The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-02-18

y her. In a short time
he came running
breathlessly back with her empty water
jar, and the report that sheep herder,
who had just arrived at the watering
place with his sheep, brought the It'd
ings that far down on the road to the
land of Nod he had met the missing
girl in company with other young peo-
pie from this part of the country. jour-
neying with richly-dressed stranger.
who was RECALLING them with stories Of
the wonders and delights OF his land.
1T is the stranger who has been In
these parts for some time." exclaimed
Alfred, a sudden light breaking in upon
him. Il was talking last night with
Gether, one of the neighbours boys, and
he seemed much excited over the stories
he had heard about Nod. In half
laughing way hs asked me II would
not like to 60 there"
"Lamecn," hastily directed the father.
addressing his eldest born, do you en-
deavor to overtake your sister, and seek
to persuade her and those with her to
counsel in this matter from Father
Enoch. Something must be done, for
not only Is the goddess land of Nod draw
ing away our people. but the corrupting
practices of that worldlyminded place
are slowly but surely gaining foothold
here"
While he was speaking the father had
h.,e foc In Ioat
dals to his feet, and reaching for his
staff he passed out OF the door, just as
Lamech, who had completed his prepar-
ations, started down the road in the OPP
posite direction.
AS Methuselah strobe rapidly along
he pondered deeply on the conditions
which had come to pass.
where will 1t end?" he asked him
self. 'The time was when our people
were proud to be called Gods people,
but now they dislike and despise the
name. With the exception of the aged
heads of the families, they have quite
forsaken their faith in God and are more
thought and ambition in material things.
The corrupting influence of the land of
Nod is spreading. Our young people
are being drawn away by the glitter
and pleasure Of the world"
The picture grew blacker and blacker
the deeper he went into the situation,
and in despair he at last exclaimed, over
and over again:
What can be done? What can be
done?"
And well might he bs sad and trou-
bled. for the religious decline at this
time was serious and rapid. 1t is at
such periods of darkness that God
chooses sometimes to send forth His
brightest light, and to work marvellous
ly, and though Methuselah did not know
or realize 1t, a thing was about to tran
spire which would set peoples ears
tingling and their hearts to bordering.
God was not going to leave His people
without exhausting every effort to turn
them from their evil ways-He never
does.
1t is not strange that Methuselah
should turn to Enoch in the present
trouble. for ever since the death Of
Adam, 81 years before, he was tho
recognized spiritual leader and adviser
Of the people. His fame as an upright
and cody man had spread to the land
Of Nod, for even the ungodly are quick
to recognize purity of life and faithful
devotion to high principles. Ever
since he was a boy and at his great
ancestor Adams knee had listened
with absorbed interest to the story of
the creation, Of the fellowship with
God in the Garden, of sin entrance
and Gods gracious dealings with sin
full man, he had seemed possessed with
spirit of love and devotion to God.
Thus in purity of life and unselfsh
service for others he had walked with
God. No wonder that his was an ever
widening circle of influence and that
at Adams death he should be the one
to whom the people would tuin as
theii leader and counsellor.
The eight generations of the sons of
Adam in the line of Seth had gath
cred at the aged patriarch's bedside as
the end drew near. There was Seth.
whom God had given TO Adam and Eve
Ia the place Of the gcdly Abel; there
was Seth's eldest son Enos. and Enos'
first born Cainan. and Cainan's eldest
son Mehalaleal. and Jared his son, and
Enoch the sol Of Jared, and Methuse-
lah and Methuselah's son Lamech.
Adam had rested his hand Of blessing
upon each one In turn, and then
Deaths strange hand had claimed him
and left the body co and lifeless.
At the simple bat impress I've funeral
service the multitude Of descendants
had gathered, and a solemn husn Tell
upon all a. Enoch pointed the lesson
OF the hofr. He spoke Of death ~ the
fUzllmert Of Gods word to Adam In