Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-10-11

Sus cob. One Of the
! /. !.
Htf\ sheep herders had
~LA M come hurrying in
;tT1SSX2W that morning and
MAAN HI reported to the
NIX w AN sons that strong
WS7tSM body of Canaan
(HXl WI ties had been Turk
HIM ing about in the vi
Nh UVkT .cinity. and judg-
EZ~E ing by their dark
S I~/ looks and the
fact that they
were fully armed there was reason to
expect trouble. It was now a week
since the massacre OF the men Of
Shechcm and the spelling OF the city.
and the, awful passions OF hatred and
revenge which had stirred Simeon and
Levi and their brothers and made them
like madmen had subsidized, and with
the reaction had come forebodings of
trouble. The holiness of unreasoning
rage and passion had been succeeded
by the weakness and fear of an ac-
cusing consciousness of guilt and
crime. and now the alarming news OF
that morning had created q panicky
desire to flee. In this spirit they
sought out their father and appealed
to him TO strike their tents and steal
away as quickly and quietly as pos
sible.
I'VE may be attacked this very
night" Simeon exclaimed. apprehen-
sively. Let us fee at once. To-day"
But whither?" Jacob asked.
Though uneasy over the discuieting
reports he maintained his self-control.
and was disposed TO move with eau
ton.
Whittier" queried Reuben, the cid
est son. in surprise. Where can we
go but back towards the land of our
mothers father? III we go forward or
fee on either hand we but plunge our
selves more surely into the power of
our enemies"
To this speech there was ready and
emphatic assent by the rest Of Re
sons, and they waited for their father
to speak 1t was plain to see that
a conflict was going on within his
heart. He sat with bowed head, but
his lips moved as though in prayer
At last he looked up and, speaking
slowly, but with emphasis. he said:
We cannot go back. my sons"
And then noting the dark looks Of
disapproval and disappointment on the
faces before him, he added:
I'm obedience 20 Gods word we have
come into Canaan. He has promised
us the land. We may not depart, ex-
cept at His word. He is able to de-
liver us from the present peril"
But we cannot stay here while our
enemies are gathering to destroy u.s."
Simeon cried, impatienhy. He had
been largely responsible for the attack
upon the city of Shechem. and he now
realized khatuR5 the leader of the
movenH ist do his best to find
"Ah. - nb6ed Jacob over
come bp the ht OF his own fail
ures, mine Is tfk sin that we have
tarried so long in this place. Had
we but continued on TO Bethel in
stead of pitching our tents before this
city. all that has befallen us here
would have been avoided"
- He was silent for a few moments,
am, then continued. more cheerfuIly:
"Byt II we have sinned in thus lin
have us travel, let US not commit the
greater sin OF rushing headlong
whittier He does not lead. Let us
await Gods word in the present ex-
tremity."
And as he finished speaking he arose
and left thefr II vas evident his
words had had some effect, for the
brothers fingered in a dispirited man
ner. no one seeming bold enough TO
take the lead and counsel move con-
trary TO their fathers will. though It
was very apparent that they we're en-
tirely out OF sympathy with his at
titude.
That night the hocks and the herds
were all driven in and the camp made
as secure as possible The flashing
signals from the surrounding hills did
not tend 20 quiet the fears OF the peo-
pie. for that they guided and directed
the gathering Of the Canaanites they
felt sure. The presence OF the women
and CHILDREN OF the men slain, and the
|. rich BOOTY they had seized we're con-
.afninders of the danger that
- them now
unexplained absence Of
not tend TO lessen their ap-
sYon. They had searched for
vall through the camp, but had
ID him not, and TO one seemed to
bile to tell why he was missing or
u he was to be found No one
zen him since the afternoon be-
pd then he was going in the
On OF the place where no had
"a tho altar to his Cod. That -