BOYS OF THE BIBLE. 125

The boy of the bulrushes grew to be a favorite in the
palace, but his heart was with his own people. If they were
slaves so was he, and their sorrows sank deep into his heart,
and at last he determined to forsake the glittering splendors
of court, counting it better and nobler to stand side by side
with his enslaved brethren than to desert them for the pass-
ing joys of a palace, where he never felt at home, and to
which he knew he did not belong.

In an hour of anger Pharaoh sought to slay Moses, but
Moses escaped the anger of the King, and went to dwell in
Midian, where he married Zipporah, daughter of Jethro.
And now we find Moses engaged in simple shepherd work—
keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of
Midian. He was weary of all the garish lights, the mirth
of music, the dalliance of the emptiness of a palace life.
And if, as is probable, his princess foster-mother was dead,
there was no tie to bind him to the court of Pharaoh.
Moreover, he was in his very heart of hearts a Hebrew,
and the fortunes and the future of his countrymen were dear
to him.

Many an hour, under the shadow of Horeb, Moses mused
on the sad fate of Israel. That he was equal to all the
demands of a great mission all his after history proves. It
is pleasant, however, to observe that Moses, who was ready
when the call came to him distinct and clear, was neverthe-
less no man to run before he was sent. The man who can
calmly wait God’s time is just the man to do God’s work
bravely when the right time comes. This man, quietly
feeding the sheep and worshiping God under the shadow of
the desert mountain, had a great fire burning in his heart;
but that did not hinder him doing the little duties that were
near at hand. Think of this lowly shepherd, who afterward

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