Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered

81/260colored town. Lift yo’ eyes and gaze on it. And when Ah touch dematch tuh dat lamp-wick let de light penetrate inside of yuh, and let itshine, let it shine, let it shine. Brother Davis, lead us in a word uhprayer. Ask uh blessin’ on dis town in uh most particular manner.”While Davis chanted a traditional prayer-poem with his own variations,Joe mounted the box that had been placed for the purpose andopened the brazen door of the lamp. As the word Amen was said, hetouched the lighted match to the wick, and Mrs. Bogle’s alto burst outin:We’ll walk in de light, de beautiful lightCome where the dew drops of mercy shine brightShine all around us by day and by nightJesus, the light of the world.They, all of them, all of the people took it up and sung it over andover until it was wrung dry, and no further innovations of tone andtempo were conceivable. Then they hushed and ate barbecue.When it was all over that night in bed Jody asked Janie, “Well,honey, how yuh lak bein’ Mrs. Mayor?”“It’s all right Ah reckon, but don’t yuh think it keeps us in uh kindastrain?”“Strain? You mean de cookin’ and waitin’ on folks?”