St. Tammany farmer., 1906-02-24

The pomp and ceremony are over
Populace and courtiers and king have
We'd with each other in paying tribute
to the returned hero and his army.
The king from the balcony overlook.
Ing the great courtway before the pal.
ace has reviewed the passing troops
and has showered upon Moses as he
passed the costly necklaces Of gold.
which bespoke the special royal favor.
And then in the house Of pillars, the
great audience room Of the palace, the
king has bestowed upon him the title
Of "Fanbearer on the Right Hand Of
the King, and Nearest Friend" the
highest honors to be won BY an Egyp-
tian. And now all is over and Moses
and the princess mother have EN-.
barked upon one Of the royal barges
on their return to their home above
Memphis. The placid waters are gay
with the colors Of the many boats.
and the songs Of the rowers, as they
keep time to the beat Of their oars,
floats up to them from below.
As they sat watching the busy
scenes about them, Thermutis searched
the face Of Moses to see IL she could
read there any answer to the ques-
tions that filled her heart, and which
she almost feared to ask. He seemed
in no mood to talk, and to her light
sallies he responded but half-heartedly.
what" she exclaimed, as she
noted that the small jeweled battleax
and the exquisite fan, the insignia Of
his new titles. had slipped from his
hands. hast thou So soon tired Of the
tokens Of thy great honors?"
The soft touch Of her hands as she
sought to replace the AZ and fan, and
her words. reused him, and % the
faint smile which passed over his fea.
lures died away. he half impatiently
exclaimed:
what can they mean to me now!
What is there that Egypt can give me.
seeing that the hope Of the Hebrew
people leads away from Egypt"
'Thou hast new light?" his mother
asked, with suspicious huskiness in
her voice. What hast thou learned3
Didst thou find Ammihud?"
To answer thy last question frst
and thus start At the beginning Of my
story: found Ammihud after long
search and much adventure, and while
he is unable to give the details of the
records said to rest In the tomb Of Jo.
seph, he declares positively that the
land promised by God to Abraham.
Isaac and Jacob is Canaan and that Jo-
seph took pledge Of his sons that they
would carry up his body with them,
assuring them that God would surely
visit them and lead them out"
Thermutis' brow darkened and the
lines about her mouth set in stern de-
She would not yield her
cherished dreams without a struggle,
and her mind quickly set to work to
harmonic the newly discovered facts,
II facts they were, with the plans FOR
Moses and his people as she had con-
ceived them. She waited in silence for
Moses to continue his story, but his
eyes were gazing out across the water
and he showed no inclination to say
more.
'sWell?'' at last she expostulated, un-
able to keep still longer.
THAT is ALL" Moses responded with
quiet seriousness, save that Ammihud
declares the time Of deliverance is at
hand, as the records in Joseph's tomb
will show"
"And what does this all mean to you?"
she demanded, abruptly.
II hardly know how to answer, moth
err" he said, slowly, save that I am
eager to know Gods plans for His PED.
pie, and am trying to be willing to fol-
low Him, cost what it may.
But admitting the truth Of all that
Ammihud has revealed, what Is there
that need be SO disconcerting to thee!
Need it change one whit your plans or
your hopes as an Egyptian prince? As
king may it not be that thou art to lead
thy armies to the conquest Of Canaan?
and may it not be thy pleasure to settle
there thy delivered people? and was It
not to be expected that Joseph should
choose flnal resting place with Abraham,
and Isaac and Jacob In Canaan? and -
to the time being near ct hand, do we not
know that the king is growing old and
feeble and that at no distant day thy
will Gomez"
Thermutis spoke with intense earn
and Moses felt her eyes upon
him, but he dared not look up. He did
not feel that he could trust himself TO
enter into her plans for him then. Her
plea was certainly plausible, and the
was strong to follow her
brilliant scheme, but he was conscious
that it was God rather than his mother
he must follow.
I'VE must wait, = he said at last with
.nort. God win lead the way. 9