Anne Says Her Prayers (Anne of Green Gables (Full Cast))

01Chapter 7.

02Anne Says Her Prayers.

03When Marilla took Anne up to bed that night, she said stiffly, Now, Anne, I noticed last night that you threw your clothes all about the floor when you took them off.

04That is a very untidy habit, and I can't allow it at all.

05As soon as you take off any article of clothing, fold it neatly and place it on the chair.

06I haven't any use at all for little girls who aren't neat.

07I was so harrowed up in my mind last night that I didn't think about my clothes at all, said Anne.

08I'll fold them nicely to-night.

09They always made us do that at the asylum.

10Half the time, though, I'd forget.

11I'd be in such a hurry to get into bed nice and quiet and imagine things.

12You'll have to remember a little better if you stay here, admonished Marilla.

13There.

14That looks something like.

15Say your prayers now and get into bed.

16I never say any prayers, announced Anne.

17Marilla looked horrified astonishment.

18Why, Anne, what do you mean?

19Were you never taught to say your prayers?

20God always wants little girls to say their prayers.

21Don't you know who God is, Anne?

22God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth, responded Anne, promptly and glibly.

23Marilla looked rather relieved.

24So you do know something, then, thank goodness.

25You're not quite a heathen.

26Where did you learn that?

27Oh, at the asylum Sunday school.

28They made us learn the whole catechism.

29I liked it pretty well.

30There's something splendid about some of the words.

31Infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

32Unchangeable.

33Isn't that grand?

34It has such a role to it, just like a big organ playing.

35You couldn't quite call it poetry, I suppose.

36But it sounds a lot like it, doesn't it?

37We're not talking about poetry, Anne.

38We are talking about saying your prayers.

39Don't you know it's a terrible, wicked thing not to say your prayers every night?

40I'm afraid you are a very bad little girl.

41You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair, said Anne reproachfully.

42People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is.

43Mrs.

44Thomas told me that God made my hair red on purpose, and I've never cared about him since.

45And anyhow, I'd always be too tired at night to bother saying prayers.

46People who have to look after twins can't be expected to say their prayers.

47Now, do you honestly think they can?

48Marilla decided that Anne's religious training must be begun at once.

49Plainly there was no time to be lost.

50You must say your prayers while you are under my roof, Anne.

51Why, of course, if you want me to, assented Anne cheerfully.

52I'd do anything to oblige you.

53But you'll have to tell me what to say for this once.

54After I get into bed I'll imagine out a real nice prayer to say always.

55I believe that it will be quite interesting, now that I come to think of it.

56You must kneel down, said Marilla in embarrassment.

57Anne knelt at Marilla's knee and looked up gravely.

58Why must people kneel down to pray?

59If I really wanted to pray I'll tell you what I'd do.

60I'd go out into a great big field all alone, or into the deep, deep woods, and I'd look up into the sky, up, up, up into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness.

61And then I'd just feel a prayer.

62Well, I'm ready.

63What am I to say?

64Marilla felt more embarrassed than ever.

65She had intended to teach Anne the childish classic Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.

66But she had, as I have told you, the glimmerings of a sense of humor, which is simply another name for a sense of fitness of things.

67And it suddenly occurred to her that that simple little prayer, sacred to white-robed childhood lisping at motherly knees, was entirely unsuited to this freckled witch of a girl who knew and cared nothing about God's love, since she had never had it translated to her through the medium of human love.

68You're old enough to pray for yourself, Anne, she said finally.

69Just thank God for your blessings and ask Him humbly for the things you want.

70Well, I'll do my best, promised Anne, burying her face in Marilla's lap.

71Gracious Heavenly Father!

72That's the way the ministers say it in church, so I suppose it's all right in private prayer, isn't it?

73She interjected, lifting her head for a moment.

74Gracious Heavenly Father!

75I thank Thee for the white way of delight and the lake of shining waters and Bonnie and the Snow Queen.

76I'm really extremely grateful for them.

77And that's all the blessings I can think of just now to thank Thee for.

78As for the things I want, they're so numerous that it would take a great deal of time to name them all so I will only mention the two most important.

79Please let me stay at Green Gables, and please let me be good-looking when I grow up.

80I remain, yours respectfully, Anne Shirley.

81There!

82Did I do all right?

83she asked eagerly, getting up.

84I could have made it much more flowery if I'd had a little more time to think it over.

85Poor Marilla was only preserved from complete collapse by remembering that it was not irreverence, but simply spiritual ignorance on the part of Anne that was responsible for this extraordinary petition.

86She tucked the child up in bed, mentally vowing that she should be taught a prayer the very next day, and was leaving the room with the light when Anne called her back.

87I've just thought of it now.

88I should have said Amen in place of yours respectfully, shouldn't I?

89The way the ministers do.

90I'd forgotten it, but I felt a prayer should be finished off in some way, so I put in the other.

91Do you suppose it will make any difference?

92I—I don't suppose it will, said Marilla.

93Go to sleep now like a good child.

94Good night.

95I can say good night tonight with a clear conscience, said Anne, cuddling luxuriously down among her pillows.

96Marilla retreated to the kitchen, set the candle firmly on the table, and glared at Matthew.

97Matthew Cuthbert.

98It's about time somebody adopted that child and taught her something.

99She's next door to a perfect heathen.

100Will you believe that she never said a prayer in her life till to-night?

101I'll send her to the manse to-morrow, and borrow the Peep of the Day series.

102That's what I'll do.

103And she shall go to Sunday school just as soon as I can get some suitable clothes made for her.

104I foresee that I shall have my hands full.

105Well, well, we can't get through this world without our share of trouble.

106I've had a pretty easy life of it so far.

107But my time has come at last, and I suppose I'll just have to make the best of it.

108End of chapter 7 End of chapter 7