthatmakesyouhappy？“

“Well，youalwaysgotoHimaboutwhatconcernsyou，andyousay，`PraisetheLord，’whenthingsgotopleaseyou。“

“Idoindeed！“saidfather。“ButIhadthoughtofthisrunningshortofschoolfundsasacalamity。IfIhadbeenprayingaboutit，IwouldhaveaskedHimtoshowmeawaytoraisemoneytocontinueuntilmiddleMayatleast。“

“Ohfather！“

Ijustcrumpledupinhisarmsandbegantocry；tosavemeI

couldn’thelpit。Heheldmetight。Atlasthesaid：“Ithinkyouarealittleoverstrainedthisspring。Maybeyouweresickerthanweknew，oraregrowingtoofast。Don’tworryanymoreaboutschool。Possiblyfathercanfixit。“

NextmorningwhenIwakened，myeverydayclotheslayacrossthefootofthebed，soIcalledmotherandaskedifIshouldputthemon；shetookmeinherarms，andsaidfatherthoughtIhadbetterbeintheopen，andIneedn’tgotoschoolanymorethatspring。ItoldherIthoughtIcouldbearitafewmoredays，nowitwasgoingtobeoversosoon；butshesaidImightstayathome，fatherandLaddiewouldhearmeatnight，andIcouldtakemybooksanywhereIpleasedandstudywhenIchose，ifIhadmyspellingandreadinglearnedatevening。NOW，saytheLorddoesn’thelpthosewhocallonHiminfaithbelieving！

Thinkofbeingallowedtolearnyourlessonsonthetopofthegranary，whereyoucouldlookoutofawindowabovethetreetops，lieinthecoolwind，andwatchswallowsandmartins。Thinkofstudyinginthepulpitwhenthecreekranhigh，andthewildbirdssangsosweetlyyouseemedtohearthemforthefirsttimeinallyourlife，andhens，guineas，andturkeysmadeprimemusicintheorchard。Youcouldseethebudsswell，andthelittleblueflagspushthroughthegrass，whereMrs。Mayerhadherflowerbed，andthecowslipsgreeningunderthewateroftheswaleatthefootofthehill，whiletheremightbeaFairyunderanyleaf。Iwassofull，soswelledupandexcited，thatwhenIgotreadytopickupabook，Icouldlearnalessoninafewminutes，tellallaboutit，spelleveryword，andreaditback，front，andsideways。Inev

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