Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-07-28
shoulders affectionately. he exclaimed:
Eyes, father, and have something on

my heart 10 tell thee OF now"
He paused with some evident embar-
rassment. and then went on:
To-day, being at great unrest and
yearning for something. | knew not
what, | wandered at some distance and
just as | was turning my face home
ward saw a caravan of camels coming,
and, hailing them, found they were seek
ing the tent of Abraham When the
chief of the company learned that was
Abraham's son he alighted from his
camel and jsurneyed on foot by my side,
while the attendants followed at a re-
spectful distance He told me he came
from Abimelech, who having heard of
our bereavement, had sent messages Of
coincidence and sympathS And the
princess, whom you remember we met on
several occasions when al Abimelech's
court, sent this PREACHING within the
folds of his robes and bringing forth
a jar Of very costly and very fragrant
ointmenD, with the message that il was
to be scattered about the tomb of our
dead in token of the frangrance and
beauty of the life of my dear mother
Was not that a delicate and graceful
tribute?" questioned Isaac with fervor,
his glowing face revealing the depth OF
feeling within.
1T surely was. my son" responded
Abraham. thoughtfully. as he laid his
hand lovingly upon that of his son.
And | am going at once to annoint
the tomb, exclaimed Isaac, as he rose
to go. Scarcely had he departed when
Eliezer ushered in the envoy from King
Abimelech into Abraham's presence
who came not only with messages OF
coincidence but of offer Of the hand OF
the princess in marriage to Isaac.
you shall have your answer in the
morning" Abraham said, after the
long conference had ended. and he was
bidding his guest good night.
On the. next morning the sun was
quite an hour high and still Abraham
had not appeared His tent was closed
and no sound came from within. The
messenger of King Abimelech was up
betimes in the morning. and had direct
ed the preparations for the return jour
ney. which was to be taken up that
morning The camels were ladened
and patiently waiting. and the messen-
ger paced back and forth uneasily while
Eliezer. annoyed by the situation hur-
ried hither and thither trying 20 main
tain good nature and order and assuring
the envoy that Abraham would appear
shortly But he did not come. and at
10 hra-
hams tent
But he found it empty,
At that moment the familiar form OF
the aged patriarch was seen approach
ing from the direction of the altar and
place of sacrifice His head was bowed
and he walked slowly as though the
nights visa had wearied him. That
something unusual had happened could
be seen in his face ere he came where
the waiting company stood Without
pausing he approached the king envoy,
and. responding TO his gracious bow he
said
Tell thy master that Abraham's God
has forbidden any alliance between my
son Isaac and the house of Abimelech. -
And abruptly turning and without
any further attempt at explanation (for
it is better and safer to walk the way
pointed out by God without explana-
tom. he entered his tent
Three years passed away Abraham
and Isaac had returned TO Beersheba
but nothing more was said in reference
TO wife for the son, and the latter, in
dutiful obedience. waited for the father
to speak
One afternoon. as Isaac returned
from a longer walk than usual in the
grove. he found Eliezer busy preparing
for a journey. Ten camels had been
brought in from the herd and were being
equipped for an early start in the morn
ing Isaac watched while the rich ap-
parel and jewels were being brought
out from the stores under Eliezer' 3
hand and placed in the packs: he saw
the elaborate preparations for a long
journey. the abundant provisioning
and wondered what it all meant. but
asked not: What doest thou?" but
sought his fathers tent
How glad | am, father, that We have
waited" he exclaimed. after his father
had explained all. and he understood
how the servant had been directed
to return 10 Abrahams kinfolks and
there secure for him a wife II was plain
10 him now why God had warned his
father against the alliance with Abim-
elech 5 daughter. and he continued. fer.
wildly. How near we came to fallin;;
into ,erious error"
Yea. my son. and let us not forget
this which We are so prone 10 do: God
is a factor in every relationship of life.
and unless we first seek to know His
will we are almost sure TO err in judg-
ment and take the wrong pathway.
True marriages are divinely appointed
and Gods children should never be lie 7
TO form alliances with unbelievers. "
Abraham responded.
The greetings are over. Elezer has
told the wonderful story of his Jour
ney. and the heart OF the shy and mod
oct and beautiful mafden hos baan Init