The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-04-24
For the FARMER AND MECHANIC.
SKETCHES ILLUSTRATIVE OF
BIBLE HISTORY.


ever SO duped as we poor Gibeonites.
We acted upon our belief that these
lsraelltes were the favored people of
the most holy and powerful of the
Tods and now we feel them commit
ting the very crimes for which the
Canaanltcs were extirpated. Last night
in the old princely city of Gideon,
which our own fathers built, as well of
Glbeon, a deed was done, so atrocious,
so fiendish in its character, that it is
hard to speak of it without a shudder.
Listen'-and lowering his voice he
proceeded with his narrative.
His companion, after hearing it, re-
piled, Il have seen an ulcer break out
upon the body of a healthy man, but
his pure blood cast out the unhealthy
matter and healed itself. The same
ulcer sometimes attacks an unhealthy
man; he has not enough pure blood to
work out its own relief;-his whole
system becomes poisoned and he dies.
Now w will see whether Israel is a
healthy, moral man, or whether he will
succumb to this ulcer which has broken
out in Gideon. In the first case, the
Preparations of this crime will be put
to death,-in the second they will es-
cape
Pooh. pooh :" answered the other.
OF course they will escape. The
young wretches who committed it are
the sons OF rich men and who is going
to make a fuss about the life of a mis-
cradle female slave. Had she been the
Levlte's wife and the daughter Of some
lsraelltlsh prince, it might be a differ
ent matter. But softly-look down
there into the valley, what curious pro-
cession is that which winds along the
highway The procession referred to
consisted of eight men divided into
parties of four. Each party bore upon
their shoulders something which looked
like a large square tray, covered with a
white linen cloth. Look. Azur. look"
again broke out the first speaker.
what do they carry? This surely has
something to do with the horror which
was perpetrated last night, for see,-
the white linen which covers both bur
dens is feeked with blood, and they
come from the Levite's home. Mt.
Ephraim."
Il will follow, and see what it means.
If 1t costs me my life replied Azur,
%springing forward with light, swift and
nolseless footsteps. Beor followed, and
the two continued along the roadside
partly concealed by the shrubbery until
of the two parties diverged from the
other. you follow that, and | VII
follow this" whispered Beor: and to-
morrow we will meet on this spot and
tell each other what we have discover
Ell. Agreed, answered Azur.
The next day the appointed meeting
took place and Azur began his recital.
The four men whom | followed with
their burden went to the city of
Hebron. On reaching the gate where
the elders of the city sat, one asked.
Are the fathers of Judah i'm council
They are" replied the e.
der, shrinking back to avoid deflement.
for he saw the blood stains upon the
linen. They moved on without another
word to the council chamber, entered
ike men bearing the dead, placed the
upon the floor and raised the COW
,ring. Upon it lay a human hand
severed from the arm at the wrist "a
small delicate hand-the hand of a wo-
nan, looking like "a piece of ivory in its
oloodless pallor. Every face grew pale,
md the chief Rabbi, Lemuel, staggered
,ack, as he asked sternly What means
One of the bearers attempted
o speak, but his voice failed him. and
e broke into deep, convulsive sobs.
another one of them told the tale I
Ihich you told me yesterday. But oh, '
,eor. | was right-Israel has yet a Z
ealth SD, for never did [ see such {
rath, Lo.rOr and grief commingled as ]
ppeared In the men who formed that '
.ibal council. Rabbi Lemuel, you a
now, has but one child, "a beautiful b
married to one of the princes q
Benjamin, and his first exclamation p
as. "God first, and my children next" q
abb Amos next broke silence, tear V
:, H., n.ntIo nc ba did so and Nv Il