The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-15

marriage is permitted, but if the hus-
band fails to continue as attentive to
the first wife as ever, or If he fails to
provide for her as abundantly as ever,
the first wife Is free. As 1t Is simply
impossible for him to divide his atten-
tiOns between two wives and still be
stow upon the first wife, all the devo-
ton Of an undivided love, she is neces-
Sarily released from all wifely duty, if
she chooses to be. If. on the other
hand, she chooses To remain, she can
still insist upon her rights. and the sec
ond wife can claim but little or moth
ing.
This last assurance did not seem to
comfort the unhappy woman. Hers
was a heart which could know but one
love. Nothing that her husband could
do would destroy her affection for him.
Let him be happy-let him be honor
ed, was the prayer of her heart, what
ever might be her bitter portion. She
covered her face with her hands and
remained still and silent for a long time.
Then she rose calmly and said, Il will
go back home, father, and | am glad
that you think it my duty, But ! will
claim no rights. | am only anxious to
make my poor husband lot less hard
in the world. Whatever omes he is
mine, mine in the sight Of God. is he
no 2"
Yours first and most truly-no other
tie equals the frst-no other is holy.
The second is only permitted as we per
NIT a shattered arm to be amputated,
In order to save life.
Hannah took leave of her spiritual
guide reverently, receiving the custo-
mary benedictiOn, Gods blessing be
with you, my daughter, 60 in peace"
She had proceeded but a short dis
lance on her homeward route, when she
was met by one of her father 5 servants,
who informed her that he was very i'll.
He was one of the princes of the tribe
of Ashur. Heron and his wife Zerah,
the parents of Hannah, were God-fear-
ing people, walking in all the COM
mandments and ordinances of the Lord
blameless. The servant had brought
camels, and attendants and Hannah in
mediately decided to 90 to her father.
She sent no word to Elkanah. He
will not miss me-" she thought with
returning bitterness Of spirit. Penninah
had been married to Elkanah for week,
but his happiness wa far from being
unalloyed. She was very beautiful, and
Il feverish fancy for her possessed him at
present, but his heart was really Han
nah,s, and her pale face haunted him
like Il guilty conscience. When IN
formed. by one of his servants that she
had gone to the sanctuary, and had not
returned, although it was then nightfar,
he became uneasy, and followed her.
The priest informed him that she had
been there. but had left in full time to
reach home before dusk. An agony Of
fear took possession of the delinquent
husband. He concluded that she had
awaited herself of the liberty allowed her
by the law. and had deserted him. He
shrank away from the steady look of
disapproval with which the holy man
regarded him, and went out in the
darkness, a thoroughly miserable man.
'Oh wletched fool that | have been
Ito give up my noble, faithful wife. for
this ignorant. shallow. beauty. Ny
Hannah is worth a thousand such"
But in his case. as in many others. re-
pentance came too late. For the indul-
gence of Il temporary fancy, he had
burdened himself with that heaviest of
troubles. the endurance of an unloved
wife. Surely such weakness shows any
mar to be unfit for the government of
others.
in the meantime, Hannah sat beside
her fathers death-bed. and in her grief
as a daughter, forgot. for the moment.
her wrongs as IA wife. He soon died the
death of the righteous, blessing his
daughter with his last breath. and i'm
blessed ignorance of the trouble which
had cone upon her. He had lived an
honored life, the husband of one wife.
who had died before him. a few short
months. He was one ofthose described
by Gods law as qualified to rule in the
theoclauy, AN able man, such as feared
God. a man of truth and hating covet-