The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-01-19

NNN'A "Sh ANAP iNNAshS ~h
for his brave independence. And the
boy, as he faced his foster-mother in
the quiet of her apartments? Did
that appealing face and dropping head
and trembling little body indicate a
repentance and yielding?
Perhaps the princess thought so,
for her manner softened. and instead
Of the sharp word Of reproof which
she was preparing to speak. she
asked:
what Is 1t, Moses?"
God is above: mot there"
As he spoke the words his hand was
raised aloft and his eyes shone with a
strange and beautiful light as they
were turned toward Heaven. One
might have guessed in that moment
of testing he had seen a vision.
The princess studied the boys face
with new wonder and admiration,
and his words, ringing clear and firm,
sank into her heart. And as his
hand gracefully swept downward and
pointed in the direction of the tenn.
pie, and he spoke in positive. almost
dramatic tones, mot there" the ques.
ton flashed through her mind; Can
it be true?" 1mpatiently dismissing
the thought, and assuming an Lids
guised severity, she said, sharply:
Think you, an ignorant Hebrew
slave. can teach an Egyptian trained
in the wisdom and religion Of the
learned priests and scholars?"
The quick, hot blood mounted to the
face and brow of the sensitive boy, and
the proud woman before him was
sorry the moment she had spoken the
cutting words. She reached out her
hand to caress him, but he drew back,
impulsively.
my son." she said, appealingly,
and with loving emphasis on the
word son, my son, forgive me. !
spake hastily, and In anger"
The princess discreetly dismissed all
further reference TO the incident Of
the afternoon, but from that day on
she watched the boy closely and pom
dered deeply his words, so simply but
bravely spoken. He had done for her
what the keenest argument could not
have done: pricked her heart with the
sharp barb Of conviction and hunger
for the truth.
Thus the years passed. Moses made
rapid progress in his studies, and the
princess was both proud and pleased
with his progress. and took increasing
delight in his companionship.
But in religious matters the boy
was unrestricted, and il his failure to
share in the Egyptian worship was
noticed it was not commented on,
the priests and others yielding good
natured acquiescence in the wish Of
the princess that lne boy be left to
his own impulses I'm the matter.
In the course of time" she rea.
soned at first, "he will yield and EN-.
brace my faith"
But the years had come and gone
and there had been no sign Of way.
ering on the boys part, and nor and
did the question rise in her heart:
as the boy right?"
At length she took to asking him
questions, and gradually, bit by bit,
she won from him all the stories his
mother had told him of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. But intuitively she
felt that something was kept back,
{hnt he nod MT Naunn1ol oil 4~ ynr
It troubled and grieyed her, for she
loved the handsome, bright boy, and
longed to help him all she could.
Thus time passed, but she said moth.
ing.
One day she sent for him resolved
il possible to learn his secret. AS
he entered the apartment she was
startled by his appearance, for she
suddenly became conscious that he
was no longer a boy but a stalwart
young man. The years had gone so
swiftly that she still thought Of him
as a little boy, but as she noted his
stalwart form and manly bearing,
and the serious face and deep
thoughtful eyes, she realized as in a
fash that he was no longer her little
boy.
my son." she said, gently, as she
drew him to her side and looked
earnestly into his eyes, tell me all
that is in thy heart"
A startled, troubled look flashed
across his face and he hesitated
with evident embarrassment.
Tell you what, mother?" he asked.
THE motive behind thy life" she
said, simply.
Ills motive?" During the years OF
his life in the palace he had
quite forgotten the suffering and
hardships of his oppressed people,
nor the burning words Of his mother
at parting, as she whispered: THY
God. Thy mission!" And he had
vague dreams of the time when he
could help them. But could he tell bis
foster-mother, this Egyptian woman
who did not believe in his God, who
cared not for his suffering peoplel
Could he trust her to that extent?
He felt the loving pressure Of her
hand; he looked into her earnest, kind
ly face; he felt encouraged, but still
h~esitated.