The Tupelo journal., 1905-09-01

lN Jud tACIO W0o
%EI- strong bond of
% sympathy between
the beautiful girl
he had first met at the well and him
self. Usually reticent and reserved,
he found himself talking with her
with a freedom which he new
thought possible witli anyone. Day
after day as the sun was setting ana
the flocks were gathering, he a gone
to the we'll and drawn the water for
Rachel's focks, and as the sheep wan
dered slowly homeward they had had
delightful talks together.
Rachel had confded her little secrets
to him, and he in turn had told her OF
his home, of his father and mother, OF
his brother Esau and of the events lead
ing I'D to his departure from home. Her
ready sympathy and quick understand
ing encouraged and cheered him. The
loneliness and inconsistencies which he
had felt at first over separation from his
home and his mother had yielded to tho
sweet influence of his fair cousin. n
he found delight and comfort in her COM
partnership.
That afternoon the other flocks had
been watered first and had departed.
leaving them alone. The sun had just
dropped out Of sight and was sending up
its shaft of golden light, and at n point
where it touched the feecy bank OF
clouds floating in the heavens there
came a rift like some great door rolling
back to give entrance to the heavens be-
yond. Below little filmy snow-whlte
cloudlets fioated about and here and
there touched the glorious sunbeam and
seemed to be mounting upward.
"See,"Jacob had cried, eagerly. carried
back in memory to that night at Bethel,
.'see the ladder and the angels" And
then under the inspiration OF the mo-
ment he had gone on and told Rachel
the story of his vision, while she
listened with breathless interest.
"Oh, / should like to have seen it, she
exclaimed, clasping her hands in her lap,
and gazing upward fntently as though
she half hoped and expected to see the
real ladder reaching to Heaven, the
opening portals and the ascending and
descending angels. "And did you say
that your God spoke to you?" Rachel
continued. in awed voice, and lowering
her eyes to Jacobs face she waited for
him to reply.
eyes"
what did He say" urged the girl,
with intense interest.
= HE told me He was the God of Abra-
ham and of Isaac, and that He would
bless me and keep me and return me to
the land of my fathers and give it to me
and to my seed.'
Rachel sat silent, deep in thought,
while Jacob finished watering the sheep,
and then they started homeward.
1T is wonderful" she burst out at
last, "and l believe He will do it, don't
you?"
"Who? WHAT" asked Jacob, in ON
fusion, for his mind was so filed with
thoughts of the beautiful girl at his side
that he had quite forgotten what he had
last said.
"Why what God promised YOU"
"Oh, yes, of course" he replied, smil-
ing down at her appreciatively.
Hi there, watch your sheep!"
Jacob and Rachel. startled by the sud-
den shout, looked up to see the latter's
father pointing impatiently to the sheep
which had scattered and were wandering
farther and farther across the fields as
they cropped here and there the sue
culent grasses. They had quite forgot
ten them, so absorbed had they been in
each other, but now, aroused to their
duty, they started OF guiltily, making no
reply to Laban, who stood watching
them.
.Humph," he calculated, haven't
eyes for much else but each other. What
mother said was true, / guess. Needn't
be afraid that Jacob will want to leave
in a hurry. My, but he is q great fellow
with the sheep and the cattle. Never
would have pulled those lambs through
il it hadn't been for his help. Seems to
know just what they need. And the cat
tie are beginning to look better already
under his care" and the crafty Laban
smiled complacently to himself as he
proceeded homeward.
well, mother he exclaimed, as he
removed his sandals and seated him
self on the rug Just outside the tent
door where his wife waszbusy prepar-
ing the evening meal. Jacob does
seem nightly interested in Rachel.
Think l will be able to drive q bar
gain with him to stay"
Eyes, it is all very well for Rachel,
but what Of Leah? Remember she is
the elder daughter" And she stirred
the pot vigorously by way of en-
phasiS.
eyes, / know, but we must keep
Jacob somehow. The cattle are doing
fine. I tell you he is q master hand
at managing" and Laban looked at
his wife a bit anxiously, for he feared
her jealousy for Leah's rights might
u trouble. He coveted the serv-
ices OF Jacob. and was willing to sac
riice the custom of his people for
the sake of maxi g q bargain with
him.
His wife made no response, and
nothing more was said on the sub
ject, but her mind was busy with q
plan to help her daughter Leah.