Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-17

whom be would have struck 70 tDe grounQ II
others had not dragged him away.
She could no longer bear to stay on the roof.
Pale and painting she few out to the camp.
Micah followed her closely, and wherever they
met people belonging & to succoth they were
those of Pha-gos whom they met in the way,
did not know Miriam; still the prophecies
tall figure and noble dignity made them move
aside for her or reply to her questions
Then she heard terrible and evil tidings, for
the multitude which had set forth so joyfully
on the first day had crept along in detection
and woe on the second. The hot wind had
broken the spirit and strength of many who
had started in high health, and other sick folks
besides the bondsman's wife and infant had
fallen sick of fever from the choking Dust and
scorchlng heat. and the speaker pointed to a
procession making its way to the Hebrew bury
ing place of Succoth. Nor were those who
were being borne TO the rest whence there is no
return women and children only, or such as
their kindred had brought away sick rather
than leave them behind; but likewise men, who
only yesterday had been strong and who had
either sunk under too heavy burden or had
leedlessly exposed themselves to the suns rays
as they drove their herds onward
In one tent Miriam found young mother,
who lay trembling with fever, and she bade
Milcah go fetch her case of medicines The
forlOrn wife gladly and quickly departed on
this errand. On her way she stopped many a
passerby to inquire timidly for her captive
husband but she could get no news of him.
Miriam, however, learned from Nun, Joshua's
father, that Eliab the freedman he had left be-
hind, had sent him word that his son was
ready to follow his people. She also heard that
Ephraim had been hurt and had found shelter
in Joshua's tent
was the lad seriously i'll, or what could it be
that detained his uncle in Tanis? ThequestiOn
filed Miriam's heart with 'resh anxiety. yet
she dispensed help and comfort wherever it
was possible with unfiagging energy.
Old Nuns hearty greeting had cheered her,
and no more stalwart kind, or more lovable
old man could be imagined The mere sight
of his noble head, with its thick, snow-white
hair and beard. and the bright eyes which
sparkled with youthful fire IN the handsome
face, had done her good. and when be eX-
pressed his joy at seeing her once more in his
vivid and winning manner, pressing her to his
heart and kissing her brow, she told him that
she had hidden his son, in the name of the
Lord, henceforth to bear the name OF Joshua,
and had called upon him to be reunited to his
people, and to be the captain of their hosts.
Then she felt, indeed as though she had found
q father IN place of him she had lost and ap-
pli.d herself with renewed vigor to the stern
Q III S which called ner from every side.
Nor was it a small effort to the lofty-minded
ma den to devote herself with loving kindness
to her fellow creatures, whose wild and coarse
demeanor panied her soul. The women, in
deed, were glad of help but to the men, who
had grown up under the Overseer's whip. mod
esty and consideration were unknown. Their
minds were as savage as their manners. As
soon as they knew who she was they reviled
her because her brother had tempted them
forth to leave endurabie woes and rush TO
fearful fate; and as she heard their curses and
blaspheming and saw the fierce black eyes that
gliUJered in those brown faces all hung about
with rough curling black hair and beard her
to control her fear and aversion; her pulses
throbbed and she was prepared for the worst,
yet she did but commend the men who were so
repulsive to her to the God of their fathers
and His promises, though womanly weakness
prompted her to fee.
Now, indeed. she understood what the sad,
warning voice forboded which she haG heard
under the sycamore and as she stood by the
bed of q young mother sick unto death she
lifted up her hands and heart to the Most High
and made vow that she would dedicate all
her powers to fight against the faint hearted
want of faith and the wild insubordination
which threatened to bring her people into great
straits The Lord Almighty had promised
them a fair land, and the short-Sighted pride of
a few erring ones should not cheat them of it.
And God himself could hardly be wroth with a
race which was content so long as the bodies
were Supplied with the food they needed, and
which had endured scorD and blows as unresist-
inglY as cattle. The multitude did not yet un-
derstand that they must live through the night
of their present woes to be worthy of the day
which awaited them.
