last to close her eyes. But the various postures were taken without a
jar and the modest Vicksburger prayed. His words were neither impromptu
nor printed, but, as every one quickly perceived and Ramsey had known
beforehand, were memorized and were fresh from the pen of the actor.
Diffidence warped the first phrase or two, but soon each word came
clear, warm from the heart, and reaching all hearts, however borne back
by the rapturous yells with which the exhorter broke in at every pause.

"And though to our own sight," pleaded the supplicant, "we are but atoms
in thy boundless creation, we yet believe that prayer offered thee in
love, humility, and trust cannot offend. Wherefore in this extremity of
grief and disaster we implore thee for deliverance."

Close at Ramsey's back, in the only seat whose occupant her diligent eye
had failed to light on, a kneeler heaved a sigh so piteous that it
startled her like an alarum.

But the prayer went on: "Drive from us, O Lord, this pestilence. Allow
it no more toll of life or agony. Have mercy on us all, both the sick
and the sound."

"Have mercy," moaned the suffering voice behind, and Ramsey, suffering
with it, wished she had been Methodist enough to kneel with her face
that way.

"Spare not our earthly lives alone," continued the supplicant, "but save
our immortal souls. Pardon in us every error of the present moment and
of all our past. Forgive us every fault of character inherited or
acquired."

"God, forgive!" sighed the voice behind, in so keen a contrition that
Ramsey, while the supplication in front pressed on, found herself in
tears of her own penitence. The mourner at her back began responsively
to repeat each word of the prayer as it came and presently Ramsey was
doing likewise, striving the while, with all her powers, to determine
whose might be the voice which distress so evidently disguised even from
its owner.

"Enable us, our Maker," she pleaded in time with the voice behind, that
followed the voice in front, "henceforth to grow in thy likeness, and in
thy strength to devote ourselves joyfully to the true and diligent
service of the world wherein thou hast set us. Grant us, moreover, we
pray, such faith in thee and to thee that in every peril or woe, to-day,
to-morrow, or in years to come, we may without doubt or fear commit all
we have, are, and hope for, temporal or immortal, alike unto thee. And,
finally, we beg thee to grant us in this immediate issue a