The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-05-02


! sitting n secluded spot. Jyls cloah
OF mantle was drawn closely around
| him, but from without the folds of the
garment which enveloped his head
| there looked strong face. whose
penetrating eye seemed to take In
every detail and movement Of the
busy place. Knots Of people gathered
here, aud there talked In low. tones
and the furtive glances which were
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, moved By
friendly impulse. seemed inclined TO
speak q 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
rose to receive them.
Evidently the. servant Of the
stranger" the woman thought to her
self rs she watched the two pass on
their way, eating their frugal repast
as they went.
Have they no friends?" 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 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 q
fire over which to cook the little cakes
of Oil and meal for herself and heI
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 ol
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 fol
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 pool
and humble one to tell of the deeds
OF kindness which he had shown then
rs he had passed by.
| So 1t came to pass one day that az
she beheld the man and his servant
passing by her own home she wen
forth to meet him and constrained
him to tarry and refresh himself aftel
his long and wearisome journey. Thi.
he did and, as many an one has found
since then, she came to know that thu
entertaining Of one Of Gods servants
brought blessing upon her household
She had a great yearning for good
ness and her greatest delight was Il
sit under the teaching of the prophe
Elisha and receive from his hands tina
spiritual teaching which she needed
This feeling her husband came t.
share with her, and there was no NOR
welcome guest In any home in all tn,
land of Israel, not even the king him
self, than was the prophet Elisha II
the home of this Shunammite woman
and her husband.
But goodness and kindly servic'
never go unrewarded by God, and
came to pass as the prophet came ant
went the longing grew upon him Il
pour some special blessing into tn
life Of this home whose hospitality h
had enjoyed.
What shall It be?' he asked hi
servant Gehazi, with whom one da,
he talked the matter over. "Woul
they that / should speak to the kin
that he shew them kindness, or to tn
captain Of the hosts Of Israeli"
May, not that, my MASTER" 81
claimed Gehazi, for they dwell in 81
curity and plenty in their own Ian
in Shunem. But verify she hath n
child"
10, children are an heritage Of tn
Lord; and the fruit of the womb is hi
reward" exclaimed the prophet. quo
ing the words of the Psalmist. 81
shall indeed be so In this case"