not resist crying from his third-row seat.
Essie said, “Just listen at that Buddy taking everything wrong.”
Laura said, “Amen!” as if she had not heard. “Now a little holy music. Let me introduce to you for another happy time our singing pride, our Temple’s fine young women, the Four Gloriettas.”
The two gleaming grand pianos trilled, C.J.’s guitar joined the pianos, Birdie’s drums rolled, the trumpet played a golden note, and four buxom girls came forward shod in golden slippers and mauve robes to sing a song about the glory of touching God’s garment that ended:
“There will be a shower of stars!
There will be a blaze of light!
All around my Saviour’s head
A diadem so bright!
You will see it from afar
As you stand beside His throne.
Oh, when you touch His garment
He will claim you for His own!”
For many there living in the tenements of Harlem, to believe in such wonder was worth every penny the tambourines collected.
24
SET TO ASCEND
“S eventeen converts last night, including the man with one eye and one arm. This church is growing, Essie. But big as it is, it’s already busting at the seams.”
In the big room under the stage of Tambourine Temple as the midweek preliminary song service drew toward its close, with the choir singing upstairs, Laura and Essie were robing to make their entrance. As usual Laura was talking.
“Since I gave Buddy that red car for his birthday, Essie, I’ve been having to drive myself—or else get a chauffeur. So what do you think? I’m gonna
get
a chauffeur.”
“Ostentation is a sin, Laura.”
“So’s having too much money, according to you. But there’snothing I love as much as
too
much money. And the way it’s pouring in every night upstairs, I’m gonna stack up loot on the living room table next year and stare at it.”
“Laura!”
“You can buy anything with money, honey, which is why I love it.”
“Sister, darling, I hope you won’t mind what I say—but don’t you think maybe money can do harm sometimes? I hope you ain’t spoiling yourself—and Buddy.”
“Do I mingle and meddle in your affairs, Essie?”
“I wouldn’t say nothing if you wasn’t my friend.”
“Sometimes friendship can rile even a friend, Sister. Just look out for yourself and your little girl, and I’ll look out for me, see! And whilst I’m on the subject of Marietta, maybe you ought to send her back down South—or else move to the suburbs, one.”
“Thanks for the hint, Laura. I reckon you feel crowded, now that Marietta’s come. I didn’t want to leave you—unless you told me to.”
“Girl, you ain’t Ruth, and I ain’t Naomi. And you got your daughter’s morals to protect. They call this thing a tiara,” murmured Laura, putting on her head a gold band with a cross in front. “Goes nice with this robe, don’t it, Essie?”
“Um-humm!” said Essie. “But I wonder what is Marietta and C.J. doing outside in the door so long. Why don’t them kids come on in here?”
“Necking,” said Laura. “I hope you don’t think C.J. really is named after Christ, do you?”
“Aw, now, Laura, them children—”
“Children, my eye!”
“I got shoes, you got shoes
All of God’s chillun got shoes!
When I get to heaven
Gonna put on my shoes!
Gonna walk all over God’s heaven …”
Laura took a few syncopated steps to the music rollicking down from above.
“Heaven! Heaven!
Everybody talks about
Heaven ain’t going there …”
“Just listen at that fine singing upstairs, girl!” Laura cried. “We got some good gospel musicianers, I mean!”
“You really organized a fine band, Laura. You’re the backbone of it all.”
“Entertain people at Tambourine Temple, that’s what I say. You sing and pray, Sister, and I will arrange the show.”
“It’s more than a show, Laura. You’ve done better than you know—God is in this church.”
“I still got feet of clay, Essie. You’re the soul. But please powder your face a little
Essie said, “Just listen at that Buddy taking everything wrong.”
Laura said, “Amen!” as if she had not heard. “Now a little holy music. Let me introduce to you for another happy time our singing pride, our Temple’s fine young women, the Four Gloriettas.”
The two gleaming grand pianos trilled, C.J.’s guitar joined the pianos, Birdie’s drums rolled, the trumpet played a golden note, and four buxom girls came forward shod in golden slippers and mauve robes to sing a song about the glory of touching God’s garment that ended:
“There will be a shower of stars!
There will be a blaze of light!
All around my Saviour’s head
A diadem so bright!
You will see it from afar
As you stand beside His throne.
Oh, when you touch His garment
He will claim you for His own!”
For many there living in the tenements of Harlem, to believe in such wonder was worth every penny the tambourines collected.
24
SET TO ASCEND
“S eventeen converts last night, including the man with one eye and one arm. This church is growing, Essie. But big as it is, it’s already busting at the seams.”
In the big room under the stage of Tambourine Temple as the midweek preliminary song service drew toward its close, with the choir singing upstairs, Laura and Essie were robing to make their entrance. As usual Laura was talking.
“Since I gave Buddy that red car for his birthday, Essie, I’ve been having to drive myself—or else get a chauffeur. So what do you think? I’m gonna
get
a chauffeur.”
“Ostentation is a sin, Laura.”
“So’s having too much money, according to you. But there’snothing I love as much as
too
much money. And the way it’s pouring in every night upstairs, I’m gonna stack up loot on the living room table next year and stare at it.”
“Laura!”
“You can buy anything with money, honey, which is why I love it.”
“Sister, darling, I hope you won’t mind what I say—but don’t you think maybe money can do harm sometimes? I hope you ain’t spoiling yourself—and Buddy.”
“Do I mingle and meddle in your affairs, Essie?”
“I wouldn’t say nothing if you wasn’t my friend.”
“Sometimes friendship can rile even a friend, Sister. Just look out for yourself and your little girl, and I’ll look out for me, see! And whilst I’m on the subject of Marietta, maybe you ought to send her back down South—or else move to the suburbs, one.”
“Thanks for the hint, Laura. I reckon you feel crowded, now that Marietta’s come. I didn’t want to leave you—unless you told me to.”
“Girl, you ain’t Ruth, and I ain’t Naomi. And you got your daughter’s morals to protect. They call this thing a tiara,” murmured Laura, putting on her head a gold band with a cross in front. “Goes nice with this robe, don’t it, Essie?”
“Um-humm!” said Essie. “But I wonder what is Marietta and C.J. doing outside in the door so long. Why don’t them kids come on in here?”
“Necking,” said Laura. “I hope you don’t think C.J. really is named after Christ, do you?”
“Aw, now, Laura, them children—”
“Children, my eye!”
“I got shoes, you got shoes
All of God’s chillun got shoes!
When I get to heaven
Gonna put on my shoes!
Gonna walk all over God’s heaven …”
Laura took a few syncopated steps to the music rollicking down from above.
“Heaven! Heaven!
Everybody talks about
Heaven ain’t going there …”
“Just listen at that fine singing upstairs, girl!” Laura cried. “We got some good gospel musicianers, I mean!”
“You really organized a fine band, Laura. You’re the backbone of it all.”
“Entertain people at Tambourine Temple, that’s what I say. You sing and pray, Sister, and I will arrange the show.”
“It’s more than a show, Laura. You’ve done better than you know—God is in this church.”
“I still got feet of clay, Essie. You’re the soul. But please powder your face a little
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