St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1906-07-07


assurance. And calling his attendant
he ordered the wine and drank with
great gusto to the gods Of the Egyp'
tians, and to the future favor and
blessing Of his son. So cheerful did
his spirits grow that he forgot about
the matters which had so greatly dis
tressed him-about the midnight hour
and the judgment Of the. Hebrew God
and as he threw himself into the
gayeties that were now at their height,
the time sped unnoticed.
"Once more let us drink to tho
gods Of Egypt" he cried. ITO the
great god that smiles upon the land
by day and that plans greater glories
for his favored ones by night
A great shout greeted the kings
proposal, and again the wine flowed
freely.
"And here's to the kings son." shout
ed voice as the young man, the cen.
ter of an animated group, was seen
approaching.
Pharaoh smiled >approvingly, and
watched the young man with glowing
pride. What q picture of health and
beauty he was. With all Of life be-
fore him, what opportunities! What
possibilities!
So Pharaoh thought, and well he
might, for the young man was we'll
favored in form and face, and bore
himself with grace and dignity. As the
father watched him advancing across
the marble floor of the great room. his
heart leaped with pride and triumph,
and he muttered to himself:
"Where is Moses boosted judgment?
The gods Of the Egyptians still reign.
and the God of the Hebrews is no god
at ALL" ~
Suddenly, and even while the words
were warm upon his lips, he saw a
deadly pallor overspread the face of
his boy. He saw him lift his hands
high above his head, while an agony
Of fear distorted his features, and with
! one piercing cry, he fell forward upon
i, his face.
Paralyzed by the sight and the awful
fear which seized him, tie king looked
upon the scene with eyes which almost
started from their sockets. His hands
gripped the ivory arms Of his throne
with an intensity which almost crushed
the delicately-carved ornaments. The
fathers eyes never moved from the OBJ
ject lying there PROSTATE upon the
ground, and he did not see that here
and there throughout the vast room
there were others falling to the ground.
He did not seem to hear the cries OF
terror and anguish all about him. He
saw but one thing, and that was the
form Of his son lying upon the door.
Could It be possible that he who was
so full of life and animation an in.
slant before was lying there now still
in death?
mo! No! MOI" he cried. "It can.
not be; it shall not be-" And leapins
from his seat with fierce cry Of de-
spair and grief. he hurried towards
him. But as he rushed blindly for
ward, he stumbled and fell over anoth.
er PROSTATE form, and looking around
he beheld a sight which CONCEALED his
very blood and made him tremble.
for on every hand the dead were lying,
while the living, panic-stricken and
Mortified, rushed wildly about and
filled the air with their cries. It was
q sight to make the strongest man
faint and falter. The king paused for
but an instant and then throwing him.
self at the side Of his dead son he
called upon him to speak to him, to
say Just one word, and when there
came no response, he staggered to his
feet, wringing his hands and calling
upon his gods to help, and cursing
Moses and his God with awful oaths
| At that moment a messenger hastily
entered.
death! Death! Death, rules every
where!" he cried in high-pitched
horror-stricken voice. Egypt has
been stricken. Haste, o Pharaoh, send
Moses and his people forth, or we b<
all dead men!"
Helpless, hopeless, Pharaoh looked
about him. Could he do It? The last
time the Hebrew leader had appeared
before him he had told him he woulG
see his face no more, and that II h
did It would mean death to Moses, ant
now instead death had stricken hi
own home and the home Of every Egyp
tian throughout the land. But ever
while he hesitated, the living among
the dead about him cried mistakenly
that Moses be called, and at last b,
yielded.
Between the rows Of dead Nose!
passed up the palace hall and came ant
stood before the great Pharaoh, who
with averted face and trembling
voice, exclaimed:
I "Rise up and get you forth from
among my people; both ye and tn.
children Of Israel: and 60 serve TIN
Lord as ye have said" He paused.
"And how about our hocks ant
herds!" Moses asked.
"Yea, also take your hocks and herds
as ye have said, and be gone; and
bless me abs" he added, his voic,
dropping to = xhisper.
Without word Moses turned and q!
he left the palace the grief-strickel
people thronged him and urged will
piteous cries and pleadings that h
would depart with his people at once
And 10 insistent were they that al
the way to Goshen they followed him
bearing In their hands all manner o
gifts, which they thrust upon the PEG
pie, and urging that they delay NO
their departure, for. said they: "W,
be all dead men,
Order, Order, Order!
'tMr. Speaker" yelled John Wesle,
Gaines, Of Tennessee, during one a