The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-07-14
shoulders atectionately. he e,,,aimsd.

rassment, and then went on:
To-day, being at great unrest an
yearning for something. | knew no
what, wandered at some distance ans
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 tn.
chief OF the company learned that / wa:
Abraham's o he alighted from his
camel and jonrneyed on foot by my side
while the attendants followed at a re,
spectful distance. He told me he eamt
from Abimeleeh, who, having heard OF
u bereavement, had sent messages OF
coincidence and sympathy. And the
princess, whom you remember we met on
several occasions when at Abimelech's
court, sent this Preaching within the
foids OF his robes and bringing forth
a jar of very costly and very fragrant
ointment), with the message that 1t 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 fro n King
Abimelech into Abraham's pr ssence.
who came not only with messages of
coincidence but of offer of the hsnd 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 VS.
bidding his guest goodnight.
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 u~neasily, while
Eliezer, annoyed by the situation, hur-
ried hither and thither trying to main
tain good-nature and order and assuring
the envoy that Abraham would appear
shortly. But he did not come, and at
last Eliezer ventured to enter Abra-
hams tent.
But he found it empty!
At that moment the familiar form CT
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 vigil 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 kings envoy
and, responding to his gracious bow, he
said:
Tell thy master that Abraham's God
has forbidden any alliance between my
Isaac and the house Of Abimelech. .
And abruptly turning and without
any further attempt at explanation flor
It is better and safer to walk the way
out by God without explana.
tom, he entered his tent.
Three years passed away. Abraham
md Isaac had returned to Beersheba,
out nothing more was said in reference
o a wife for the son, and the latter, in
lutiful obedience, waited for the father
speak.
One afternoon, as Isaac returned
rom a longer walk than usual in the
grove, he found Eliezer busy preparing
or a journey. Ten camels had been
'rought in from the herd and were being
EQUIPPED for an early start in the morn
ng. Isaac watched while the rich ap-
iarel and jewels were being brought
ut from the stores under Eliezer's
and and placed in the packs; he saw
elaborate preparations for a long
Quincy, the abundant provisioning,
wondered what it all meant, but
not: What doest thou?" but
ought his fathers tent
How glad am, father, that we have ,
he exclaimed, after his father
ad explained all, and he understood !
the servant had been directed (
0 return to Abraham's kinfolks and |
here secure for him a wife. 1t was plain t
him now why God had warned his
against the alliance with Abim.
lech's daughter. and he continued, fer !
idly. How near we came to falling +;
ITO serious error!" 9
Yea, my son, and let us not forget
lis, which we are so prone to do: God
a factor in every relationship of life. 2
nd unless we first seek to know His /
Ill we are almost sure to err in ildg- 4
tent, and take the wrong pathway. 9
rue marriages are diyinely appointed. =
i'd Gods children should never be lei
, form alliances with unbelievers,"
braham responded. T.
The greetings are over, Eliezer t#as -
Id the wonderful story of his Jour a
~, and the heart of the shy and mod t,
and beautiful maiden has been knit b
love to the heart OF the man on whose Il
ce she has for the first time looked Il
at night. Love at first sight always is a,