Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-12-05

help and guidance. With keer
whistle, and calls that every shee,
recognizes, the flock is massed near
the watering troughs, and Rachel
stands face to face with Jacob.
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Jacob il acting from impulse. He
believes in divine direction, but, un,
like Eliezer, does not stop just now
TO seek IL in any formal manner. He
sees an unusually comedy figure and
face II is such beauty as Rebekah.
he thinks, had when his mother was
maiden. Her face appears to him
exquisite Iii ioveliness. Her uncon-
seious poses are grave itself. Her
bearing i aaeeuly Her modest
dignity is perfeez He idealizes her
at once. She has sformed his heart.
Emotions that until now Jacob never
experienced are moving him 70 the
depths Of his soul. II is love ut
sight. love that cannot admit any
question concerning itself. Is she
not his near relative, yet not too near
to marry? Has he not come this
long journey especially to find wife
Did not father and mother particu-
larly charge him 10 avoid any other
matrimonial alliance than such one
as this 7 1t is enough. He takes It
for granted that God has ordered 1t.
all. He waits for no undue cere-
mony in the order OF his going.
Courtesy and helpfulness are the
FIRST fruits of his newborn love. ia
cob hastens besides the well and
with vigorous effort removes the
stone from its opening, and waters
the flock of Laban. Not one thing
viii he permit Rachel 10 do at such
a time as this. And Rachel stands
mystified and abashed that astrang-
er should render such service.
He now makes himself known as
her near kinsman, and with the free
dom of kinsman admitted hekisses
her ON the forehead and on each
cheek. II is more than the ordinary
kiss of a kinsman, though Jacob and
Rachel are not likely TO admit the.
kacksxen 70 themselves. Then ia
cob breaks out into loud weeping;
he scarcely knows why, except for
very gladness Of heart that cannot
otherwise find vent. With speeding
steps, Rachel's flock is FASTENED
home ere the sun is down, and she
runs to her father with the good
news. There are unusually ruddy
tints in her handsome face and
strange, hitherto unfelt. throbbing
of the heart
ALL FOR LOVE
Laban again, cool, crafty, manag-
ing. Old enough TO be right; too old
to be everlastingly wrong; manag-
ing in his own interest to the last.
He meets Jacob with an embrace,
the arms of each about the other,
Bowling upon his right shoulder, he
kisses Jacob upon one cheek, and
then bowling upon the left shoulder,
he kisses him upon the other cheek.
The salutation is mutual, but formal,
as least on the part of Laban.
A kid is brought from the flock
and supper IS served in due time.
Meanwhile Jacob tells his story.
1t is prolonged over the evening
meal, for all desire to know concern
ing Rebekah and Isaac, and the home
at Beersheba. Think not i'll of Jacob
if he says but little of Esau. These
are subjects upon which one prefers
to dwell lightly, and he avoids occa-
sion for prejudice in the minds OF
his new-found friends; with regard
10 his long and wearisome journey
hedilates freely. The scene at Beth
ell is recounted in its every detail.
Jacob talks with Laban. but he
talksto Rachel. and for Rachel mostly,
and Rachel awakens 20 a new life as
she listens with glistening eyes and
burning cheeks.
The narrative is completed for the
time, aud Iaban is satisfied. Sure
ly thou art my bone and my flesh. "
For a whole month the days go on
with Jacob as a guest, yes daily do
ing his share in the household duties.
A spark of manliness and candor
leads Laban to proposition: Be
cause thou art my brother, shouldst
thou, therefore, serve me for naught?
Tell me, what shall thy wages be?"
Jacob has no need TO wait :or fur
Their consideration upon this ques-
ton. He has found abundant evil
dence that Rachel loves him but
there is an older sister in the way,
Leah is very nice, of course-per-
haps the better woman-but her eyes
are defective and to him she is other
wise unattraetive. while Rachel is
beautiful and well-favored, and
he loves her above all else in the
world.
Laban has invited proposition;