took the coffin to the edge of the hole and
lowered it with ropes. We stood about watch-
ing them, and the powdery snow lay with-
out melting on the caps and shoulders of the
men and the shawls of the women. Jelinek
spoke in a persuasive tone to Mrs. Shimerda,
and then turned to grandfather.

"She says, Mr. Burden, she is very glad if
you can make some prayer for him here in
English, for the neighbors to understand."

Grandmother looked anxiously at grand-
father. He took off his hat, and the other men
did likewise. I thought his prayer remarkable.
I still remember it. He began, "Oh, great and
just God, no man among us knows what the
sleeper knows, nor is it for us to judge what
lies between him and Thee." He prayed that
if any man there had been remiss toward the
stranger come to a far country, God would
forgive him and soften his heart. He recalled
the promises to the widow and the fatherless,
and asked God to smooth the way before this
widow and her children, and to "incline the
hearts of men to deal justly with her." In
closing, he said we were leaving Mr. Shimerda
at "Thy judgment seat, which is also Thy
mercy seat."

[[134]]

p133 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p134w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p135

v?