The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-11-15

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,
feshIess fingers, and then later clasped
and finally raised them above her up
turned face, while her body swayed
with the yehemence Of her feelings.
Her garb, too, lent a pathos, for it was
naucht but q faded calico dress that
hung from her attenuated frame like
the raiment Of q scarecrow. It 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
vet so pathetic was her prayer it shall
be quoted in full:
30 Lord, I come to thee, KNOWN
I'm as a worm that crawls on the
airtl; like the dust blown by the
winds, the empty shell on the shore,
or the leaves that fall on the ground.
I come poor an humble. I come hun
CRY an thirsty, like even the loWllest
O. the airth. come an kneel at thy
feet believ1n' that I, 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. I eat the
crust O. poverty an drink the cup o
humility. Ny pertector an my staff
have bin taken from me, an yet fer
all these burdens thou in thy infinite
wisdom hey seen fit to lay on me I
thank thee. Thou hast led my feet
among thorns an stuns, an yet l
thank thee Thou hast laid the cross
O. sorrow on my heart an the burden
O. many in6rmities fer me to bear, an
yet 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 saved? Hast thou
not sent thy Son to die on the cross fer
my sake, poor an humble as I am? An
fer this, an fer all thy infinite marcy
an goodness to me, praise an thank
thee tonight, KNOWN that not spar
rer falls without thy KNOWN it, an
that even the hairs O. our heads are
numbered.
81 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
my ears to hear the songs O praise. I
thank thee, too, that with my voice
can glorify an bless thee fer all thy
goodness, an fer all thy marcy: An
when the day o. judgment comes an
the dead rise up, then know thou
wilt keep thy promise, an that even l,
poor an humble, shall live again, 5inin'
those that have gone before, to sit at
thy feet an glorify thee fer life ever
lastin'. Fer this blessed hope, an fer
all thy other promises, I lift my voice
in gratitude an thankfulnesS an
praise to thee, my Heavenly Father, an
to thy Son, my Redeemer, tonight an
tomorrer an forever an forever.
Amen"
To Albert, a student Of Voltaire, Of
Hume, Of Paine, and an admirer Of
Ingersoll, doubter Of Scriptural au-
thenticity and almost 4 material1st In
belief. this weird and piteous utterance
came with peculiar effect.
When the prayer meeting was con-
cluded with an oddly spoken benedic-
ton by Deacon Oaks, and Albert and
Telly were on their way back to the
point, Albert asked:
"Who was the poor old lady that
prayed so fervently? never heard
anything like 1t since was boy"
"Oh, that's the Widow Leach" Telly
responded. "She always acts that way
and feels so, too, guess. She is an
object Of pity here and very poor.
She has no relation living that she
knows Of, lives alone in a small house
she owns and works on the fish racks
summers, and winters has to be helped.
Her husband and two sons were lost
at sea many years ago, and father says
religion is all the consolation she has
left"
Does she always pray as fer7ently
as she did tonight?"
"Oh, yes; that's her way. Father
says she is a little cracked about such
matters. He pities her, though, and
helps her a good deal, and so does
most every one else here who can.
She needs it, Then, after pause,
she added, "How did you enjoy the
meeting, Mr.. Pager
"Well," replied Albert slowly and
mentally contrasting it with many Sun
day services when he had occupied a
pew with the Nasons at their fashion
able church in Boston, "it has been an
experience shall not soon forget. In
one way it has been a pleasure, for 1t
has taken me back to my young days"
Then he added little sadly, ut has
g q
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