Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-05-12

As the Autumn approached the husband
men Of Judah prepared to SOW their seed
Al! things were ready, and they waited
for the first ram. The month of November
was fast passing away, as each morning the
eyes of the inhabitants of Bethlehem ] Judah
were turned TO the west, hoping to descry
the gathering cloud impending over the
Mediterranean. Not a speck was seen in
the skies, and the glorious sun continued
daily TO ascend TO his meridian and scorch
the dusty hills of Judah. AT length the
vernal equinox arrived that should have
brought the latter rain, but il came not.
The wells were dry and the ci-terns had
no water. The fOcks tainted In the fields
and the herdsmen returned 10 their masters
and sat down before them in sorrow.
EimeIech the chief OF the Bethlehemites,
looked upon Naomi, the wife OF his youth,
and beheld her wolnanly form yielding 10
the famine. He scarcely dared to cast
steady glance upon his two sons, Mahlon
and ChIllon.who year ago, were two Wig.
orous sprouts shooting up in his house, and
promising 10 overshadow and refresh The
old age OF their parents, and maintain the
supremacy Of their family among their
people. EIimeIcch assembled southwark to
the heights that overlooked the Dead Sea
and commanded view of the land of Monb
He beheld lis fields whitening 10 The har.
vest, aud us crystal streams sparkling in toe
sun And although il was the land of the
GendIes, where all the people bowed down
10 Cheemosh, vel he resolved 10 20 thllher,
that he might obtain bread and water, and
his family live. He quickly found a grave
in this land OF idolatry, and Naomi was left
a widow with two sons blooming into man.
hood. Oteying the dictates of nature,
which triumph over conventional rules, the
young men looked upon the ruddy daugh
ters of Moab and loved them. They chose
from among them Roth and Ospah for
wives. In few years Naomi was render.
ed unulterabIy bitter by the loss of her two
sons and the bereavement Of her daughters
in law. who were doubly afflicted by being
left chIdless. In this hour Naomi turned
her thoughts towards her people in Bethle
hem. Judah, from whence the report had
reached her that plenty had again blessed
her land. She arose TO depart TO her own
country, and Ruth and Orpah accompanied
her 10 the borders OF Moab.
Here Naomi proposed to take leave cf
the two young widows; and her address TO
them is one Of the most touching passages
ever pronounced by the lips Of woman
The essence Of woman's heart and hopes,
as God hath made them, is disclosed in it.
She begins with profoshd and touching eX
preston of gratitude The Lord deal
kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the
dead and with me- What an exalted char. |
acter OF these two young widows does the I;
expression suggest. Their conduct to.
wards their husbands had been such as to
satisfy even their mother in law, and 10 be. |
come the measure of the divine blessing
which she desired should be given TO them |
The lord deal kindly with you as ye |
have dealt with the dead and with me-
But when she comes TO specify the bless. |
ings of the Lord which she deems a just
re ward for their fidelity and kindness to
their husbands and herself, she descends |
into the secret fountain otsthe female heart, |
and utteIs The precious truth which dwells
there. The Lord grant that
ye NAV find rest, each in the house of her
husband Her words recalled to these |