The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-08

- AlNIV-. +" tlldl . IL Al a "a
hS,%H!% H. missed him still
echoed and re-
echoed through his heart. When he
had departed from home and his Ia
Their had charged him to take a wife
of the daughters of his mothers
brother, he had thought little of it; in
fact his mind had been SO filled with
the fear of his brothers threat that
his going was prompted by anxiety
for his own safety rather than the
sentimental one of marriage.
Once or twice on the long journey to
Haran his fathers last words had re-
Cured to him and his cool, calculating.
grasping nature had led him to scheme
how the taking Of a wife might be to his
advantage. No thought of love or senti-
ment. Such feelings seemed quite for
eign to his nature. He approached the
subject of marriage just as he might
have considered a trade in cattle or
sheep, or the purchase Of a new mantle
or rug from some Egyptian trader. How
could he get the best Of the bargain?
How could he make the most out of it
for Jacob? Such had been his feelings
prior to his coming to Haran andmeet-
lug the fair Rachel. And now the schem-
ing, crafty, grasping Jacob had given
place to a new Jacob. with a real heart
of flesh and blood.
Hearose and passed out into the night,
The soft glow of the moon, the CHEEKY
flashing of the myriad stars, the gentle
murmur Of the breezes. and the content
ed chirping and buzz of the insects, all
seemed to lie in friendly harmony with
his own thoughts and spirit, A newsym-
pathy seemed to awaken in his heart to
the nature about him, and as he drew
near the place whore the night before
he had so Unexpectedly met Rachel, he
paused and exclaimed fervently:
How beautiful it all is. How delight
full is this place"
He threw himself on the ground at
the foot of the tree, where he had sat
the night before. 1t almost seemed he
could feel again the touch of Rachel's
hand, and hear her softly-spoken
words of welcome.
She shall be mime he broke out, as
though in answer to the y~earning of
his heart. Il will ask Laban for her
hand in marriage On the morrow.
But" he continued, as his brow cloud
ed, what have | to offer?9 No treas
ure Of gold or silver or precious stones.
No cattle"
And his mind went back to the abun.
dance which his father possessed.
"Oh, why did they send me empty
away? Why, il they wished me to
take a wife, did they not provide suit
able gifts? Must | come like a beg
gar?" And Jacob, now thoroughly
miserable in the face of the new diff
Guilty, arose impatiently and paced
back and forth. He could not 60 back
home, for fear of Esau. What could
he do? Must he give up his Rachel?
At that moment a connection in the
direction Of the ~sheepfold caught his
attention. Instantly all the instincts
of the careful, faithful shepherd were
aroused with him..
With the sheep in peril he lever
gave a thought to the danger to him
self. but sprang into the Enclosure,
while he took a fresh grip upon his
club. Already three sheep lay bleed
ing on the ground, and the tawny form
CT the lion could be seen on the other
side iercely tearing at a fourth and
sucking it's life's blood. It's tail
swished back and forth on the ground
defantly, and its blazing eyes, like balls
Of fire, watched Jacob as he fearless.
ly advanced. With an angry roar it
sprang into the air to meet its new
foe. Jacob braced himself, and.
swinging his knotted club with all his
might he caught the beast on one of
its forelegs, breaking it and swerving
lis great body to one side just enough
to miss striking him. With a terrible
howl Of rage and pain it turned and
in spite Of its disabled leg it again
leaped forward. Again the swish of
the club sounded, and this time the
aim was tr,ier and 1t came crashing
down upon the skull of the lion with
such tremendous force that the bone
IA shattered. But the blow was not
sufficient to check The momentum OF
the huge body. and before Jacob could
spring to one side RI struck him, and
he fell to the ground, with the lion on
top of him That was the last Jacob
knew until he found himself lying on
the cot In his tent. with the anxious
faces Of the family bending yer him.
Feeling better nowf" Laban asked,
anxiously. THAT was q close call You
had"
What Is the matter? What has zap
psn4tJ-s Jacob asked IN ~confusioa.