The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-05-26

comes and we miss his visit because some
distraction of life has drawn us away
from the pathway of duty and we are abb
| sent. We are not in the place where
God would speak 10 us and give us bless
Ing.
my master, the ~pasturage in this
place is not sufficient for thy increas-
ing flocks and herds. The rains have
| partially failed and the hillsides are
becoming brown and bare, and even
now the young men are forced to
| seek pasturage far down the valley
Thus spoke Eliezer, n morning as
he came to Abraham's tent. For such
a careful, proyident oyerseer as was
| Eliezer, the situation was exceeding
ly trying. Ever faithful to Abraham's
| interests he saw the wisdom of re-
moyal to more verdant fields, and
came with the purpose OF suggesting
such a course, but waited for his
master to speak before proceeding
further.
Abraham lifted his eyes inquiringly
and then said:
Speak on, Eliezer, ell that is in thy
heart"
Il pray thee that thou wilt pardon
thy servant for troubling thee and for
suggesting the journey with its bur
den and fatigue, but tidings have
come from the land of the south of
abundant pasturage, and it were we'll
that we proceed thither.'
A troubled look o~yerspread the
~countenance of the older man, and 1t
was some few minutes before he VEN
tured to reply, He was bath to leave
Hebron, for it had long been his dwell
ing place. Nearly 10 years hsd
passed since he had first pitched his
tent under the oaks of Mamre and
it was at Hebron that the Lord had
repeatedly appeared unto him and re-
newed His promise of a son.
Thou asketh a hard thing. Is not
Hebron better than the strange land,
and unknown people?"
. Dll, liJ lld0tCls cal HGpllS DlO
tested Eliezer, who misunderstood the
real reasons Of Abraham's reluctance,
Il know Of a certainty of the land to
which we would go, for the young
country have returned, bringing word
that it is indeed a goodly land, and
that the people are friendly and will
welcome the great chief Abraham and
his people, for they have heard of thy
wealth and thy great goodness"
NAY, it is not that quickly re-
sponded Abraham. Il doubt not thy
reports Of the land, for thou art a wise
and discreet servant, but it may be the
Lord will speak further concerning my
son Isaac, whom God hath promised
that Sarah shall bear RE"
"Thy son Isaac?" questioned Eliezer.
deeply puzzled, for this was the first
reference which Abraham had made to
anyone save his wife Of his latest
vision, and even to her it was as an
idle tale. Does my master forget that
his years and the years Of Sarah are
many, and that the hope OF youth must
fade and vanish away"
II cannot go, now" was the quiet but
decisive answer.
'But the sheep and the camels and
the asses" protested Eliezer, in tones Of
deep anxiety. while we llnger they
perish!" And the overseer of all Abra-
hams possessions SHIFTED n~ervously
from one foot TO the other and adjusted
his mantle with an impatient jerk. 1t
wal the first time he had ever found it
necessary to take such sharp issue with
his master, and had he not felt so keen
~ the needs OF the flocks and the herds,
he would have been frightened by his
own boldness.
Better that they perish than that l
should depart from the Lords presence
and blessing" was the earnest reply.
and Eliezer, realizing that Abraham's
decision was final. withdrew.
A rustic in the rear Of the tent aroused
Abraham, and he realized that Sarah
had been a listener to the conversation.
What strange. idle hope keeps thee
lingering here. Abfaham? 1t were bet
ter to listen to the voice Of wisdom, than
to trust to the visions Of thine own
heart"
Sarah stood at his side, and her voice
sounded strangely sharp and ursym-
palmetto. Bitterness and unbelief min~
gled In her heart. and she resented hav-
ing Abrsbam speak Of things she could
not receive.
Abraham bowed his head In silent
grief, for BE- kssS further pleading with