The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-08-28
CAlEB'S DAUGHTER.

"And Caleb said he that smiteth Kirjath.
.sepher, and taketh it, to him will give Achsah,
my daughter, to wife. And Othniel the son Of
kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it."
Judges 1:12, l3
heard the voice of Caleb, my father, on the
day
When the warlike men Of Judah stood in their
bold array;
And they looked toward the conflict like the
war horse in his might
And the flashing Of their spearheads was Q
fierce and wondrous sight.
go We up to Kiriath-sepher," so came my
fathers words,
"And drive out the men Of Canaan with their
flocks and with their herds;
And the mighty man Of valor who shall thrust
them from the land,
Unto him there shall be given yonder dark-eyed
maiden's hand"
Then reeled with sudden faintness and the
color fed my cheek,
And Strove to cry: MY father" but my lips
refused to speak;
And dared not lift my eyelids unto one who
loved me we'll,
For knew the same fear whitened the brow Of
Othniel.
yea. oft beneath the starlight, where our peo-
pies tents were spread
We had trod the plains together with a light
and careless tread;
We had stood in awe together where the Jor-
dan backward rolled;
But still the same, unchangng, was the tale Of
love he told.
We 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 othniel should be given the green past
ures Of the South,
With the wells of living water for the thirsty
cattle's mouth;
But I'd keep my fathers sheep till the corn
was in the shocks,
And should go forth at evening to draw water
for the tlocks:
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 be his love.
But the time is done for dreaming! Host Of
Judah, can it be
OF the mighty men Of valor there are mightier
than her
Like the young tree in the spring time, so his
youthful beauty is;
There might we'll be fercer swords, and q
stronger arm than his.
But thought OF Judah's glory and summoned
all my will
When our women fail in courage shall our men
be fearless still?
And 1 lifted steadfast glances, and my lips
pressed back the moan,
CO." l said, land God be with you," then
sought the tents alone.
Hope Of Israel, God Of battles" cried pros
trate from the ground,
LET no other arm be stronger, let no sword be
holder found"
Then l turned into the doorway, where the
distant mountain rose.
could hear the people shouting, as they closed
in with their foes.
Go" said to one who waited, bring me
tidngs from the fght;''
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 them
fall beneath his spear"
Then the messenger came flying: "As the
fields of waving grain;
AS the grasses sway together when the wind
sweeps DER the plain
So their forces meet and mingle, so foe inter-
locks with foe,
Which are flying, which pursuing. how the day
goes one may know"
go once more towards the mountain bring me
later tidings yet
And he came with swift returning: "As the
floods meet they have met;
But the Canaanites are fleeing, and the men of
Judah shout"
"Go once more" said, land tell me by whose
hand they are thrust out"
Then waited, down the heavens slowly passed
the setting sun,
Slow as when it stayed and moved not, on that
day at Ajalon;
Slow as it neer seemed to any, save unto the
watchful eye,
And my spirit died within me, eer it sank be-
hind the sky.
Then the messenger came swiftly Fastening
from the battlefield
"Who" l cried, drove back the heather to
what captain did they yieldT'
''Lo, he comes" he said and straightway,
from the field the victor came,
And the people came before him. and they
shouted Othniel's name.
went out in praise
For the goodness of Jehovah, for the wonder Of
His ways,
For the lonely watchers prayers nerve the arm
that drives the sword;
And the strong go forth TO battle, but the VIC
torys with the Lord.
Bert Ingliss in N Y. Observer.