The Tupelo journal., 1905-10-06

AM6 SAk at last the head OF
<XA the elder man and
Sse~\NL lighted up with a
s%SN> rare splendor the
$$ss> silver gray Of the
&A flowing locks. The
face Is in the shadow, but it can be
seen that it is goodly face, in which
are traceeble the marks Of discipline
and sorrow, such as sometimes come
in the later years of life. as though
they would exact tardy recompense
for the peace and prosperity and smil-
Ing skies which have crowned the
years of the earlier life. Although the
form is bent and the poise and vigor
Of manhood's prime have departed,
still 1t can be seen that the clean,
wholesome living Of the earlier years
has left as worthy legacy a preserved
and splendid old age. AS he speaks
the head is slightly averted so as to
bring the ear rather than the eyes op-
posite his companion, for he is blind,
and the sense Of hearing must be alert
and in a measure recompense for. the
loss of sight.
Jacob" he is saying. 1T is good to
hear how graciously the Lord hath
dealt with thee during all these years.
knew He would lead thee back to the
land which hath been promised to
Abraham and his seed. But why tar
riest thou on the very border Of thine
Inheritance? Why shouldst thou not
dwell in the places which thy father
Isaac and thy fathers father Abraham
knew before thee?"
81 have all l need for my flocks and
herds, father What shall 1t profit me
to go elsewhere?"
"But shouldst not thy feet traverse
the length and breadth of the land
which is to become the possession Of
thy children?"
"Oh, am weary Of the journey, and
who knows what trials and perils one
may encounter on the way?" was the
somewhat impatient response.
Jacob had made the long journey
from Succoth to Beersheba, where his
father still continued to dwell, in re-
sponse to the urgent message which
the old man Isaac had sent to his son
when tidings had reached him that the
long absent boy had departed from
Syria with all his substance and had
again entered the land of Canaan. The
meeting between the father and the
son was touching in the extreme, and
without reference to the painful incl
dents which had driven the boy 20
years before to seek refuge with his
mothers people, they had rehearsed to
one another the events which had
homecoming for Jacob, for the loving,
indulgent mother was not there to
give him welcome. Some years before
she had died, ana Isaac with streaming
eyes and broken voice told of this, the
crowning sorrow of his life and CT
his loneliness since she had gone from
him.
"Her heart yearned after thee, Jacob.
She longed to see thee before she died,
but she dared not send for thee be-
cause Esau was not yet gone to Edom,
and she knew not whether the bitter
ness had died out of his heart. l wish
she could have known Of thy reconcil-
iation with thy brother. It takes the
one burden from my heart, and now
can die in peace when God shall so
will"
The old man paused, and, reaching
out his hands, he felt in the uncertain
manner Of the blind until they rested
on the arm of his son, and then con-
tinued, earnestly:
'Rememberest thou the blessing
with which I blessed thee when thou
didst depart from Padan-aram?"
"That the blessing OF Abraham
should be mine, and that I and my
seed should inherit the land which God
gave to Abraham" Jacob responded,
fervently.
''Yea, see that thou hast not for
gotten" and q pleased expression light
ed up the grizzled face of the old man.
"And the last message which thy
mother left for thee was this: Tell
Jacob not to forget that the Lord hath
spoken good concerning him, and that
He will fulfill all His promises spoken
to Abraham and to Isaac"
"Forget?" earnestly exclaimed Jacob
"Was it not the memory OF Gods bless
ing that kept me patient and faithful
during all the long hard service under
Laban? And had not God been with
me, had returned empty handed"
"God hath shown thee great mercies,
and hath blessed thee in thy return.
But be not content to dwell at Succoth,
for there are better experiences and
greater blessings as thou dost enter
more fully into the land God hath
promised thee"
This last earnest admonition kept
ringing in the ears of Jacob as he took
leave Of his father the next day and
started on the long journey home.
'sI'm glad did not tell father that
had built me houses at Succoth," he
exclaimed, as he came within sight OF
his home again and recalled how with
the building Of permanent shelter for
himself and cattle he had planned to
remain there. He was forced to adj
init, as he pondered his fathers last
words, that he must not be satisfied
with the present attainment, and that
Il he was to possess the full blessing
Of God he must go forward Ii faith and
obedience. And WILL" he vowed
at last after an inward struggle. But
- be resolved thus to walk with God