Гроздья гнева

           "’An’Lotsaiduntothem,Oh,notso,myLord.’"

           "Don’tmeannothin’,"saidMa."Long’syou’regonnaputonedown,itmight’swellmeansomepin."

           Sairysaid,"TurntoPsalms,overfurther.YoukinalwaysgetsomepinoutaPsalms."

           Tomflippedthepagesandlookeddowntheverses."Nowhereisone,"hesaid."Thishere’saniceone,justblowedfullareligion:’Blessedishewhosetransgressionisforgiven,whosesiniscovered.’How’sthat?"

           "That’srealnice,"saidMa."Putthatonein."

           Tomwroteitcarefully.MarinsedandwipedafruitjarandTomscrewedtheliddowntightonit."Maybethepreacheroughttowroteit,"hesaid.

           Masaid,"No,thepreacherwan’tnokin."Shetookthejarfromhimandwentintothedarktent.Sheunpinnedthecoveringandslippedthefruitjarinunderthethincoldhandsandpinnedthecomfortertightagain.Andthenshewentbacktothefire.

           Themencamefromthegrave,theirfacesshiningwithperspiration."Awright,"saidPa.HeandJohnandNoahandAlwentintothetent,andtheycameoutcarryingthelong,pinnedbundlebetweenthem.Theycarriedittothegrave.Paleapedintotheholeandreceivedthebundleinhisarmsandlaiditgentlydown.UncleJohnputoutahandandhelpedPaoutofthehole.Paasked,"HowaboutGranma?"

           "I’llsee,"Masaid.Shewalkedtothemattressandlookeddownattheoldwomanforamoment.Thenshewentbacktothegrave."Sleepin’,"shesaid.