The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1905-09-15


lssdscape as though searching for
some one whom she was expecting.
"Why does he not Gomez" she ex-
claimed, anxiously. ''Bilhah," she
called, addressing her maid within,
did not father Laban say that he
would send Jacob word?"
He did, but he seemed displeased,
and muttered as he turned away
something about Jacob leaving his
flocks too much"
Rachel's brow clouded. She felt the
Injustice of her fathers exactions He
was hard taskmaster, and begrudged
Jacob the time of his visits home,
which during the past year had been
more frequent than usual, for he was
full of tender solicitude for her. But
now he had been away fully month
60, Bilhah," she urged, inpatient
ly, ASK father Laban why Jacob
canes not"
And as the woman fastened Off,
Rachel continued to look away across
the fields. How lonely her heart felt
that evening. She longed to share
with her beloved Jacob the joy OF her
sons birth. How proud and glad he
would be. How through the years
their hearts had yearned for Gods
favor. And now with their hopes and
prayers realized Jacob was absent
from her. and she felt that the glad
event was robbed of half its joy.
"Ah, precious baby" she murmured,
"how hard it is to wait"
ITO wait for what, my love? ex-
she found herself in Jacobs strong
arms.
ooh, Jacob, see!" holding up the
baby, cts a boy-our boy!"
Yes, l know" responded Jacob,
taking the little one tenderly in his
arms, and locking at him with proud
eyes, Il met Bilhah as she was on her
way to Laban's, and she told me the
glad news" And then in answer to his
wife's questions he went on to explain
how Laban had visited the fiocks near
ly two weeks before and had objected
to his leaving them at that time, de-
clarirg ill-naturedly that he was neg
lecting his work, and SO he had re-
manned, knowing that but few more
days remained of his seven years of
service.
"And now we are free. Your father
has no further claim upon US"
'And what will you do now" Rachel
asked, wonderingly, not comprehend
ing the full meaning of the situation.
do? Has not God kept me during
all these years of hardship and toll,
and Eow He has done this that He has
given me son of thee. | would re-
turn unto the land of my fathers"
"But how? We have nothing we can
call our own"
Jacob stared at his wife, while con-
fiicting emotions of blank astonish-
ment, disappointment and Indignation
played over his features. His mind
had been so elated over the thought
that his years of servitude were ended
and that he could now return to the
land God had promised to give him and
his seed as a possession that he had
not thought of his poverty. He re-
membered all the IA years of faithful
service. He had taken Laban's few
flocks and herds, and under his care
they had become vast possessions. But
It was all Laban's.
Fourteen years." he said slowly;
ssbut have thee" he exclaimed, with
sudden emotion. placing his arm about
his beloved Rachel and drawing her to
.'And the baby" she added, smiling
into his face as she took and fondled
him to her breast. But that does not
give us camels and asses to ride on
and flocks to nourish us on the jour-
ney."
.'Nay, but we have God. We can
trust Him. Did He not lead my feet
thither? And will He not lead us back?
He has promised us the land. He Will
provide
But when next day Jacob preached
the subject Of his going to Laban. that
individual was filled with disappoipt-
ment and alarm. How could he get
along without Jacob? He knew only
too we'll how much he owed his pros
perity to the faithful services Of his
u0pheW.
:sgarry thou muat sor haxs iesrped