The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-27

she always made her long prayers at
the close of days full of grief. uuarrels
ana nights II was very Interesting to
hear her pray. Grandmother used to
tell God in detail about everything that
happened in the house. Heavy, mas
sive, she knelt, and at first mumbled in
distinctly rapidly, and then muttered in
heavy voice:
20 Lord, you know everything YOUR
sef-everybody wants something bet
ter. Mikhailo, the older. should remain
in the city, II would be bad for him to
go across the river, the place there is
new and untried. No one knows what
will happen there. And father-he loves
Jacob better than the, others. Is that
right-to love ones children not with
the same love? The old man is stub
born O Lord, God. perhaps you would
give him wisdom"
Looking nj the dark ikons Cmages OF
saints with her large, bright eyes, she
Thus kept advising God:
20 Lord, make him sleep we'll n, that
he may understand how 20 treat his
children"
She made the sign OF tho cross. how
ing TO the ground, striking her fore
head against the floor, and then
STRENGTHENING herself AGAIN said
earnestly:
You ought to hcs;ow upon Varvara
a smile of joy. In what way has she
aroused your wrath in what way IS she
more sinful than others? VIVA: does
this mean? \ young woman,
healthy woman. and yet she lives In
sorrow. O Lord. remember Gregory.
his eyes are growing worse and worse.
He will go blind and then he will have
20 go begging: that would be misera-
bic, He has spent all his strength upon
grandfather but will grandfather help
him? O. Lord, o. Lord. ."
She maintained silence for a long
time. lowering her head and hands
humbly. as though she had fallen fast
asleep, as though she was frozen
What else?" sh, tried TO recall
aloud, frowning her brow. Help,
have mercy on all the faithful For
give me, accursed fool that I am. You
know that am SHINING not because
| am wicked but because I am stupid"
. And heavinG a deep sigh she said
gently. Coptentedly:
/ Dear God, You kne.y everything;
nothing is concealed from You. dear
Father"
was very fond OF Erendmothers
God. who seemed so near 70 her, and
| often asked her:
Tell me about God"
J She spoke OF Him IN a peculiar way,
very softly, driving a few words
strangely. closing her eyes. She was
always sitting when she talked of Him.
She would rise. then sit down again,
throw ekrchief over her hair and
keep on speaking until fell asleep,
God is sitting upon a mount" she
would say, "in meadow in para
disc, upon throne OF blue sapphire,
beneath silver Enden trees. which are
in bloom all the year round. There is
no winter and no autumn in paradise
and the flowers never wither-they are
in blossom all the time. 10 the JOY OF
those who please God.
And near God angels are soaring in
multitudes, like snowldkes falling, like
bees or like white doves flying from the
sky to the earth, and then back to the
sky. and they tell God about everything
about us, about human beings. All the
angels are there, your angel and mine
and grandfather's, there is an angel for
each and every one. God treats all the
people alike. Now your angel comes &c
him and says Aexey bias thrust out
his tongue TO grandfather And God
commands: We'll, let the old man whir
HIM And that's the way he does WIKI
all.
, 'He pays everybody according to his
deeds. Some people he pays with sor'
row. others with JOY. And everything
IL SO we'll arranged in paradise that the
angels are making merry they are flap
ping their wings and singing to Hin
constantly Blessed be, Lord
blessed And He, the dear God
; smiles to them, as though saying, All:
. Welt"
And grandmother herself would
smile, nodding her head
Have you seen it yourself?'
81 haven't seen IT, but | know sh'
replied thoughtfully.
Speaking OF God, paradise, angel.
she would become so small and kindly
her face would become youthful, he
moist eyes would radiate a stranger!
warm light I would take into my hands
her heavy. saintlke tresses, wind then
around my neck and without stirrini
listen intently TO her endless stories o
which | never tired
ut Is not given to a human being I
see God-one would grow blind. Onl
saints can look at Him with their eyes
, But | have seen angels. They appea
p when the soul Is pure.
II was standing in church at earl
mass, and two of them walked near III
= altar, like shadOws-yOu could loo
r through them, they were radiant an
g their wings touched the ground, the
u were as though Of lace. They wer
u walking around the throne and helpln
old Father llya. He would raise his o!
:, arms, praying TO God and they Woul
", support his arms, lie was very ol'
=, blind, he would stumble over every
thing: and then he died.
a when | saw the angels | was al
p most stunned for JOY, my hcar' sloppe
beating, and tears rolled down from m
I eyes. q. ! felt happy. q, lcnka, IN
darling. everything nnder God Is goo
y in heaven and on earth-very goo