‘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。’