ong mine own people."

And he said, "What then is to be done for her?"

{139}{140}

[Illustration]
ELISHA RAISES THE SHUNAMMITE'S SON.

One of the most touching stories of the Old Testament is that of the
rich woman of Shunem, who made a little chamber for the stern
prophet Elisha, with a "bed and a table and a seat and a
candlestick." Richly did the good man repay this hospitality, when
he gave the dear little lad, the mother's only child, who was
sunstruck in the hot sunshine of the harvest days, alive and well
again back to her arms.
[End illustration]

{141}

And Gehazi answered, "Verily she hath no son."

And he said, "Call her."

And when he had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, "At
this season, when the time cometh round, thou shalt embrace a son."

And she said, "Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie to thine
handmaid." But, as Elisha had said to her, a son was born.

And when the child was grown, it happened one day, that he went out to
his father to the reapers. And he said to his father, "My head! my
head!"

And he said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother." And when he had
taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till
noon, and then died. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the
man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. And she called
to her husband, and said, "Send me, I pray thee, one of the servants,
and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come
again."

And he said, "Wherefore wilt thou go to him to-day? it is neither new
moon nor Sabbath."

And she said, "It shall be well."

Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, "Drive, and go
forward; slacken not the riding, except I bid thee."

So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. And it came
to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi
his servant, "Behold, yonder is the Shunammite: run, I pray thee, now
to meet {142} her, and say to her, 'Is it well with thee? is it well
with thy husband? is it well with the child?'"

And she answered, "It is well."

And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of
his feet. And Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God
said, "Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her; and the Lord
hath hid it from me, and hath not told me."

Then she said, "Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, 'Do not
deceive me'?"

Then h