till it burned as a pillar of living fire, lighting up the moving masses of the mighty multitude with a strange brilliancy, and shedding its glowing radiance far across the sands of the desert. Infants lifted their wondering eyes, and stretched forth their little hands unto the marvellous brightness, while young children shouted in gladness, and clapped their hands for joy. Man, in the pride of his strength, and woman in the living depths of her feeling; the young, exulting in the bounding flow of the unspent tide of life, and the aged, with their hearts beating wearily against its ebb,—all were thrilled with the sublimity of that highway through the wilderness. There was earnest converse, expressive of strong desires, and glowing hopes, and fervent aspirations. There were exclamations of wonder, adoration, and praise. Now from young men and maidens burst forth responsive songs of joy; and again from many voices a lofty anthem sent forth its waves of melody upon the still air of the night. There were those of clasped hands and speechless lips, and eyes running over with the swelling fulness of the heart. There were those whose souls mounted above the pillar of fire to the starry firmament, yea, and above the heavens unto Him that dwelleth therein. They marvelled that He who led forth His people by a Father's hand, "made the stars also." They pondered diligently his promises concerning the future hope of the world which should arise out of Israel. They worshipped in reverence and godly fear before his unsearchable greatness and majesty.

CHAPTER VI.

THE EVIL REPORT.

AFTER a three days' journey, the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. At the encampment of Taberah, the people began to loathe the manna which formed their daily food, and to crave the flesh and fish, the vegetables and fruits of Egypt. Their discontent soon manifested itself in open complaints against the Lord. As a punishment for this offence, a fire was kindled in the uttermost parts of the camp, and many were consumed. The terrified people cried unto Moses, to entreat that it might be stayed; and, in answer to the prayers of their leader, the fire was quenched. Notwithstanding this judgment, their murmurings broke out afresh at Kibroth-Hattaavah, the place of the next encampment. "Who shall give us flesh to eat?" was their mournful cry. "We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic. But now our soul is dried away. There is nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes."

As Moses beheld every man sitting in the door of his tent, with sighing and tears, and heard the weeping of the people throughout their families, even his patience and forbearance shrunk before the test. "Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people?" he exclaimed before the Lord; "for they weep unto me, saying: 'Give us flesh, that we may eat.' I am not able to bear all this

people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, and let me not see my wretchedness."

In consideration of the affliction of Moses beneath his heavy charge, the Lord appointed seventy men of the elders and officers of Israel, and gave unto them of the spirit of his servant, that they also might share the burden of the congregation which had hitherto rested alone on Moses. He also granted the desires of the people for food of flesh, and by a strong wind brought quails from the sea, which fell round about the camp for the space of a day's journey on every side, an immense mass, three and a half feet high. But the gratification of the unhallowed desire became its dread punishment. Before the eagerly coveted delicacy was consumed, it became loathsome, and brought in its train the fearful destruction of pestilence.

"Surely the strong men fall as standing grain before the sickle of the reaper, and the young men wither as grass," exclaimed Jubal, as with a despairing heart he entered his tent, after assisting in the hasty burial of a chosen friend. "Who should have said that Helon should lie down in the sepulchre? He whose foot was swift as a young roe upon the mountains; whose hand held the bow in strength; whose eye was as that of the eagle searching out the prey from afar? Beautiful hath been thy countenance; precious thy words unto me, O Helon. from a child thou hast been unto me as a brother. gether we have climbed the high places where the stork dwelleth among the fir trees; we have hunted upon the hills the fallow deer and the unicorn. With feet of matching swiftness, like the speed of the wind, we have chased the wild ass of the desert. Sweet have been our counsels concerning the days when we should dwell, each with the

Even

To

wife of his own heart, in the delightsome land whither we go. Blessed have been the hours when our hearts have united, and gone up on the breath of the morning incense in the worship of our fathers' God. Alas for me, Helon, thou liest low in the dust. This day have I buried my dead out of my sight."

"Nevertheless, thou shalt comfort thyself concerning thy friend, that it shall be well with him," answered Zilpah, "inasmuch as his heart was steadfastly fixed to walk in the commandments of the Lord."

"If a man die, shall he live again?" resumed Zilpah, evidently seeking to extricate herself from a labyrinth of entangling thoughts. "Surely he goeth the way whence he shall not return. Alas, for the curse that settled as a heavy cloud upon the children of men, when our first parents fell from their high estate, and fulfilled the word of the Lord: 'In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.' When He cometh, in whom all nations shall be blessed, shall he have power to lift up the heavy curse? shall death reign no longer? shall its desolating woes be forgotten? shall its rivers of anguish be dried up forever? Alas! who shall speak when God hath not spoken? who shall unfold the counsels of the Almighty?"

66

'Truly the people shall all make their graves in the wilderness," answered Jubal, so absorbed in the present calamity as to give no heed to Zilpah's contemplations of the future. "Doth not the plague overshadow every tent, and walk in and out among the people, black as night, still as death, and strong as an armed man? Are not its jaws wide open to devour, and its consuming terrors like the stings of many scorpions? Who shall abide before its destruction, seeing it wasteth as a fire that cannot be quenched?"

"Nay, say not so, my husband," answered Adah, with many tears; "will not the Lord be entreated for us to stay his hand, and turn away his anger, that we be not utterly consumed?”

"When the Lord hath punished Israel for his sin, then shall he cease to smite," answered Zilpah. "How long shall the people rebel, and be stiff-necked to walk in the desires of their own hearts? Was not the Lord feeding this great multitude, even as with angels' food; but they murmured at his will, and spake proudly concerning his ways? They despised the leadings of his hand, and said, 'Why came we forth out of Egypt?' Therefore, he will show them their folly; he will bitterly chastise them for their sins. Yet his mercy is not clean gone for ever. When the people repent, and submit themselves unto the Lord, he shall appear for their deliverance, and they shall be satisfied with the bread that cometh down, day by day, as the rain from heaven. Oh! that the whole congregation might humble themselves before the Lord, because of his righteous judgments."

At length the plague was stayed, and with great lamentation over the fallen of the flower of Israel, and bitter tears over the clustering graves of the loved and the lost, the people departed from Kibroth-Hattaavah as from a city of the dead. It was but a mournful journey unto Hazerath, which was also marked with sin and sorrow by the sedition of Miriam and Aaron, and the accompanying punishment of the leprosy visited upon Miriam. The humble confessions of Aaron unto Moses for their joint sin, and his earnest entreaties that Miriam might be spared the dreadful doom which was hanging over her, moved in Moses the tenderest sympathies of a brother's heart. "Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee," was his an