Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-03-22

was the sound OF many feet as they plod-
ded TO and fro. and the noise of trowel
and spade and hoe. and the crack of the
whiplash as some tagging footstep was
hurried 20 its task
Thus the days dragged on, and as the
walls reared themselves farther and far
Their toward the blue of the heaven. God
seemed farther and farther away. All.
II those broken walls and scattered brick
could speak to-day. what tales they
might tell of evils triumph. and the in
Fiction of suffering, What sighs they
would give forth. What rivers of tears
would How from their dusty piles, But
COD ever liveth in the heavens, and evils
longest day must have an ending. The
long years of Babel's triumph must come
TO close.
Under the strain of the heavy tasks
and the heart anguish and worry. Rurig
grew thin. and pale and weak. and being
no longer able TO stand the heavier work.
ne was transferred to the lighter tasks
OF the slime pits outside of the city.
these were located on the main road
leading to the city, and as over IL passed
most OF the slaves he had many oppor-
tunities of gaining bits of news of the
outside world, and he never failed TO
speak the name of Alisha and to ask for
tidings of her.
Alisha? Alisha?" questioned one man
one day as the large group of fettered
prisoners came to halt near where
Rurig was working. THAT sounds
something like a name heard a mere
youth give who is one of our company.
There he is now!" he exclaimed. as he
pointed out slight figure standing at
some distance
Rurig looked in the direction indicat-
ed, and as the prisoners moved forward
he caught glimpse of face which re-
minded him of his own fair girl. But il
could not be she, fettered and wearing
the garb OF youth. No! Studying close
~ the form as it disappeared in the dis
lance, he became convinced that il was
not she, and yet he could not forget the
incident Ii kept rising before him with
every recurring thought of her. and as
often he dismissed IL as unreasonable
and impossible
Thus time dragged on it's lengths. and
the vast tower was nearly completed.
Rurig and the others working with him
collecting the slime from the pits were
transferred back to the main works. as
all efforts were being concentrated for
the completion of the project that day.
But why that feverish haste on the
part of the Babelites? Does evil have its
premonitions of impending calamity
and seek by anxious. nervous hurry to
forestall defeat? Does there linger in the
heart OF the ungodly the thought that
after all God may be thwarted and hui
man plans be realized regardless of the
Divine Will? Such is certainly the case
and II marks with peculiar solemnity and
awfuiness the Judgment when il does
fall.
On that last day all the Babelites were
gathered at the tower. Everybody
seemed busy, and the slaves were being
driven to their tasks with special rigor.
The building neared completion
And God looked on.
Suddenly the black clouds rolled over
the heavens, shutting out the sun s light.
and the inky blackness which settled
down upon the tower and city of Babel
was pierced by the vivid flashes OF light
ming, while the awful rumble of the
thunder shook the structure to its foun-
dations. Is evil filled with terror in the
presence of the mighty elements which
it cannot control? Yea, verify. trans
gression of Gods law and violation of
His will makes towards of the strongest
hearts in the presence OF impending
doom. So IL was at the tower of Babel
when Gods judgment fell. huge bolt
OF lightning hurled from the ramparts
OF Heaven came rushing down and rent
in twain the massive walls of the great
structure. In wild panic the people
rushed hither and thither.
But there were calm souls beneath the
frowning walls of Babel that day. devout
souls which looked upward and thanked
God that He had heard. and answered
prayer, and had spoken.
In confusion of tongues, and confusion
of spirits too, the people were hurled in
mad haste in every direction and they
slackened not their speed until Babel
was left far far behind
rift in the clouds and a shaft Of light
descended and rested on two figures
standing on the ruins. As each looked
into the others face there was a glad
cry of recognition
''Alishal"
"Rurig!"
The lovers we're in each others arms.
Faith had triumphed. On the spot
where evil had been hurled to judgment.
had been found JOY and reunion! Where
evil had been scattered and confused
in tongue so that friends and loved ones
were estranged from each other, and so
changed in speech as to be incapable OF
intelligent conversation the friends OF
God and those who longed TO do His will
were. by the operation of the same Di-
vine power. reunited
God Is lOvei And the exDressfon ~