The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-07-27

~2~ toe plainly the dis
content they felt within.
How delightful had been the short
rest there. The cool water and the
fruit of the date palms had seemed to
them the very acme OF human comfort,
and is they had rested under the
shade they had talked together of the
delights Of the place, After the long,
fatiguing journey across the dry and
parched wastes since leaving Egypt
the place had been like a perfect par
adise, and they had wondered what
the Promised Land must be IL it was
more to be desired than this place of
y deep, cool, i~neXhaustible wells Of
water, and the great grove of palm
trees which not only sheltered from
the searching rays of the hot sun, but
gave Of their abundant fruits for the
refreshing Of the people. The proyi-
sions they had brought with them
from Egypt, while wholesome and
abundant up to this time, were dry
and not particularly appetiZing, and so
the fresh fruits of the laden trees had
been eagerly gathered and eaten with
intense relish.
All this h2d made the people con-
tent to remain, and in the joy and
satisfaction of the present ease and
comfort they had ceased to think of
the Promised Land toward which they
were jCurneying. They had rejoiced
with hearts overlooking with gratitude
for The leading of the Lord which had
brought them thither. They were sure
now the Lord had been directing their
journey. They quite forgot the hard
ships and trials of the way over which
they had come, and wondered how it
could have been that they had ever
doubted him or murmured against
him, For while they rested there at
beautiful Elm it was easy to be joy
full and to trust God.
But at last when one morning the
Cloud lifted and the trumpets blew,
and the orders were given for the
DAItNA4hG VI LAC camp VIC lfJRiC
looked cut dIscOnsolately upon the
stretch of sand and rocks lying bare
before them. Again the heat and the
fatigue of the journey and the parch-
ing thirst which was poorly slaked by
the tepid water from the water bottles,
brought to them discomfort of body
and irritation of spirit, and doubts and
qu%estionings began again to creep into
their hearts.
Was the Lord leading them Alright,
after all? Why need they plunge into
such trying journey, when Elm, the
place OF refreshing, was just behind
them, and where they might abide yet
many days? Thus did the people
quickly forget the goodness Of the
Lord, and doubt his wisdom as he
faithfully led them forward towards ;
better country and a larger life,
But as though the discomfort of the
journey was not enough to try them
and make them murmur, when the
people had settled down in camp that
night after the long march, they dis
covered that the provisions were run
ming low. While at Elm they had not
been conscious Of the lack, but now
shut III on every side by the wilder
ness Of barren sands, and with none
of the fresh dates to take away the
dryness Of their ~unleavened cakes,
they suddenly awakened to a realiza-
ton that little was left of that which
they had brought with them from
Egypt.
Just who first made the discovery
and sounded the first note of alarm is
not known, but in an incredibly short
space of time the cry spread through.
out tie entire camp and everybody
was asking Of his neighbor:
How much hast thou in thy lard
err"
This led to careful search, and as the
people came to understand how very
low indeed was their supply of provi-
sions, for no man had more than
enough for another meal, the cry was
raised that they would perish Of hun.
ger there in the wilderness. Confu-
sion and tumult filled the camp. In
the anger born of the terror Juggling
at their hearts because of the calamity
which the people saw staring them IL
the face, they tesieged their rulers
demanding of them what should be
done.
Would to God we had died by the
hand OF the Lord in the land Of
Egypt" they cried, in their distress
wringing their hands in the intensity
of their emotion. In Egypt W. die
sit by the flesh pots, and did eat breaC
TO the full, but nov ye have brough'
us forth into this wilderness to XII
this whole assembly with hunger"
Thus did they cry out against theii
leaders until at last they were driver
to seek the face of Moses and Aaron
before whom they laid the matter
showing how desperate was the situa
ton, and how threatening the attitude
Of the people.
"Why had We not fastened to thee
we verify believe they would have
stoned us in their displeasure," the.
cried, "for when they asked us wherI
food was coming from, we could no
give them swe And now what say
est thou? Hath the Lord led us thith
er to give us a prey to hunger?"
Moses looked into the faces befor'
him, sfartled and troubled, and not
little alarmed by this new crisis whicl
had SO suddenly opened before him
What answer could he make? Wha
step could he take to allay this tn
mutt? He knew not where food cou1t
be had! He knew only that the peopl
were eating Of their last cakes, an