Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-07-07

| slight smile showed beneath his mus
tache. 81 suppose 1 shall have to-" he
answered, "but 1 should like to stay
here a month. I've not made a sketch
of your house, even"
II wish you would" she said with
charming candor, sit is so lonesome
here, and then maybe you would show
me little about painting"
Gould you endure my company
every day for a month";" he asked,
looking her full in the face.
Il don't believe you could endure
ours" she replied, dropping her eyes,
and then she added quickly: "There is
a prayer meeting tonight at the Cape
Would you like to go?"
Most certainly" he answered.
Albert had expected to see the Gypsy
in the harbcr when they returned that
afternoon, but was happily disappoint-
ed. Il hope they will stay at Bar Har-
Dor week." he thought
That evening when Telly appeared,
ready to be escorted to the prayer
meeting, he was certain that no fairer
girl was to be found anywhere
She was dressed in simple white, her
masses Of sunny hair half concealed by
thin blue affair of loosely knitted
wool and had cluster of wild roses at
her throat. 1t was a new and pleas
urable experience to be walking beside
we'll dressed young man whose every
look and word bespoke enjoyment Of
her society, and she showed it in her
/ Sip,Ylo ,1no
That evenings gathering was unique
one in Albert's experience and the re-
ligious observances such as he never
forgot The place was little square,
implanted building, and when Telly
and he entered and seated themselves
on one of the wooden settees that stood
in rows not over dozen people were
there. On a small platform in front
was cottage organ and beside it a
small desk. A few more entered after
they did, and then t1orid faced man
arose and, followed by d short and
stout young lady. walked forward to
the platform. The girl seated herself
at the organ, and the man, after turn
Ing up the lamp on the organ, opened
the book of gospel hymns and said in
a nasal tone, I'VE will naow COM
mence our sarvices by singin' the Forty
third Psalm, and all are requested to
rise an jine." In the center of the
room hung large lamp, and two more
on brackets at the side shed a weak
light on tie gathering, but no one
seemed to feel it necessary to look for
the Forty third selection.
Albert and Telly arose with the rest,
and the girl at the organ began to chase
the slow tune up and down the keys.
Then the red faced man started the
| singing, little below the key, and the
| congregation followed. Telly's voice,
clear and distinct, Joined with the rest
A long prayer, full Of halting repeti-
tons, by the man at the desk followed,
and then another hymn, and after that
came painful pause. To Albert's
mind it was becoming serious, and he
began to wonder how it would end,
when there ensued one Of the most
weird and yet pathetic prayers he had
ever listened to. 1t was uttered by an
| old lady, tall, gaunt and white haired,
who arose from the end of a settee
| close to the wall and beneath one Of
the smoke dimmed lamps. 1t could not
be classed as prayer exactly, for
when she began her utterance she look
ed around as if to find sympathy in the
assembled faces, and her deep set, pierre
ing eyes seemed alight with intense
feeling. At first she grasped the back
Of the settee in front with her long,
| ID a
and finally raised them above her up
turned face, while her body swayed
with the vehemence Of her feelings.
Her garb, too, lent pathos, for 1t was
naught but faded calico dress that
hung from her attenuated frame like
the raiment Of scarecrow. 1t may
have been the shadowy room or the
mournful dirge of the nearby ocean
that added an uncanny touch to her
words and looks, but from the moment
she arose until her utterance ceased AL
\ bert was spellbound. So peculiar and
yet so pathetic was her prayer it shall
be quoted in full:
20 Lord, come to thee, KNOWN
I'm as worm that crawls on the
airth: like the dust blown by the
winds, the empty shell on the shore,
or the leaves that fall on the ground.
l come poor an humble. l come hun
cry an thirsty, like even the lowliest
O. the airth. l come an kneel at thy
feet believin' that l, poor worm O.
the dust, will still have thy love an
perfection. I'm old an weary O. wait
In. I'm humble an bereft O. kin. I'm
SAD an none to comfort me. eat the
crust O. poverty an drink the cup O.
humility. My pertector an my staff
have bin taken from me, an yet fer
all these burdens thou in thy infinite
wisdom hev seen fit to lay on me
thank thee. Thou hast led my feet
among thorns an stuns, an yet
thank thee. Thou hast laid the cross
O. sorrow on my heart an the burden
O. many 1ntirmities fer me to bear, an
yet l bless thee, yea, verify shall my
voice be lifted to glorify an praise
thee day an night, for hast thou not
promised me that all who are believers
in thy word shall be sawed? Hast thou
| nor sent thy Son To die IN tha GROSS for