The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-04-22

stranger or bid him welcome. An. this
The woman noted and then. . she
! paved sA0nx IN ~ w. che SaW q
man emerge ffom one q the booghs
| Of the market place bearing IN his
hands some OF the barley cakes he
had purchased there. These he placed
IN the hands 81 the silent figure who
rose to receive them.
Evidently the servant of the
stranger" the woman thought to her
self Is she watched the two pass on
their way, eating their frugal repast
~ they went.
Have they no friends!" she asked
herself. that they thus come to Shu-
mem and depart without anyone ask
Ing, whence contest thou? Of whittier
'goest thou! 1t was . gOodly face
which the stranger had" she contin-
ued to herself as she went ON her
way. Who can he be-"
To this last question which arose In
her mind came a partial answer that
day as she visited the widow, for sh~
found that the latter. while out pick
ing up sticks with which to make a
| fire over which to cook the little cakes
of oil and meal for herself and her
children had met this stranger and his
servant, and he had spoken such
words of encouragement and blessing
to her that she had been greatly
helped, and finding that she was Of
! a branch of the tribe of Levi, he had
promised to see that her son was en-
tered in one of the schools of the
prophets. where he could prepare for
the priestly service
From that time on the Shunammite
woman watched for tidings of this
stranger, and over the pathway which
he had passed she found many q poor
and humble one to tell of the deeds
of kindness which he had shown them
rs he had passed by.
So it came to pass one day that as
she beheld the man and his servant
passing by her own home she went
forth to meet him and constrained
him to tarry and refresh himself after
his long and wearisome journey. This
he did and. as many an one has found
since then. she came to know that the
entertaining of one of Gods servants
brought blessing upon her household.
She had a great yearning for good.
ness and her greatest delight was to
sit under the teaching of the prophet
Elisha and receive from his hands that
| spiritual teaching which she needed.
This feeling her husband came to
share with her, and there was no more
welcome guest in any home in all the
land of Israel, not even the king him.
self, than was the prophet Elisha IN
the home of this Shunammite woman
and her husband.
But goodness and kindly service
never 60 unrewarded by God, and it
came to pass as the prophet came and
| went the longing grew upon him to
pour some special blessing into the
life of this home whose hospitality he
had enjoyed.
What shall 1t be-" he asked his
servant Gehazi, with whom one day
he talked the matter over. would
they that l should speak to the king
that he shew them kindness, or to the
captain of the hosts of Israeli"
May, not that. my MASTER" ex-
claimed Gehazi, for they dwell in Sc
curity and plenty in their own land
in Shunem. But verify she hath no
child"
10. children are an heritage of the
Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his
reward" exclaimed the prophet, quot
ing the words of the Psalmist 1T
shall indeed be so in this case"
A full year has passed since Elisha's
last visit to shunem, for service in
other parts Of the kingdom have kept
him busy. but one day he turns his
steps thither, accompanied by his SER
want, Gehazi.
Let US go up, for this Shunammite
woman rejoiceth in a son." he ex-
claimed. "She hath shewn great
kindness unto others. and God hath
rewarded her in accordance with his
word. Let us carry Gods blessing
up to the child"
| And Elisha found it even in accord
ance with the word he had spoken.
and the mother greeted him with
words of rejoicing, saying:
"The Lord hath made me to rejoice.
for he hath taken away my reproach
| and hath given me a SON."
May the Lord ever keep thee
faithful to the sacred mission oil
motherhood" responded the prophet,
| fervidly.
The 1eardless Man.