St. Tammany farmer., 1906-06-02

j the priests as the
royal procession
moved onward to-
A., -, wards the river.
WIHln n @LaC The great festival
Nk&,4EGs& in honor of the
e-N..L. Nile had begun.
Memphts was
emptying her gayly-decked crowds out
upon the rivers brink. The coming of
Pharaoh with his royal retinue, and
preceded by the priests of the great
temple was the signal for an outburst
OF enthusiasm and great rejoicing. AS
the immense wooden image of the river
god, Apis, borne aloft in the midst of
the company of priests, passed, the peo-
PIE bowed in reverent awe, and then
falling in behind the king and his at
tendants, the procession moved down
TO the rivers brink. The people caught
up the song of the priests and chanted
with them:
Hail, o Nile, thou contest forth over
this land; thou comest in peace, giving
life to Egypt, o hidden god!"
The place selected for the ceremonies
OF blessing the waters of the Nile was a
large and beautiful garden extending
along the banks of the river for some
distance. Here it was that Pharaoh
came for his daily ablutions, and none
might enter within the borders of the
place. But once a year upon the occasion
of the greatest festival the beautiful
grounds were thrown open to the peo-
pie. 1t was a gala day and following
the ceremonies at the rivers brink and
after the return of the king to his pal
ace, the people would inger for the
dancing and feasting that filed the day.
The procession moved forward to the
point where PharaOh's throne had been
get. The spirits Of the people ran high,
and they watched the movements OF
the priests, expectantly. The latter
placed the image Of Apis on the pedestal
throne and then separated, while
Pharaoh moved down the isle thus
formed and took his place upon the
throne.
Then again the song of the priests
was raised as they chanted their hymn.
Hail, o Nile" the words rang out on
the air and foated over the waters of
the peaceful and beautiful river whose
surface fecked and sparkled in the
bright sunshine and seemed to flash
back its greeting:
Hail. @ Nile" they sang, and then
stopped abruptly as they saw the king
rise suddenly, and with an expression
on his face of half anger, half con-
sternation, point towards two figures
which were advancing from behind the
pedestal on which the image of Apis
had been placed.
The song was forgotten, an oppres-
sive, nervous hush fell upon the throng,
and all eyes were turned in the direc-
ton in which the king was looking.
Slowly, and with lf-possession and
dignity that held the king, his courtiers
and priests spell-bound, the two men
moved and came and stood before the
throne. Pharaoh sank back into his
place upon the throne, but he spake no
word, for astonishment and anger, and !
apprehension which struggled for the |
mastery within rendered him speech
less. And the priests and attendants
likewise made no move.
'It's Moses and Aaron" whispered
one of the court attendants, uneasily.
"Yes," responded his companion, the
apprehension he felt sounding in his
voice. What brings them here,
wonder?"
"See." exclaimed the first speaker,
"Moses has his rod with him! My, were
not the kings magicians chagrtned and
astonished yesterday when Moses rep
tile swallowed up theirs?"
"And did you note the effect on
Pharaoh? He seemed troubled when
his magicians were unable to recover
their reptiles"
Eyes, but his anger seemed rather
against Moses and Aaron than against
his own magicians. and l wonder that
the former have dared come into his
presence again. But listen. Moses Is
speaking and the two strained their
ears to catch his words.
"The Lord God of the Hebrews hath
sent me unto thee" Moses said, and
then paused.
Pharaoh's brow darkened and his
[ip curled with scorn as he said:
.Who is the God of the Hebrews that
should listen unto Him." and wav-
ing his hand towards the image before
him and then with sweep of his arm
..,v;,o, q, tho oxnanSe of placid waters |
hat stretched away in every direction,
he added: "Behold Egypt's god whom
to-day we honor. Darest thou at such a
.ime come and speak in the name Of thy
yod?"
"sacrilege," angrily muttered the
priests and they would have leaped
mon Noses and Aaron and driven them
rom the place had not some unseen in
auence held them back.
Undaunted by the angry looks cast
mon them, or the words OF the king,
Noses again spoke:
.aThe Lord God Of the Hebrews hath
,ent me unto thee, saying: Let my
,eople 70, that they may serve me in
ne viii ness And behold, hitherto
hon wouldst not hear. Therefore.
hus saith the Lord: In this thou shalt ,
now that am the Lord"
Moses paused. while Pharaoh, amazed
L the boldness of the man, sat speech
ess but watching with intensity his
very move.
"Behold," Moses continued, at the
~ a 4