'You is good to come, Tom Wallis,' she said, in her childish voice, 'an' so is you, Lita. Wher' is my fath'? I don' see him. I was ask him to bring Ioane here to pray fo' me. I can't pray myself.... I have been try.... Wher' is you, fath'?'
Ransom crept round to her side, and laid his face upon her open hand.
'Ah, fath', you is come... poor fath'. I say, fath', don you drink no more. You been promise me that, fath', so many time. Don'' you break yo' promise now, will you?'
The grizzled old sinner put his trembling lips to hers. 'Never no more, Addie—may God strike me dead if I lie!'
'Come away, old man,' said Wallis, softly, 'let Lita be with her. Neither you nor I should disturb her just now. See, she wants Lita. But her time is near, and you must keep close to her.'
They drew apart, and Lita knelt beside the bed.
'An' did he pray for fath', an' me, an' you, an' Tom, an' my mother who runned away? Tell me all 'bout it, Lita. I did wan' him to come and tell me some things I wan' to know before I is dead. Tell me what he say.'
'He say dat vers', “De grass with', de flow' fade, but de word of de Lor' God endure fo' ev.'”'
'Was do it mean, Lita, dear?'