The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-04-06

~ so N-~-S ~N~h-N
N e ! | m where
were IL wells Of water and a de-
lightful grove of palms, 70 in num-
Der. Weary with his journey he
stretched himself upon the green-car-
peted earth by the side of one of the
clear. sparkling pools, and after drink
ing deep of the refreshing water he had
talien into a deep sleep, While he thus
slept 1t seemed to him that the Lord
came and touched him and said unto
him:
Go, hasten into the wilderness
which lies before thee, for Moses de-
parts on the morrow, seeking thee"
So vivid was the vision and so real
the voice that he awoke with a start,
and, leaping to his feet, exclaimed:
Yea, Lord, | will CO."
He did not know how far the nigh.
was spent, but the full-orbed moon
was flooding the earth with its light.
and seemed to mark out a pathway for
his feet, and hastily partaking of some
of the fruit of the palms, and filling
his pouch with other luscious clusters,
and replenishing the water in his skin
bottle which he carried over his Shout
der, he started forward.
All that day he Travelled, and only
rested at night when the darkness
made 1t no longer possible or safe to
continue. But with the first glimmer-
ings of daylight he was again pursuing
his journey, expectantly.
The towering outlines of a distant
mountain became impressed upon his
vision, and within his heart there rose
a feeling OF JOY and citation which he
could not understand or explain.
All day long the vision of that noun
tain held him and he paused not until,
toward the middle of the afternoon, he
reached its foot AMI, bowling himself.
he thanked God that thus far He had
led him.
While thus engaged the breaking OF
a branch in a clump of bushes near az
hand caused him to turn and, peering
through the foliage, he say an ass
browsing, while at some distance far
Their on in a sheltered hollow he saw
the outlines of a tent. His first i'm
pulse was to hurry thither and see II
he could obtain tidings of Moses, but
as quickly there came a second i'm
pulse, a deep yearning, to be alone
with God, and as he thought of his en-
shaved brethren far back in Egypt he
exclaimed:
'uh, If they could only come to this
place." and as he continued on up the
mountain be kept asking himself the
question: will deliverance ever
conner"
Each repetition was more intense
and louder than before, until his voice
echoed and reechoed through the
mountains, as though the very rocks
were taking up the cry and calling t.
heaven for answer. Almost startled,
Aaron paused and listened, and as the
sound OF the echoes died away there
seemed to come from the distance
ahead q voice which said:
Thus saith the Lord: I am come to
deliver them ont of the hand of the
Egyptians, and to bring them up out of
that land unto a good land"
WAS 1t God sp~eaking?" he asked
himself. trembling with fear. but be-
fore he could turn and fee, as he felt
impelled to do, there appeared before
him a man whose flowing robes and
long staff marked him as an inhabitant
of that eastern country. Unnerved as
he was by the suddenness of it all, he
did not move or cry out, but watched
the mans face with fascinated wonder
as he advanced with rapid strides to
wards him.
"Moses!" "Aaron!" they both cried,
and with the instant recognition they
clasped each other in affectionate en-
brace and planted the eastern kiss of
greeting upon either side of the head.
"Was it you who Just spoken"
Aaron asked. after the greetings were
over, and then added, In all awed I'M
dertone: Il thought 1t was the voice
Of God. Surely He is in this place"
"Yea, as | can testify" replied
Moses. with earnest emphasis.
Aaron felt the thrill in his brothers.
and spoke up. eagerly:
TELL me about it. Have you seer
Him? Have you heard Him speak,"
Come with me-" Moses quietly re-
sponded.
And while Aaron listened with stir
ring heart, Moses related all that had
befallen him In the mountain.
"And God hath sen thee to me to
help in this great mission" he con-
But you little know the Pharaoh
with whom you have to DEAL" re-
Aaron, obviously, and he went
IN to tell Of the cruel oppression that
had marked his reign. Think you
hat he will let our people go?"
mo. that he will not, for God has
Ipoken plainly on that point. declar-
ng that even a mighty army would
not be able to win our freedom"