The Columbus journal., 1908-05-20

| with failing 0e8rt as tuS Scn~o
shadows began to fall. He noted the
earnest look upon the prophets face
as he read along and then he saw .
| look of triumphant Joy fash forth. and
heard him exclaim under his breath:
1T is Gods word. He will not
fail."
Hath God sent thee word to 60
thither!" eagerly exclaimed the young
man. breaking in upon the prophets
reverie.
Nay. We shall remain here" and
the prophet rolled up his precious
scroll and placed 1t In the bosom Of
his mantle. He had been reading the
Psalms of David. and had fallen upon
| that portion which read: The angel
of the Lord encampeth round about
them that fear him and delivereth
them" The words seemed to fash
forth a message to his own heart In
its hour Of need. 1t was enough. And
as he went about his preparations for
retiring for the night. after their sim
pie meal was over. he kept repeating
the words over softly to himself.
THE angel of the Lord encampeth
round about them that fear Him to
deliver them"
He felt as though God himself had
spoken to him and. resting In the per-
feet assurance that God would not
fail him, he went to sleep.
Not sO'with the servant Little sleep
came to quiet his troubled heart. In
imagination he pictured the army of the
Syrians gathering about the city. and
as occasionally he would drop on into
a fitful sleep he would dream that the
whole army with spears before them
were closing in upon them. And then
he would start up and find that dark
ness still prevailed and that all was
quiet about. and he would lie down
again upon his couch. Thus the night
passed. and just before the dawn was
breaking he again dropped OF into q
troubled sleep. This time he dreamed
that the rulers Of the city had seized
him and his master in answer to the
demands Of the Syrian general and
had carried them to the walls Of the
city and then threw them on tho high
parapet into the hands Of the waiting
soldiers below. He awoke to nnd
that the terror Of his dream had
caused him to throw himself from his
couch with. start and hs had landed
upon the floor. He was an a-tremble
and the dream seemed 80 real that he
looked about to reassure himself that
he was not in the midst Of . hostile
army. But no. In the light Of the
early morning he could see his mas
ter still sleeping over there as peace
fully as when he had lain down the
night before, and all without was
quiet
But the army must be about tho
city," he exclaimed to Himself. "Oh,
I know we cannot escape!" and. rush.
ing forth, he strained his eyes to the
rising hills without the city. With q
wild cry he rushed back into the
house and. falling down in terror by
the side Of his masters couch, he
shook him rudely, crying the while
that the hosts of the Syrians were
upon them.
Alas. my master! How shall we
do?" he continued, IS he led the way
to the door and pointed to the horses
and the chariots which filed the hill
sides opposite.
The angel Of the Lord encampeth
round about them that fear Him to
deliver them" calmly spoke the
prophet.
Nay. rather does it seem to be the
hosts of Syria which are encamped
about u.s." was the almost impatient
rejoinder.
"Ah, but Gods hosts are there"
The young man looked at the
prophet half in wonder. half in fear.
Had his master gone insane that he
should talk thus. and be SO Indifferent
to the certain destruction which was
before them? He saw the prophet
lift his eyes to heaven. He saw his
lips move. He knew he was in prayer.
Then, as he ceased and opened his
eyes again, he pointed In the direction
of the Syrian hosts
The young man turned his eyes in
that direction. and the vision that met
hiI astonished gaze made him fairly
shout with joy. for behold! the hill
sides between the Syrian hosts and
the city were full Of the horses and
chariots of fire of the Lord.