Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-27


our God who spoke by him, for he touched
the hearts even OF the rebelliOus, so that
they murmuTed and complained no more.
And when at last he proclaimed TO the
multitude that no erring man, but the Lord
God himself, would be our captain; when
he described the beauty of the promised
land, whose gates he would open be-
fore us and where we should dwell
as free and happy men, released
from all bondage, owing no obedl-
ence to any but to the God of our fathers and
those whom we may choose for our leaders,
it was as though every man there was drunk
with new wine, and as if the way that lay
before them, instead of barren track across
the desert into the unknown, led to a great
feast spread for them by the Most High
Himself. Nay, and even those who had not
heard Aaron's words were likewise filled
with marvellous confidence, and men and
women were all more cheerful and noisy
than their wont at the harvest feast, for all
hearts overhowed with pure hankfulness.
the father of Nun, who is 100 years old, and
as you know has long sat bent and silent in
his seat, rose up with light in his ewes
and spoke fiery words. The spirit of the
Lord had come upon him as upon us all.
81 felt myself quite young again in body
and soul, and as / passed by the carts
which were made ready for their departing
I saw Elisheba with her babe in litter,
and she looked as happy as on the day of
her marriage, and pressed her infant to her
heart and blessed his lot in growing mp in
the Promised Land and free. And her hus-
band, Deuel., who had blasphemed the loud
est, swung his staff and kissed his wife and
child with tears of joy in his eyes, and
.4,oI7 -
ing when jars and wine skins are too small
to hold the blessing. The old woman, too.
Graveyard Keziah, who had torn herself
away from the tombs of her race, sat with
other feeble folk in a chariot, and waved
her veil and Joined in the hymn of praise
which Elkanah and Abiasaph, the sons of
Korah, had begun. And thus they set
forth. We who were left behind fell into
each others arms, and knew not whether
the tears we shed flowed from our eyes for
grief or for over Joy at seeing the multitude
of those we loved so glad and full Of hope.
Thus it came to pass.
"Pitch torches were carried in front OF the
multitude, seeming to light it up more
brightly than the great blaze of lamps which
the Egyptians light up at the gates of the
temple to Meth, and it was not till they
were swallowed up in the darkness that we
behind the rest. As we made our way
through the light the streets were full of
the mourning cry of the citizens, but we
sang softly the hymn of the sons of Korah
and great Joy and peace fell upon us, for we
knew that the Lord our God would keep and
lead His people"
Here the old man ceased, but his wife and
the girl, who had hearkened to him with
eager eyes, drew closer to each other, and
without any word between them they both
together began the hymn of praise, and the
old woman's thin voice mingled with
pathetic fervor with the harsh tones of the
girl, ennobled as they were by lofty enthusi-
Rsm.
Joshua felt that it would be wicked to
break in on this overflow of full hearts, but
the old man presently bade them cease and
looked up at bis masters first born son with
anxious inquiry in his grave features.
Had Joshua understood?
Had he made it plain to this warrior who
served Pharaoh how that the Lord God him.
self had ruled the souls of His people at
their departing.
Was he so iallen away from his own ma
tion and their Goa, so led away by the
Egyptians, that he would dare to defy the
wishes and commands of his own father?
Was be, in whom they had set the high
est hopes, deserter and lost to his own peo-
Pile?
To these questions he might have no an
swer in words; but when Joshua took his
henry old hand between bis own and shook
it as that of friend, when he bade him
farewell, his eyes glistening with moisture,
and murmured, "You shall hear of me %
he felt that this was enough, and overcome
by vehement Joy he kissed the soldiers arm
and clothing again and again.
fTo BE CONTINUED NEXT sUSpAY,1