" She dwelt
long upon His love, standing always with hands reverently clasped before
her, and eyes downcast with awe.
I used to long to hear her speak. The sound of that low, tender monotone
was in itself inexpressibly soothing. But Grandma's tongue had its mild
edge, as well.
Once, when she was speaking, a number of the young people--it was a
common occurrence--rose to go out.
Grandma went on talking without raising either her voice or her eyes; but
when they had reached the door, "What--" said she, in that tone which,
though so mild, somehow unaccountably arrested their progress;
"what--poor, wanderin' creeturs--if your understandin's should give out!"
meaning, what if you should suddenly be deprived of the use of your legs!
"Have you never heered," she continued; "the story of Antynias and
Sapf_i_ry?"
But she did not recount the tale. If possible, she would rather use words
of love than of malediction.
I shall never forget the faithful manner in which she narrated Abraham's
intercession with the Lord for Sodom and Gomorrah.
"And Abraham said to the Lord, 'Periodventure there be fifty righteous
found,' he said; 'willest thou destroy the city, and them in it? Oh, no!
that ain't like the Lord,' he says; 'for to slay the righteous and the
wicked together--fur be it.
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