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

| her way. and the sound of her brother Moses
| deep voice made her start as she reached the
| sycamore.
CHAPTER XIII.
Aaron and Eleazar in stirring words had re-
minded the murmuring, disheartened people of
| the might and promises Of their God Those
VIII, had stretched themselves out quietl to
| rest, after being refreshed by drink and food,
found their lost confidence revived. The freed
bondsmen remembered the cruel slavery and
degrading blows from which they had escaped,
acknowledging, as the others did, that it was by
Gods providence that Pharaoh was not pur-
suing them. The rich supplies, which were
still being distributed from the plundered
storehouse, contributed not little to reanimate
their courage and the serfs and lepers-for
they, for the most part had marched forth
also, and were resting outsid the camp-in
short, all those for whose maintenance Pharaoh
had provided, knew that for some time they
were secure from need and want. Neverthe-
less there was no lack of discontented spirits,
and now and then, without anyone knowing
who had started the question, it was asked if it
would not be wise to turn back and trust to
| Pharaoh's forgiveness. Those who uttered it
did so secretly, and had often to take sharp
or threatening answer
Miriam had come out to meet her brothers
and shared their anxiety. How quickly had
the spirit of the people been broken in this
short march by the hot desert wind How dis
contented, how distrustful, how hostile they
had shown themselves at the very first adver-
sity! How unbridled in following their own
wild impulsesi
When they had been called together for
prayer on the way, short time before sunrise,
some had turned toward the sun as it rose in
the east, some had pulled out images of the
gods which they bad brought with them, and
Others again had fixed their eyes on the acacia
trees by the road, which were regarded as sacred
| IN many nf the provinces by the Nile. What, in
deed, could they know of the God who had
commanded them to leave SO much behind
them and to carry such burden? Many of
them wer' even now quite disheartened, and as
yet they had faced no real danger, for Moses
had proposed to lead the people by the direct
road to Philistia into the Promised Land of
Palestine but their demeanor forced him to
give up this place and think of another.
In order TO reach the highway which con-
nected Asia and Africa, it was necessary to
pass over the isthmus which really divides
rather than 1t unites the two continents; but it
was well defended from invaders, and the way
was secure from fugitives partly by natural and
partly by artificial obstacles A succession of
deep lakes broke the level land, and where
these did not check the wanderers march
strong Notifications lowered up, in which lay
Egyptian troops ready to fight.
Khetan or, as the lsraelites called it Ethan
was the name of this range of forts, and the
nearest and strongest could be reached in few
hours by the tribes who were marching from
Succoth.
With the people full of the spirit of their God.
inspired and prepared for the worst freed from
their chains and rejoicing in their newly gained
liberty, rushing along toward the Promised
Land, Moses and the other leaders with him
had intended that, like mountain torrent
bursting through dams and sluices, they should
annihiate and destroy all who came in their
way. With this inspirited throng whose bold
advances might achieve the highest triumphs,
and to whom cowardly retreat could have
meant nothing but death and destruction they
had expected to overthrow the works of the
Ethan frontier like pile of brushwood But
now that few short hours of WEAKNESS and
suffering had quenched the fire in their souls
now that on every side could be seen for every
happy, elated man. two Indifferent and five dis
contented or frightened the storming of the
Ethan lines would have caused streams of
blood and would have risked all that Jhey had
already gained.
The conquest of the little garrison in the
storehouse at Pithom happened under such
favorable circumstances as they could not ex-
pect to occur again, and SO the original plan
had to be altered and an attempt made to get
round the fortress. Instead of marching north
east the people turned toward the south
These things were discussed under the syca-
more tree in front of Aminadab's house and
Miriam listened, mute witness.
When the men held counsel the women. and
she also, had to be silent, but she found it hard
to hold her peace when they came to the con-
clusion that they must avoid attacking tine
forts, even If Joshua the man skilled in war
and chosen by the Lord Himself to be the
n.
''Of what avail is the bravest leader when
there is no army to obey him?' cried Nahshon,
the son Of Aminsdab, and the rest had been of
his opinion.
When at length the assembled elders parted
Moses took leave of his sister with brotherly
tenderness. She knew that he had it in his
mind to go forth into fresh dangers, and in the
modest way she always used when she ventured
to speak to the man who, in body and mind,
was SO far above all others, she told him of her
fears. He looked her in the face with kindly
reproof, and with his right hand pointed to
heaven. She understood him, and kissed his
hand with grateful warmth, saying: Thou art
under tt g shield of the Most High, and fear
no longer"
He pressed his lips to her brow, and taking
her tablets from her, wrote on them a few
words and cast them into the hollow stem of
the sycamore.
For Hosea-nay, for Joshua, I" said he, 'ff
he should come while am absent. The Lord
hath great things for him to do when he shall
have learned to trust in Him rather than in the
mighty ones of the earth"
He quilted her; but Aaron, who, as being the
elder. was the head of the family, remained
with Miriam, and told her that a worthy man
had asked for her to wife; she turned pale, and
answered: 81 know it."
He looked her in the face. much surprised,
and went on in tone of grave warning:
1T must be as you will, but it would be well
that you should reflect that your heart belongs
to God and to your people; the man whom you
marry must be as ready as Yourself to serve
wed, and if the highest aim of one is as naught
TO the other, they are no more one, but two.
The voice Of the senses which called them to-
gether is presently silent, and what remains is
gulf between them.n
With these words he left her, and she. too.
turned to quit the assembly, for perhaps now,
on the eve of their departing she might be
needed in the house of which she was an in
mate; but a new incident arose to keep her by
the sycamore, as if she were bound and fettered
to it,
What could the packing, matter and the care
for perishabe treasure and worldly goods, when
questions here were raised which stirred her
whole SOUL There was Elisheba, Nahshon's
wife, and any housewife or slave woman could
do the home work; here there were other mat
ters TO decide, the veal OF woe of the nation.
Certain men of the better sort from among |
the people had by this time Joined themselves |
to the elders under the sycamore, but Hur had |
departed with Moses.
Now Ur, the son Of Hur, came into the |
group. He, as metal worher, but Just come |
from Egypt, had at Memphis had dealings with |
many about the court, aud be had heard that |
the King would be willing to relieve the He /
breRs Of their heaviest burdens and to grant |
them new privileges, if only Moses would en-