“Ohhhhh!! Brighten the corner where you are!
Brighten the corner where you are!
Someone far from harbor you may guide across the bar;
Brighten the corner where you are!”
The singing from our little church could be heard long before it came into my view and was fairly resonating with Sabbath enthusiasm. But, I feared that my small corner would not be bright for many hours to come! Yes, Sir. I was in peril of being in Momma & Pap’s ill graces for I had not been able to find one of my shoes this morning. I looked everywhere, even under Baby Nancy’s cradle, before confessing my troubles to Momma. Exasperated and frustrated with their middle son, Momma had declared me a perfect mess and Pap had offered no consolation as he was accustomed to doing on my behalf. It was summertime and my feet never felt the leather of a shoe except on a Sunday morning but, rather, enjoyed the warm earth and cool spring nearby. But, today, one of my brogans, an adopted set from my big brother, insisted on being misplaced.
She gave me fair warning as she slipped on her crocheted lace collar, “Walt, you find that shoe and get yourself to church or there’ll be a trouble.” Then she gathered up the rest of my brothers & sisters and, hand and hand, headed down the road & out of sight. With a sure comeuppance in my future, I returned to my search with renewed fervor discovering it finally where our old dog had dragged it. I cursed old Bill as I pulled it out from behind the rocker on the porch and jerked it on right there on the top step. With both finally on, and laces untied & flying alongside those cumbersome shoes, I raced as fast as my eight-year-old legs could manage.
I prayed as the preacher prayed that, arriving and sliding in beside Pap before the heart of the worship hour, that I’d be spared the chore of bringing in a switch to Momma. Pap poked me with his elbow & grinned down on me, and Momma sent approvement down over her children’s heads towards me.
Just maybe my corner will be bright after all!