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Chapter 12
Zeeborosefromhispewandwalkeddownthecenteraisle,stoppinginfrontofusandfacingthecongregation.Hewascarryingabatteredhymn-book.Heopeneditandsaid,"We’llsingnumbertwoseventy-three."
Thiswastoomuchforme."How’rewegonnasingitifthereain’tanyhymn-books?"
Calpurniasmiled."Hushbaby,"shewhispered,"you’llseeinaminute."
Zeeboclearedhisthroatandreadinavoiceliketherumbleofdistantartillery:
"There’salandbeyondtheriver."
Miraculouslyonpitch,ahundredvoicessangoutZeebo’swords.Thelastsyllable,heldtoahuskyhum,wasfollowedbyZeebosaying,
"Thatwecallthesweetforever."
Musicagainswelledaroundus;thelastnotelingeredandZeebometitwiththenextline:"Andweonlyreachthatshorebyfaith’sdecree."
Thecongregationhesitated,Zeeborepeatedthelinecarefully,anditwassung.AtthechorusZeeboclosedthebook,asignalforthecongregationtoproceedwithouthishelp.
Onthedyingnotesof"Jubilee,"Zeebosaid,"Inthatfar-offsweetforever,justbeyondtheshiningriver."
Lineforline,voicesfollowedinsimpleharmonyuntilthehymnendedinamelancholymurmur.
IlookedatJem,whowaslookingatZeebofromthecornersofhiseyes.Ididn’tbelieveiteither,butwehadbothheardit.
