ELIJAH IN THE DESERT.


 DID not our God care for his prophet in that wild
day on the mountain ? The four hundred and fifty false
priests were all destroyed; the one prophet amid soldiers
and false prophets was safe, and God came down in fire
to answer his prayer.
 The queen was very angry when she heard that her
prophets were put to death, for it was to please her that
King Ahab had built temples and images to Baal. She
sent word to Elijah that by the same hour the next night
she would make his life as the lives of those who had
been killed at his command.
 Elijah was afraid; he must flee for his life, to get
away from this angry heathen queen. He went that very
night, and travelled until he was a hundred miles away;
then he went on, a day's journey into the wilderness and
lay down under a tree. There are iot many trees in the
desert, but this was a kind of broom-tree, with branching
shade, which grows in a few places where travellers can
rest.
 Poor tired Elijah! in his trouble he prayed a strange
prayer: Now, 0 Lord, take away my life." He was like