BOYS OF THE BIBLE. 129

This old story is true to-day. We are no wiser than these
wandering slaves. It matters little how full and rich and
plentiful of good our life is. There may be a thousand
fountains playing all ‘about us, but one bitter stream will
make us fretful, one little cloud in our heaven of blue sets
us to prophesying terrific storms. We long for the gushing
fountains and the shadowy, fruitful palms, and Elim is a
place much to be desired. But if the hours at Elim are happy,
the hours at Marah are wholesome. Life is mercifully a mixture
of bitter and sweet and the bitter is as healthful as the sweet
is pleasant.

The future history of Moses is the history of his race.
We cannot stay now to trace the wanderings in the wilder-
ness through many years. The marvelous record of Sinai,
where Moses spent six weeks with God in the mountains.
and came back with his face all aglow with divine light and
beauty, and then proclaimed that series of laws that has.
served as seed-corn for the moral government of the world
ever since. We must leave these grand scenes untouched,
for other studies await us. On through many a winding
way the leader of Israel’s host marches, till at last the dark
hills of Moab appear. The journey is coming to an end.
The rushing waters of the fords of Jordan break upon the
ear; on the verge of the horizon lie the blessed hills and
fruitful vineyards of Canaan. Moses, from Pisgah’s lofty
height beholds the promised land, but may not enter. We
met him first in a bulrush cradle on the Nile, and now
after a long life, full of hallowed toil, he passes mysteriously
from our sight. He bids his beloved people farewell, then
passes forever from mortal view. How he died, or where
his resting-place, none can tell. An old eastern legend says:
‘“God kissed him and he died.” The scriptures say: