The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-01-05

IL Is Ilsul mere, ulOluSl, NuNiU Il
princess comes said Miriam, when
she had piloted her mother to the
river side. With lingering tenderness
the mother placed the ark in the water
amidst the PUSHES. She watched the
staunch little craft ride brayely on the
quiet water, and then when she dare
linger no longer she sped homeward,
fearing to look back lest her heart
should fail her.
At last she heard h%urrying footsteps
and sprang to the door.
Mother" gasped Miriam, princess
-has-baby! Wants-nur5e!"
With a feryid prayer Of thanksgiving
the mother sped after her daughter as
she fed back to the river, and as she
drew near the little group gathered
about her baby she stroye hard to calm
herself. AS in a dream she heard
Pharaoh's daughter say to her:
Take this child away and nurse 1t
for me, and l will give thee thy
wages
She felt she must scream for very
Joy. Her heart beat unanimously and
her hands trembled as she bent over
her darling and took him in her arms.
He cuddled close and hushed his plain
tive wail-the baby cry that had gone
straight to the princess heart. she
was half afraid to have him so demon
stratiye, All, foolish mother, did she
think she or her baby could act a part?
She glanced furtiyely into the princess
face. A smile of rare sweetness and
tenderness rested there, and in the
eyes shone a half-amused light,
81 am sure he will be good with
you" she said, a suspicion of playful
ness in her voice. HE is a beautiful
boy. Here-clasping her golden chain
and signet about his neCk-he shall
wear this token that he belongs to
me-"
That afternoon as the mother sat
with her babe in her arms before the
open door, through which the sunlight
came streaming, she could hardly rea-
lie it was not all a dream. The hugs
she gave her darling to make sure it
was really he who nestled in her arms
caused the little fellow to squirm.
Won't papa be surprised?' said
Miriam.
yes, child" the mother responded,
with a smile, but | wish he knew
now" she added, and her face sobered
at the thought of what his suspense
and anxiety must be. and while Am
rams wife and daughter thought Of
him, and impatiently awaited his home
coming, he in turn thought of them,
and wondered what fortune had fol-
lowed the little ark. AS his hands
worked, his heart prayed, and over and
over again he cried:
Lord, Thou alone canst help"
HAS not God helped thee a~lready?"
reprovingly arose the question, as he
remembered the past three months,
and will lie not continue to protect
the child?" and a quiet confidence stole
into his heart. Worry was not faith,
he would leave it all with God.
So absorbed was he In this inner
contemplation, that he was obltvious
to all that was going on about him.
That's the man." he heard some one
say, and looking up with a start he
saw the Egyptian whom he had en-
countered the night before pointing to-
wards him.
"All right" the overseer responded,
grutiiy, take him along"
The struggle of the morning and the
victory of faith quoted the first ris-
ings of fear, and Amram heard the
words without a tremor. He laid down
his tools as ordered without a word,
and followed the Egyptian SO calmly
that the latter marVeled. Walking
along the Nile they 500 neared the
point where the ark was to have been
concealed that day and Amram found
his eyes searching anXiously among
the reeds. All at once a little dark OBJ
ject caught his eye. His heart almost
stood still, and in spite of himself. he
paused and the muscles of his face
twitched n%eryously. The Egyptian de-
tected the look, and, following the d.
rection of Abrams eyes, he saw what
had at first escaped his notice.
1t was the little ark.
The Egyptian sprang forward, and
Amram, with a groan of apprehension.
followed. But to his intense relief they
found the ark empty.
As they turned from the river path
and his home came into view, Amram
saw Miriam dance out Of the doorway
and her sweet voice foated to him Oh
the fresh afternoon breeze. Never
seemed vision or song more heavenly.
Surely all was well with the child.
But did his eyes deceive him? There
in the doorway stood the mother with
the child il her arms! The a%stOunded
father stopped short. What did 1t
mean? Why did his wife stand there
so calm and confident? He tried to
shout to her, but no sound escaped
his parched throat. He tried to pursue
the hurrying Egyptian, but his
strength failed him. He could only
stare in wild-eyed wonder. But what
was that he heard?
Back, back! This is the princess
child"
He saw his wife display to the Won
dering eyes Of the now trembling
Egyptian the golden neck chain and