Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-28

unpainted building. and when Tclly |
and he entered and seated themselves |
on one Of the wooden settees that stood |
in rows not over Il dozen people were
there. On a small platform in front
was a cottage organ and beside it a
small desk. a few more entered after |
they did. and then a ford faced man
arose and, followed by "A short and
stout young lady, walked forward TO
the platform. The girl seated herself
ut the organ. and the man. after turn
ing up the lamp on the organ. opened
the book of gospel hymns and said in
IL nasal tone I'VE will naow com
mcnce orr sarviccs by singin' the Forty
third Psalm. and all are requested to
rise an iinc." In the center of the
room hung large lamp, and two more
on brackets ut the side shed Il weak
light on the gathering, but no one
seemed TO feel it necessary to look for
the Forty-thlrd selection.
Albert and Tellv 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. Tcly's voice
clear and distinct, joined with the rest
A long prayer. full of hating rcpcti
tons. by the man ut the desk followed,
and then another hymn, and after that
came Il painful pause. To Albcrt's
mind il was becoming serious, and he
began to wonder how it would end
when thorc ensucd one of the most
weird and yet pathetic prayers he had
over listened TO- 1t was uttered by an
! old lady, tall. gaunt aud white haired,
who arose from the end Of a settee
close 20 the wall and beneath one Of
the smoke dimmcd lamps. 1t could not
he classcd rs prayer exactly, for
when she hegnn her ultcrance she look
cd around ns il 10 find sympathy in the
assembled faces and her deep set, pierre
ing eyes seemed alight with intense
feeling. At first she craspcd the back
OF the scttee in front with her long,
flcshlpss fingers, and then later clasped
| 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 it was
naught but a faded calico dress that
/ hung from hcr attenuatod frame like
| the raimcnt of scarecrow 1t may
have been the shadowy room or the
mournful drge Of thu 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
vet so pathetic was her prayer it shall
be quoted in full:
80 Lord. ] come TO thee KNOWN
I'm rs worm that crawls on the
airth: like the dust blown by the
winds the empty shell on the shore
or the leaves that fail on the ground
come poor an humble. | come hun
cry an thirsty, like even the lowliest
O the airth. I come an kneel at thy
feet believin that l, a 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 =
humility. My pertector an my stsh
have bin taken from me, an yet feI
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 intirlnities fer me to bear. an
yet | bless thee yea. verify shall my
voice he lifted 10 glorify an praise
thee day an night for hast thou moi
promised me that all who are believer.
in thy word shall be saved Hast thol
not sent thy Son to die on the cross te
my sake, poor an humble as am: An
fer this. an fer al thy infinite mare!
an goodness 10 me, | praise an thanl
thee tonight, KNOWN that not spar
rer falls without thy KNOWN ii. an
that even the hairs o our heads ar
numbered.
II thank thee. o Lord. fer the sun
shine every day, an the comm o thu
birds an flowers every season.
thank thee that my eyes are still per
J mittcd TO see thy beautiful world. an
my enrs TO hear the songs o praise.
thank thee too that with my voice
can glorify an bless thee fer all tn,
| goodness an fer all thy marcy. An
when the day o Judgment comes an
the dead rise mp. then | know thol
wilt keep thy promise. an that even
p poor an humble shall live again, jinir
. those that have gone before, to sit Il
thy feet an glorify thee fer life ever
lastn'. FER this blessed hope. an f.
: 0ll thy other promises, | lift my vote
in gratitude an thank fulncss al
praise to thee, my Heavenly Father, M
/ TO thy Son. my Redeemer, tonight NJ
e tomorrer III forever an forever
4 Amen
! To Albert student of Notaire. o
/, Hume. of Paine. and an admrcr o
Inscrsoll douhter of Scriptural AZ
r. thenticity and almost materaliSt I
f belief, this weird and pitcous uttoranc
. came with peculiar effect.
, When the prayer meeting was cor
cluded with an oddly spoken bencdiC
4 ton by Deacon Oaks, and Albert an
i Telly were on their way back TO IN
e point. Albert asked:
Y "Who was the poor old lady tina
i prayed so ferveutly! / never hear
anything like ii since was a boy
a "Oh, that's the Widow Leach, Tell
e responded. she always acts that wa
V and feels so, too, guess. She is Al