Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-05-26

pleasant, the Hooks and herds thriVed
and Abraham and those with him
were settling down contentedly as
though they had come to stay. Canaan
Tor the time was forgotten, and the call
and promises which had come from
God to Abraham at Haran had well-nigh
passed from memory.
But now all was changed. A great
sorrow had come TO Abraham His
beautiful wife Sarah had been taken into
.haraoh's harem. and il had come
about in this way. The princes of the
country had visited him often i'm their
desire TO be friendly. and had seen the
fair woman whom Abraham introduced
as his sister. in accordance with the
agreement between them as they left
Canaan TO go into Egypt, for Abraham
feared if he said she was his wife the
princes OF the land would covet her and
hill him for her sake
But instead of the princes seeking her
hand In marriage. an offer which she
and Abraham might safely have refused.
they told the king of the grace and beau
ty of the woman. and Pharaoh had
sought her for his harem, request
which could not be denied
And so Sarah. in anguish of spirs
but fearing teAprotest and reveal the
truth, had meekly submitted. as they
had attired her gorgeously and, with
a splendid retinue sent by the king.
had carried her with much rejoicing in
triumph TO the palace. And there she
vss now, while Abraham. crushed in
spirit, and in gree agony of mind and
heart was left desolate and alone.
Oh. the horror and distress OF those
days which followed No sleep at night
TO shut out the sorrow. no relief by day
to assuage the grief. The darkness was
made darker and the anguish cut deeper.
because he realized that by his own
wrongdoing his own deliberately
planned falsehood, he had brought the
trouble about himself.
The king showered gifts and atten-
tions upon him, all Of which he loathed,
but dared not refuse. oh, what towards
sin makes of us all. Day after day he
had sent TO inquire after the health of
Sarah, and the messengers had brought
back strange tales of troubles in the
palace.
The days Of preparation for the great
state wedding between Pharaoh and
Sarah were filled with singular mishaps
and annoying delays. The royal ap-
parel which had been prepared for the
nuptials was found moth eaten and
ruined and the court diapers were
taken suddenly i'll and unable 10 make
new garments. a strange malady
seized many of the princes and attend
ants of the court so that they were un-
able to appear before the king to re-
ceiye his orders and carry out the elab-
crate plans The bakers in the kings
kitchens had for days been busy with
meats, and pastries and corrections and
dishes of every description for the great
banquet, and when everything was
nearly ready and all that remained to
be done was TO bestow the finishing
touches they had found the great store
of viands infested with little worms and
the entire feast spoiled.
And Pharaoh himself did not escape.
strange feverishness filled his veins.
He could not rest at night. for trou-
bled dreams disturbed his slumbers
and he would awake in terror
On the night before the day set for
the royal wedding the king had an
unusually restless night. and towards
morning a most horrible dream had
aroused him He thought a great eye
was looking out of Heaven at him and
searching. him through and through SO
that his every thought was laid bare,
and every secret uncovered lie tried to
get away from it, he tried TO hide, but
that eye was ever upon him. Then came
a voice like a roll of deep thunder IL
seemed TO shake the palace walls so
that he expected 10 see il tumble in
ruins about his head, and then he heard
the words
Restore the man his wife"
Awaking with a start he summoned
his attendants and quickly dispatched
a messenger for Abraham with the COM
mand that he should come at once TO
the palace.
And in the early dawn the kings
servant had found him pacing to and
fro before his tent door. II il had been
a trying night for the king it had been
doubly SO for Abraham, knowing as he
did that the next day Sarah was to be-
come the wife of Pharaoh. How he
had wrestled with himself and with God.
How he had repented of the misstep
which had brought him down into
Egypt and the falsehood which he had
told.
Meanwhile the king had sent attend
ants TO bring Sarah into the royal pres
ence. and fearful and trembling at the
unusual proceeding and the unseemly
hour. she had obeyed. The days of
anxiety and worry had left their tell
tale marks upon her fair face, the dark
lines under the eyes and the sad droop
about the mouth told the king at a
glance that she was not happy.
Tell me-" he asked. sharply and alb
ruptly. ARE you Abraham's wife
Speak not falsely TO met" And the king
leaned forward to hear her answer.
The silence in the throneroom was