"Has any one an experience to offer? Will any brother or sister lead in
prayer?"
The silence was growing into a thing to be recognized and conquered,
when, to the wonder of her neighbors, Hannah Prime herself rose, She
looked slowly about the room, gazing into every face as if to challenge
an honest understanding. Then she began speaking in a low voice
thrilled by an emotion not yet explained. Unused to expressing herself
in public, she seemed to be feeling her way. The silence, pride,
endurance, which had been her armor for many years, were no longer
apparent; she had thrown down all her defenses with a grave composure,
as if life suddenly summoned her to higher issues.
"I dunno's I've got an experience to offer," she said. "I dunno's it's
religion. I dunno what 'tis. Mebbe you'd say it don't belong to a
meetin'. But when I come by an' see you all settin' here, it come over
me I'd like to tell somebody. Two weeks ago I was most crazy"--She
paused of necessity, for something broke in her voice.
"That's the afternoon Jim was took," whispered a woman to her neighbor.
Hannah Prime went on.
"I jest as soon tell it now. I can tell ye all together what I couldn't
say to one on ye alone; an' if anybody speaks to me about it
afterwards, they'll wish they hadn't.
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