The L'Anse sentinel., 1906-04-21

3 way along WHICH
~" he had Just como
'"N and turned In to-
wards the low entrance to the rude hut.
The door was flung open before he
reached 1t, and voice called out:
you are late, Moses! What success!"
Poor, Aaron, poor!" Moses replied.
dejectedly, entering and throwing HIM
self on the rough bench by the door.
"Elishama will not come, and others OF
the elders whom have seen are only
half-hearted in their responses. But
how was 1t with you?"
Little better, fear, than with you"
was the dubious reply. None whom l
have seen have refused to come, but
there is much depression of spirits. The
oppression has been so long and bitter
that the people have quite given up
hope But what Of Elishamt! Gave
he you no encouragement"
''None, whatever. He declares that
hope died within him years ago when
his son. Nun, was killed and his grand
son, Joshua, was taken from him. The
subject was so evidently painful to him
that forebore questioning him concern
ing the matter. Know you the details?"
THAT do, and sad they are, indeed"
Aaron replied. Let us see," he con-
tinued, thoughtfully, "it Is nearly 25
years ago that Nun was brutally slain by
the Egyptian. You remember NUM-"
Moses nodded, and Aaron went on,
slowly.
''He was deeply interested in your
discoveries at Joseph's tomb, and after
your flight was jealous in teaching the
people OF his tribe Of God and Gods
promises to His people. Thus the years
went by, and in spite Of the bitter OPP
preston he continued to hope. In come
way 1t reached the ears Of one of the
Egyptian overseers that he was encour-
aging the people to look for deliverarce
from bondage, and seeking him out the
Egyptian demanded that he cease to so
teach the people. This he refused to do,
and so bravely withstood the Egyptian
that the latter flew into a towering rage
and slew him on the spot. This proved
severe shock to his father, Elishama,
and embittered his heart against God.
And when year later his grandson,
Joshua, noble youth OF some 20 years.
was snized and carried off by an Egyp-
tian official living far to the south who
had been attracted by the manly bear
ing OF the boy and coveted him as q
servant in his household, he was incon-
colohlo No uOrd hoe arar haav, h an "a
of the boy since, and as the years have
come and gone Elishama has grown
more morose and taciturn. And am not
surprised that you did not prevail upon
him to meet with the elders tonight.
But had hoped that he would yield, for
as head of the tribe of Ephraim we shall
need his help"
"Tbe outlook Is not bright, but we
will have to do the best we can and leave
the rest with God," Moses remarked.
breaking the silence which followed
Aaron's story. Il had not expected to
find the people so dispirited. Why il
it?"
Il have been surprised and puzzled by
the conditions, for had expected that
with your return the people would be
filled with enthusiasm, but last night
think learned the reason" Aaron re-
Piled "It seems that after my de-
parture for you the impression got
abroad among the people that during
your long absence you had obtained the
help of some strong ally and were to
return and by mighty hand wpest de-
liverance from Egypt. And when you
came with your stan and simple shep-
herds dress of the east, the people lost
heart, saying: How can deliverance
ever come with such leader?'"
An anxious, troubled look crossed
Mos es' face. but 1t soon gave place to one
of hope and cheer, as he said:
''Iut when they see the signs, they
will believe. God is mtghtier than all
the armies Of the east"
what signs?" asked Elisheba,
Aarou's wife, who had been listening at
tentively to the conversation of the two
men.
THE signs which God gave to me in
the mount" Moses replied.
Surely, the people will believe" ex-
claimed Elisheba. after she had heard
the story, but many times during the
day her heart misgave her as she
thought of Elishama. What II others Of
the leaders refused to come as did hef
And she racked her brain to try and
think Of some way in which she might
overcome Elishama's obduracy. She
knew that further argument was USE
less, for Moses had pleaded with him,
and Aaron in the afternoon had visited
him in last effort to win him over,
What could she do? AS the afternoon
waned and the evening shadows began
IN gather, she became more agitated
over the matter, and the conviction grew
upon her that she must somehow get
Eiishama to the meeting that night.
A knock at the door Interrupted her
troubled thought, and she opened It to
flnd an Egyptian standing there. She