The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-06-30

@7 the direction from
~ which the CHEEKY
blast had come,
THAT is Jerah's horn, if | mistake
not" quickly spoke up a tall, comely
young man, rising to his feet. q
must be going. Eliezer has his hands
more than full these days in taking
the accounting Of the docks and herds
and | must help him"
THE reports thus far are good, my
SOM" questioned the aged father, lift,
ing his eyes to the face Of the young
man and studying it with quiet earn
]estness.
There has never been a better year
that | remember, father. And | know
Elie2er is well pleased, for repeatedly
during the last few days, as the reports
have come in, he has exclaimed: How
hath the Lord prospered my master!' "
Neither parent spoke for some time,
but letting their eyes rest on the spot
where their o had disappeared, they
seemed to be lost in thoughts and
plans for him. Abraham was the first
to break the sweet silence, as he said,
with fervor;
How graciously Jehovah hath dealt
with us. He hath withheld nothing
from US"
Yea, and the Lord hath spoken
nothing but good concerning u son,
Isaac rejolned Sarah, confidently.
ut is in my heart to make an Offer
ing unto the Lord this day in token
of His goodness and mercies, respond.
ed Abraham, rising.
Going to the focks, Abraham select
ed one Of the finest of the lambs, and,
bearing it in his arms. he sought out
the altar in the midst of the grove
where 1t was his wont to call upon
the name Of the Lord, and offer sacri-
fee unto Him. Carefully he laid the
wood on the altar and upon this placed
the little lamb. As he took his knife
in hand, prepared to shed its blood, a
voice called him, saying:
"Abraham!"
Behold, here an l." quickly re
5pOnded Abraham. staying his hand
and waiting reyercntly with bowed
head, for he knew it was the Lord talk
ing with him.
Take now thy son, thine only son
isaac, whom thou lowest. and get thee
into the land of Moriah; and offer him
there for a burnt Offering upon n of
the mountains which | will tell thee
off,"
The voice ceased, Abraham's hand
dropped ~neryeless at his side. Cold
beads Of perspiration stood out upon
his forehead. A mist like a cloud fell
over his eyes, shutting out the bright
sunshine. His brain whirled in CON
fused helplessless, and a strange dread
seized hold upon his heart. His limbs
shook beneath him, and sinking to the
ground, he heard again the words:
Take now thy son, thine only son
Isaac. whom thou lowest, and get thee
into the land of Moriah and offer him
there for a burnt Offering p one of
the mountains which l will tell thee
Of"
It was God speaking. He had obeyed
that voice before, but could he obey
now? His only begotten son whom
he loved! Oh! could he walk in the
pathway which God had marked OUT
Long aud fierce was the conflict. but
at last victory. and a calm peaceful
ness which always comes when the
soul has placed itself unreseryedly in
the hands of God and walks with Him
into the furnace of fiery trial. He
could not understand, and he knew it
was not for him yet to see the reason
why. Out of the agony and confusion
Of heart and mind two thoughts came
at last to calm and help him. One
was that God lad spoken. and that he
must obey. The other was that God
who had so miraculously given him
and Sarah a son in their old age, could
also restore him to them, though he
were dead.
The afternoon had slipped away and
the twilight was deepening into the
darkness of night, and still Abraham
lay in the dust at the foot of the altar.
So lost was he with his inward contem-
piations that he did not hear the tread
of footsteps. but the gentle pressure of
a hand upon his shoulders aroused him,
and lifting his head he looked up into the
face of his son, in whose eyes there
shone mingled wonder and loving sym
pathy,
Father, we have wondered at thy
prolonged absence, and | came in searcn
of thee"
The father struggled to speak. but
his voice choked, and 1saac's quick per-
ception told him that his father had