The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-06-08

Ullllu W nat DIG lOllt wv LllNlC lItth ~
Cured to her mind that down the road
a piece there lived a family that had
had hard work in getting even the
barest necessities of life. The husband
and father had been sick and when he
had failed to turn up at his task the
supplies which Pharaoh had been met
ing out to them were withdrawn, and
even the little lamb whth they had
been able to save from the flock which
had been taken from them when mis-
fortune overlook them, had at last
been given up some weeks ago in or
der that they might obtain the pro.
visions they needed.
The neighbOrs about them had been
kind to them, but every one found il
hard work getting along, and there
was little that could be spared them
But the Pascal lamb would be large
enough for them. and the good WOm-
an, as she hurried along, quite forgot
her own sorrow and anxiety in the
Joy of planning for the shelter OF
those who would not be provided for
except as she gave Of her own store.
There are the four children and ia
Their and ME, and there a"e four OF
them, so that there VII be the ten
which Moses has declared was the
proper number to partake of the Pas
cal meal she unused to herself, as She
hurried onward. But what OF Abb
DAM she suddenly exclaimed, stop
ping short and half turning around.
"Where will he come in"
She had not thought of it before.
In her eagerness % help she had not
considered that there would be II
with her son Abidan What would be
done with him when he should return?
Could she shut him out? She trem-
bled at the thought, and her good pur-
poses began to WaVer. But what
would happen to her needy neighbors
if she failed to give them shelter? II
was sharp, hard struggle which she
fought out there under the stars on
that last night before the lamb was
to be slain. Time and again she start
ed % retrace her steps, and as often
turned about and went forward, and
each time found her farther upon her
WaU tnW1r6 hor roiob hNrC
Il must go forward" she cried at
last as she drove back the tears and
Stitied the rising prOmptings of selfish
ness. Here is need that must be
met, and God will provide the way.
And perhaps-perhaps Abidan won't
come back" and at the thought a
pang of sorrow seized her heart. to
give place an ms ant later to the bet
ter thought, that God would provide
for him elsewhere, if he did not.
AS she neared the threshold of the
house, the sound Of voices came
through the open doorway, and she
paused to listen. Father and mother
were in conversation while their two
little ones slept, and it was for them
they We're planning.
"Oh. why is it that our lamb should
have been taken?" walled the mother,
Has God forgotten us? Shall We be
shut out of the shelter and deliverance
of Israel because of our Lack"
NO" responded the father, encour-
agingly, Moses has said that the fam
lily too little for lamb, or unprovided
with lamb, shall be sheltered with a
family more fortunate"
'But whittier shall we turn for such
shelter? None have hidden US"
The father paused, unable to make
reply, and the mother continued:
perhaps we will be able to find
some place for our boy and girl, and
it matters not so much about our
selves" and she stifled a sob as it rose
to her lips.
The rustic of garments in the door
way caused her to turn, and there
stood her neighbor, who said, cheer
lily:
Thou and thy children shall eat the
Passover with us. Then shall come
Tomorrow at eventide when the lamb
is to be slain"
And having thus spoken the woman
was gone.
The twilight is deepening, and the
householders throughout Goshen have
solemnly and silently slain the little
lambs that had been kept by them
four days mute reminder of the de-
liverance which God had promised to
give them. The blood has been caught
in the basOnS and the punches of hys-
sop have been dipped therein and the
lintels and side pests of the houses
marked with the blood All have gone
within but one, The mother fingers
about the doorway and looks yearn-
ingly down the roadway.
"Oh, will he not come, my Abidan,
my SON." she cried.
And for answer the father came and
gently, but firmly pushed her in the
doorway and shut to the door.
With sob she sank to the floor
But what was that? Hurried foot.