The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-04-25

sitting In a secluded spot. His cloe'
or mantle was drawn closely aroun(
him, but from without the folds of tn,
garment which envelOped his heat
there looked a strong face, who's;
penetrating eye seemed to take /,
every detail and movement of thu
busy place. Knots of people gathered
here n there talked in low tones
and the furtive glances which wers
cast In the direction Of the silent fig
ure indicated plainly that it was the
stranger who was the subject of con.
~versation. But no one move by
friendly impulse, seemed inclined to
speak a kindly word of greeting to the
stranger or bid him welcome. All this
the woman noted and then, as she
passed along on her way. she saw a
man emerge from one of the booths
Of the market place bearing in his
hands some of the barley cakes he
had purchased there. These he placed
in the hands of the silent figure who
''ose to receive them.
Evidently the servant of the
stranger" the woman thought to her.
self as she watched the two pass on
their way, eating their frugal repast
as they went.
Have they no %fricnds?" she asked
herself, that they thus come to Shu.
mem and depart without anyone ask
ing, whence contest thou? or whittier
goest thou?' 1t was a 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 she
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 a poor
and humble one to tell of the deeds
OF kindness which he had shown them
us he had passed by.
SO it came to PASS one day that as
she beheld the man and his servant
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
did and, as many an one has found
then, h came to know that the
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
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
and of Israel, not even the king him.
self, than was the prophet Elisha in
he home of this Shunammite woman
her husband.
But goodness and kindly service
never go unrewarded by God, and it
10 pass as the prophet came and
vent the longing grew upon him to
some special blessing into the
lie of this home whose hospitality he
lad enjoyed.
What shall it be-" he asked his
ervant Gehazi, with whom one day
ie talked the matter over. Would
hey that | should speak to the king
hat he shew them kindness, or to the
aptain of the hosts of Israeli"
Nay, not that, my MASTER" ex.
laimed Gehazi, for they dwell in Sc.
urity and plenty in their own land
Shunem. But verify she hath no
hild.'
"LO, children are an heritage of the
ord; and the fruit Of the womb is his
eward,' exclaimed the prophet, quot.
lg the words Of the Psalmist. 1T {
hall indeed be SO in this case"
A full year has passed since Elisha's I
Ist visit to Shunem, for service in
parts of the kingdom have kept !
-, I,-,- I-A j.