The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1905-02-16

jar, and the report that sheep herder
who had just arrived at the watering
place with his sheep, brought the It'd.
ings that far down on the road to the
land of Nod he had met the missing
girl in company with other young peo.
pie from this part of the country. jour
neying with a richly-dressed stranger
who was RECALLING them with stories Of
the wonders and delights of his land.
1T is the stranger who has been In
these parts for some time." exclaimed
Alfred, a sudden light breaking in upon
him. Il was talking last night with
Gether. one of the neighbor's boys, and
he seemed much excited over the stories
he had heard about Nod. In half
laughing way he asked me If l would
notylike to 60 there
''Lamech," hastily directed the father
addressing his eldest born. do you en-
deavor to overtake your sister. and seek
to persuade her and those with her to
return. l will go at once and obtain
counsel in this matter from Father
Enoch. Something must be done, for
not only is the goddess land of Nod draw
ing away our people, but the corrupting
practices Of that worldly-minded place
are slowly but surely gaining foothold
here"
While he was speaking the father had
been busy fastening the leathern san
lals to his feet, and reaching for his
staff he passed out OF the door, just as
Lamech, who had completed his prepar-
ations, started down the road in the OPP
posite direction.
As Methuselah strobe rapidly along
he pondered deeply on the conditions
which had come to pass.
Where will it end?" he asked him.
self. The time was when our people
were proud to be called Gods people,
but now they dislike and despise the
name. With the exception Of the aged
heads of the families. they have quite
forsaken their faith in God and are more
and more completely centering all
thought and ambition in material things.
The corrupting influence OF the land or
Nod is spreading. Our young people
are being drawn away by the glitter
and pleasure OF the world"
The picture grew blacker and blacker
the deeper he went into the situation,
and In despair he ut last exclaimed, over
and over again:
What can be done? What can be
done?''
And well might he be sad and trou-
bled. for the religious decline at this
time was serious and rapid. It is At
such periods Of darkness that God
chooses sometimes to send forth His
brightest light, and to work marvellous
~. and though Methueelah did not know
or realize 1t, q thing was about to tram
spire which would set peoples ears
and their hearts to pondering.
God was not going to leave His people
without exhausting every effort to turn
them from their evil ways-He never
does.
1t is not strange that Methuselah
should turn to Enoch In the present
trouble. for ever since the death at
Adam, 81 years before, he was the
recognized spiritual leader and adviser
d the people. His fame a. an upright
and godly man had spread to the land
of Nod. for even the ungOdly are quick
10 recognize purity of life and faithful
devotion to high principles. Ever
vince he was = boy and at his great
ancestor Adams knee had listened
With absorbed interest to the story of
he creation, Of the fellowship with
God in the Garden. Of sins entrance
md Gods gracioue dealings with sim
'ul man, he had seemed possessed with
} spirit Of love and devotion to God.
Thus In purity of life and unselflsh
service for others he had walked with
Sod. No wonder that his was an ever.
Widening circle of influence and that
u Adams death he should be the one
o whom the people would turn ~
heir leader and counsellor.
The eight generations OF the sons az
Adam in the line OF Seth had gath
red at the aged patriarch's bedside a
he end drew near. There vas Seth.
Fhom God had given 70 Adam and Eve
2 the place Of the godly Abel; there
vas Seth's eldest son Enos, and Hnos, |
lrst born Cainan, and Cainan's eldest |
On Mehalalesl, and Jared his SON. and |
cnoch the son Of Jared, and Methuse-
n and Metfuse!ah's son Lamech.
kQ1m had rested his hand n hless5r~I