The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-04-25


as though his heart would break.
Because, my son. the creditor viii
wait no longer for the money We owe
him. and the law OF Israel gives him
the right to take thee to satisfy the
debt"
"Then it's bad law" cried the
younger boy. lifting his head from his
mothers shoulder and stopping his
sobbing.
Hush. my son. you must not speak
thus, for 1t 10 the law which Moses
by the command of God gave" was
the mothers gentle rebuke.
But doesn't God care because we
have to leave you? Doesn't He know
that 1t Is cruelT' demanded the boy.
almost fiercely.
Yea, God knows all things" replied
the mother. quietly; "but we must not
blame the God whom thy father feared
and served"
But II God knows. will He not
help?" persisted the boy.
YES" spoke up the other boy, eag
erly, did not our father bless us In
the name of his God as he lay dying,
and did he not say that God would
care for us?"
YES" whispered the mother.
"And won't He?"
Eyes," again whispered the mother.
She could not say no, for her boys
must not know that she doubted her
God, and yet doubt was In her heart
that God would or could help her In
the present extremity.
Long after the boys had fallen into
a troubled sleep she sat thinking.
Her yes" kept ringing in her ears.
and the consciousness that she had
not turned to God in her trouble rs
she should have done grew upon her
and made her feel guilty and uncom-
| Portable
Il will seek the prophet Elisha" sho
| exclaimed at last. Perhaps he will
hear and be able to help In the name
Of his God"
Rising in obedience to the thought,
she went softly to the door, lest she
should wake the sleeping boys, and.
| opening 1t quietly, passed swiftly out
into the night.
The light was just breaking In the
east when she returned. The boys
were still sleeping, and she went and
stood over them. A new light Of hope
looked down upon them and exclaimed
joyfully, over and over again:
Il shall not lose them! I shall not
lose them! I shall not lose them!"
| But there was much she must do
The prophet had said to go and gather
all the empty vessels she could Dor
row, and she must obey. Hastily call
| ing her sons she sent them forth In
one direction, while she went in an,
other.
Empty vessels! Who ever heard OF
such a request?" exclaimed the neigh.
bors. Had the poor widow gone
crazy?"
But back and forth, back and forth,
apparently unconscious of the wonder.
ing looks of her neighbors, passed the
widow and her sons with the empty
vessels-pots and jars and basins and
all manner of dishes-until the bars
floor OF the little cottage was quite
covered.
what can she be going to do?"
was the question being asked on
every side, as the neighbors gathered
in little groups and talked of the
widow and her troubles. And as they
saw the creditor coming to take tho
boys they shook their heads and said:
1.-THE great trouble which hath fallen
upon her hath driven her mad"
Il have come for the boys" bluntly.
almost brutally, spoke the creditor, rs
ne followed the mother into the house
after one of her many trips. Where
are they?" he exclaimed, wrathfuliy,
as a glance around the little bare room
told him that they were not there. and
then. as his eyes fell upon the motley
array of empty vessels scattered over
the floor, he laughed derisiveiv, and
said:
Hast thou traded them for these2
IT'S but thy folly. for they 'belcrg to
me-"
May butI would have one pa,,ing
word with my sons" the widow ex.
claimed, unabashed. and as at that mo
ment the two boys came laden with
other vessels the creditor felt sreys.
sured and, with the. cpndescending all
Of one who is sure Of his quarry, III
stepped without while the widor,
closed and barred the door. *
The moments dragged themselves
out until 1t seemed to the creditor
/ standing without that 1t had beer
hours. Angrily pounding on the doo-
at last, when, his patience would no
longer brook delay, he demanded that
the two boys come forth.
In response there came glad cry
from within an the widow exclaimed:
"They are all flled!"
"All- filled! What does It meant
exclaimed the creditor. Not the
empty vessels! Filled with what?"
But at that moment the door was
flung open and there within was re-
vealed to the astonished gaze Of. the
creditor and those gathered about the
vessels fllled with the fragrant, oil
"Now will pay thee" cried the
widow, joyfully. and my sons shall -
free" .fssA