St. Tammany farmer., 1906-06-23

dren crying for bread. The sick and
dying calling for the help which none
could give. Fathers and mothers abb
sent from home and unable to return.
| People fearful to move about In their
blindness, and pleading piteously for
some one to lead them.
Even Pharaoh was deserted, with
none able to help, for his attendants
were as helpless as he to make their
way from the garden. At last, how
ever, his cry for help reached the ear
of Hebrew who chanced to be pass
ing and he was persuaded to lead the
king and his helpless followers back to
the palace.
1t was a piteous spectacle. The
proud Pharaoh being led by despised
Hebrew, and behind him trailing the
others of the royal company.
"How comes it that thou hast
escaped this condition." Pharaoh
asked, as he touched his blinded eyes,
pathetically.
II am a Hebrew" was the quiet re-
sponse.
"A Hebrew" he exclaimed, anger
again rising within him. "How long
is Egypt to be afflicted with thy pesti-
1ential race? Be gone!" he shouted,
but the next instant as he realized his
helplessness he called to the man to
return.
Blind people filled the roadway,
cropping helplessly about and trying
to find their way home. Hearing the
sound of the footsteps of the king and
his company, they shouted for help,
and it being noised about that 1t was
the king and his attendants being
helplessly led back to the palace, one
of the bolder of the men cried:
"Where are the gods Of Egypt
Where is Osiris, the god Of light th;7s
the king and his people should be SO
stricken? Moses God has triumphed.
Even Pharaoh is brought low before
Him."
"Silence," shouted one of the attend
ant priests, shame that you rev1le
your king thus" but in his helpless
blindness he could do nothing further,
and the man turned and rallied upon
him. saying:
Where is thy power, now, o priest,
seeing thou canst not help the king in
his distress? Where is thy influence
with the gods Of Egypt? They cannot
stand before Moses God"
Shouts OF approval from the people
standing about showed the general
feeling which prevailed throughout
the land, for people were growing
weary OF the struggle with Moses and
had long been urging that Pharaoh
; let the people go. And now that this
latest awful calamity had come upon
them they were more than ever bitter.
During those days Of darkness the
only relief they knew was that afford
ed by numbers Of the Hebrews who
came from Goshen and ministered to
their needs. And thus 1t came to pass
that the latter won great favor with
the people and were loaded down with
gifts.
In the palace, also, they were learn
ing the lesson that the God of Moses had
set difference between the Egyptians
and the Hebrews. Every service per-
formed there was rendered by the He
brews, who had been summoned. Even
the hands Of the despised people the
food he ate and the raiment he wore.
All day long as he sat In the impene-
trable darkness, hearing footsteps, and
voices, but seeing naught, he had time
for meditation. And how terrible was
that meditation. How fearful he was
as he realized how fully he was in
the power of the people he had op-
pressed SO long and SO cruelty. Would
they turn upon him? Would they plot
against him and take his life? Every
football near him made him start. Thus
the days were filed with an appre-
hensive horror.
On the third day, after the repeated
opportunities Of his courtiers, he con-
sented to send for Moses, and when
the latter had come he said:
"Go We, serve the Lord; only lei
your focks and your herds stay; lei
your little ones also 60 with you.''
But thou must give us some sac
rifices and burnt offerings" Moses re-
piled, firmly. for we would sacrifice
unto the Lord our God. Our cattle
also shall 60 with us; there shall moi
an hoof be left behind"
Pharaoh's face darkened, and his
heart set itself like flint against the
demand Of Moses, and he said unto
him:
II will not let them go. Get thee
from me, take heed to thyself, see my
face no more; for in that day thou
seest my face thou shalt die"