Very reverently we all listened to the majestic words . `` Lord , thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations . Before the mountains were brought forth , or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world , even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God ... For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past , and as a watch in the night ... For all our days are passed away in thy wrath ; we spend our years as a tale that is told . The days of our years are threescore and ten ; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years yet is their strength , labour and sorrow ; for it is soon cut off and we fly away ... So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom ... Oh , satisfy us early with thy mercy ; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days ... And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us ; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us ; yea , the work of our hands establish thou it . '' The dusk crept into the orchard like a dim , bewitching personality . You could see her -- feel her -- hear her . She tiptoed softly from tree to tree , ever drawing nearer . Presently her filmy wings hovered over us and through them gleamed the early stars of the autumn night . The grown-ups rose reluctantly and strolled away ; but we children lingered for a moment to talk over an idea the Story Girl broached -- a good idea , we thought enthusiastically , and one that promised to add considerable spice to life . We were on the lookout for some new amusement . Dream books had begun to pall . We no longer wrote in them very regularly , and our dreams were not what they used to be before the mischance of the cucumber . So the Story Girl 's suggestion came pat to the psychological moment . ` I 've thought of a splendid plan , '' she said . `` It just flashed into my mind when the uncles were talking about Uncle Edward . And the beauty of it is we can play it on Sundays , and you know there are so few things it is proper to play on Sundays . But this is a Christian game , so it will be all right . '' `` It is n't like the religious fruit basket game , is it ? '' asked Cecily anxiously . We had good reason to hope that it was n't .
One desperate Sunday afternoon , when we had nothing to read and the time seemed endless , Felix had suggested that we have a game of fruit-basket ; only instead of taking the names of fruits , we were XXXXX take the names of Bible characters .
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