Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1908-04-02

den appearance after an absence or
three years, of the mighty test on
Mount Carmel in which the prophets
of Baal had been defeated and then
slain and then Of the coming OF the
reyiving, refreshing rain
The nation had been profoundly
stirred by the remarkable events, and
in the face of the popular approval of
the prophet Elijah the threat of Jeze-
bel was as the mere idle Boosting of
silly child. for there was no one who
would have dared carry out her de.
cree of death against the prophet,
even though they had been so in
olined. And because of this the dis
appearance of the prophet was all
the more disconcerting, and IL seemed
as though the welfare of the school
depended upon his being found.
All through the long period of fanl-
inc which had been marked by the
fierce persecution of the prophets of
God, the school had been closed, but
with the revival which had come with
Eliiah's return the school had re-
opened and the students had returned,
among them being Elisha. And now
scarcely a week had elapsed after he
had resumed his studies before the
circumstances had arisen which
brought him face to face with the
question as to what was his duty.
There was the strong desire to be
among those who should go in search
of the prophet, and it was not difficult
for him to argue that such mission
was larger and more important than
any demand which the farm could
make upon him But Elisha realized
that his own strong inclinations were
not altogether a safe guide, and his
deep purpose to do Gods will and not
his own led him at last to see clear
ly that the highest service to God
sometimes led through the homely
humdrum duties of life rather than
into the more conspicuous and dis
tinctive religious activity.
Thus it came to pass that when the
searching party started forth Elisha
turned his face resolutely homeward.
determined to do his part there and
again begin work. So the days passed.
And while Elisha wondered what sue
cess attended the efforts of the search
ers, he strove to stay his Impotence
and forget his disappointment by earn
estly plunging into the work Of the
farm. He could not help but envy
those who should find the prophet,
tot, a. he CD, IA,,t &c
gathered about him and listening to
his teachings How he wished he
might be with them at such time.
What a yearning there was in his
heart to know God better How much
he felt he was losing by being shut
away upon the farm.
'Oh, Cod" he groaned one day, his
chastened spirit crying out, not in re-
bellion, but in fervent longing after
the privileges he felt he was being de-
MED "Oh, God, help me to prove
worthy of thy blessing by faithfulness
to the present duty
And as he breathed the prayer he
took fresh hold upon the plow handles
and sent his oxen at smart pace
around the field, turning as true fur
row as was ever turned on Judean
hillside.
So intent was he upon the task in
hand that he did not observe the soil
tary figure approaching in the dis
lance. In fact he was well around the
field on his second turn when he OBJ
served that those working with hin,
had stopped and were looking at
something intently. A rebuke rose to
| his lips at this seeming neglect of
| duty, his own Jealous spirit being al.
ways impatient with anything which
loked like the sighting of ones work
but it rested there cunspoken as he
felt something fall softly upon his
shoulders and turned to see
! ELIJAH!
/ For full minute Elisha stood as
though rooted to the spot while a
flood of thoughts rushed in upon him
wonder and eXultation, joy and graft
tude struggling for expression. Could
it all be real? He raised his hand to
feel the mantle which had been cast
upon him and then his eyes followed
the retreating figure of Elijah. He
knew that he had been called to fol
low Elijah; he knew what the pres
ence of the mantle upon his shoul
! ders betokened, and with a glad CRY
he sped after the prophet.