The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-05-11

$3.50 49, -N 49, h@
king by a gesture held them back and
babe them be silent.
"And the fish that is in the river shall
die, and the river shall stink: and thou
and thy people shall loathe to drink OF
the water"
The words rang out clear and sharp
and. as Moses ceased speaking, an OPP
pressiye silence brooded over the great
assembly OF people, like the ominous
calm which precedes the storm. Every
eye was riyeted upon the king, but with
an imperious air and a sternness which
made those about him tremble, he
roared:
Enough of this. Let the ceremonies
proceed. The god of the great river
awaits our homage" and motioning to
the priests they again struck up the
chant:
Hail, o Nile, thou contest forth over
this land; thou contest in peace, giving
life to Egypt, 0 hidden god"
As the words, 20 hidden god" were
spoken Moses placed the rod in Aaron's
hand and the latter stepped to the wa
| ter's edge and smote the river.
Instantly the sparkling waters OF the
Nile were transformed before the vision
of the king and all the people. Instead
of the silvery sheen they beheld with
horror their sacred river take Oh the
hue of blood.
The priests stopped their chant, and
from the CHASTITY sight OF the river the
eyes of all turned towards the king in
ouiringly. What could he say to this
What could he DO to show that the god
of the Nile was more powerful thar the
God of the Hebrews in whose name this
wonder had been performed? The trst
look of horror and CONSERVATION passed
from the face of Pharaoh and an express
sion of imperious disdain took its place
and he commanded that his mag1clans
and sorcerers be brought.
Now there was in the garden where
the king and people had gathered a
beautiful artificial lake in the center Of
which a great fountain played, throw
ing up its crystal spray like showers OF
flashing diamonds, To this body OF
water now all turned as the magicianS
of Pharaoh gathered upon its brink
that they might try by their enchant-
ments to perform a wonder like that
which Moses and Aaron had just
wrought. Intently the vast assemblage
waited while the incarnation was be-
ing said and then the magicians struck
the waters and called upon their gods.
But there was no change. The waters
still lay silver white and the fountains
spray flashed and sparkIed in the bright
sunlight.
So intense was the suspense that peo-
pie scarcely breathed. Were Pharaoh's
magicians defeated? The people
turned to look in the direction of their
king, and by way of answer he thun-
dered:
LET James and Jambres be brought.
The gods of Egypt will speak through
them"
Hastily messengers were sent to the
temple to summon the chiefeSt OF
Pharaoh's sorcerers, and while the peo-
pie waited they took up the cry of
James, Jambres,'' and kept up the
tumult until there came an answering
call from the opposite shore of the lake
and the royal barge was seen approach
ing swiftly.
AS it drew near the shore and an
chored, James and Jambres were seen
standing in the bow. Waving the peo-
pie to silence, they called to the king,
saying:
let not the king be troubled. The
god of the Nile is angry at the action
of Moses and Aaron this day, and that
the king nay know that it is not the
god of the Hebrews who has done this
things let the waters here be turned to
blood"
AS they finished, they leaned out over
the lake and chanted their mysterious
phrases and even while they were
speaking, the waters were seen to slow
Iy change from the blush tinge, which
reflected the perfect blue Of the sky
above, to the deep, dark, blood-red hue
which but a short time before had been
noted upon the waters of the Nile.
A shout of triumph broke from the
threats of the multitude, which was
quickly hushed as they looked out owe
the lake before them and saw its sur
face covered with the sacred gold and
silver fish placed there in token of the
favor of the gods upon Pharaoh's daily
visits thither,
Pharaoh noted the look and con
scious of the silence turned and spoke
to James and Jambres who stood near
him, and these two, lifting their voices
strong and clear so that all the multi
tude could hear, shouted:
But even the gods of Egypt are will
ing to sacrifice the sacred fish of the
royal gardens If but the god of Moses
and Aaron may be d%ishonored. Who
is the god of the Hebrews that we
should listen to him? Begone, Moses
and Aaron, tt thy people and tell them
that Pharaoh will not let them 60"
Tired Of the Monotony.
pfchop noane of Albany n3uSed for