The Tupelo journal., 1908-03-27
the more disconcerting, and It seemed

the more disconcerting, and It seemed
as though the welfare of the school
depended upon his being found.
All through the long period Of fam
inc which had been marked by the
fierce persecution of the prophets OF
God, the school had been closed, but
with the revival which had come with
Eljah's return the school had re-
opened and the students had returned,
among them being Elisha. And now
scarcely a week had elapsed after he
had resumed his studies before the
circumstances had arisen which
brought him face to face with the
question as to what was his duty.
Their was the strong desire to be
among those who should go in search
of the prophet, and it was not difficult
for him to argue that such mission
was larger and more important than
any demand which the farm could
make upon him. But Elisha realized
n a his W strong inclinations were
not altogether a safe guide, and his
deep purpose to do Gods will and not
his own led him at last to see clear
ly that the highest service to God
sometimes led through the homely
humdrum duties of life rather than
into the more conspicuous and dis
tinctive religious activity.
Thus it came to pass that when the
searching party started forth Elisha
turned his face %resolutely homeward,
determined to do his part there and
to be ready when the school should
again begin work. So the days passed.
And while Elisha wondered what sue
cess attended the efforts of the search
ers, h strove to stay his Impotence
and forget his disappointment by earn
estly p%lunging into the work Of the
farm. He could not help but envy
those who should find the prophet,
and pictured to himself the students
gathered about him and listening to
his teachings. How he wished he
might be with them at such time.
What a yearning there was in his
heart to know God better. How much
he felt he was losing by being shut
away upon the farm.
"Oh, God" he groaned n day, his
chastened spirit crying out, not in re-
b%ellion, but in fervent longing after
the privileges he felt he was being de-
MED, "Oh, God, help me to prove
worthy of thy blessing by faithfulness
to the present duty"
And as he breathed the prayer he
took fresh hold upon the plow handles
and sent his oxen at a smart pace
around the field, turning as true a fur
row as was ever turned on a Judean
hillside.
So intent was he upon the task in
hand that he did not observe the soil
tary figure approaching in the dis
lance. In fact he was well around the
field on his second turn when he OBJ.
served that those working with him
had stopped and were looking at
something intently. A rebuke rose to
his lips at this seeming neglect of
duty, his W jealous spirit being al
ways impatient with anything which
loked like the sighting of ones work.
but 1T rested there unspoken as he
felt something fall softly upon his
shoulders and turned to see
ELIJAH!
For a full minute Elisha stood as
though rooted to the spot while a
flood of thoughts rushed in upo him
wonder and exultation, joy and graft.
tude struggling for expression. Could
it all be real? He raised his hand to
feel the mantle which had been cast
upon him and then his eyes followed
the %retreating figure of Elijah. He
knew that he had been called to fol
low Elijah; he knew what the pres
ence of the mantle upon his shout
ders betokened, and with a glad cry
he sped after the prophet.