The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-02-07
.yghaf Il ~ story Is true,.

| er IL is true OF HOLT sue ashcu hcN-
| self at last.
why not go and seeg' An incredu-
lous little laugh burst from her lips
at the very thought Of such q 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 q 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 IL the story is true9"
came back the question again and
again. And It gave her nj 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 IL II is true?'
"If 1t is true she exclaimed at last,
with an air of decision, II want to
know. And how shall | know save as
! go and see for myself? Did | send
a deputation to this King solomon, |
should have only their say-so, II
Israel has such a king and such a
God. l must see and know for my.
self, IL | would be satisfied
And so would you go?' she asked
herself at last, Yea, | would she
exclaimed with an air Of decision.
Rising hastily as though that matter
was now settled, she summoned her
waiting maid.
go. Felicia, and dispatch messen-
gers to the port, / 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 II | remember
rightly the boat was to have sailed
this day"
Thus admonished Felicia quickly had
the swiftest runner 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 fa,
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, /
must go and prove thy words"
And thou shalt not be ~disappolnt,
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
I back more than once. But 1t was
/. when on the burning sands Of the
I desert that tho greatest test came
/ There was murmuring among hel
I great ~retinue Of servants and she was
|: weary and faint, and their water was
I almost exhausted. Should she 60 or
I or should she turn back? Did not hel
I own country offer all that her hear
! could desire?
! but / would know Of this wonder
! full King Solomon, and Of the God who
] has his dwelling place in the midst Of
I his people," she cried almost II
! despair at last. yea, ] will keep my
I face set ~steadfastly toward this lant
! of Israel, though / perish In the at
/ tempt"
! And with the final resolve and tht
putting away Of the temptation tc
turn back there cane peace to hel
heart and she said, softly: "Perhaps
the God whom | seek will bring mt
back this way after / have seen al
r tee wonderful things of which ! have
! heard
/, Eyes" said the queen, lifting he,