The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-01-12

as though she would emphasize every
word and burn the thought into his very
soul:
God has called thee, my son, TO leave
home and mother"
AS she said 1t she wondered II he
would understand. Was he old enough
to grasp the thought? II the clothes
and the palace could not attract him,
would the higher appeal win his CON
sent?
Then | will go, mother" was the
quiet, firm response.
God bless thee, my boy" was the
mothers fervid answer. In the pal
ace thou shalt be trained In all the skill
and learning of the Egyptians, and some
day-some day-perhaps you can serve
Gods poor people who are now in bitter
bondage" and the thought stirred her
heart with peculiar power.
And l will, exclaimed the boy, draw
ing himself up to his full height and
quivering in every nerve with the in
tensity of his purpose.
There was a subdued quiet IN the
home that night as the family talked
owe Joachim's future.
And won't we be able to play to-
gether any more?" anxiously inquired
Aaron, his voice breaking into a sob as
he realized what his brothers going
would mean to him.
But think" spoke up Miriam, brave
ly, as she brushed a tear from her eye,
how proud we will be of our brother.
And some day you will come back to
us, won't you, Joachim" she added, be-
seechingly, turning to the little boy
standing so thoughtful and quiet in the
midst of the family circle and snatching
him up in her strong young arms.
We'll, we ought to be thankful that
he was spared to us, and that the
princess has left him with us until now"
YEA" interposed the husky voice OF
the father, ''and the same God who
spared his life so long ago will continue
to care for him, and lead him. Let us
ask Him now And bowed before their
God, the father lifted his voice and
pleaded the promises given to Abraham
and Isaac and Jacob; asked that the
tender boy going out of their home
might be kept true to the God Of his IA
theirs, and that through him deliver
ance might be wrought for the enslaved
people. -
Arrayed in his splendid robes Joachim
was taken to the palace next morning
by his mother and presented to the
princess, who, surrounded by her at
t%endants, awaited their coming. The
apartment was spacious and the vivid
frescoes and paintings on the walls pre-
scented In its various phases the life and
pleasures of the royal family. Rich
draperies and hangings softened the
bright color effects, and great urns and
vases Of palms and ferns and blooming
flowers were tastefully arranged about
the apartment. and here and there soft
divans and roomy recesses sculptured
in the massive walls invited to rest and
repose, while before a great image in
a vaulted alcove at n side the smoked
incense lazily curled up from its brazen
urn.
Had not the inner consciousness OF
the Divine presence held them both.
mother and son, unused to the mag
nificence and luxury and formalities of
the palace, would have been abashed
in such regal presence, but so absorbed
were they in the thought of doing Gods
will that they were swayed by a grace
and self-possession which no art or cul-
ture could have given them. And so 1t
was that the princess, instead Of seeing
as she expected an awkward, trembling,
confused Hebrew woman and a fright.
ened, fearful youth, beheld a woman,
CARRIED to be sure in the common dress
OF the Hebrew women slaves, but bear
ing herself with dignity and grace, and
her side a handsome youth, with
rank and earnest countenance and man.
y step.
After the first glance at the mother,
Ter eyes fixed themselves upon the boy,
ind she watched him with absorbed In
crest as he came towards her. There
vas an indefinab BILE something about him
which reminded her Of the first time
he had looked upon his baby face as he
ay in the little ark In the river, a
omething which had gone straight to
Ier heart then, and now she found the
anne feeling stealing over her. Her
cart went out to him and in that mo-
nent she knew that her life and am
itions were to be linked with those of
be boy.
This Is the boy" the mother said,
after they had bowed low be-,
1re the princess.
My SON." spake the princess 1.-THE
started visibly at the words.
70 Il but her God knew what it was
her to give him up and give
} another the right to call him my
come hither."
Then noting the look of deep anguish
n the face of the mother, she added.
Thou hast indeed been faithful,
.ere"-taking from her arm the mas
jeweled bracelet and stepping
wards the mother clasping 1t upon her
is a token of my favor, and
pledge that in me thou shalt always
ave a friend. But" she added, slowly
I'd with emphasis, "the boy is mine"