The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-15
Fourth Quarter. Lesson HI. 2 Kings iv,
 25-37. October 16, 1904.
Elisha and the shunammite.

Elisha and the Shunammite.
 This lovely idl shines in the trouble stream of public life. We stumble up- on the comparatively small domestic in- cident in the midst of wars and kings craft, Hospitality, contentment, moth er-love. bereavement, grief, faith and nportunity,--all are shrined in this story. It casts its light upon the char acter of the prophet and upon the hu- man life of thirty centuries ago.
 Shunem, of the tribe of Issachar, and lying between Samaria and Carmel was in the heart of the wheat belt of Pal estine, and on the highway of travel. Here. on bis own estate, lived an in dependent farmer, whose life was char acterized by thrift. piety and content ment. She recognized Elisha as a ser want of the Lord, and, as such, extend- ed her hospitality to him. The room she made for him on the wall has pass ed into a proverb, 'The prophets cham ber.' This hospitality was marked by a thoughtful consideration of the needs of professional man. The location of his apartment on the roof, approached by an outside staircase, made 1t possi- ble for the prophet to come and go at will, without observation on the part of the family. He could have as much privacy as if he was in his own home.
 Another jewel set In the f1ligree of this story Is Contentment. When the prophet asked his hostess. In apprecia- ton of her generosity, if he should name her husband for preferment at court or in the army. her answer was. q dwell among mine own people," She might have said:
 My crown is in my heart, not on my
 head,
 Not decked with diamonds and Indian
 stones.
 Nor to be seen; my crown is called
 content
 A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy"
 Another jewel shines out in the dark hour of her bereavement-Faith. She believed that the son given to her un- der such unusual conditions, and taken from her in such an inexpltcable man. ner could be restored to her. She would, undoubtedly, In due time, have shown the grace of resignation, but 1t is to her credit that she did not too quickly say, "The Lord hath taken away" Not until she had made stren- uous effort at, recovery was she ready to say. submissively, Blessed be the name of the Lord"
 The prophet, from his eyrie on Mount Carmel, saw the Shunammite approach ing. The unusual hour, toward even ing, and not a Sabbath or new moon. as we'll as the speed with which she travelled, excited his apprehension. But he failed not in courtesy. His servant was dispatched with saIutations. The emptiness of the average greeting is here illustrated. It was mere pass ing of the word of day. The woman s business was with the prophet, not with his servant. It Is said that if in the East you asked after a person whom YOU know to be Ill. invariably the re- nly will be, Well, thank God" when the very next sentence Is to inform YOU that he is dying.
 moment later the bereaved mother was clasping the feet of the man of God. Gehazi, self-appointed guardian of h!s Masters dignity. cold and ob- tuse, was for thrusting the woman aside. Sympathy is penetrativs, and Elisha had
 "A tear for pity. and c hand,
 Open as day for melting charity"
 He said to his ofacious servant, Let