Why, you know, no matter how the parson begins his prayer, he's sure to
end up on one line: 'Lord, we thank Thee we have not been left to live
by the dim light of natur'.' 'Lisha Cole, when he come home from
Illinois, walked over here to meetin', to surprise some o' the folks.
He waited in the entry to ketch 'em comin' out, an' the fust word he
heard was, 'Lord, we thank Thee we have not been left to live by the
dim light of natur'.' 'Lisha said he'd had time to be shipwrecked (you
know he went to California fust an' made the v'yage), an' be married
twice, an' lay by enough to keep him, and come home poor; but when he
heard that, he felt as if the world hadn't moved sence he started."
Sally Ware dropped her mitten, to avoid listening and the necessity of
reply; it was too evident that the conversational tone was becoming
profane. But Mrs. Page's eyes were gleaming with pure dramatic joy, and
she continued:--
"Well, a fortnight or so ago he went over to see Isabel, an' Sadie an'
her husband happened to be there. They were all settin' purrin' in the
dark, because they'd forgot to send for any kerosene. 'No light?' says
he, hittin' his head ag'inst the chimbly-piece goin' in,--'no light?'
'No,' says Isabel, 'none but the dim light of natur'.
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