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‘Oh；’ he said； ‘I pray God； I pray the Lord … to make me strong … to sanctify me wholly … andkeep me saved！’
‘Yes；’ said Elisha； ‘you keep that spirit； and I now the Lord’s going to see to it that you gethome all right。’
‘It’s a long way；’ John said slowly； ‘ain’t it？ It’s a hard way。 It’s uphill all the way。’
‘You remember Jesus；’ Elisha said。 ‘You keep your mind on Jesus。 He went that way—upthe steep side of the mountain—and He was carrying the cross； and didn’t nobody help Him。 Hewent that way for us。 He carried that cross for us。’
‘But He was the Son of God；’ said John； ‘and He knew it。’
‘He knew it；’ said Elisha； ‘because He was willing to pay the price。 Don’t you know it；Johnny？ Ain’t you willing to pay the price？’
‘That song they sing；’ said John； finally； ‘if it costs my life—is that the price？’
‘Yes。’ said Elisha； ‘that’s the price。’
Then John was silent； wanting to put the question another way。 And the silence wascracked； suddenly； by an ambulance siren； and a crying bell。 And they both look up as theambulance raced past them on the avenue on which no creature moved； save for the saints of Godbehind them。
‘But that’s the Devil’s price； too；’ said Elisha； as silence came again。 ‘The Devil； he don’task for nothing less than your life。 And he take it； too； and it’s lost for ever。 For ever； Johnny。 Youin darkness while you living and you in darkness when you dead。 Ain’t nothing but the love ofGod can make the darkness light。’
‘Yes；’ said John； ‘I remember。 I remember。’
‘Yes；’ said Elisha； ‘but you got to remember when the evil day es； when the floodrises； boy； and looks like your soul is going under。 You got to remember when the devil’s doing allhe can to make you forget。’
‘The Devil；’ he said； frowning and staring； ‘the Devil。 How many faces is the Devil got？’
‘He got as many faces；’ Elisha said；’ as you going to see between now and the time you layyour burden down。 And he got a lot more than that； but ain’t nobody seen them all。’
‘Except Jesus；’ John said then。 ‘Only Jesus。’
‘Yes；’ said Elisha； with a grave； sweet smile； ‘that’s the Man you got to call on。 That’s theMan who knows。’
They were approaching his house—his father’s house。 In a moment he must leave Elisha；step out from under his protecting arm； and walk alone into the house—alone with his mother andhis father。 And he was afraid。 He wanted to stop and turn to Elisha； and tell him … something forwhich he found no words。
‘Elisha——’ he began； and looked into Elisha’s face。 Then： ‘You pray for me？ Please prayfor me？’
‘I been praying； little brother；’ Elisha said； ‘and I sure ain’t going to stop praying now。’
‘For me；’ persisted John； his tears falling； ‘for me。’
‘You know right well；’ said Elisa； looking at him； ‘I ain’t going to stop praying for thebrother what the Lord done give me。’
Then they reached the house； and paused； looking at each other； waiting。 John saw that thesun was beginning to stir； somewhere in the sky； the silence of the dawn would soon give way tothe trumpets of the morning。 Elisha took his arm from John’s shoulder and stood beside him；looking backward。 And John looked back； seeing the saints approach。
‘Service is going to be mighty late this morning；’ Elisha said； and suddenly grinned andyawned。
And John laughed。 ‘But you be there；’ he asked； ‘won’t you？ This morning？’
‘Yes； little brother；’ Elisha laughed； ‘I’m going to be there。 I see I’m going to have to dosome running to keep up with you。’
And they watched the saints。 Now they all stood on the corner； where his Aunt Florencehad stopped to say good…bye。 All the women talked together； while his father stood a little apart。
His aunt and his mother kissed each other； as he had seen them do a hundred times； and then hisaunt turned to look for them； and waved。
They waved back； and she started slowly across the street； moving； he thought withwonder； like an old woman。
‘Well； she ain’t going to be out to service this morning； I tell you that；’ said Elisha； andyawned again。
‘And look like you going to be half asleep；’ John said ‘Now don’t you mess with me this morning；’ Elisha said； ‘because you ain’t got so holy Ican’t turn you over my knee。 I’s your big brother in the Lord—you just remember that。’
Now they were on the near corner。 His father and mother were saying good…bye to PrayingMother Washington； and Sister McCandless； and Sister Price。 The praying woman waved to them；and they waved back。 Then his mother and his father were alone； ing toward them‘Elisha；’ said John； ‘Elisha。’
‘Yes；’ said Elisha； ‘what you want now？’
John； staring at Elisha； struggled to tell him something more—struggled to say—all thatcould never be said。 Yet： ‘I was down in the valley；’ he dared； ‘I was by myself down there。 Iwon’t never forget。 May God forget me if I forget。’
Then his mother and his father were before them。 His mother smiled； and took Elisha’soutstretched hand。
‘Praise the Lord this morning；’ said Elisha。 ‘He done give us something to praise Him for。’
‘Amen；’ said his mother； praise the Lord！’
John moved up to the short； stone step； smiling a little； looking down on them。 His motherpassed him； and started into the house。
‘You better e on upstairs；’ she said； still smiling； ‘and take off them wet clothes。 Don’twant you catching cold。’
And her smile remained unreadable； he could not tell what it hid。 And to escape her eyes；he kissed her； saying； ‘Yes； Mama。 I’m ing。’
She stood behind him； in the doorway； waiting。
‘Praise the Lord； Deacon；’ Elisha said。 ‘See you at the morning service； Lord willing。’
‘Amen；’ said his father； ‘praise the Lord。’ He started up the stone steps； staring at John；who blocked the way。 ‘Go on upstairs； boy；’ he said； ‘like your mother told you。’
John looked at his father and moved from his path； stepping down into the street again。 Heput his hand on Elisha’s arm； feeling himself trembling； and his father at his back。
‘Elisha；’ he said； ‘no matter what happens to me； where I go； what folks say about me； nomatter what anybody says； you remember—please remember—I was saved。 I was there。’
Elisha grinned； and looked up at his father。
‘He e through；’ cried Elisha； ‘didn’t he； Deacon Grimes？ The Lord done laid him out；and turned him around and wrote his new name down in glory。 Bless our God！’
And he kissed John on the forehead； a holy kiss。
‘Run on； little brother；’ Elisha said。 ‘Don’t you get weary。 God won’t forget you。 Youwon’t forget。’
The he turned away； down the long avenue； home。 John stood still； watching him walkaway。 The sun had e full awake。 It was waking the streets； and the houses； and crying at the windows。 It fell over Elisha like a golden robe； and struck John’s forehead； where Elisha hadkissed him； like a seal ineffaceable for ever。
And he felt his father behind him。 And he felt the March wind rise； striking through hisdamp clothes； against his salty body。 He turned to face his father—he found himself smiling； buthis father did not smile。
They looked at each other a moment。 His mother stood in the doorway； in the long shadowsof the hall。
‘I’m ready；’ John said； ‘I’m ing。 I’m on my way。’
The End
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