St. Tammany farmer., 1906-03-03


fNVNpCH towards the gate
liz HA way overlooking
I WI AGt the river. One Is
NJ([.IT that Of an old
<&.A man, and as he
moves alon 6
feebly he leans heavily upon the
young man at his side. His bent fig
ure and withered, wrink1ed face betok.
en- great age, but his sunken eyes have
sparkle that reflects the light of the
brain still active within. And his
voice, too, although thin. and trembly
with the years, is still vibrant with
CHEEKY hope.
"Ah, is not the earth beautiful this
morning?" he piped. drawing in long
breaths the fragrance Of the flowers
that were sparkling with a newborn
beauty in the morning sun. "And to
think that by night we shall be in
Goshen All, God is good and merci-
full. l had abandoned all hope Of re-
turn when you found me-"
And the memory Of those dark. de-
spairing days quite overcome the old
man, but he quickly recovered him
self, and ran on in rambling sort of
way, while the young man listened
with almost reverential attention.
"And you say the burdens of my
people have been lightened. May God
richly reward the princess for her
goodness. They have not been disap-
pointed in her, for I remember the
hopes that stirred the hearts of the
people when she took thee to the
palace. They hoped to find in her a
friend, and you tell me they have.
And now to think. Joachim cannot
get used to calling thee Moses, for In
Goshen thou vert known by the name
thy parents gave thee on the day of
thy circumcision, and only day or
two after thou vert taken to the pal
ace was carried far to the south into
Ethiopia and never heard the name
the princess gave thee-to think that
now thou art interested in thy poor
people. Surely Gods ways are won
derful.''
They had come now to the gate and
the porter promptly swung wide its
massive portals and they descended
the broad steps to the boat landing.
The rowers were in their places, for
the orders had been given the night
before for the early start, and soon
the strange pair, Moses the prince and
the decrepit old Hebrew slave, were
gliding over the sunlit, sparkling
waters.
Had Moses not been so engrossed
with the thoughts of the portentous
trip to the tomb Of Joseph, he might
have given one parting glance back
ward, and had he done. So he would
have caught glimpse of a female
figure standing half concealed behind
one of the pillars of the gateway.
With hand appraised to shade her eyes
from the dazzle of the sun. she stood
motionless, watching the boat until
1t had disappeared far down the river
as it made its way swiftly towards
Goshen. And when she could see it no
longer she turned, and with a moan
Of anguish she retraced her steps to
the house
'Oh, il he would only listen to rea-
son and take my advice! fear the
influence over him of that mummy of a
Hebrew he has dug up in Ethiopia. Oh.
that l had insisted on going with
them! A misstep now may cost him
all that Egypt can give and forever
end his chances Of helping his peo-
ple."
In this distress of mind and appre-.
hension it is not to be wondered that
the Princess Mother found the days a
burden and the nights sleepless hor-
ror. On the third day after the de-
parture of Moses she could stand it
no longer, and in desperation she re-
solved that she, too. would go to
Goshen. She must be with Moses to
help and advise him. The stranger
should not usurp her place, and any
records left by Joseph should not lead
him astray and rob him of his right
ful place in Egypt as her son. Thus
mpelled, she soon had made her prep |
arations and was on her way.
And during these days of. anguish |
endured by the one he had left behind,
Moses had been busy. On the even
ing of the day on which they had |
started their boat reached the point |
where they were to take conveyance
lrawn by horses into the heart Of |
Goshen. Passing the night on the
~, ~ p<uous hor0n tha,y ouoir ,oaJo ~ |
early start, and by noon had gained /
he locality of Joseph's tomb.
It was pathetic to see the eager ex-
of the old man as they neared
the tomb
Eyes, yes" joyful1y cried the shrill /
7oice Of the old man, this is the place.
Ah, how many times my aged father,
took me down in secrecy to
this spot in the dead Of night, and,
into the cavern's depths, sol
.mnly and carefully, rehearsed to me
he secrets that tomb held. And his
asst words. as with his dying breath
lc blessed me, were: Remember q
ration yet to be Is dependent upon thy
And now, thank God,
lie has raised up thee and prepared
hee to receive the message And the
Id man placed his hand assuringly
lpon Moses arm. and with barred,
Who can know the feelings of these
wo as they set about the task OF
ringing from their hiding place the
ecords long ago prepared by Joseph
nd buried with him as he had direct
d? They felt they were treading on
loly ground and we're in very truth
D the presence Of God. for was not