St. Tammany farmer., 1905-09-02

MA strong and agile
~~I Esau? What had
I~ NNe happened? His
nNS head felt dizzy
@EFh4 and eyery bone
and muscle In his body ached, but he
tried to think and find answers to all
these questions which came rushing
upon him.
Are you badly hurt" the man ask
ed, and again he opened his eyes. The
man stopped down and raised him to q
sitting position.
"What has happened?" asked Esau
with groan.
"You have fallen down the rocks
and are badly bruised, but guess no
bones are broken" replied the other,
as he made hasty examination.
Esau glanced at his bow lying
broken at his side, and the arrows
fallen from his quiver and scattered
about. He looked up the face of the
rocks to the precipice some twenty
or more feet above his lead. he saw
the rent in the vines and bushes which
covered the edge Of thefrocks made
as he had come crashing through, and
then he remembered. He had been
chasing an antelope, and SO intent was
he in taking his quarry that a misstep
had sent him headlong to the rocks
below. Fortunately the bushes and
vines had broken his fall, and though
~ voc he dlxy. cboLop ,,n and &knpnk od
senseless, no bones were broken. The
day before Esau had started on one
of his long hunting trips and had wan
dered far to the northward. His
search for game had been unsuccess-
full, until at last he had struck the
trail of the antelope whose pursuit
had ended SO unfortunately.
s'And the antelope got away" he
exclaimed, regretfully, the hunters
ruling passion asserting itself and
making him forget for the moment his
pain.
Never mind the antelope. You're
in luck, to have escaped with only
bruises. Come let's see II you can
stand.
And extending hand he helped
Esau struggle to his feet, and then
looking inquiringly at him, he asked
Who art thou? Hast thou come
far?"
Il am Esau, the son OF Isaac. and
my people live far to the southwest
at Beersheba." !"
What, the great shiek Isaac, the
son Of Abraham?"
YEA, the same" responded Esau.
"Ah, the story OF the greatness and
riches OF Abraham and Isaac has
spread through all the country. But, ;"
he added, a shadow Of resentment
crossing his face, why are thy people
SO exclusive? Are not the Hittites
and other nations dwelling in the land
great in riches and power? Why
should Abraham and Isaac and their
people continue as strangers in the
land and refuse to mingle with us ~
An awkward pausel followed during
which Esau struggled for an answer.
He had vague realization that it
had something to do with the religion
Of his people. He was familiar with
the worship of Jehovah, and had often
heard his father and grandfather
speak Of the false gods Of the nations
about them and declare that they
must have nothing to do with them,
but he had never before come face to.
face with such questions as this
stranger had propounded. and for
want of better answer, he parried the
questions, by asking:
"And art thou a Hittite ?''
Il am Beeri, one of the chiefs Of the
Hittite kingdom. But tell me-" he
persisted, why do thy people have SO
little intercourse with the nations
about them ?"
Il think it is because our religion
forbids." stammered Esau, not under
standing just why it should.
But are not the gods of the Hittites
just as good as the gods Of Abraham and
Isaac? Why need our worship separate
us? But come; thou dost need rest and
refreshment, after thy cruel fall It Is
not far to my home" And STOPPING
down, he gathered up the scattered ar
rows and replaced them in Esau's quiv-
er, and then started down the path,
while Esau followed.
THY coming is we'll timed said
Beeri, as they drew near to the chiefs
tent, "for the people are gathering for
feast to the gods on the morrow
A feast to the gods? Esau started, un
easily. What would his father and
mother think of his presence at such an
affair? He was on the point Of saying
that he could not remain, when the taunt
of Beeri flashed through his mind, and
he asked himself:
rs our God better than the gods of the
Hittites? What harm can come from
sharing in their feast ?"
Beeri noted the hesitation and EN-
barrassment, and asked, in q tone Of dis
pleasure:
I You will not refuse to remain p
No. hastily responded Esau, too
fearful to make the reply he knew he
ought to make.
"Good, and here we are" he added, as
they reached the tent and the servants
came hurrying forward to receive them
and make them comfortable.
Sit you here and rest, while look
after the preparations for the morrow.
said Beer, directing a servant to place.
rug for Esau In the entrance to the
tent, and then departing.
The tent was large and roomy, more
pretentious than any Ebout, and 0ccu-
pied knoll overlo king the grove where