The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-06-15

:ivities are Just at their height, and
thou d0st know that to send the guests
home unsatisfed is 10 incur their dis
pleasure. And as for me there are
many things | have in mind to do and
talk about ere | am willing TO see my
friends departs And saying which
he had turned and went off in the d.
rection Of a group of his friends who
were even then motioning him to
hasten and share in the fun the lead
ing spirit of the group had proposed.
And Pharaoh had watched him 60
with a lighter heart and a stronger
assurance. And calling his attendant
he ordered the wine and drank with
great guStO to the gods Of the Egyp-
,ans, and to the future favor and
blessing of his son. So cheerful did
his spirits grow that he forgot about
the matters which had so greatly dis
tressed him-about the midnight hour
and the judgment of the Hebrew God
and as he threw himself into the
gayetes that were now at their height,
the time sped unnoticed.
Once more let US drink to the
gods of Egypt" be cried. ITO the
great god that smiles upon the land
by day and that plans greater gIorieS
for his favored ones by night"
a great shout greeted the kings
proposal, and again the wine flowed
| freely
And here's to the kings son" shout
cd a voice as the young man, the cen
ter of an animated group. was seen
approaching.
Pharaoh smiled approyingly, and
watched the young man with glowing
pride What a picture of health and
beauty he was. With all of life be-
fore him. what opportunities. What
possibilities.
SO Pharaoh thought, and we'll he
might. for the young man was we'll
/ favored in form and face, and bore
himself with grace and dignity, As the
father watched him advancing across
the marble floor of the great room, his
heart leaped with pride and triumph.
and he muttered to himself:
where is Moses boasted Judgment?
The gods Of the Egyptians still reign,
and the God of the Hebrews is no god
at all"
Suddenly, and even while the words
were warm upon his lips, he saw a
deadly pallor oyerspread the face Of
his boy. He saw him lift his hands
high above his head, while an agony
of fear distorted his features, and with
enc piercing cry, he fell forward upon
his face.
Paralyzed by the sight and the awful
fear which seized him, the king looked
upon the scene with eyes which almost
started from their sockets. His hands
gripped the ivory arms Of his throne
with an intensity which almost crushed
the delicately-carved ornaments. The
fathers eyes never moved from the OBJ.
ject lying there PROSTATE upon the
ground. and he did not see that here
and there throughout the vast room
there were others falling to the ground
He did not seem to hear the cries OF
terror and anguish all about him. He
saw but one thing, and that was the
: form of his son lying upon the floor
! Could it be possible that he who was
so full of life and animation an in
slant before was lying there now still
in death?
"No. No, No." he cried. at can
not be; it shall not be-" And leaping
from his seat with fierce cry Of de
spair and grief. he hurried toward;
him. But as he rushed blindly for
ward, he stumbled and fell over anOth
err PROSTATE form, and looking arounC
9 he beheld a sight which CONCEALED hi:
1 very blood and made him tremble
} for on every hand the dead were lying
- while the living, panic-stricken anC
e Mortified rushed wildly about an
d filled the air with their cries. 1t wa
e a sight TO make the strongest maj
d faint and falter. The king paused TO
S but an instant and then throwing him
self at the side of his dead son b
e called upon him to speak TO him, t
: say just one word. and when Their
n came no response, he staggered to hi
: feet, wringing his hands and callin
d upon his gods to help, and cursin
r Moses and his God with awful oathS
d At that moment a messenger hastil
entered.
= Death, Death. Death, rules every
: where!" he cried in a high-pitcheC
VI horror-stricken voice. Egypt ha
IS been stricken. Haste. o Pharaoh, sen
a Moses and his people forth, or We b
'e all dead men,"
lie Helpless, hopeless, Pharaoh locke
e, about him. Could he do it? The las
is time the Hebrew leader had appeare
before him he had told him he woul
r see his face no more. and that II b
W did it would mean death to Moses, an
now instead death had stricken h
r, own home and the home Of every Egg,
h tan throughout the land. But eve