The Tupelo journal., 1908-02-07
"What If the story IS true?"

"hoe thO otOlJ 10 tiuC.
And how shall I ever know wheth-
err it is true or not?" she asked her
self at last.
Why not go and see?" An incredu-
lous little laugh burst from her lips
at the very thought of such a thing,
and to prove that it was impossible
she began to run over In her mind
the many seemingly insurmountable
things in the way of such a long,
hard and perilous journey. She
might just as well give up her people
and her kingdom as to undertake such
a journey, for while she was gone,
what might not happen?
But what If the story is true?"
came back the question again and
again. And it gave her no peace. To
every reason great and small which
she could think of why she should not
go on the journey, the question kept
coming back with redoubled force:
What if it is true?"
III it is true" she exclaimed at last,
with an air of decision, Il want to
know. And how shall l know save as
/ go and see for myself? Did l send
a deputation to this King Solomon, l
should have only their say-so. If
Israel has such a king and such a
God, l must see and know for my
self, If l would be satisfied"
And so would you go?" she asked
herself at last. Yea, l would" she
exclaimed with an air of decision.
Rising hastily as though that matter
waiting maid.
Go, Felicia, and dispatch messen-
gers to the port. l would see the
traveller who came thither on the
ship and who told such wonderful
stories of the land from which he
came. Make haste, for if I remember
rightly the boat was to have sailed
this day"
Thus admonished Felicia quickly had
the swiftest runne on his way, and
that evening he had returned, bring
ing with him the traveller whose
stories had SO aroused the fair queen.
"How can one make the journey to
thy land?" she demanded, eagerly.
What" exclaimed the man, Won
deringly, would you face the IA
tigue and danger of so long a jour
ney?"
Yes, yes" the queen responded.
Thy stories have reused in me a
spirit which will not be stilled. l
must go and prove thy words"
And thou shalt not be disappoint-
ed" was the confident response.
One month later found the queen
Of Sheba well on her way to the
land of Israel. Her determination to
make the long, perilous journey had
come as a surprise and shock to her
people, but when they realized her
earnestness of spirit and desire to
learn the truth of the wonderful
things she had heard, they had at
last heartily entered into her plans
and had laden her camels with the
richest treasure which her kingdom
afforded, for, said they:
Our queen shall carry off her best
to the land where the great and
mighty God rules"
But, oh, the wearisomeness of that
long journey. Had not her desire
been so great she would have turned
back more than once. But it was
when on the burning sands of the
desert that the greatest test came.
There was %murmuring among her
great retinue of servants and she was
uaoru orl foint or1 fhoir rrofor uoo
almost exhausted. Should she go on
or should she turn back?0 Did not her
own country offer all that her heart
could desire?
But | would know Of this wonder
full King Solomon, and of the God who
has his dwelling place in the midst of
his people," she cried almost in
despair at last. Yea, l will keep my
face set s~teadfastly toward this land
of Israel, though / perish in the at
tempt"
And with the final resolve and the
putting away of the temptation to
turn back there came peace to her
heart and she said, softly: Perhaps
| the God whom l seek will bring me
back this way after l have seen all
tie wonderful things of which l have
heard"
Yes said the queen, lifting her
eyes and looking about her. Yes, l
thought | was not mistaken. This is
the place. All, how near l came to
turning back in my quest, and how
glad l am now that I kept on. What
wonderful things have 1 heard and
seen. Truly the God of Solomon is the
one and only God. Not half was told
me of all the wisdom and prosperity
which the God of Israel has given his
| servant Solomon. And now l go back
to my land, and the God of Solomon
shall be my God, and he shall be the
God of my people, for l have zen and
do know that there are nc gods like to
the God of Israel"
Eager for Bible knowledge.