The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-06-24

until at last they were LOST 10 view ID
the distance.
why art thou astir SO early, and
where hast thou been" queried Sarah
as Abraham returned to his tent with
slow and heavy step.
GOD hath granted thy WISH" re-
sponded Abraham, with choking voice,
averting his face that his wife might
not see the tears which welled from
his eyes. They are gone"
And out In the wilderness of Beer
sheba Hagar wandered alone with her
son. Alone? Nay, did she but know
1t, the Lord was near to comfort and
help her In her need. But she felt
alone. Desolation and death seemed
to lie before her. She struggled to re-
member what the angel had promised
her concerning the lad, she tried to
find comfort In the assuring words
which Abraham had spoken as she de-
parted. but the wilderness surrounded
her, no shelter opened to receive her.
no hand was visible to help, and the
distress of the moment drove all other
thoughts away.
And Ishmael, trudging on in silence
by his mothers side. noted the deep
ening look Of distress in her face. felt
the spirit of her encouragement, and
within him there rose a purpose and
ambition which he had not known be-
fore. During that walk in the wilder
ness Ishmael, the boy, was transformed
Oh nv ka kvou hoo tnA
Of the wilderness. The hopes which
he had had as a son Of Abraham faded
before the enlarging ambition which
came as he realized the old life was
behind, gone forever, and that before
him were new possibilities and untried
powers. He tried to comfort his moth
er, but she would not be comforted.
LET us rest here, for we cannot go
farther tonight" said Hagar, YEARLY,
as they came to a sheltered place
amidst the rocks where the grasses
grew. Seating themselves, they ate of
the bread and quenched their thirst,
and then prepared to lie down to
sleep.
Tomorrow we will press on towards
mine own country" spoke Hagar, half
to herself, giving expression to the
thought which was running through
her mind. And then, moved by an i'm
pulse born of the old memories that
crowded in upon her, she told Ishmael
of Egypt, of her early life there, OF
her service in Pharaoh's household.
and OF how she had been given to
Sarah, Abraham's wife, when she and
Abraham had been sent away.
That was many years ago." con-
cluded the mother, thoughtfully, "but
surely there will be some one who will
remember Hagar and give her shelter"
The boy listened to the story atten-
lively. but his mind kept reverting to
the words which Abraham had spoken
as they departed that morning. IN
fact they had been running through
his mind ali day, and his mothers
story and the thought of going 70
Egypt did not seem to attract him.
What did he mean. mother?" at last
asked the boy, speaking that which
was uppermost in his heart.
Vho' WHoIi sue qucSIlOneu, IN
perplexity.
why, Father Abraham! Don't you
remember he declared that God had
said that He would make of me a
great nation?"
The mother started. She had been so
filed with the thought of getting back
to Egypt. Of finding haven there, that
she had for the moment forgotten the
promises concerning Ishmael. And
while she tried to explain as best she
could the boy dropped of to sleep.
But his question started new train
Of thought for her. Again she recalled
the words Of the angel: "He will be
wild man; his hand will be against
every man, and every mans hand
against him." Surely this could not
mean Egypt. And in her sleep that
night Hagar dreamed that great
mountain rose up and filled the path
way to Egypt and a hand pointed back
to the wilderness. /,
And in obedience to the thought and
the impression of the night Hagar con-
tinued her wanderings In the wilderness.
and another day dragged out its weary
lengths and again they lay down to
rest with, the silent stars as watchers.
Footsore and weary they started the
next morning after having partaken Of
their last bit of bread and having drained
their last drop Of water from the leath-
ern bottle Fierce did the sun beat down
upon them, and fevered became their
heads and parched their lips. At last
Ishmael, completely overcome. sank to
the earth. unconscious, and with break
ing heart the mother half dragged, half
carried him to the shelter of some shrubs
growing near.
SEEKING the water bottle. she tried to
squeeze from 1t one refreshing drop OF
water to cool the raging fever of the boy,
but only the dry cracking of the skin
came to mock her efforts. In the
frenzy of her grief she flung II from her.
and then realizing how poweriess she
was to give her boy any relief, and un-
able longer to look upon his uncon-
scioss suffering face, she Ned from the
spot, weeping bitterly, and crying:
Let me not see the death Of the
child!"
And in that moment of her anguish