St. Tammany farmer., 1906-08-18
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THE STORY.

| THE SYOHY.
Quiet. almost to a death-like still
ness, had settled down upon the camp.
| It was startling contrast to the tur-
moil and strife of the afternoon, and
Moses as he stole out of the camp and
sought the solitude alone marveled at
the change. So rapidly had the events
OF the afternoon before developed, and
SO intense had been the feeling mani
tested both by the people as they clam
| ored for water, and the elders as they
sought to restore order and quiet, that
he had not had time or opportunity to
realize the meaning OF 1t all. But as
he passed along through the camp
sleeping so peacefully, the whole scene
passed before his vision again. Could
it be that it was only that afternoon
that they had come to that place?
Could it be that but few hours be-
fore the people were crying loudly for
water and threatening him because
there was none to be had?
"In their frenzy, they utterly forgot
that God was in their midst" Moses
unused to himself as he walked along,
"and now that their thirst has been
satisfied they care not for the won
derful manifestation of Gods power"
and he sighed heavily as he thought
how slow the people were to believe
and to understand Gods dealings with
them.
That morning they had gathered the
mamma as usual and been satisfied to
the full, but when they had drunk the
last of their water they began to fret,
and to declare that they would surely
die of thirst there in the wilderness,
forgetting utterly that the God who
had supplied food. could also supply
them with water. Then as the day
had worn away and no water was
found the murmuring became more and
more open, until at last when the
Cloud settled down and the tents were
pitched and no water was in sight, the
anger of the people broke forth as we
have already stated.
Sleep had long since come to the rest
In the camp of Israel, even Aaron
yielding to the bodily fatigue, but his
own heart was SO singularly stirred |
that he felt no inclination to seek his |
couch. For long time he sat alone
before his tent, watching the stars as
they came forth one by one, and ever
anon letting his eyes rest upon the
glowing pillar which hung above the
camp, but at last moved by some
strange IMPULSE he had arisen and
passed out of the camp.
so wrapped in the inner contempla-
tion was he that he was utterly un-
conscious whittier his steps we're
until of a sudden his foot
splashed into cool pool OF water and
he looked up with start to find him.
self before the great rock where God
that afternoon had opened up a way
Of refreshing for his thirsty people.
The dark outlines of the rugged
stone stood out sharply against the
deep blue Of the starlit sky. Upward
for hundred feet or more It reared
It's head from the surrounding level of
The sands which stretched away in
every direction. It was the one strik-
Ing and impressive object of the land
scape.
AS they had passed 1t that afternoon
IN the way to the place a little farther
IN where the camp had been pitched,
hey had paused and for 4 brief mo-
nent while the people gazed curiously
1pon 1t the murmuring and complaint
had ceased. But as they had again
AIKEN up the march and we're forced
because OF the spreading masses Of