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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
August, 1935
The HOUSE Across the HEDGE 1 By GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL Ilhistrations by Ransom D. Marvin
IR IAM , humm ing a happy little tune, hurried about her morning tasks, washing the dishes, shaking out the cloth and folding it care fully, sweeping the hearth and the front doorstone. Occasionally, with glad antici
and flowers. Everybody was gay. Mother, why would I have to be here at the feast ? Nobody would miss me if I stayed away.” “God would miss you!” .said her mother awesomely. “Listen, Miriam, we are going on a journey tonight! There is much to be done. It will take every minute to get ready.” “Oh, Mother ! You’ve been talking about that journey a long time, but we haven’t gone yet. Why do you think we are going tonight? Zelda’s father says that Pharaoh never intends to let us go^ and he is closllto the throne and ought to know. But anyway, even if we were allowed, Mother—why do we have to go with Israel? What do we want of a promised land ? Why can’t we stay right here ? We have a nice home, and Zelda’s father would always see that Father had a -good place. He might even get something to do in the palace. Why can’t we stay and.be Egyptians, and take the Egyptian gods for ours ? I’d like that so much better, Mother!” “Stop, Miriam!” said her mother sharply. “You are speaking blasphemies. Don’t you know that our God is greater than all gods, that He is the only true God ? Oh, my child! I have sinned ! We were told to keep our chil dren separate from all other peoples, lest they forget their God who has covenanted with them. We are a chosen generation, a royal people! We should not mingle with the world. And I have let you grow up in close companionship with these Egyptian children! That of which we were warned has come to pass ! My child is wanting to leave her God and serve those who are not gods at a ll! Oh, I have sinned!” she sobbed. “I thought there was no harm while you were little children, and you begged so hard to play with them! You were so little! I thought when you grew up you would learn to understand !” She lifted her tear-wet eyes and spoke earnestly: “Miriam, you must never speak this way again. It is sin !” Miriam stood sullenly with downcast countenance, still looking out the window toward Egypt. “Well, anyhow, Joseph is going!” she pouted. “I heard him tell Zelda he would be over early to help Balthazar. They are going to the Woods to get flowers to deck the house. And if Joseph goes, I don’t see why I can’t go. He is only a year older than I am !” The mother gave her a frightened look. “He must no t!” she said. “You don’t understand. He must help your father all day. And he must not be away from the house tonight! There is danger outside of our door.” Miriam gave her mother a quick startled look. “What do you mean—danger ?” Her mother faced her earnestly, sadly. “My dear, I haven’t told you yet. I dreaded to bring you sorrow. Moses was here last night after you were asleep. He told your father that God is sending another plague—the last one. It is coming tonight. And then we are to go.” Miriam turned away impatiently. “Oh, those horrid plagues!” she said angrily. “Zelda’s father doesn’t believe that Moses has anything to do with
pation in her eyes, she glanced out of the lattice to the house across the hedge, the hedge which sepa rated her father’s yard .from the handsome grounds of the rich influential Egyptian whose daughter Zelda was Miriam’s dearest friend. That hedge was also the dividing line between Goshen where Miriam lived, and the great, alluring, glittering Egypt where Zelda lived; but a hard-beaten path ran from door to door, and a distinct space in the hedge showed where the children of both houses had been wont to go back and forth from babyhood. Miriam turned from gazing out the lattice as her mother came in from the garden with a basket of herbs. “Mother,” she said eagerly, “I ’ve finished everything now and I ’d like to go over to Zelda’s right away. She’s giving a party tonight, Mother. A wonderful party. And she’s invited Joseph and me. She wanted us to come over this morning and help her prepare.” Miriam’s eyes shone like two dark stars; Her mother watched her with growing dismay as she put down her basket. “Oh, I ’m sorry, dear,” she said gently, “but you mustn’t either of you be away from the house today!” A stormy look came into Miriam’s eyes. “Oh, but Mother, you don’t understand! I must go. This isn’t just an ordinary party. It’s a dance, and there is to be an orchestra from the city, and caterers. A great many people are invited, the sons and daughters of officers high in authority. It is a great honor that we are invited. And you needn’t worry about having to get me a new dress to wear. Zelda is going to lend me a lovely new one of her own, green and gold with crimson threads in the border. It just fits me, and I look wonderful in it. There is a gold chain, and armlets and anklets of gold to wear with it, and Balthazar is getting me flowers from a real florist’s to wear in my hair. He said to me, ‘You will be the prettiest girl at my sister’s party.’ He has asked me to dance with him. Really, Mother, don’t you see I must go ? ' And Zelda’s father has been so kind to my father, putting him into a better position, it wouldn’t do to offend them.” “Miriam, I ’m so sorry, dear child!” said her mother steadily. :“But we are having a solemn feast tonight. God has commanded it. And you will have to be here!” “Oh, Mother!” cried Miriam in desperation, “Why do we have such a tiresome, solemn old religion? I wish we had a religion like Zelda’s. I went with her to the temple once. There was music and laughter, and dancing Copyright 1931 by American Bible Conference Association, Pub lishers of Revelation, and 1932 by J. B. Lippincott Company.
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