St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-04-29

erage. But there is something in the
/ face and bearing of .he man as he
strides forward which is suggestive OF
! special conviction and determination
| The ,arnest set expression of the face
speaks of an inner conflict and final
and positive decision, and the firm, I'm.
faltering footsteps indicate an eager
ness to meet and perform a duty, hard
and unpleasant though it may be.
As he enters the temple he is met by
! one in priestly robes who has evidently
| been expecting his coming. and they
two pass to an inner apartment to-
gether
We'll Abraham, l see by thy face that
| thou hast come to decision. What say
est thou?" spoke up the priest, in sold,
| harsh tones, for at a glance he had read
| the others answer, and knew that it was
contrary to that for which he had
! hoped
For some few minutes the young man
stood in silence, but as the priest studied
| his face with searching glance he failed
| to detect the slightest tremOr of indie.
cision or fear. On the other hand he
| became conscious of a certain power and
strength in his calm reserve. and knew
that he waited to speak not because OF
| uncertainty of conviction or dread OF
displeasure, but rather because OF the
| depth of his convictions and strength
| of his purpose.
Under the tutelage of the priests,
Abraham had been trained in all the
| learning of the east, and while his father
| Terah had never so declared. it was
with the secret longing that he would
enter the priesthood for which he
seemed so eminently fitted, and the
priests of the temple had entertained
the same hope. But the years had come
and gone and no inclination towards the
priesthood was manifested On the
contrary certain reserve towards the
religion of the Chaldeans which had
been noticeable as a youth had grown
with the years, and while he had given
no outward sign by word or deed that he
held views contrary to the common be-
lief still it was apparent that there were
deeper currents to his life and thoughts
than that reached by the Chaldean
faith.
The day before, the priest had had
long interview with Abraham and had
urged him to enter the priesthood, and
the young man had promised to give his
answer in the morning, and after long
night of struggle he had come to make
his decision known. He knew that to
choose the priesthood meant power and
influence and luxurious ease; it meant
increased favor with the king, Urukh,
who had devoted his energies and treas
ure to the building of the great temple,
and it would assure the perlnanency and
position of his family. But in spite Of the
influences of his surroundings and
training, he could not remember the
time when he had not thought of a one
God instead of the many, and if one God,
then the serving of many false gods
could not be right: Faithful to this dim,
uncertain light, and unwilling to yield
until his doubts as to the Chaldean faith
had been satisfied, he had thus lived,
maintaining high standard of virtue in
his own life, and seeking to encourage
such in others. Such was the state of his
mind and heart when the priest had
spoken to him. and great was the temp
tation to end the struggle Of years and
enter the pathway Of ease and power.
But the inherent sincerity of his nature
and his deep-rooted desire to know and
n, h yny,fh i'm f,yrY Cd efo
tasty towards the faint glimmer of
light which had come to his heart. and
after the long vigils of the night he
had decided the question once and
for all, and with the decision had
come a peace of mind and strength
of will and purpose which he had not
known before, and which he could not
himself understand or explain. All he
knew was that he had settled. finally
and positively, that he would not enter
the Chaldean priesthood. and that he
would still search for and seek to know
the one God of heaven and earth And
as Abraham stood before the gorgeously
robed priest that morning an inner thrill
and glow made him feel that the answer
he was to give was the right one.
Thou wouldst not have me serve in
place where my heart could not enter,
and where my convictions would not
yield earnest and honest endeavor," the |
young man said, in firm, clear voice, and
with measured accent. as though weigh |
ing each word before it LETT his mouth.
81 must be true to the highest hopes and |
desires of my heart. cannot tell you
why, but cannot help the conviction
that the gods we worship are but the |
creation of mans own thought and that |
beyond and over all there is one God |
with whom we have to do
AS Abraham spoke he looked steadily |
and earnestly into the face of the priest |
and, noting the deepening frown and |
the stern lines of displeasure, he knew |
that bitter opposition and trial and per-
secution awaited him.
"knowest thou what thy words and |
thy decision may cost thee?" fiercely /
asked the disappointed priest What |
think you the king will say when he |
hears that you have set yourself up
against his temple and his gods?"
Then in a pleading, persuasive tone.
for he admired the splendid young man,
and coveted him as companion and
in the temple service, he
said:
Come, Abraham, reconsider thy de-
cision. Twill give thee until to-morrow's
sun to answer before word shall be taken
he king. and his displeasure descend
Upon thee"