The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-01-26

W4N4AA o'os. s ss's had ' is..
10 continue his
study and research Of the history Of
the Hebrew people, and the servant
Informed him that the message hal
come the day after his departure.
knowing Thermutis would be impa-
tIently watching for his coming, Moses
made hasty, though careful, toilet,
bathing and clothing himself in fresh,
clean linen after the scrupul0us man
ncr of the Egyptians, and then, send
ing his servant to her apartments say,
ing that he would be awaiting her in
their fayorite trysting place, he passed
through the corridors Of the great
palace and out into the beautiful gar,
den that surrounded the building.
Years before, as Moses had degel.
opcd into young manhood and Their,
NUTS had realized that both she and
he needed a home other than that Of
the palace Of her father, she had Sc
cured the beautiful, fertile spot out
along the banks Of the great river and
had there erected a splendid structure
80 arranged that the apartments OF
herself and her son Moses, though un.
der the same roof, were distinct and
separate.
There they had passed the delight
iul and busy years together, she plan.
ming for his future and encouraging
him in his studies and activities, and
he eagerly and earnestly setting him
self to every task and duty which
came TO hand. Thus the years had
sped by, and Moses was now in his
t!~irty-seyenth year. Within the past
year he had developed an increasing
interest in the history of his people,
the Hebrews, and his visits to Goshen
had become more and more frequent.
at Is all plain" he said to himself,
a. he dropped upon q bench within the
beautiful summer house, and glanced
over the parchmonts which he held
In his hand, until we get down to
Joseph and the presence of the lie.
brew people in Egypt. Gods promises
are clear as to the children of Abra,
ham becoming a great nation and pos.
sessing the land Of Canaan. But no
II Of the elders seems to be able to
give explanation concerning the long
years Of seryitude in Egypt, and none
are able to tell when or how the pco.
pie are TO become a nation and go out
and possess the land. But"
But what, thou naughty truant?
Thou art conversing with thysoIf here
as though thou hadst no Thought for
thy mother and caredst not for the mes
sage she has been eager to tell thee
for the past two days
"Ah, mother, | find myself good
company because thou hast put so
much Of myself into my life, but thou
wilt see how little | want to talk and
how eagerly | can listen now that
thou art Comc. Proceed
And gently drawing the gray-haired
woman to the scttee at his side he
waited.
Not a word will | speak of all that
I have to tell thee until thou hast
given an accounting of myself"
And If thou hast not something of
more interest or import TO tell than
have l." he responded to his mothers
challenge, I'VE could both with more
profit keep silence and listen to the
music of the waters Of yonder foun.
tain, or the songs Of the birds in the
oyerhanging arbor."
But what is all this?" she asked.
laying her hand upon the manuscript
lying in his lap. One would think
thou vert an oracle Of the temple
laden with some message from the
gods
These are the fragments Of Hebrew
history | have cleaned from the elders
on my visits to Goshen. 1t is clear that
God has promised them the land of
Canaan as an inheritance, and has
said that He will make of them a ma.
ti'lf hN' / ibiU III Nulu Oh explanation
Of the Egyptian bondage, or how they
are to leave Egypt for Canaan, or
when"
And Moses, in His Impotence and
disappointment, shook the stiff sheets
Of parchment until they rustled and
cracked in protest.
but why let thyself be troubled by
such uuestions?"
"Why?" was the astonished, almost
impatient. reply. Because the future
of the Hebrews is clouded with uncer.
tainty and doubt. There must be other
records somewhere"
perhaps other records are not need.
full Thermutis responded, calmly.
"May It not be that the land promised
was given thy people long ago when
Joseph called his brethren into Egypt,
and settled them and their families in
Goshen? Is not Goshen a fair land
Of promise. and may not thy people
there become a nation?'