Well , I 'm ready . What am I to say ? '' 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 witch of a girl who knew and cared nothing bout 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 yourself , Anne , '' she said finally . `` Just thank God for your blessings and ask Him humbly for the things you want . '' `` Well , I 'll do my best , '' promised Anne , burying 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 , is n't it ? '' she interjected , lifting her head for a moment . `` Gracious heavenly Father , I thank Thee for the White Way of Delight and the Lake of Shining Waters and Bonny 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 , they 're 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 let me stay at Green Gables ; and please let me be good-looking when I grow up . I remain , `` Yours respectfully , Anne Shirley . `` There , did I do all right ? '' she asked eagerly , getting up . `` I could have made it much more flowery if I 'd had a little more time to think it over . '' Poor Marilla was only preserved from complete collapse by remembering that it was not irreverence , but simply spiritual ignorance on the part of Anne that was responsible for this extraordinary petition .
She tucked 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 XXXXX called her back .
Anne Bonny Father Gables Marilla Queen Shirley Waters glimmerings right