Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1906-04-19

steps left the path
&C way along which
10 he had Just come
and turned in to-
wards the low entrance to the rude hut
The door was flung open before lie
reached II. and voice called out;
You are late. Moses, What success"
Poor. Aaron. pOor.~ Moses replied.
de iectediy. 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 it with you?"
Little better. fear. than with you.
was the dubious reply. None whom
have seen have refused to come. but
there l. much depression Of spirits. The
oppression has been so long and bitter
that the people have quite given up
hope But what Of Elishama- Gave
he you no encouragement
None. whatever He declares that
hope died within him years aED 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 I do. and sad they are. indeed"
Aaron replied Let US see" he con-
tinued. thoughtfully. 1t Is nearly 3
years aSo 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 fight 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 Op-
preston he continued to hope In some
way II reached the ears of one OF the
Egyptian overseers that he was eneour-
aging the people TO look for deliveraaee
from bondage. and seeking him out the
Egyptian demanded that he cease 10 so
teach the people This he refused TO do.
and so bravely withstOod the Egyptian
that the latter few into 4 towering rage
and slew him on the spot This proved
a severe shock To his father. Elishama.
and embittersi hts heart against God
And when a year later his grandson.
Joshua. a noble youth Of some 30 years.
was seized and carried Of 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 a
servant in his household. he was ineon-
solable No word has ever been heard
Of the boy since. and as the years have
come and gone Eiishama has grown
more morose and taeiturn- 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"
The outlook is not bright. but ve
will have to do the best We can and leave
the rest with Cod Moses remarked,
breaking the silence which followed
Aaron's story. Il had not expected 70
find the people so dispirited- Why Is
IT."
I have been surprised and puzzled BY
the conditions. for had expected that
with your return the people would b.
filed with enthusiasm. but last night
think learned the reason Aaron re-
piled 1T seems that after my de
parture for you the impression 20
abroad among the people that durins
your long absence you had obtained tn
help OF some strong ally and were tC
return and by mighty hand wrest de
liverauee from Egypt And when yos
came with your star and simple shep.
herds dress Of the east. the people losi
heart. saying How can deliverane,
ever come with such leader
An anxious. troubled look crosse
: Moses face. but it soon gave place to on,
of hope and cheer. as he said.
But when they see the signs. the
will believe. God is mightier than al
the armies Of the east" J."
, Aaron's wife. who had been listening at
tentively TO the conversation Of the twr
men
The signs which God gave TO me Il
the mount Moses replied
surely. the people will believe" ex
} claimed Elisheba. after she had hear
: the story. but many times during II
: day her heart misgave her as sh
thought Of Elishama- What il others O
the leaders refused to come as did he
! And she racked her brain 10 try an
: think of some way in which she nigh
: |
, knew that further argument was use
less. for Moses had pleaded with hin
and Aaron in the afternoon had visite
him in last effort to win him over
What could she do? As the afternoo
waned and the evening shadows bega
to gather. she became more agitate
over the matter, and the conviction gre
upon ser that she must somehow e
. Elishama to the meeting that night
: A knock at the door interrupted he
troubled thought, and she opened il {
= find an Egyptian standing there Sl
I was startled and frightened. and he
first thought was that the knowledg
/ of the meeting for that night had
r someway become known to the Egyy
q tians and they had sent an Official I
forbid Moses and Aaron holding it.
You want to see Moses and Aaron.
she stammered. apprehensively-
=, The stranger started visibly at Ii
words. and eagerly asked:
|. Are Moses and Aaron heref"
= The thrill in the voice and the ear
est look puzzled Eiisheha- Egyptia
overseers didn't generally speak or loo