Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-05-21

with falling heart as the evening
shadows began 10 fall lie noted tie
earnest look upon the prophets face
as he read along and then he saw a
look OF triumphant Joy fash forth, and
heard him exclaim under his breNh;
1T is Gods word lie will not
fall"
Hath God sent thee word to go
thither7" eagerly exclaimed the young
man. breaking in upon the prophets
reverie
Nay. we shall remain here and
the prophet rolled up his precious
scroll and placed II in the bosom OF
> his mantle. He had been reading the
/ Psalms Of David. and had fallen upon
that portion which read: The angel
of the Lord encampeth round about
I them that fear him and delivereth
/ them" The words seemed to fash
I forth 4 message TO his own heart in
its hour Of need I, was enough. And
as he went about his preparations for
retiring for the night. after their sim
Z pic meal was over. he kept repeating
the words over softly to himself.
The angel OF the Lord encampeth
round about them that fear Him to
deliver them"
He felt as though God himself had
spoken 10 him and. resting in the per
feet assurance that God would not
fall him. he went TO sleep.
Not 40 I'D 81 q
came 10 quiet his troubled heart. In
Imagination he pictured the army OF the
Syrians gathering about the city. and
as occasionally he would drop OF into
fitful sleep he would dream that the
whole army with spears before them
were closing in upon them. And thea
he would start up and End that dark
ness still prevailed and that all was
quiet about. and he would lie down
again upon his couch. Thus the night
passed. and just before the dawn was
breaking he again dropped off into a
troubled sleep. This time he dreamed
that the rulers OF the city had seized
him and his master in answer to the
demands OF the Syrian general and
had carried them to the walls OF the
city and then threw them OF the high
parapet into the hands OF the waiting
soldiers below. lie awoke 10 find
that the terror Of his dream had
caused him TO throw himself from his
couch with a start and he had landed
upon the floor. He was all a.tremble
and the dream seemed so real that he
looked about To reassure himself that
he was not in the midst OF n hostile
army. But no. In the light OF the
early morning he could sec his mas
ter still sleeping over there as peace
fully as when he had lain down the
night before. and all without was
quiet
But the army must be about the
city" he exclaimed 10 Himself. "Oh.
! know we cannot escape," and. rush.
ing forth. h. strained his eyes to tho
rising hills without the city. With A
wild cry he rushed back into the
house and. falling down in terror by
the side OF his masters couch. he
shook him rudeIy. crying the while
that the hosts OF the Syrians were
upon them.
Alas. my master, How shall We
do be continued. as he led the way
10 the door and pointed to the horses
and the chariots which filed the hill.
sides opposite
The angel Of the Lord encampeth
round about them that fear Him 10
deliver them" calmly spoke the
prophet
Nay. rather does It seem to be the
hosts Of Syria which are encamped
about us" was the almost impatient
reioinder.
All. but Gods hosts are there"
The young man looked at the
prophet half in wonder. half In fear.
Had his master gone insane that lie
should talk thus. and be SO indIrercn,
TO the certain destruction which was
before thems He saw the prophet
lift his eyes 10 heaven. He saw ais
lips move lie knew he was in prayer.
Then. as he ceased and opened his
eyes again. he pointed in the direction
OF the Syrian hosts.
The young man turned his ewes in
that direction, and the vision that me,
hi1 astonished gaze made him fairly
shout with joy. for behold, the hill.
sides between the Syrian hosts and
the city were fun Of the horses ana
ehariots OF fire Of the Lord.