The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-06-03
prayer meeting tonight At the Cape.
Would you like to gor'

/ VuSpe kdAhvJ NC uubWSIcO.
Albert had expected to see the Gypsy
In tho harbor when they returned that
afternoon, but was happily disappoint-
ed. Y hope they vii 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
a thin blue affair Of loosely knitted
! wool and had n cluster Of wild roses at
| her throat. 1t was new and pleas
urable experience to be walking beside
| a well dressed young man whose every
look and word bespoke enjoyment of
| her society, and she showed it in her
simple, unaffected way.
That evenings gathering was n unique
one in Alberts experience and the re-
ligious observances such as he never
forgot. The place was a little square,
unpainted 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 a cottage organ and beside it a
small desk. 4 few more entered after
they did, and then fiorid faced man
arose and, followed by 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
nasal tone, 1--WE will naow COM
mence our sarviccs 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 ut the side shed weak
light on the 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 Mt the organ began to chase
tho slow tune up and down the keys.
Then the red faced man started the
singing, a little below the key, and the
congrega ton followed. Telly's voice,
clear ana distinct, Joined with the rest.
long prayer. full Of halting repeti-
tons. by the man at the desk followed,
and then another hymn, and after that
came q painful pause. To Albert's
mind 1t was becoming serious, and he
began to wonder how 1t 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 n 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 rs If to find sympathy in the
assembled faces, and her deep set, pierc-
ing eyes seemed alight with intense
feeling. At first she grasped the back
Of the settee in front with her long,
tieshlcss 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 q pathos, for 1t was
naught but a faded calico dress that
hung from her attenuated frame like
the raiment Of n 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 n 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 Iowliest
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. kim I'm
sad an none to comfort me- i eat the
crust o. poverty an drink the cup o.
humility. My pcrtector an my staff
have bin taken from me, an yet fer
all these burdens thou in thy infinite
wisdom hev seen ut to lay on me 1
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 intrmities fer me to bear, an
yet 1 bless thee, yea, verify shall my
'NiSS Do hiIeu W SioIiiy un praise
thee day an night, for hast thou not
promised me that all who are believers
In thy word shall be saved? Hast thou
not sent thy Son to die on the cross fer
my sake, poor an humble as / am? An
fer this, an fer all thy infinite marcy
an goodness to me, praise an thank
thee tonight, KNOWN that not a spar
rer falls without thy knowin' 1t, an
that even the hairs o. our heads are
numbered.
Il thank thee, o Lord, fer the sun
shine every day, an the comm O. the
birds an flowers every season.
thank thee that my eyes are still per-
mitted to see thy beautiful world. an,