Ned went on praying and never let on he heard her , but at the end of his prayer he wound up with ` Oh , God , I pray you to keep an eye on us all , but I pray you to pay particular attention to my sister Julia , for I think she needs it even more than the rest of us , world without end , Amen . ' '' Our uncles roared with laughter over the recollection . We all laughed , indeed , especially over another tale in which Uncle Edward , leaning too far over the `` pulpit '' in his earnestness , lost his balance altogether and tumbled ingloriously into the grass below . `` He lit on a big Scotch thistle , '' said Uncle Roger , chuckling , `` and besides that , he skinned his forehead on a stone . But he was determined to finish his sermon , and finish it he did . He climbed back into the pulpit , with the tears rolling over his cheeks , and preached for ten minutes longer , with sobs in his voice and drops of blood on his forehead . He was a plucky little beggar . No wonder he succeeded in life . '' `` And his sermons and prayers were always just about as outspoken as those Julia objected to , '' said Uncle Alec . `` Well , we 're all getting on in life and Edward is gray ; but when I think of him I always see him a little , rosy , curly-headed chap , laying down the law to us from the Pulpit Stone . It seems like the other day that we were all here together , just as these children are , and now we are scattered everywhere . Julia in California , Edward in Halifax , Alan in South America , Felix and Felicity and Stephen gone to the land that is very far off . '' There was a little space of silence ; and then Uncle Alec began , in a low , impressive voice , to repeat the wonderful verses of the ninetieth Psalm -- verses which were thenceforth bound up for us with the beauty of that night and the memories of our kindred . 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 XXXXX us and through them gleamed the early stars of the autumn night .
as at below besides in into of over than with