St. Tammany farmer., 1906-06-16

u UVs L AAV PASSoSAS -
frogs and lice
w <.l>l which had invaded
[1A the land of Goshen
4 G as well as all the
9A land of Egypt had
caused much distress and discomfort,
and it was but natural that the people
should suspect that some new anlctlon
was about to descend upon tnem' TOT
with every departure OF Moses ano
Aaron from Goshen recently there had
followed some new and distressing
plague.
But the next day broke as usual;
the same cloudiess sky stretched lts
blue canopy over the land, and
the great burning sun mounted the
heavens in undimmed splendor. And
the day had but fairly begun
era the Egyptian overseers made
their appearance in Goshen to drive
the people to the work which
had been almost abandoned OF late
owing to the distressing plaques OF
the bloody waters, the frogs and the
lice. s~zs mr.
Deiectedly and sullenly the people
obeyed, but even while they were go.
ing. a dark cloud seemed to rise and
spread over the land, obscuring the
sun and causing a weird and hazy
darkness to prevail. In terror the
Egyptian overseers fed, leaving the
people to scatter and find shelter IN
their homes. For the better part OF
the morning the darkness prevailed
and then. the black forbidding CLOUDS
seemed to disappear as quickly as
they had come and once more the
sun shone forth in all his splendor
flooding the land Of Goshen with
glorious light.
People once more emerged from
their houses and excitedly talked over
the strange happenings OF the morn
ing. Naturally they connected the
cloud and the darkness with the ex.
pected plague, and the people looked
about apprehensively as though they
expected some new and strange
thing to happen to them. But every
thing appeared the same. and as
they looked at each other inquiring
", they asked: #F :.
"What is It? What has happened
Let the elders seek out Moses and
find out what manner OF thing this
is that has come to pass"
Thus admonished the elders OF the
people hastily assembled and De
parted at once to find Moses and
Aaron, but they had not proceeded
far when they were met by an
Egyptian messenger who excttediy
inquired where he might find Moses
"The king has sent for him." he
exclaimed as he hurried on Will
them. after they had told him thai
they too were on their way to Moses
abode. "A dreadful thing has hap
pened In Egypt" he continued. "The
land fairly swarms with flies. The
land is covered with them, the houses
are filed with them. yea, and even the
palace has not escaped, and they are
causing such torment to the people
and the king, that everyone IS wei
aigh mad. But there are no flies II
Goshen!" the messenger exclaimed
stopping short as he suddenly be
came conscious that he had left be
hind the pestiferous insects. "Why
now is It? Have not the flies come
into Goshen?" and the Egyptian
looked inquiringly~ at the men before
him.
I'VE have seen no flies. We know
not Of what you speak" and ther
as the light began to break in upor
them, they exclaimed:
"Came the flies this morning whe1
the sun was obscured and darkness
was upon the land?"
.At that very time. And since the1
the king and people have had NJ
peace. l must find Moses at once
he exclaimed, starting forward again
"for Pharaoh in his distress will
brook no delay"
The news of the Egyptians coming
and his errand, together with Moses
hasty departure to the palace OF thu
king at Memphis spread rapidly ant
little else was talked OF in Goshel
ut the wonderful things which hat
come to pass.
.Now do we know that the Lore
has made a difference between u
and the Egyptians" the people re
peated over and over again rever
emily. Surely now Pharaoh will le
us 60 as Moses has demanded"
But the next day after Moses hat
returned and the people were elatet
by the report he brought back tina
Pharaoh had consented to their de
parture and they were making thei
preparations, q company Of Egyp
tian ofacials made their ap
pearance and grufly announced
that Pharaoh would not let them 60
Then was there mourning in the lam
OF Goshen, and It was with difficult!
that the elders restrained the people
Moses, with discouraged and achin,
heart, sought the solitude with Got
| alone. and in obedience to His wore
he returned to Pharaoh again the mex
day and said:
sseThe hand Of the Lord 10 upon tn!
cattle which Is in the field. upon tn
horses, upon the asses. upon the cam
els. upon the oxen and upon Thu
sheep; there shall be very grievou
murrafn."
WHAT" thundered the king, "dar'
YOU defy the gods OF Egypt? Know
est thou not that the spirit Of the got
Osiris dwells In the sacred bull, ar
Apis and Mnevis In the ram Of Am
mon, the sheep Of Sails and the goa
of Mendes."
/ s.Yaa 80 the EgYptianx balfeYe, bu