The Tupelo journal., 1905-08-25

~Y S, replied
N$TnIEST the servant, those
z NMJaSSrs were his very
words. was
coming along the pathway which leads
through the grove where Esau's tents
are pitched, and, hearing voices, l
paused to listen. l caught the words:
And now he has robbed me OF the
blessing Of the firstborn.' And then
a woman's voice exclaimed: Well,
amt you going to do anything about
it?' | pushed aside the heavy foliage
and cautiously peered through. 1t was
Esau and his wife, Judith. And then
Esau asked: DO? What can / do,
now that father has given the blessing
to Jacob?' This made Judith angrier
than ever and she fairly hissed: You
fool! Dead men don't get any bless
ings.' A terrible look came into
Esau's face then, and he cried, fierce
ly: L will kill him! l will! ! will!'
But l did not wait to hear any more,
but hurried to tell you"
"Go and find Jacob and send him tc
"Esau may even now be searching for
him to kill him. Oh, my son! My son!
1t is ! who have brought this trouble
upon thee" And, overcome by her
fears and troubled conscience, size sank
to the ground and buried her face in
her hands, while the servant rushed
off to do her bidding.
"Was this to be the consequence Of
her plotting and Jacobs deception
she asked herself But he was en-
titled to the blessing" size impatient
ly exclaimed Ibid not God promise
1t when He said that the elder should
serve the younger?'
"Yes," answered back her conscience,
"and God would have given it,
But it didn't look like it. Wasn't
Esau about to obtain the blessing?
Didn't she have to look out for Jacobs
interests?"
But" spoke up her conscience
again, docs one ever have to do wrong
to obtain the blessing God has prom
ised?"
well, it looks that way" she petu
lantly exclaimed, encouraging the feel
ing that somehow God was to blame
for not having acted more promptly.
And again the voice within spoke
and said: Gould you not trust God?
Could you not wait on Him."
''But | didn't" she moaned, half re-
proachfully, and then the realization
of the peril which threatened Jacob
swept over her again and she cried out
In an agony of fear: What shall we
do? What shall we do?'
why, what is the matter, mother?'
exclaimed Jacob, who at that moment
reached the tent door and looked in
CONSERVATION and surprise at his
mother as she sat on the ground rock
ing herself to and fro and moaning.
What has happened?" And, hasten
ing to her side, he leaned over her
and looked into her ardistorted
face.
She pressed her hands over his in a
feverish eagerness, and a relieved
look came into her face as she cried:
"Then Esau hasn't found you yet"
Found me, mother? What for?"
"He seeks to kill thee," she whis-'
pered in strained and awesome voice,
and, struggling to her feet, she peered
out of the tent in nervous apprehension,
as though half expecting to see the
vengeful brother coming.
What shall we do, mother?" he ex-
claimed
what canst thou do but flee"
But whither?"
"To Haran, to Laban, my brother.
Tarry with him few days until thy
brothers fury turn away from thee,
and he forget that which thou hast
done to him; then l will send and
fetch thee from thence; why should /
be deprived also of you both in one
day?' And the mother looked ap-
pealingly at her favorite son.
Jacob hesitated. How could he go?
What cruel fate was this that was
driving him forth, fugitive and q
wanderer? OF what good was the
blessing now? Must he leave all to
Esau? oh, the bitterness of that mo-
menu. ne mOLuCI uUtCu tuO oil u66tC.
Sbe saw the hesitation. Her own
courage wavered, but, remembering
Esau's threat, she urged him, saying:
Go, my son, prepare to leave at
once. / will speak to thy father about
It."
And as Jacob fastened away and Re-
bekah turned toward Isaac's tent, she
wondered what she would say. She
dare not tell him of Esau's threat.
What excuse could she make for ia
cob's going? And again the subtlety
of her nature gained the upper hand,
and with rare cunning she spoke OF
the sorrow which had come to their
hearts by the marriage of Esau and
pleaded that Jacob might be kept from
b like mistake.
Il am weary Of my life because Of
the daughters Of Heth," she exclaimed.
ri Jacob take q wife Of the daughters