Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-10-13

and nocks to nourish us on the jour
ney"
NAY. but we have God. We can
trust Him. Did He not lead my feet
thither? And viii He not lead us back?
lie has promised us the land He VIII
provide
But when next day Jacob preached
the subject of his going to Laban, that
individual was flied with disappont-
ment and alarm. How could he get
along without Jacob? He knew only
too we'll now much he owed his pros
perity to the faithful services of his
nephew.
"Tarry thou must. for have learned
by experience that the Lord hath
blessed me for thy sake. Appoint me
thy wages, and | will give it,"
Jacob was silent. lie was eager TO
get away, in fact he had quite made up
his mind that he would go, but did
the Lord want him to depart empty
handed? Would ii be faith to rush
of impatiently and expect God to pro-
vide for his wives and little ones? Or
would real faith keep him patient in
the present situation? Was not II
probable that II was Gods way OF
providing for him? God had blessed
his services so marvelously during the
IA years he had worked for Laban,
would He not continue His favor now
that he was TO provide for his own
household? All these questions flashed
Ind 40 hn stood hn-
fore Laban, who anxiously awaited his
answer. At last he looked up and
said, quietly:
'T will continue with you"
"And what shall thy wages be-"
Laban asked. eagerly. anxious to have
the bargain concluded.
"Thou shalt not give me anything.
he finally said looking steadily into
Laban's face. and drawing himself up
proudly.
But" exclaimed Laban. his face
paling. you said you would remain
YEA. If thou wilt do this thing for
me. | will again feed and keep thy
flock. will pass through all thy flock
to-day. removing from thence all the
speckled and spotted cattle, and all
the brown cattle among the sheep. and
the spotted and speckled among the
goats: and of such shall be my hire
SO shall my righteousness answer for
me I'm time TO come. when IT shall
come for my hire before thy face:
every one that is not speckled and
spotted among the goats and brown
among the sheep. that shall be count
ed stolen with me"
Iaban listened TO the remarkable
proposition in amazement.
Behold would it might be &C
cording TO thy word, but surely thou
art Joking"
may" rejoined Jacob calmly.
"those are the terms on which | would
serve thee"
BE II as thou hast said. them said
Laban. trying TO conceal the inward
exultation of his miserly soul.
And that day he and his sons re-
moved the he goats that were ring
streaked and spotted and all the she
goats that were speckled and spotted.
every one that had some white in IT,
and all the brown among the sheep.
and gave them into the hand of his
sons. And he sent Jacob with the re
mainder of the focks three days
Journey down the valley. and as he
started of with his all white sheep
and an black goats he chuckled 10
himself saying:
Never a sreckled snd spotted one
will M get ont of those hocks
The months rolled by. and SO dill
gently did Jacob apply himself TO the
task in hand that his visits home were
few and far between. and 20 Laban's
questions as 20 how he was getting on
he returned but brief and indefinite
answer. At last unable 10 curb his
curiosity longer. he sent one OF his
sons 10 spy on Jacob. and the reports
which he brought first astonished and
then alarmed him. ne finest OF lambs
and the kids were speckled and spot
ted. How could Il be? II was moth
ing short OF miracle Nothing like
II had ever been done before. Laban
went I'm before his gods and bowed