St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-06-24

hostile king and his army? quickly
questioned his son-in-law, Prince Bera.
I'VE were never better able to resist an
attack. l will see my father, the king,
at once, that We may. be prepared
Nay. would that it were only hui
man foe we have to fear But it is more,
for the God of Heaven hath sent His
messengers. saying that the city is to be
destroyed because of it's wickedness!"
A wild chorus of laughter greeted
these words, and then followed coarse,
testing and vile abuse such as Lot had
nevfS before been forced to endure. At
last realizing that further effort to con-
vince his son-in-law was useless, he
broke away from him and the rest of
the company, and disappeared in the
darkness.
Say, knew the old man was little
queer sometimes, but hes crazy now,
sure!' remarked the prince when he had
gone.
Hell try to get your wife a7d her
sisters to go with him, I'll wager" spoke
up another
They'll never CO." was the quick
response, and then, after a moments
silence. he suddenly clasped his hands
on his knees and exclaimed, gleefully:
Here is a lark!"
They all shouted good as he UNI
folded his plans to them, and then
quickly separated.
In the meantime Lot had reached the
house of Princess Bera, and arousing
her and her servants he quickly broke,
to her his startling message.
Come with me, lest you be con-
sumed in this dreadful place"
1t was the first time Lot had referred
to Sodom thus, but the terror Of the
Lord was upon him, and the iniquity
| of the place had never been revealed
to him before as it had that night.
Earnestly he pleaded, but his daugh-
| ter laughed him to scorn.
Il cannot tarry longer" at last cried
| the heart father, Il must hurry
on to thy sisters. 1t may be that they
will heed Gods warning! Oh, why did
I ever bring my family into this
| placer"
| At that moment the notes of lively
music broke on the air, and gay COM
pany of people with much wild frolic
| and laughter burst into the room.
"A dance and feast in honor Of Lott"
| shouted Prince Bera, as he came for
ward and caught his wife for the
weird, rhythmic dance.
| "Ah, ha, ha! This is too good!" she
cried. Why, father wants me to flee
the city"
| And we have come to bid you good
BY" exclaimed the two sisters, who
had come in with the other merry
makers, and their shrill, sarcastic
laugh sounded above the music and
hum of the voices.
But father was just going to look
you up and take you with him? Have
you packed your things?" responded
the princess in light, reckless spirit.
At this sally all laughed, and one OF
the sons~in-law, turning to Lot, who
stood looking in mute horror and an
guish upon the scene. asked, in spirit
of mock solemnity: =.
I'VE shall miss you. Father Lot,
when you are gone. May have your
place at the gate?"
If Lot before had failed to speak OF
God, and to denoulce the wickedness
of the place, not so now, for fear of
God and love for his children gave him
a boldness in the face of all the scorn
and ridicule. He told of how the Lords
| messengers had come, of their warn
ing, and of how they awaited his re-
turn to lead them forth from the city
before it should be swept away.
up, get you out of this place!'' he
! finally cried, "for the Lord will destroy
this city!"
And. by way of response, the music
burst forth and the dancing and merry
i making went on, and as Lot withdrew
they shouted after him:
"We'n keep things going until you
get back. Sorry you can't stay and en-
JOY yourself"
AS Lot retraced his steps to his own
home what conflict ragged within him!
Remorse, and bitter anguish, guilty
conscience, and the grief over the loss
of his daughters tore at his heart, and
as he passed along the streets and saw,
in the dawning light of the morning,
the signs on every hand of awakening
| to the activities of another day, he
realized how idle and vain had been all
| of his ambitions. He had centered all
/ his desires and ambitions here, and
| now all was to be swept away, and he
was to have-what? Only his life! Like
a brand snatched from the burning, he
| was to be saved, but
He had reached his own door and
passing within he finished the thought.
as his pent-up feelings burst forth,
and he groaned:
"But they would not heed my warn
ings! They will not leave the city!
How can go without them? How can
20? How can l go? who am re-
sponsible for their being here! who
have been pleased to find them hus-
hands from among the Sodomites! !
must leave them to the doom OF the
city!"
| All. how bitter is the remorse of a
guilty conscience. But Lot was only
beginning to drink of the bitter cup