Her med 'cines seemed to relieve the sick wo-
man, and she quilted the tent in revived spirits
70 seek her brothers.
In the camp matters were no better and
again she witnessed many scenes which
shocked her soul and made her regret that
she had brought with he: the tender hearted
Micah.
Certain evildoers among the bondsmen, who
had laid hands on the cattle and goods of
others, had been caught and tied up to a palm
tree; and the ravens which had followed the
tribes. and had found ample food by the way,
were already croaking greedily round the
hastily contTived gallOws tree
None knew who was jndge or executioner of
the sentence; but the owners who were assist
ing in the deed thought themselves fully iusti-
ned and gloried in it. With hasty steps and
averted head, Miriam drew the trembling
Micah away and placed her in the charge of
her uncle, Nahshon, TO be conducted home
kahShOn was Just parting from the man who
shared with him the rank Of prince of the tribe
of judah. This was that same Hur who had
won the first victory against the Egyptians at
the head Of the shepherds, and he now led the
maiden with happy pride toward a man and a
yOuth-his son and grandson. They had both
been in the service of the Egyptians and at
Memphis had worked as goldsIniths and brass
founders TO Pharaoh. The elder, by reason of
his skill, had received the name of Uri. or the
Great: and the son of this father, Hur's grand
son, Belzaleel, was said TO he more gifted even
than his father, though as yet hardly more than
a youth.
Hur gazed at his child and grandchiId with
unsuitable pride for although they had both
risen TO high esteem among the Egyptians they
had followed without demur at their fathers
bidding, leaving behind them much to which
their hearts clung, aud which bound them to
Memphis, to Join the wandering people and
share their uncertain fate.
Miriam warmly greeted the newcomers, and
the men before her, representatives of three
generations, afforded picture on which no
kindly eve could fail to rest with pleasure The
grandfather was nigh on threeseore but. al
though there was much silver mingled with his
ebony black hair, he Sill held himself as
straight as young man, and his thin, sharply.
cut features revealed an unbending deternIina-
tion which sufficiently accounted for the readi-
ness with which his son and grandson had
obeyed his call. Uri, too, was a well-growu
man. and Bezaleel lad in whom it could be
seen that he had made good use of his l9 years
and could already stand firmly on his own feet
His artists eye sparkled with peculiar light
and when presently he and his father took leave
of Miriam to pay their respects to Caleb, their
and great-grandfather she hearth
" congratulated Hur. her brothers truest
friend, on having such descendants to keep up
the noble race.
At this Hur taking her hand, exclaimed with
a grateful fervor, which sprang from his heart
and which was usually foreign to the stern,
imperious nature of this chief of an unruly
tribe of herdsmen: "Yes, they have ever been
good and true ard dutiful. God hath protected
them and granted me to see this joyful day.
Now it lies with you to make it a high feast day
You must long since have seen thai my eve was
ever on you, and that you are dear to my heart
l am man, and you as woman are pledged to
do all that is best for the people and their well
fare and that constitutes a bond between us
louJ WOul0 IAN D6 pound TO YOU DV
stronger tie, and whereas your parents are dead,
and 1 cannot go to Amram with the bride gift
in my hand and pay him for you. ask you of
yourself in marriage, noble maiden. And be-
fore you say me yea or nay let me tell you that
my son and grandson are ready to honor YOU
the head of our house as they honor me, and
that have your hroJher's permission to ap-
proach you as a suitor."
Miriam had listened to this proposal in
speeehless surprise. She held the man who
pleaded so warmly in high esteem and was well
inclined toward him. Notwithstanding his
ripe age he stood before her in all the strength
Of manhood and lofty dignity, and the beseech-
ing of his eyes, more wont to command, went
10 her soul.
But she looked for another with ardent long
ing and her only reply was regretful shake |
Of the head.
But this man, the head of his tribe, who was
accustomed to go straight to the end of any
thing he had resolved upon, was not deferred |
by this silent rejection. and went on more
Iervently than before: do not in one moment
overthrow the cherished homes of many yearsi |