The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-07-23

u-VWlAA IN uDtnlenCo 70 roe hltndi that
there the camp was to be made.
Yea, we dare not 20 on, EXCEPT the
Cloud go before us" Moses rejoined.
quietly but with such positive en-
phasls that It was evident that no
pleading could alter his determination.
A howl OF disappointment and rage
swept over the assemblage at this am
nouncement and Jahziel stepped for
ward and said:
Would you encamp here while we
perish with thirst. when refreshing
springs OF water and the shade of
palm trees are to be found behind us?
Better that we turn back tc the place
our eyes looked upon yesterday Here
we have naught but the bitter water.
There we shall find rest and refresh
ing
Nois of approval greeted this
speech, but Moses, unmoved by the de-
fiant attitude Of the people, replied:
1T is only as we abide where God
rests his Cloud that we can expect his
blessing And as they cried again
in their distress and anger that the
water was bitter and they had naught
to drink, Moses added: God can
make even the bitter water sweet. lie
will give us TO drink"
"Can God change this vile stuff?y
Jahziel broke in with a sneer. "Why
need he have led us to such a place
when we might have found springs of
good water? You may tarry here If
you win, bus as for me, l am going
back 20 that other place." and he
turned and walked away, followed by
certain of his followers.
In silence the people watched them.
seeming half inclined to turn and fol-
low, but the presence of the Cloud
hoveripg over them aud the stern, un-
yielding face OF Moses held them in
indecision until the crisis was passed
and Jahziel and his company had
passed out of view
Then Moses withdrew into his tent.
leaving the people standing there, and
gradually the loud murmuring ceased,
as the whisper went around:
Moses has gone to pray"
For it was noted that the Cloud had
settled down upon the tent of Moses
and enveloped it, as it was wont to
do when the Lord would talk with
their leader Subdued by the sight.
the people waited, forgetting for the
moment their distressing thirst and
their disappointment at the bitter wa
ters. Then the Cloud lifted again and
Moses came forth. Without the least
glance to tho right or the left, he
passed on by the people, who watched
him with mingled awe and wonder.
On anG on he went, never pauslng un-
til ne came to the very outskirts of the
camp, by which time all the assembly
of the people had been stirred by the
unusual proceedings and came to-
gether with the rest of the people and
followed him at distance.
And while all eyes watched intently.
Moses stopped before certain tree
from which he speedily gathered sew
eral toughs and then turned and went
swiftly towards the pools of water
from which the people had so short a
time before turned away in anger and
disgust
what strange thing was this which
their leader was doing? With grow
ing interest the people followed and
came up to the edge of the waters
as Moses cast therein the boughs he
had gathered and spoke with loud
voice so that all standing near could
hear. saying:
Here would the Lord prove thee,
whether ye will walk in his ways or
no, for again has he given you de-
liverance. Drink we of the waters,
for God hath touched them with the
finger OF his power"
The voice ceased. But in all that
great company OF people there was not
one who moved TO stoop and drink, so
blind and hard of heart were they,
that they We're slow to believe the |
words which Moses had spoken.
Bit at last there came one and
kneeleG down by the waters and |
slipped half hesitatingly from the hand
he dipped into the pool Then a glad |
shout rose from i.is lips, and dropping |
on both hands he plunged his face |
into the pool and drank long and |
eagerly. Then another and another /
followed his example, and soon the |
great thirsty throng was shaking its
thirst, and shouting for joy over this
thing which God had done for them. |
In the meantime Jahziel and those
with him had lost no time in jour
neying towards the place of their
vision, but not that night nor the next /
did they find aught but the burning
sands and the rocky waste. The little
water they had brought with them was
now Well nigh exhausted, and death
stared them in the face. Wearily they
dragged on and on. Now no longer
hoping to fina the place for which they
had set out, they sought to retrace
their steps and regain the company
from which they had so willfully with
drawn, in spite OF the protests of
Moses. And at last when they had
about given up hope and were ready
10 lay down and die. they again came
In sight OF slarah
Eagerly, expectantly they pressed
forward With what little strength they /
had left, but when they had come to
The place where the camp had been
pitched they found 1t deserted and the
people had gone