The Tupelo journal., 1908-05-29

ily from the multitude OF camp
fires, bringing a suggestion Of food
and the evening meal. A wistful look
came into the face of one of the lep-
ers, as he medis atively said.
There is no lack of food with the
Syrians."
Thou art foolish in the thought"
came the sharp rebuke from the man
sitting next him, for dead men need
no food
We'll, we can die but once. Better
to perish in the effort to get food than
to idly sit still until we PERISH" was
the retort.
Yes, and soon we shall be so weak
we shall be unable to move, even
though we want to-" spoke up another,
encouragingly, and he struggled to
his feet. why should we sit here
until we die? Come, let is go out
to the host of the Syrians. If they
save us alive we shall live; and If
they kill us, we shall but die
Saying which, he started off with
uncertain steps toward the distant
camp. Bythis time the evening shadows
were beginning to fall and by the
time they had reached the outskirts
Of the Syrian camp darkness had
come. A strange silence brooded in
the air, but so intent were the lepers
in creeping in unnoticed hat they
did not become conscious of the
ominous silence until they had stumbled
over some garments lying upon the
ground and fell headlong ineo the very
midst of one of the tents. In fear and
trembling they lay quiet where they
had fallen, expecting TO be killed any
minute for their abrupt entrance. but
as he moments went by and nothing
happened, they became conscious of
the stiffness which filed all the camp.
Not a sound could be heard save the
noise OF their rapid breathing, and at
last they grew bold TO rise and inves.
tigate the tent into which they had
so Unexpectedly stumbled. Food and
garments were scattered about in the
utmost confusion, as they could tell
even in the darkness.
And this tent - empty, too" shout
ed one of the other lepers, who had
tottered farther on.
Then followed a hurried investiga.
ton, the lepers as they went from
tent to tent gathering up articles OF
value, and at last exhausted with their
efforts they sat down to eat more
leisurely, for in their establishment
they at first had only eaten a few
mouthfuls as they went.
I'VE do not We'll" suddenly ex.
claimed one of the lepers, for this is
a day of good things, and we hold our
peace. If we tarry till the morning
light, some mischief will come upon
us; come 10Y therefore, let us re.
turn and carry the good tidings to the
city"
That had been a wonderful day in
Samaria. Wonderful, for the hungry
had been fed as though from the very
hand of God. All day long the people
had streamed forth to the camp Of
the Syrians, and spoiled the tents
there SO that everybody had an abun
dance and to spare. Then with the
coming of the evening came the bugle
call for the closing of the gates of the
city. The few last stragglers have
come in and the gate keeper has be
gun the task of shutting the ponder
Gus iron doris, when he notes a little
group of men standing at some dis
lance outside the gate and looking wist
fully withia. He beckons them to come
and there comes tse answering cry:
"Unclean, Unclean,"
What" cried some one from with
in the gate, are the lepers whc
brought deliverance to the city to BIZ
shut out?"
Again the cry sounds forth:
"Uncleani Unclean!"
II was at that moment that a figure
was seen to press through the gate
and as the people noted his long hail
and coarse robe they whispered: Il
is the prophet"
With rapid strides the prophet pro
ceeded straight to the group of fou,
lepers, not needing the cry of I'm
clean! U~nclean!"
And that night when the gates O
Samaria closed they shut within, no
without, the four lepers who had Sc
nobly served the city in it's sore need