I distinctly heard Felix -- who always said his prayers in a loud whisper , owing to some lasting conviction of early life that God could not hear him if he did not pray audibly -- mutter pleadingly , after the `` important '' part of his devotions was over , `` Oh , God , please make Pat better by the morning . PLEASE do . '' And I , even in these late years of irreverence for the dreams of youth , am not in the least ashamed to confess that when I knelt down to say my boyish prayer , I thought of our little furry comrade in his extremity , and prayed as reverently as I knew how for his healing . Then I went to sleep , comforted by the simple hope that the Great Father would , after `` important things '' were all attended to , remember poor Pat . As soon as we were up the next morning we rushed off to Uncle Roger 's . But we met Peter and the Story Girl in the lane , and their faces were as the faces of those who bring glad tidings upon the mountains . `` Pat 's better , '' cried the Story Girl , blithe , triumphant . `` Last night , just at twelve , he began to lick his paws . Then he licked himself all over and went to sleep , too , on the sofa . When I woke Pat was washing his face , and he has taken a whole saucerful of milk . Oh , is n't it splendid ? '' `` You see Peg Bowen did put a spell on him , '' said Peter , `` and then she took it off . '' `` I guess Cecily 's prayer had more to do with Pat 's getting better than Peg Bowen , '' said Felicity . `` She prayed for Pat over and over again . That is why he 's better . '' `` Oh , all right , '' said Peter , `` but I 'd advise Pat not to scratch Peg Bowen again , that 's all . '' `` I wish I knew whether it was the praying or Peg Bowen that cured Pat , '' said Felix in perplexity . `` I do n't believe it was either of them , '' said Dan . `` Pat just got sick and got better again of his own accord . '' `` I 'm going to believe that it was the praying , '' said Cecily decidedly .
`` It 's so much nicer to believe that God cured XXXXX than that Peg Bowen did . ''
Bowen Dan Father Pat Peter Roger morning right saucerful years