St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1906-01-27

half playfully, as he tossed the grea
bundle upon the floor, now build you
ark"
And he trimmed the reeds CAREFUL,
to the right length while his wife ant
Miriam, with deft fingers wove then
back and forth. How he hated to leav,
That morning. 1t seemed to him a:
though he must stay and follow the
fortunes of the little craft. But hi
dared not. Already he was late. He
caught the baby up for one last EN-,
brace, and, breathing a prayer, was
gone.
1T is right here, mother, where the
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 rushes She watched the
staunch little craft ride bravely on the
quiet water, and then when she dare
llnger no longer she sped homeward,
fearing to look back lest her heart
should fail her.
The morning wore away, oh, so slow
~. Was it not time for Miriam ito
come? In her heart-breaking anxiety
the mother went to the door again and
again, and gazed intently toward the
river. 1t seemed impossible to restrain
her impulse to rush out to learn her
darling's fate! But no, she must wait
and trust. She had done what she
could, she must leave the rest with
God.
I At last she heard hurrying footsteps
| and sprang to the door.
'Mother!" gasped Miriam, Princess
-has-baby! Wants-nurse!"
With fervid 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 strove 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 I 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
strative. All, foolish mother, did she
think she or her baby could act part?
She glanced furtively into the princess
face. A smile of rare sweetness and
tenderness rested there, and in the
eyes shone a half-amused light.
II am sure he will be good with
you," she said, a suspicion of playful
ness in her voice. He is 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.
wont papa be surprised?" said |
Miriam.
Eyes, child,' the mother responded,
with 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 already?"
reprovingly arose the question, as he
the past three months,
"and will He not continue to protect
the child?" and quiet confidence stole
into his heart. Worry was not faith,
he would leave it all with God.
So absorbed was he in this inner
that he was oblivious
to all that was going on about him.
That's the man." he heard some one
say, and looking up with start he
saw the Egyptian whom he had en-
countered the night before pointing to-
wards him.
"All right" the overseer responded,
gruf1y, take him along"
The struggle of the morning and the
victory of faith quieted the first ris-
ings of fear, and Amram heard the
words without a frnmOr He laid d0un |
his tools as ordered without a word,
and followed the Egyptian so calmly
that the latter marveled. Walking
along the Nile they soon neared the
point where the ark was to have been J
that day and Amram found
Ms eyes searching anxiously among /.
he reeds. ALI at once little dark OBJ
ect caught his eye. His heart almost
stood still, and in spite of himself. he :
paused and the muscles of his face
nervously. The Egyptian de- :
ected the look, and, following the di- :.
'ection of Abrams eyes, he saw what ,
lad at first escaped his notice.
It was the little ark.
The Egyptian sprang forward, and /
Amram, with a groan of apprehension. .
ollowed. But to his intense relief they :
ound the ark empty.
AS they turned from the river path /
md his home came into view, Amram s
aw Miriam dance out of the doorway .
md her sweet voice foated to him on Z
he fresh afternoon breeze. Never
oor,od v;cion nr SONG mora hoovnn1v | .