Music Welcome to snoozecast. The podcast is on to help you fall asleep. Find us at snoozecast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by glorious possibilities. Tonight we'll read this 7th chapter to a hand of green gables, the classic 1908 novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery. This chapter is titled, And Says Her Prayers. In the last episode, Mervila Cuthbert, the stern and pragmatic woman was at first dismay to find that not only have been given a girl instead of a boy orphan, but that this girl is the particularly imaginative and talkative and churly. Initially hesitant about keeping in due to her unconventional and spirited nature, Marula has been monitoring Anne's behavior closely. She witnesses Anne's passionate enthusiasm for learning and her ability to charm others in the community. The chapter ends with Marilla making a significant decision. She decides to keep Anne at green and give her a chance to prove herself.

This marks a turning point in the story

as Merrill's Change of Heart opens the door to a new chapter in Anne's life. Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Now take a few deep breaths. Chapter 7. Anne says her prayers. Marilla took a Anne up to bed that night, she sat 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 undietty habit, and I can't allow it. As soon as you take off any article of clothing, fold it neatly and place it on the chair. I have it any use 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. Announce, Dan. 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. Respond to Anne promptly and glibly. Morilla looked rather relieved. Huh, so you do know something, then. Thank goodness. You're not quite a heathen. Or 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 role 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 in. We're 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're very bad little girl. You'd find it easier to be bad than good if you had red hair. Sit in, approachfully. 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 for him since. And anyhow, I'd always be too tired at night to bother saying prayers. People who have to look after twins can't be expected to say their prayers. And do you honestly think they can? Morilla decided that Anne's religious training must be begun at once. Plainly there was no time to be lost. You must say your prayers while you are under my roof, Anne. Why, of course, if you want me to, ascended Anne cheerfully. I'd do anything to oblige you, but you'll have to tell me what to say for this once. After I get into bed, I'll imagine out a real nice prayer to say always. I believe that it will be quite interesting, and now that I come to think about it. You must kneel down, said Marilla, in embarrassment, and knelt at Marilla's knee and looked up gravely. Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray, I'll tell you what I'd do. I'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 were no end to its blueness. And then, I'd just feel a prayer. Well, I'm ready. Marilla felt more embarrassed than ever. She had intended to teach Anne the childish classic. Now I lay me down to sleep, but 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. And 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 which 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. You're old enough to pray for your self-hands. She said, finally, just thank God for your blessings and ask Him humbly for the things you want. Well, I'll do my best, from as Dan, bearing her face in Marilla's lap. Gracious Heavenly Father, that's the way the ministers say it in church. So I suppose it's all right in private prayer, isn't it? She interjected, lifting her head for a moment. Gracious Heavenly Father, I think the, for the white way of delight and the lake of shining waters and Bonnie and the snow queen. I'm really extremely grateful for them, and that's all the blessings I can think of just now to thank thee for, as for the things I want?

Well, there's so numerous that it would take a great deal of time to name them all, so I will only mention the two most important.

Please.

Please, let me stay at greengapels and please let me be good looking when I grow up. I remain yours respectfully and surely. There, did I do all right?" She asked, eagerly, getting up. I could have made it much more flowery if I had a little more time to think it over. Marilla was only preserved from complete collapse by remembering that it was not her reverence, but simply spiritual ignorance on the part of Anne that was responsible for this extraordinary petition. She talked 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 Ayan called her back. I've just thought of it now. I should have said amen in place of yours respectfully. Shannai. That's the way the ministers do it. I'd forgotten it, but I felt the prayer should be finished off in some way, so I put in the other. Do you suppose it will make a difference? I… Hmm, I don't suppose it will. Said Marilla. Go to sleep now, like a good child. Good night. I can only say good night to night with a clear conscience," said Ann, cuddling luxuriously down among her pillows. Marilla retreated to the kitchen, set the candle firmly on the table, and glared at Matthew. you, Cuthbert. It's about time somebody adopted that child and taught her something. She's next door to a perfect even. Will you believe that she never said a prayer in her life till tonight? I'll send her to the man's tomorrow, and borrow the peep of the day series. That's what I'll do. And she shall go to Sunday school, just as soon as I can get some suitable clothes made for her. I foresee that I shall have my hands full.

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

I've had a pretty easy life of it so far, but my time has come at last.

And I suppose I'll just have to make the best of it. For reasons best known to herself, Marilla did not tell Ann that she was to stay at Green Gables until the next afternoon. During the forenoon, she kept the child busy with various tasks and watched over her with a keen eye while she did them. By noon she had concluded that Anne was smart and obedient, willing to work and quick to learn. Her most serious shortcomings seemed to be a tendency to fall into daydreams in the middle of a task and forget all about it until such time as she was sharply recalled to earth by a reprimand or a catastrophe. And Anne had finished washing the dinner dishes.

She said... When Anne had finished washing the dinner dishes, she suddenly confronted Marilla with the air and expression of one desperately determined to learn the worst. Her thin little body trembled from head to foot. Her face flushed, and her eyes dilated, until they were almost black. She clasped her hands tightly, and said in an employing voice. Oh, please, Miss Cuthbert, won't you tell me if you are going to send me away or not? I've tried to be patient all the morning, but I really feel that I cannot bear not knowing any longer. It's a dreadful feeling.

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