Her name was in the...
Illustration
Her name was in the newspapers: Louise Degrafenreid. It was the first time we ever read about her. She was a plain person who lived with her husband Nathan in their home on a residential street. Then something happened which hit the papers. Three convicts escaped from a nearby prison. The evening news had reported that and asked everyone to be on guard. The next morning when Nathan came down to let the cat out, he was confronted by a man with a gun. It was one of those escapees. Louise came down the steps to see Nathan moving back to protect himself. She said, "Young man, put down your gun. I don't believe in violence." She prepared a fine breakfast, and invited Nathan and the young man to sit down together. She had a prayer. Before long, sirens were heard. They had traced the convict to the Degrafenreid house. Louise walked out the door first, telling the officers to put down their guns. No shots were fired. No one was killed. How did Louise manage that? Perhaps she remembered that old hymn, "Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise?"
-- Kettlewell
-- Kettlewell
