The doctor intended to treat himself to a three months’ rest, and for that purpose hired two rooms and kept bachelor’s hall, and invited me to keep him company. I received no wages; but as he was to bear all expenses, I willingly agreed to the arrangement. These three months were absolutely uneventful, and about the first of April we started out again. The doctor had laid out a new route for this season. We traveled across country by stage to Keokuk, Iowa, intending to travel up the river as far as St. Paul, and then work eastward thorough Wisconsin and Michigan, and close the season at Detroit. But we never carried out our programme. My cruel fate pursued me--or was it punishment for my foolishness?--and at Davenport I was once more cast adrift. [TO BE CONTINUED.] INTERNATIONAL LESSON--FOR MAY 29. Exodus 14:19-21. Golden Text--Isaiah 43:2. Central Subject--THE PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA. BY REV. D. P. KIDDER, D.D. INTRODUCTION. According to Jewish tradition, it was seven days after the Passover that the Israelites passed over the Red Sea. Before they left they were directed by God to ask (not “borrow,” as it is in our version) of the Egyptians jewels of silver and gold, and other articles that would be of service to them. It was customary thus on the eve of a journey, or at the close of a term of service, to ask gifts. The practice corresponded to the asking of _backshish_, still so common in the East. The Egyptians, it seemed, readily and generously granted the request of the Israelites and supplied them abundantly. Thus, in some slight measure, they made return for the long years of unrequited service which the Hebrews had rendered to Egypt’s land and Egypt’s king. While the Egyptians were bewailing their dead, the children of Israel, having finished hurriedly their Passover feast, started on their journey of escape. Leaving Rameses, the western part of Goshen, they assembled at Succoth--“place of tents”--so called because it was a camping place for caravans going east, then and now. They were, perhaps, four days gathering at this spot, about two millions of people all told. The next point which they reached was Etham. This was a district of country just on the edge of the desert. From this point there were three routes to Palestine. The Israelites, by divine direction, took the most southern. They were at first surprised at this order of march; but it was the only safe one for them. The most northern would have taken them right through the country of the warlike and hostile Philistines, and the middle route (after passing the great wall which stretched from Pelusium on the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Suez) would have brought them right out upon the desert.