The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-12-26

suffer. No matter how much \.
would long for them 10 forss,
him. they would not be able h
His family was a part OF him.
not only in blood. but in spirt
He sat on the cot and his mother
knelt at his feet. Her face va,
lifted to his: her eyes we're emmy
eyes that looked upward when
the last hope OF earth had failed.
I'm praying for you. son. That,
all i can do now" she said. The
Lord knows ! did all could for
you and your sister and brother
| scrubbed and washed and iron.
ed from morning TIL night. dsv
In and day out. as lone as I had
strength In my old body. did AT
I know how. son. and II len
anything undone. It's lust cause
] didn't know. It's Just 'caass
your moor old ma couldn't see.
son. when I heard the news o.
what happened. got on nv knees
and turned my eyes 10 God and
asked Him n 7 had raised YOU
wrong. asked Him II let me
hear your burden II did wrong
bv YOU. Honev. your roor old ma
csnt do nothing now. I'm old ard
this Is too much for me. I'm Al
the end OF nv rope. Listen. son.
your poor old ma wants vou 10
promise her one thing. Honey.
when amt nobody round YOU
when you alone. get nn yorr krAe,
and tell Cod evervshin~ Ask Pin
70 guide you. That all you ran
do now. Son. promise me youTl
60 ~ him"
"Ahmen," the preacher Intonsi
ferventiy.
Forget me. Ma" Bigger said.
"Son. can't forget you. You're
my how. brought you into this
world"
Forget me. Ma"
"Son. I'm worried about you.
can't helm II. You got YOUR soul 70
save. ! won't be able 10 rest easy
az long as I'm on this earth II I
thought you had fore away from
us. without asking God for help.
Bigger. we had hard time In this
world. but through II all. we been
together. Amt we?'
"Yessum." he whispered.
"Son, there's place where We
can be together sgain In the great
bye and bye. Gods done fixed n
So we can. He's fixed q meeting
place for rs. a place where We
can live without fear. No matter
what happens 10 rs here. we can
be together In Gods heaven. BIZ
ger. your old mas a-bergins you
tc promise her you'll nrsv."
"She's telIin' vuh right. SON.
the preacher said.
Forget me. Ma" Bigger said.
"Don't Won want 10 see your OLD
mo a~a'-. con-"
Slowly. he stood up and lifted
his hands and tried to touch MS
mothers face and tell her yes;
end as he did so something scream
&c deep down In him that II was
a lie. that seeing her after tney
killed him would never be. bu'
his mother believed: II was her
last hope; II was what had kept
her going through the Ions years.
And she was now believing II I'll
the harder because Of the trou-
ble be bad brought upon her. HIS
hands finally touched her race
and she said with a sigh 'know-
ing that II would never be. know
ing that his heart did not believe.
KNOWING that when he died "
would be over. forever:
"I'lI pray. Ma"
Vera ran 10 him and embraced
HIM. Buddy looked grateful. hls
mother was so happy that all sns
could do was TO cry. JACK ,no '
Oh. and Gus smiled. Then ny
mother stood up and eneireieu
him with her arms.
Come here. Vera" she whim'
pered.
Vera came.
"come here. Buddy"
Buddy came.
.Now. nut your arms arouno
your brother" she said.
They stood IN the middle OF .ns
noor crying With their arms
locked about Bigger. BIGGER nea s
his face stiff. hating them anu
himself. feeling the white pev III
along the wall watching. his
mother mumbIed PRAYER ~
which the preacher chanteo.
Lord. here we Is. maybe TOT ..
the last time. You gave me tne ~
children. Lord. and told ne ~
raise 'em. II 7 failed. LORD ~, 80
the hest I could. tAhmenD ines
poor chlldren's been WIN ny
lone time and theys all ! 80
Lord. please let me see 'snn sk', !,
after the sorrow and suffsrinE u
this world! (Hear her boro., ~ 49,
please LEI me see ,em sgaln ~
yond the grave tHave s'
JesusD You said You'd heed n1a =
ar Lord. and In asking TINS IN
the nams OF Yopr SON =.
"Ahmen n 6swd bless -
sistah Thomas the pf
ssid.
r.. -, Nit arms from rouno