The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-05-25

WIZ ldlu bl LSS ~ hhN
caused much distress and discomfort,
and II was but natural that the people
should suspect that some new aiiilctlon
was about to descend upon them Tor
with every departure Of Moses ana
Aaron from Goshen recently there had
followed some new and distressing
plague.
But the next day broke as usual
the same cloudfess sky stretched IT'S
blue canopy owe the land ana
the great burning sun mounted the
heavens in undimmed s%plendor. And
the day had but fairly begun
ere the Egyptian overseers made
their appearance in Goshen to drive
he people to the work which
had been almost abandoned Of late
owing to the distressing plaques OF
the bloody waters, the frogs and the
lice.
Deiectedly and sullenly the people
obeyed, but even while they were go
ing, a dark cloud seemed to rise ana
spread over the land, ~obscuTtng the
sun and causing a weird and ha2y
darkness to prevail. In terror the
Egyptian overseers fled, leaving the
people to scatter and find shelter IN
their homes. For the better part OF
the morning the darkness prevailed,
and then the black f]orbidding clouds
seemed to disappear as quickly as
they had come and once more the
sun shone forth in all his ~splendor,
flooding the land Of Goshen with
glorious light.
People once more emerged from
their houses and excitedly talked over
the strange happenings of the morn
ing. Naturally they connected the
cloud and the darkness with the eX-
pected plague, and the people looked
about appTehensiyely as though they
expected some new and strange
thing to happen to them. But every
thing appeared the same, and as
they looked at each other inquiring-
ly, they asked:
What is it? What has happened?
Let the elders seek out Moses n
find out what IN of thing this
is that has come to pass"
Thus admonished the elders of the
people hastily assembled and de
parted at once to find Moses and
Aaron, but they had not proceeded
far when they were met by an
Egyptian messenger who excitedly
inquired where he might find Moses,
THE king has sent for him." he
exclaimed as he hurried on with
them, after they had told him that
they too were on their way to Moses
abode. "A dreadful thing has hap.
pened in Egypt" he continued. THE
land fairly swarms with flies. The
land is covered with them, the houses
are filed with them, yea, and even the
palace has not escaped, and they are
causing such torment to the people
and the king, that everyone Is well
nigh mad. But there are no flies in
Goshen!" the messenger exclaimed,
stopping short as he suddenly be-
came conscious that he had left be-
hind the pestiferous insects, why,
how is it? Have not the flies come
into Goshen" and the Egyptian
looked inquiringly at the men before
him.
we have seen no flies. We know
not of what you speak" and then
as the light began to break in upon
them, they exclaimed:
Game the flies this morning when
the sun was obscured and darkness
was upon the land?"
AT that very time. And since then
the king and people have had no
peace. l must find Moses at once"
he exclaimed, starting forward again,
for Pharaoh in his distress will
brook no delay"
The news Of the Egyptians coming
and his errand, together with Moses
hasty departure to the palace of the
king at Memphis spread rapidly and
else was talked of in Goshen
but the wonderful things which had
come to pass.
Now do we know that the Lord
has made a difference between us
and the Egyptians" the people re.
over and over again rever-
Surely now Pharaoh will let
US go as Moses has demanded"
But the next day after Moses had
returned and the people were elated
by the report he brought back that
Pharaoh had consented to their de.
parture and they were making their
preparations, a company Of Egyp.
tian officials made their ap.
pearance and grufly announced
that Pharaoh would not let them go.
Then was there mourning in the land
Of Goshen, and it was with difficulty
the elders restrained the people.
Moses, with discouraged and aching
heart, sought the solitude with God
alone, and in obedience to His word
he returned to Pharaoh again the next
lay and said:
''The hand of the Lord Is upon thy
which is In the field, upon the
lorses, upon the asses, upon the am
upon the oxen and upon the
sheep; there shall be a very grieyous
nurrain."
WHAT" Numbered the king, dare
you defy the gods of Egypt? Know
thou not that the spirit o. the god
Osiris dwells in the sacred bull, and
Apis and Mnevis in the ram Of Am
non, the sheep OF SAILS and the goat
If Mendes."
'Yea, 50 the Egyptians believe, but
hat thou mayest know that the God