The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-31
EDS DAUGHTER.

.,. .llrn said. he that smteth kiriath.
.-.I tal,rth it, TO him will give Achsah,
tr.r to wife. And Othniel, the son of
taI,r~ Younger brother, took it,"
.-I.i2 H.
u.. voice 81 Caleb, my father on the
-, oarljlle men of Judah stood in their
array:
-.., looked toward the conflict like the
..r horse i'm his might,
... flashing of their spearheadS was a
..rc. and wOndrous sight.
,. mp 90 Kiriath-sepher," so came my
.-Ic,'~ woro,.
.... drive, ont the men of Canaan with their
n,c,~ ana with their herds;
..th. mighty man of valor who shall thrust
.lrm from the land.
t.,.. aim there shall be given yonder dark-eyed
uaidcn'S hand"
-..uI recIcd with sudden faintness and the
color fed my cheek,
... -trovr to cry: My father but my lips
refused 10 speak;
And dared not lift my eyelids unto one who
loved me well,
r ID knew the same fear whitened the brow OF
Othnel
, 1ff beneath the starlight, where our peo-
ulc'. tents were spread,
3l.tad trod the plains together with light
ana careless tread;
III mad stood in awe together where the JOr
dan backward rolled;
Tat -tiIl the same, unchanging, was the tale OF
love he told.
W.. had dreamed of prosperous seasons when
the Canaanite should cease,
When Israel should triumph and our people
dwell at peace;
When the hills should smile with olives and
the slopes be clad with vines,
And the land should flow with honey, and with
milk and corn, and wines.
And to Othnie should be given the green past
nres of the South,
with the wells of living water for the thirsty
cattle's mouth;
Bnl I'd keep my fathers sheep, till the corn
was in the shocks,
And should go forth at evening to draw water
for the 1oclls:
And one eve as | stood watching, there against
the setting sun,
should surely see him coming; all the waiting
would be done;
Then the South would stretch before US, while
the soft skies bent above,
And like Jacobs love for Rachel, so for me
would he his love.
Bu the time is done for dreaming Host of
Judah, can it be
OF the mighty men of valor there are mightier
than he?
Like the young tree in the spring time, so his
Youthful beauty is;
There MIGHT well he fercer swords, and a
stronger ,..su his.
all my WILL
When women fail in courage shall our men
be fearless still?
And / lifted steadfast glances and my lips
pressed back the moan,
'Go' ! said, land God be with you,'' then
sought the tents alone.
''IIope Of Israel, God of battles" cried pros
trate from the ground
"Lct no other arm be stronger let no sword be
holder found'
Then | turned into the doorway, where the
distant mountain rose.
could hear the people shouting, as they closed
in with their foes
eco" said to one who waited ''bring me
tidings from the fight;''
Then once more my voice lifted, and prayed
BE Thou his might
Give him strength for all his weakness, when
he falters be Thou near;
Strike Thou when his arm is failing let then
fall beneath his spear"
Then the messenger came flying: 'As thu
fields of waving grain:
AS the grasses sway together when the win(
sweeps DER the plain:
SO their forces meet and mingle, so foe inter
locks with foe,
Which are flying which pursuing, how the day
gees none may know
500 once more towards the mountain, bring m,
4 later tidingS yet'
>Naui he came with swift returning: GAS tn,
floods meet they have met;
But the Canaanites are fleeing and the men O
Judah shout
'Go once MORE said, land tell me by who's
hand they are thrust OUT
Then l waited down the heavens slowly passed
the setting sun,
Slow as when it stayed and moved not, on tina
day at Aialon;
Slow as it neer seemed to any, save unto tn,
watchful eye,
And my spirit died within me, e'er it sank be
hind the sky.
Then the messenger came swiftly hastenin,
from the battlefield.
''Who.' cried, "drove back the heather, t,
what captain did they yield?''
SO he comes,'' he said and straightway
from the field the victor came,
And the people came before him, and the.
shouted Othniel's name.
Then bowed my head in silence, and my hear
went out in praise,
For the goodness of Jehovah, for the wonder q
His ways,
For the lonely watchers prayers nerve the arm
that drives the sword;
And the strong go forth TO battle, but the vic
tory's with the Lord.
Bert Ingliss in N. Y. Observer.