The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-05-01

given us the landT
Bah! Surely, God has forgotten
his people. He cares not that we suf-
fer" responded another.
True" broke in another, its the
goddess nations about us who are pros
pering, and we who have Abraham for
our father and whose God has been
our God are left to suffer oppression
and sorrow"
Thus as they walked they discussed
the hardness Of their lot. and in the
hardness of their hearts they charged
God with forgetting them and Of bless
ing their enemies. 1t was in this spirit
that they came into the presence OF
Malachi and poured into his ear their
bitter complaint. And the prophet had
turned upon them and spoken sharply
and forcibly the words at the opening
Of our story.
Did they dare complain against God.
demanded Malachi, when they had for
gotten God and had gone in the ways
Of the heather nations about them?
Did they dare to say that their suffer.
ing was Gods fault and not their
own?
After his words and they turned as
though to go, the prophet arose, and,
throwing his mantle around him,
made as though he would go with
them.
The delegation waited half ex.
pectantly, but Malachi, who had now
finished adjusting his robes, and had
taken up a scroll from the table
where he had been writing when the
company had entered, stood silently
and intently beholding them. His gaze
seemed to search to the very depths
Of their hearts. and they began to feel
nervous and uncomfortable.
They knew his charges against
them were true. They knew that even
while they tried to justify themselves
that they were guilty as he had
| charged.
Think you that God has changed?'
demanded the prophet, breaking the
silence at last. NAY, rather 1t Is you
who have changed Listen" and
taking the scroll which he had in his
hand and unrolling 1t, he read: Thus
saith the Lord, change not, there.
fore we sons of Jacob are not con.
sumed.' This is the one proof that
God is still in the heavens, and that
his promises to Abraham are not for
gotten"
But where Is the blessing upon
Israel that was promised?" ventured
one, more bold than the rest.
blessing! Where can there be
Listen!" and again turning to his
scroll Malachi read therefrom: Even
from the days of your fathers We are
gone away from mine ordinances, anG
have not kept them. Return unto me
and will return unto you, saith the
Lord of hosts"
AS the reading ceased Malachi indi
end, and as his guests passed out hi
followed them, and turning walked
rapidly away in the opposite direction
from that which the company of vint
dressers took.
Where can he be going?" the,
questioned among themselves as the!
walked along.
"And what care WEI" ventured Oh,
Of the group, angrily. Seeing that III
spoke so harshly to u.s."
Say not So" spoke up another
quickly; 'the prophet speaks tn,
words of truth"
"But they bring no hope or encour
agement to u.s." rejoined the other.
But did he not read from the scroll
that IL we would return to God h,
would return to us?"
Yes" admitted the other.
Then" The sentence was inter
rupted by a commotion in the marke
place, through which they were pass
ing at that moment, and they turnet
aside to see what 1t was all about.
1t proved to be nothing more than ;
of the place and customer over thu
purchase price of an article, the lat
ter claiming that an extra price ha.
been demanded after he had made tn
purchase. The matter was soon set
tied, however, but the crowds which
, had gathered from every side fingered
the group of vine dressers among tn
rest. The latter fell into converse
ton with some of those standing nea
them, and after numerous question
had been asked they stated that the,
had been to see the prophet Malachi
1.-THE prophet Malachi" exclaime
one. why. he has summoned tn
people to meet him here this evening
, That explains why there were q
many near when the commotion aros
over there"
: But when we left he departed Il
the other direction" exclaimed tn
I vine dressers.
, well. he will be here, you may b
i sure. There he comes now" adde
the speaker, pointing towards an al
! preaching figure. The people fell bacl
: on either side as the somber figur
drew into the market place. He passes
, straight to great stone, and without
pausing he mounted 1t ana taking tn
: scroll from which he had read to tn
| vine dresaera inst n short time hefore