or tomany books； and they would look at him wit pity。 He would enter on another day； when he hadread all the books uptown； an achievement that would； he felt； lend him the poise to enter anybuilding in the world。 People； mostly men； leaned over the stone parapets of the raised park thatsurrounded the library； or walked up and own and bent to drink water from the public drinking…fountains。 Silver pigeons lighted briefly on the heads of the lions or the rims of fountains； andstrutted along the walks。 John loitered in front of Woolworth’s； staring at the candy display； tryingto decide what candy to buy—and buying one； for the store was crowded and he was certain thatthe salesgirl would never notice him—and before a vendor of artificial flowers； and crossed SixthAvenue where the Automat was； and the parked taxis； and the shops； which he would not look atto…day； that displayed in their windows dirty postcards and practical jokes。 Beyond Sixth Avenuethe movie houses began； and now he studied the stills carefully； trying to decide which of all thesetheaters he should enter。 He stopped at last before a gigantic； colored poster that represented awicked woman； half undressed； leaning in a doorway； apparently quarreling with a blond man whostared wretchedly into the street。 The legend above their heads was： ‘There’s a fool like him inevery family—and a woman next door to take him over！’ He decided to see this； for he feltidentified with the blond young man； the fool of his family； and he wished to know more about hisso blatantly unkind fate。
And so he stared at the price above the ticket…seller’s window and； showing her his coins；received the piece of paper that was charged with the power to open doors。 having once decided toenter； he did not look back at the street again for fear that one of the saints might be passing and；seeing him； might cry out his name and lay hands on him to drag him back。 He walked veryquickly across the carpeted lobby； looking at nothing； and pausing only to see his ticket torn； halfof it thrown into a silver box and half returned to him。 And then the usherette opened the doors ofthis dark palace and with a flashlight held behind her took him to his seat。 Not even then； havingpushed past a wilderness of knees and feet to reach his designated seat； did he dare to breathe； nor；out of a last； sick hope for forgiveness； did he look at the screen。 He stared at the darkness aroundhim； and at the profiles that gradually emerged from this gloom； was so like the gloom of Hell。 Hewaited for this darkness to be shattered by the light of the second ing； for the ceiling to crackupward； revealing； for every eye to see； the chariots of fire on which descended a wrathful God and all the host of Heaven。 He sank far down
Part 2 The Prayer Of The Saints
THE PRAYER OF THE SAINTSAnd they cried with a loud voice；saying； How long； O Lord； holy and true；dost thou not judge and avengeour blood on them that dwell on the earth1 FLORENCE’S PRAYERLight and life to all He brings；Risen with healing in His wings！
Florence raised her voice in the only song she could remember that her mother used to sing：
‘It’s me； it’s me； it’s me； oh； Lord； Standing in the need of prayer。’
Gabriel turned to stare at her； in astonished triumph that his sister should at last behumbled。 She did not look at him。 Her thoughts were all on God。 After a moment； the congregationand the piano joined her：
‘Not my father； not my motherBut it’s me； oh； Lord。’
She knew that Gabriel rejoiced； not that her humility might lead her to grace； but only thatsome private anguish had brought her low： her songs revealed that she was suffering； and this herbrother was glad to see。 This had always been his spirit。 Nothing had ever changed it； nothing everwould。 For a moment her pride stood up； the resolution that had brought her to this place to…nightfaltered； and she felt that if Gabriel was the Lord’s anointed； she would rather die and endure Hellfor all eternity than bow before His altar。 But she strangled her pride； rising to stand with them inthe holy space before the altar； and still singing：
‘Standing in the need of prayer。’
Kneeling as she had not knelt for many years； and in this pany before the altar； shegained again from the song the meaning it had held for her mother； and gained a new meaning forherself。 As a child； the song had made her see a woman； dressed in black； standing in infinite mistsalone； waiting for the form of the Son of God to lead her through the white fire。 This woman nowreturned to her； more desolate； it was herself； not knowing where to put her foot； she waitedtrembling； for the mists to be parted that she might walk in peace。 That long road； her life； whichshe had followed for sixty groaning years； had led her at last to her mother’s starting…place； thealtar of the Lord。 For her feet stood on the edge of that river which her mother； rejoicing； hadcrossed over。 And would the Lord now reach out His hand to Florence and heal and save？ But；going down before the scarlet cloth at the foot of the golden cross； it came to her that she hadforgotten how to pray。
Her mother has taught her that the way to pray was to forget everything and everyone butJesus； to pour out of the heart； like water from a bucket； all evil thoughts； all thoughts of self； allmalice for one’s enemies； to e boldly； and yet more humbly than the little child； before theGiver of all good things。 Yet； in Florence’s heart to…night hatred and bitterness weighed likegranite； pride refused to abdicate from the throne it had held so long。 Neither love nor humility hadled her to the altar； but only fear。 And God did not hear the prayers of the fearful； for the hearts ofthe fearful held no belief。 Such prayers could rise no higher that the lips that uttered them。
Around her she heard the saints’ voices； a steady； charged murmur； with now and again thename of Jesus rising above； sometimes like the swift rising of a bird into the air of a sunny day； sometimes like the slow rising of the mist from swamp ground。 Was this the way to pray？ In thechurch that she had joined when she first came North one knelt before the altar once only； in thebeginning； to ask for forgiveness of sins； and this acplished； one was baptized and became aChristian； to kneel no more thereafter。 Even if the Lord should lay some great burden on one’sback—as He has done； but never so heavy a burden as this she carried now—one prayed in silence。
It was indecent； the practice of mon niggers to cry aloud at the foot of the altar； tears streamingfor all the world to see。 She had never done it； not even as a girl down home in the church they hadgone to in those days。 Now perhaps it was too late； and the Lord would suffer her to die in thedarkness in which she had lived so long。
In the olden days God had healed His children。 He had caused the blind to see； the lame towalk； and He had raised dead men from the grave。 But Florence remembered one phrase； whichnow she muttered against the knuckles that bruised her lips： ‘Lord； help my unbelief。’
For the message had e to Florence that had e to Hezekiah： Set thine house in order；for thou shalt die and not l