St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1906-07-21

81
: visions, and having quieted the discon
| tent of the people the march was con
! tinued, the people following the Leaf
: Of the cloud as 1t went before them.
| Back In Egypt Pharaoh received thu
news brought by his messenger witt
, amazement. -
DO you mean,' he exclaimed, .'.ha1
|, Moses has led his people down be.
tween the mountains and the sea-"
Yea, that is the way they have t.
ken, but it was the cloud moving be
| fore them that pointed the course"
"The cloud?" questioned Pharaoh
What mean you?" 49,
J, The king listened to the story Of the
appearance Of the strange thing float
ing in the heavens above the Hebrews
with growing wonder and superstitious
fears. B
ut is the presence of their god, they
think" concluded the spy. But II god
it be, he is god of folly to choose such
a course for his people,"
But are you certain of this thtng?''
+ Pharaoh asked, doubtfully. but with an
eagerness which betrayed the hope
which was springing up within his
heart. Perhaps it was but the sub
terfuge of the sly leader Moses. May
it not have been that he suspected that
some watchful Egyptians were spying
upon him and his people, and wishing
/ to mislead them, planned this detour,
expecting after their departure to turn
back and flee into the wilderness?"
NAY, oh, king, think not. But
even were it so, there is one whom
left to keep the Hebrew people in view.
He It is who will meet thee and thy
army and guide thee to the place
where thou wouldst come. Certain It
is that thou wilt find him at Ethan,
where the Hebrews encamped last and
from which point they turned aside
and fed into what will prove verita-
BILE trap for them. Whether they con-
| tinue on Gown the narrow valley or re-
turn and flee into the wilderness, It
matters not, for thy servant who
watches will know and be able to d.
rect the pursuit.
ut is WE'LL" assented Pharaoh, Gag
erly, and at once gave the commands
which summoned his chariots and
horsemen to prepare for immediate
pursuit.
Nov will be avenged upon the He
brew people for all the Ills which have
befallen me, even the cutting on Of my
first-born son. And they shall return
and serve me with more bitter bondage
than was ever known before or shall
be known hereafter"
Thus tuning In his fierce hatred he
and his Amy sped forward, and had he
needed encouragement the hot temper
OF his officers and soldiers would have
spurred him on.
At Ethan the messenger was found
awaiting the army, and he was quickly
ushered into the presence Of Phataoh,
who was eager to learn Of the move
ments OF the Hebrew people. Had they
continued on down between the noun
tains and the sea, or had they turned
and escaped in the wilderness? was
the cloud still leading? Was there
aught to fear in its presence?
In reply to these questions the mes
senger pointed eagerly towards the |
south, saying:
'Thither they have gone, and they
cannot escape thee. Now is 1t that
Pharaoh shall show that the god Of the
Hebrews is god OF folly, for what god |
is there who could deliver from thy
army in such placer"
but the cloud? Is It still lead1ng?"
Pharaoh asked, somewhat anxiously.
1T abides over the people, like q
sheltering wing" replied the man, 'but
when the eagle would seize the bird
ling from the nest he cares not for the
outspread pinions that hover about It.
So Pharaoh has naught to fear. Let IN
hasten"
The mighty host Of Pharaoh filled
the narrow valley as 1t marched and
the rumble Of the chariots and the
tread of the horses fairly shook the
which they were skirting.
To human eye what escape was there
Tor the defenceless people just ahead?
The unyielding mountains on their
right, the greedy sea upon their left
and relentless and bitter toe eagerly
them like the devouring lion
II the jungle stalking the helpless doe.
Such was the dreadful place into which
God had led His people, as He SO often
eads, that He may teach the lesson Of
mans helplessness and His own power.
Between Pharaoh and the sea! How
desperate the situation; how trying to
'ne's faith. Yea, but what of that
when He who had led thither was able !
IN the one hand to shut up the foe in
he impenetrable darkness Of his dis
pleasure, and on the other open up a
way of escape through; the mighty wa
ers! Oh, Israel! marching step by
tep into difficulty and danger as God
eads, and then finding that deliyerancel
which God alone can give, teach us the
essons of childlike submission, and
obedience, and that sim !
lie faith which sustains cen when the
ray is the darkest and dangers threat G
n on every hand! II
True Friendship. t
True friendship Is religious q.
erience-a holy sacrament. It is q
efining and enrichment Of mind and J
cart. q preparation for larger living
nd wider relations with spiritual be-
1gs. Yes, that is the central thing:
e are to meet as pure spirits, and {
ais should be q kind Of apprentice q
nip for Heaven.-Charles Gordon q
mes. l3