The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-06-12

1t was calm and mellow evening on the
fertile plain of Me>opotamia. The last gold
en- tints of the setting sun still fingered on the
distant mountains. and the blcating of the
"homeward bound" focks. as they sought
their respective watcrin. places, alone dis
turbed the quiet of that sunset hour Outside
the city of llaran, bv well of water, 10
traveller, faint, soiIed and weary, is seated
surrounded by ten camclS, and few attend
ants. He has come from the land of Canaan
and he bows his head upon his staff, and wor-
ships the God Of his fathers, who has brought
HIM in safety on his journey. 1t is E!iezer,
the eldest servant of Abraham. He has been
sent to Padan Aram, to seek a wife for bis
masters son Isaac. With pious heart and
with a living faith, he proposes to the Lord
a sign, by which he may know the dam>el to
whom he may communicate his errand. He
does not ask that he may find her wearing
costly apparel, and surrounded bv train of
servants, who wait to DO her bidding-hc asks
for none of the pageants of wealth or ROYALTY
although all these might reasonably have
been expected to surround the wife of Isaac
the Child Of Promise" Instead of these,
however. he simply asks that she NAV be will
ling to draw water for himself and his camrls
to drink. How simple, and Vet how >i"nti-
cant,
And now the sun has set. and in the cool
and pleasant twilight. the women of the CITY
come out to draw water. One and another
comes and goes with her pitcher on her shoul-
der. without so much as casting a glance of
pity at the the thirsty Traveller. soon dam
sci, Young and beautiful, trips gailv down to
the well. fills her pitcher and returns. The
faithful ambassador ha>tenS to meet her say
my. let me. pray thee. drink little water
from thy pitcher" With equal grace and
kindness. she lets down her pitcher. and re-
plies. Drink, and will draw water for thy
camcls also" Without further ceremony, she
sets about her task and continues to draw
until the camcls are satisfied. And this is
Rcbckah, the daughter of Bcthuel. tie son
of NahOr. What lovely example in which
simplicity, goodness of heart, sympathy and
generosity, are all so sweetly blended Alas
that in these degenerate days, we so ittl,
value the lessons taught bv our ancient moth
; ers How few of us would feel, that our vir
, tues were enhanced. in the eyes of strange,
and traveller. if we were found drawing wa
, ter from our fathers wells, or even attendin.
D to the duties of the dairy. And vet thi
: chaste and beautiful virginia resident of ont
$ of Mcsopotamia's tarest cities, did not thinl
, her dignity compromised by stopping to draw
; water for the camels of weary traveller
: whom as vet she knew not Oh if the per
f tnmcd fair ones of the present day, who >pcn
4 their time in vain amusemcnts instead of USE
:. full employment, would learn from this smpl
hearted daughter of Bcthuel, lesson of il
II duStrv and humility, we might then look tol
r. ward to the future with the confident cxpc,
n tation of seeing many an Isaac '.comforted a
O ter his mothers death. and many rising fan
:, lily trained in the habits offrugality and ecol
r omy.
70 So well satisfied was Eliezer that Mis W;
N the damscl whom the Lord had designed fi
IS his Young MASTER that as soon as the came
a had done drinking-even before he had asl
re- ed her name or family, he hasted to besto
upon her the earring and bracelets, whic
: had doubtless been sent by Abraham as
i present to his future daugbter-in-aw Ar
then as if to test further the kindness of b,
;, heart he inquiries ifthere is room in her f
:, theirs house, for himself and his attendants
+ lodge in, and also if provision can be ma'
~ for the camels. This inquiry, perhaps, d
not sound so strangely in the ears of Rebck;
as a similar one would now sound in the ca
of one of our city damsels The ancient cas-
10 ern cities were not so well supplied with no
ses of entertainment, as modern cities al
and it was therefore often necessary for p
vate families to accommodate weary tray'
!. ers. Hence we find. that when the angt
!, were sent to Sodom, to toretell the destru
=, ton of the city, Lot seeing them and suppc
~. ing them to be travellers, hastens to inv
them to turn into his house and tarry
night"
ise Rebekah was not backward in showi
is hospitality to the stranger and his suite,
a promptly Replied There is both straw
DIV provender enough, and room to lodge III.
m Ard now the pous servant could no long
a restrain his feelings. He bows his head a
ch worships the Lord, making mention OF
ia name of his master-Abraham. The arde
of Young girl, hearing the name of her fathe
Of unee spoken Of, -uas with hrea'A!es' 'Pt