Page:Hell-Bent fer Heaven (Hughes 1924).pdf/138

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''fear, till the thunder crashes and reverberates. Then suddenly he rises to his knees and clasps his hands in prayer''.]

Did you hear what he said, God? I can put up ’ith his insults to me, but when it comes to blasphemin’ Thy holy name it does look like it’s time to call a halt. But You know what You’re a-doin’, God, an’ I don’t. I’m only a ignerunt sinner. You know more in a minit ’n I could ever know in a million years. It bothers me, though, Lord, that You let the wicked prosper more ’n the righteous. They git the best o’ everything in this world now. It wusn’t so in Bible times, Lord. Then You cut the wicked down afore the congregation o’ Israel. An’ the dread o’ You an’ the fear o’ You wus on all people. But now Your name is a byword among sinners. You hyeard that Yourself jist now.

[''His voice has been gradually increasing in volume till it culminates in an emotional climax. He rises and goes to the door, trembling in every limb''.]

I ain’t presumin’ to give You advice, Lord! You know Your own business. But if You’d make an edzample o’ this blasphemer—if You'd strike him down in the abomination of his wickedness by a bolt o’ lightnin’, it ’ld serve as a warnin’ to all like him. An’ they’d be sich another revival o’ ole-time religion in these