VII. Anne Says Her Prayers
When 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. That is a very untidy habit, and I can't allow it at all. As soon as you take
off any article of clothing fold it neatly and place it on the chair. I haven't any use at all
for little girls who aren't neat."
"I was so harrowed up in my mind last night that I didn't think about my clothes at all,"
said Anne. "I'll fold them nicely tonight. They always made us do that at the asylum. Half
the time, though, I'd forget, I'd be in such a hurry to get into bed nice and quiet and
imagine things."
"You'll have to remember a little better if you stay here," admonished Marilla. "There,
that looks something like. Say your prayers now and get into bed."
"I never say any prayers," announced Anne.
Marilla looked horrified astonishment.
"Why, Anne, what do you mean? Were you never taught to say your prayers? God
always wants little girls to say their prayers. Don't you know who God is, Anne?"
"`God is a spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power,
holiness, justice, goodness, and truth,'" responded Anne promptly and glibly.
Marilla looked rather relieved.
"So you do know something then, thank goodness! You're not quite a heathen. Where
did you learn that?"
"Oh, at the asylum Sunday-school. They made us learn the whole catechism. I liked it
pretty well. There's something splendid about some of the words. `Infinite, eternal and
unchangeable.' Isn't that grand? It has such a roll to it--just like a big organ playing. You
couldn't quite call it poetry, I suppose, but it sounds a lot like it, doesn't it?"
"We're not talking about poetry, Anne--we are talking about saying your prayers. Don't
you know it's a terrible wicked thing not to say your prayers every night? I'm afraid you
are a very bad little girl."
"You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair," said Anne reproachfully.
"People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is. Mrs. Thomas told me that God
made my hair red ON PURPOSE, and I've never cared about Him since. And anyhow
