a child's mind. The author uses his personal experience and feelings to show that adults can cause great

anguish, guilt and pain by pushing them to accept and practice something that is far beyond their level of

comprehension and understanding. Being "saved" involves a sense of inner peace and harmony but

throughout the essay Hughes shows how the whole experience had caused the exact opposite.

At the start of the essay the churchgoers are trying to have the young children find Jesus, because they have

sinned. The adults show great enthusiasm and zeal but the children seemed to terrified, bored or just going

through the motions. It even results in one child lying just to get out of the spotlight. (P 9) On the other

hand Hughes being one with high values and morals chose to wait "I wanted something to happen to me"

(p9) But another contradiction occurs "God

and religion. Which probably came much later in his life.

had not struck Westley dead for taking his name in vain or for

felt when he was thirteen and the second time could have been after he realized the true meaning of god

Some common words found in the essay are:
Langston Hughes, Jesus Hughes, Marine Corps, , true meaning,
Approximate Word count = 674
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)