The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1906-03-31

4
yN|N }MAN arouse his con-
4NYIWJUk fused faculties,
~ WIN and then turning
S&\AN N sharply about he
hastily retraced
his steps over the pathway which
stretched up and up into the heart of
the mountains.
How could be so forgetful?" he
chided himself, struggling on as fast
as the steep ascent would permit. and
lifting his eyes and looking anxiously
before him for some sight OF the
flock which he had left behind.
The day before, led by some strange
impulse, he had gone far to the other
side Of the desert and up into the
mountains, whose towering peaks lift
ed their rugged heads toward heav-
en- and seemed reckoning him on. The
years had come andNgone since he had
settled down in INDIAN and the hum
drum life Of tending the fiocks Of Jeth-
TO had quite dulled his perceptions and
his consciousness Of God. Not that
he had forgotten God. and Gods prom
ises; not that he had ceased to be
troubled by the. bondage of his peo-
pie, or had given up hope Of their de-
liverance. Such could not be. for
faith in God and longing to help his
people were woven into the very warp
and wool of his being. But as year
after year had dragged on, until now
nearly 40 years had passed since he
had fed from Egypt, his sensibilities
had been dulled, and in a sort Of list.
less, discouraged way ne had waited.
But on the day before as he had
neared the mountain and he had
thought of God. the tall peaks SEEM
ed pointing In silent impressiveness
toward Him, and with Quickened spirit
and reviying memory he had gone on
and on, until at last he had seemed
There abundant pasturage had been
found, and he spent. the night in the
place. and that morning early as he
moved about from place to place q
strange thing had happened.
A. tongue of flame shot up from the
center Of one of the dry acacia bushes
at one side in rocky. sterile place,
and he thought at first that some spark
from his morning fire had blown
thither and set fire to the inflammable
wood, as was so often the case. But
as he watched the flame he noted that
1t did not seem to consume the bush.
and he turned aside to investigate.
when a voice which seemed to come
from the very center OF the flame
spoke his name. and told him to take
of his sandals. for he was standing
on holy ground.
Then had followed that wonderful
interview, in which he had been told
Of Gods purposes for the Hebrew peo-
ole. and of his own call to go back to
them with Gods message. Was 1t to
be wondered at that all else was for
gotten under the excitement 'of the
moment? But as we have seen, after
he haG gone some distance, he sud
denly remembered his focks and his
responsibility as their keeper. and
turned anxiously about In search of
them.
At last he reached the place, and
found the sheep were still there and
safe. He breathed a sigh Of relief and
his mind, free from the anxiety, re-
vertcd to the remarkable incidents of
the morning. 1t seemed almost like a
dream to him, and he found himself
asking the question:: WAS 1t real.
after all?"
There was the BUSH over beyond
that jutting rock around which he had
moved when he had first noticed the
strange IRE. but now 1t seemed the
ordinary bush It was, and he looked
in vain for the flame that had startled
him so. And he listened, but there
came no sound save that of the soft
trickling water OF nearby spring,
and the occasional bleating of sheep
as 1t hurried after the rest moving OF
to come more inviting spot of green.
Had he heard that Voice which he
had thought was God talking with
him? or had he imagined It? The stan
which he held but loosely in his hand
slipped and fell to the hard rocks at
his feet with clatter, and aroused
him from his puzzled reverie.
eyes," he said. ut must have been
real Tor there is the stan which turned
into q serpent"
Instantly there came flashing back
at him the question: But why didn't
It turn into serpent again, as It did
before when cast to the ground?"
He reached forward to lift II from
the ground. and his eye fell on the
hand which had but short time be-
fore been white with leprosy as he had
thrust II within his bosom.
prove that this has not all been
vagary, q wild dream of brain
stimulated by the night in the rarifed
mountain air" came the tempting
thought Cast your shepherds crook
upon the ground again and see II II
win become serpent Thrust your
hand IN the folds Of your mantle again
and prove whether Il viii come forth