The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-07-13
patiently, as they saw that the Cloud

there Inc camp was 10 De maze.
Yea, we dare not go on, except the
Cloud go before u.s." Moses rejoined,
quietly, but with such positive en-.
phasis that it was evident that no
pleading could alter his determination.
A howl of disappointment and rage
swept over the aSSemblage at this an
nounCement, and Jahziel stepped for
ward and said:
Would you encamp here while we
perish with thirst, when refreshing
springs of water and the shade of
palm trees are to be found behind us?
Better that we turn back to the place
our eyes looked upon yesterday. Here
We have naught but the bitter water.
There We shall find rest and refresh
ing"
NOIS of approval greeted this
speech, but Noses, unmOved by the de-
tiant attitude of the people, replied:
1T is only as we abide where God
rests his Cloud that we can expect his
blessing And as they cried again
in theic distress and anger that the
water was bitter and they had naught
to drink, Moses added: God can
make even the bitter water sweet. He
will give us to drink"
Can God change this vile stuff?"
Jahziel broke in with a sneer. why
need he have led us to such a place
when We might have found springs Of
good water? You may tarry here if
you will, but as for me, am going
back to that other place." and he
turned and walked away, followed by
certain of his followers.
In silence the people watched them,
seeming half inclined to turn and fol-
low, but the presence of the Cloud
lowering over them and the stern, I'M
yielding face Of Moses held them in
indeciS!on until the crisis was passed
and Jahziel and his company had
passed out of view.
Then Moses withdrew into his tent,
leaving the people standing there, and
gradually the loud murmuring ceased,
as the whisper went around
Moses has gone to pray"
For it was noted that the Cloud had
settled down upon the tent of Moses
and enveloped it, as it was wont to
do when the Lord would talk with
their leader. Subdued by the sight,
the people waited, forgetting for the
moment their distressing thirst and
their disappointment at the bitter wa
tiers. Then the Cloud lifted again and
Moses came forth. Without the least
glance to the right or the left, he
passed on by the people, who watched
him with mingled awe and wonder.
On and on he went, never pausing un-
til he came ID the very outskirts Of the
camp, by which time all the assembly
OF the people had been stirred by the
unusual proceedings and came to-
gether with the rest Of the people and
followed him at a distance.
And while all eyes watched intently,
Moses stopped before certain tree
from which he speedily gathered sew
eral toughs and then turned and went
swiftly towards the pools of water
from which the people had so short
time before turned away in anger and
disgust.
What strange thing was this which
their leader was doing? With grow
ing interest the people followed and
came up to the edge of the waters
as Moses cast therein the boughs he
had gathered and spoke with a loud
voice 50 that all standing near could
hear, saying:
Here would the Lord prove thee,
whether ye will walk in his ways or
no, for again has he given you de-
liverance. Drink we of the waters,
for God hath touched them with the
finger of his power"
The voice ceased. But in all that
great company Of people there was not
one who moved to stoop and drink, so
blind and hard of heart were they,
that they were slow to believe the
words which Moses had spoken.
But at last there came one and
kneeleG down by the waters and
slipped half hesitatingly from the hand
he dipped into the pool. Then a glad
shout rose from his lips, and dropping
on both hands he plunged his face
into the pool and drank long and
eagerly. Then another and another
followed his example, and soon the
great thirsty throng was shaking its
thirst, and shouting for joy over this
thing which God had done for them.
In the meantime Jahziel and those
with him had lost no time in Jour-
neying towards the place Of their
vision, but not that night nor the next
did they find aught but the burning
sands and the rocky waste. The little
water they had brought with them was
now well nigh exhausted, and death
stared them in the face. YEARLY they
dragged on and on. Now no longer
u