Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-06-30

Anu was IL you VINO surred up the
people against them?" asked the
other.
THAT IL was! And had sudden
blindness not overtaken us so that we
could no. come at the door, we should
have seized them and torn them In
pieces.
Thus talking, they watched the fee
ing forms until they disappeared
"Gone!" laconically exclaimed an
other OF the group, and then. seized by
a sudden inspiration. he cried: And
whose shall all these things be?" mo-
tioning towards the house.
BY way OF response a simultaneous
rush was made for the door through
which Lot and his family had Just
come. and the blind man, with slow,
uncertain footsteps. followed as best he
could, and soon high carnival reigned
within
In the meantime the messengers
clinging fast hold OF their half-reluc-
tant charges, FASTENED towards the
city's gate. Past the busy scenes of
the city's life, without stopping TO note
the dark sneeTs, or heed the hooking
laugh and insulting speech of the
groups OF people that filled the streets,
they soon came 20 the market place
where for so many years Lot had ruled.
There was his seat of authority, there
were the merchants gathered, there
were all the activities and interests
over which he had ruled so success
fully, and now dignity, honor treasure
gone, he was being swept helplessly by
the scenes OF his triumphs and out OF
the city by these two strangers!
Lot breathed a sigh of relief when
the awful ordeal was over, and the
messengers had gotten them well out
of the city, but they never paused in
their flight until they came TO the
place where Lot had first pitched his
tent years before, and where, yielding
to the attractions of Sodom, he had
moved thither Then spake one of the
messengers, saying:
Escape for thy life, look not be.
hind thee, neither stay thou in all the
plain; escape to the mountain, lest
thou be consumed"
And Lot said unto them:
ooh, not so, my Lord. Behold now
thy servant hath found grace in thy
sight and thou hast maenidod thy
mercy. which thou hast showed unto
me in saving my life; and | cannot
escape 90 The mountain lest some evil
take me and ] die. Behold now. this
city is near To- fee unto. and it is
little one. Oh let me escape thither
Cs it not a little one9 and my soul
shall I've"
And De said unto him:
"Soe. I have accepted thee concern
ing this thing also. that I will not
overthrow this city. for which thou
hast spoken. Haste thee, escape
thither; for / cannot do anything till
thou be come thitder. And with this
parting warning. the messengers of
the Lord disappeared leaving Lot and
his wife and daughters to make their
way alone.
Come, Let us hasten!' cried
Lot. feeling the terror of the impend-
ing Judgment. and needing the parting
warning.
Thus on they continued their flight,
and the only sounds which broke the
stiffness of the morning air were the
songs of the birds as they skinned on
the bosom of the suns golden light,
then streaming over the earth. and an
occasional sob and moan from Mrs.
Lot
But soon her steps began TO lag be-
hind. and TO Lots urgent appeal that
she remember the warning TO linger
not or look behind. she returned impa-
tient and angry reply Her heart and
her treasure were behind her. and
how could her feet move where her
heart and desire did not 90 also?
In agony Of fear Lot half dragged.
half pushed his wife along. the while
pleading with her 20 remember the
warnings and the destruction which
iay behind.
Let go Not another step will |
take" at last she exclaimed, hercely.
And then. losing herself completely,
she began 20 rave over the treasures
and life which she had left behind.
"Sodom TO be destroyed, I don't
believe it," she shouted. Go on to
Zoar. il you want to! I'm going back
10 Sodom" and tearing herself loSe
from the grasp Of her husband, she
sped back over the plain.
Lot dare not pursue after her, for
the words Of the Lords messengers
sounded in his ear; Look not be
hind thee; neither stay thou in all
the plain" And so. beating his bosom
in the agony Of his increasing despair,
he continued on his way with his two
daughters, who were weeping bitterly
So they came to Zoar. and as they
entered a sudden. fearful roar rent
the air. the earth trembled beneath
their feet. mrid fash crossed the
heavens. brighter than the suns glare,
and then darkness covered Zoar. while
over the plain below there rose the
fire and smoke. as though from
mighty furnace.
And away of TO the northwest. on
Hebron's lofty heights. a solitary soul