The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-07-27


him. startled and troubled, and not a
little alarmed by this new crisis which
had So suddenly opened before him.
What answer could he maize? What
step could he take to alIdy this tu-
multi? He knew not where food could
be had! He knew only that the people
we're eating of their last cakes, and
that the cry of distress mad been raised
in the camp.
Yes, and he knew this one thing
more, for as he raised his eyes from
the dark, dstrustful faces before him,
they fell upon the Cloud which how
cred in faithful attendance over them,
and he became conscious of the Dl-
vine presence and a reStful calm and
confidence stole in upon his heart. He
remembered as in an instant how when
face to face with the crisis at the Red
sea the Lord had delivered. He re-
membered the waters at Marah, sweet
ened Under the touch OF the branches
pointed out to him by God. He re-
called the wells of water and the palm
trees at Elm to which the LoSd had
SO graciously led them, even while the
people were declaring that the will
derness was a dreadful place and there
was no place where they could find
rest.
And as these recOllectiOns crowded
in upon his heart, he took new cour-
age. God had helped in times past,
he would not fail him now. With the
confidence born OF faith therefore, he
looked again into the faces of the
men before him and said with quiet
cheerfulness:
Command that the people gather to-
gether before the Lord, for he has
message for his people. Think not
that he has forgotten thee, or that he
will let thee perish here in the will
derness. Hast thou forgotten the de-
liveranee at Pihahiroth? or the mir
acle at Marah? or the place to which
he led thee at Elm? Go, then, and
call tho people togethe"!"
Almost shamefacedly at the search
ing rebuke, the rulers departed, and
while they were making known to the
people the message Of Moses, the lat
ter was bowed before the Lord, telling
him Of this new problem and receiving
from him the solution thereto.
Like a smouldering volcano, resting
from its first Outburst of violence, the
people gathered as they were bid, but
it was plain to see that blind unbe-
lief mad shut out from their vision all
thought of possible deliverance from
the calamity which threatened them.
With nothing but barren waste on
every hand, where was there food to
be had? No, now, not even God could
deliver? But Moses had summoned
them. They would hear what he had
to say before giving way to the pent-
up passions within.
The sun had sunk to rest, bringing
over the landscape the shadows of the
evening hour, and while the earth light
fails the Heavenly light of Gods pres
ence in the Cloud begins to glow and
cast its cheering rays over that vast
gathering. Unmoved by the sight, so
hard in unbelief were their hearts, the
people stood half sullenly, but withal
attentive. Upon Moses face, uplifted
to the Cloud and rejecting its glory,
there shone quiet peace which sub
dued the spirits of the people as they
behel1. Surely, indeed, their leader
had message from God, they thought.
I'm the morning We shall see the
glory OF the Lord, for he hath heard
your murmurings, for they have not
been against us, but against the Lord"
Moses cried in loud voice, and to
the far outskirts of the gathered
throngs his words were repeated by
those placed over the various divi-
sions Of the people. in the morning
we shall eat bread to the full, for he
has said: Behold, l will rain bread
from Heaven for you; and the people
shall go out and gather certain rate
every day, that | may prove them,
whether they will walk in my law or
no."
Half doubling, half wondering, the
people depart in silence, for none
dared question how this thing could
come to pass, while the glory of the
Cloud shone round them and the COM
handing words Of Moses sounded in
their ears.
In the morning We shall eat
bread to the FULL" the people re-
peated over and over again as they
staggered before the promise of the
Lord. How could it be? Yea, he had
said It should be rained from Heaven,
but how better could they understand
that wonderful thing.
The light has only begun to redden
in the east when there is a stir in the
camp of the Hebrew people. There has
come enc running crying that it was
hn 81 L.