served them, this being the custom in this country. The fact that they
were non-communicative now was because no doubt they had said, before
entering the room, all that was necessary concerning the plans for the
night. Nora remained in silence, ate her meal and cleared away the
dishes, still holding the silence. She gazed up at the twinkling stars
dancing in the heavens, at the great moon shining brightly, sending
darting rays through the foliage of the large trees overhanging the
cabin. A silvery mist hung over the mountain and flitted through the
valley, the while the stars smiled down on the troubled earth. Troubled?
Yes, all mankind is troubled down the valley. Over all the deep blue of
the heavens dropped a shining sheen to cover the already beautiful
landscape. From afar over the mountain the voice of the night-bird came
gliding through the mist, the "hoot" of the night owl sounded a note of
warning, the sleepless animals of darkness pealed forth their notes of
joy as they gamboled over the green mountainside, and down, far down in
the depths of the rich valley, the cow-bell tinkled as the cow nibbled
the sweet green grass. None of these had thoughts of fear, none of
these discerned the great danger to humanity, none of these felt the
deep heart throbs that beat in the breast of humanity.

It is growing late, but Nora Judson did not retire at her usual hour.
She dared not, lest she should lose the sight that had greeted her on
many similar occasions. However, she should not fail in one duty, her
evening prayer. This had been a lifelong duty, taught her early. Even in
the roughest and most rugged parts of this great universe the children
are taught that God liveth and reigneth. Somehow God gets into the most
seemingly forsaken communities in the remotest corners of the earth, and
lets it be known that He is the Almighty. He assumes power everywhere.
The child of the wildest region learns some form of prayer. Mrs. Judson
had taught Nora in her earliest days to say "Now I lay me down to
sleep," but knowing that she was not going to sleep this night Nora said
to herself, "What shall I do? what shall I do? fer I hain't a-goin' to
lay me down ter sleep this night. I hain't. O Lord, what shall I say?"

Strange as it may seem, it had never occurred to her that any form of
speech other than she had been taught would be a prayer, therefore she
was utterly lost to know how to proceed. She looked wonderingly
heavenward as i