The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1885-02-19

Jacob had served Laban faithfully for
many years, including the fourteen that
he had served for his two wives, Rachel
and Leah. He had been blessed with
sons, and he began to think more serious
ly of the future of himself and family,
and was seized with a strong desire to go
back to his fathers country, the land of
Canaan. He went to Laban and informed
the old gentleman of his conclusion. and
asked his permission to go. This propo-
sition met with no favorable response in
the mind and heart of Laban. Jacob was
good fellow to have around, and Laban
said 81 pray thee, if have found favor in
thine eyes, t07ry, for I have learned by
experience that the Lord hath blessed me
for thy sake"
Laban then informed Jacob that he
would pay him whatever of wages he
might ask, and to him to appoint" his
own wages. This movement of Jacobs
had not been strike for higher wages,
for he really wanted to leave. But ia
cob's shrewdness came to his help again,
and he made the proposition of the text
He would take all the black sheep, and all
the speckled and spotted cattle and goats.
He called the attention of Laban to the
fact that his herds had been we'll cared
for, and that he, Jacob, was entitled to
some compensation. Laban fell in with
Jacobs proposition at once. Jacob was
only to have the ring-streaked and speck-
led and spotted animals, but he hit upon
novel scheme for making money out of
his bargain. He hit upon method of
raising animals that were all spotted
This was of piece with his swindling
his brother out of his birth-right, and
palmlng piece of goat off upon the old
man as veniSOn, but it answered his pur-
pose very well, and after time he began
to possess a large number of cattle Now
that he had become possessor of much
worldly store, he concluded, once more. to
go back to the land of Canaan. This time
he would not tell the old man anything
about it. Collecting all his earthly pos
sessions in good shape for travelling, he
mounted his family upon camels, and
started them away toward Canaan. But
who have lived since that time, and they
did not like to leave in the possession of
their father some things of which they
thought that they should be possessed
Therefore, when Laban went forth to
shear his sheep, he discovered that not
only Was Jacob gone, but some images
which were the property of Laban had
or
to deceive the old man by raising speckled
cattle and goats and keeping them, but
the girls coveted some of the trinkets
about the household. Those speckled cat
tie seemed to have demoralizing effect
upon the whole family. He appeared be-
fore Laban with a straight face, and made
loud protestations of his faithfulness in
rearing the cattle and caring for them.
And Laban had such confidence in him
that he did not notice that only ring
streaked and spotted breed was appearing.
He loved Jacob, and when he found out
that Jacob had gone-three days after the
departure-he called his brethren together
and pursued the elopers unto Mount Gill
cad. The night before meeting Jacob,
however, the Lord appeared unto Laban
and commanded him not to injure Jacob.
or in fact, to say any harsh things to
him. For the Lord loved Jacob, with all
his shortcomings, and His protecting care
was about His erring children then, as it
is now. Laban met Jacob and demanded
to know why he had not made known his
intention of going, that he might have
made glad the occasion of his departure
with mirth and song, and with the music
of the tahret and harp. But the two were
not kept long apart. All hostile feelings
were smothered, yet old Laban concluded
to take look through Jacobs baggage.
to see if, perchance, he might not find the
articles missing from his house.
The girls had become saddened that the
old man had given them nothing in their
individual right, and that was the reason
Of their stealing the trinkets. Perhaps
the readers of this have oftentimes seen
this trait of Leah and Rachel strongly
exhibited. Not only have the trinkets of
the old folks been distracted, surrepti-
after they have gone to the peace and rest
OF the graVe-held up as bones OF conten-
tion between human wolves in the Court
Rom. 1t is not uncommon, after the
death of some good old man, or weman,
or both, to see the daughters bring suit in
a mortal court for the possession of the
tr nkets. And this in spite of the fact
that TIE greatest efforts Of the lives of
their husbands were perhaps made to
swinde the old folks by some ring
strea ell cattle and black sheep transac-
tons. When the old folks can no longer
be usei to advantage, they should, iu the