The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-09-28
of Israel shall not marry into the

just cause against MN.
An approving nod from Aaron, and
Miriam continued:
"Sho-lld not Gods laws be obeyed?
Is it not our duty to force Moses to
put away this abOmination from
among u.s."
Aaron again nodded assent, and 1t
was soon agreed that they should seek
to arouse the people in respect to this
thing, and they zealously set to work
and spoke against the wife whom
Moses had married.
There are always those who are
ready to help in stirring up trouble,
and it was not long until all Israel
had heard the talk against Moses be.
cause he had taken his wife from
among an uncircumcised people, Such
criticism gave rise in the minds OF
the people to questions as to Moses
authority, and after a few days it be.
came apparent that Moses influence
and authority with the people were
waning.
Pleased with the apparent success
OF their plans, Miriam and Aaron grew
holder. and they spoke openly to the
people, saying:
Hath the Lord indeed spoken only
by Moses? Hath he not spoken also
by u.s."
And this became a popular saying
among the people: Hath not the Lord
spoken by Miriam and Aaron, also?"
And when 1t became noised about that
the Lord had called Moses and Aaron
and Miriam to the tabernacle, the PEG.
pie shook their heads and said:
"Now shall we see what Moses will
have to say to these things" for not.
withstanding the talk and the grow.
ing feeling against Moses, he had
made no reply, but quietly and patient.
y endured the reproaches which were
heaped upon him.
God will vindicate his servant" he
said, simply, to his wife one day, who
was grieved and troubled by the feel.
ings against her, and had been urging
Moses to take some strong measures
against his enemies. II can wait"
And when the call came from God to
meet him in the tabernacle he knew
that God had heard and would help.
Expectantly the people waited while
the three were in the tabernacle. They
had watched while Miriam, proud and
self-confident, had passed through the
camp and entered the court before the
tabernacle. At her side had walked
Aaron, as proud, and bold as she, and
the people had marked their bearing,
and again took up the cry:
Hath not God also spoken by
Miriam and Aaron?"
During this demonstration Moses
appeared, and the cry was checked as
the people noted the bowed head Of
their leader, which turned neither to
the right hand or the left as he pro.
ceeded towards the tabernacle and
disappeared through the gateway to
the court before the tabernacle with.
or Miriam and Aaron had Just gone.
The waiting people saw the pillar
OF cloud move and settle down be-.
fore the door of the tabernacle, and
they heard the sound as Of thunder
while God talked with the three.
Then after what seemed to the PEG.
pie a long time the cloud lifted and
moved to its accustomed place, and
they knew that the Lord had finished
speaking, and that soon their leaders
would appear. The friends and follow.
ers OF Miriam drew near, confident,
expectart, for had she not told them
to be there to receive her. But she
came not.
A strange silence brooded around
the tabernacle. What could it mean?
AS the cloud had lifted and withdrawn
they thought they had heard cry
as OF one in great anguish of spirit.
but there had come no further sound.
The people became more and more
nervous and apprehensive. What had
happened? Anxiously they watched
the entrance to the tabernacle court,
and just when it seemed as though
they could stand the tense strain no
longer, Miriam was seen to come from
the gateway.
With a shout of glad welcome her
friends rushed forward to meet her.
In their excitement they did not no.
tice that the head which had been
held so proudly erect when she had
entered was now bowed low, and that
the stately, dignified walk had given
place to a slow, uncertain tread. On,
on came the people, and suddenly as
they drew near, they heard the cry:
"Unclean! Unclean!" and as their
startled eyes looked more closely, they
saw that the flowing cloak had been
drawn about the head and the arms
were raised as though to warn them
back.
"Unclean! Unclean!" again came
the cry.
Horror stricken the people fell bacl..
Every eye was riveted upon that dark
g. ~