The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-15

as
provide"
But when next day Jacob preached
the subject Of his going to Laban, that
individual was filed with ~disappoint'
ment and alarm. How could he get
along without Jacob? He knew only
too well how much he owed his pros
Berity to the faithful services Of his
nephew.
"rarry thou must, for have learned
by experience that the Lord hath
blessed Inc for thy sake. Appoint me
thy wages, and | will give it"
Jacob was silent. He was eager to
get away. in fact he had quite made up
his mind that he would go, but did
the Lord want him to depart empty
handed? Would it be faith to rush
of impatiently and expect God to pro-
vide for his wives and little ones? Or
would real faith keep him patient IN
the present situation? Was not II
probable that it was Gods way OF
providing for him? God had blessed
his services so maryelously during the
IA vars he had worked for Laban,
wouli He not continue His favor now
that he was to provide for his own
household? All these questions flashed
through Jacobs mind as he stood be-
fore Laban, who anxiously awaited his
answer. At last he looked up and
said. quietly:
Il will continue with you"
And what shall thy wages be?'
Laban asked. eagerly, anxious to have
the bargain concluded.
Thou shalt not give me anything,
he finally said, looking steadily into
Laban's face, and drawing himself up
proudly.
But" exclaimed Laban, his face
paIing, you said you would remain"
Yea, If thou wilt do this thing for
me. will again feed and keep thy
flock. | will pass through all thy flock
to-day. removing from thence all the
speckled and spotted cattle, and all
the brown cattle among the sheep, and
the spotted and speckled among the
goats; and of such shall be my hire.
So shall my Righteousness answer for
me in time to come. when It shall
come for my hire before thy face:
every one that is not speckled and
spotted among the goats and brown
among the sheep. that shall be count
ed stolen with me-"
Laban listened to the remarkable
proposition in amazement.
Behold, l would it might be ac-
eording to thy word, but surely thou
art JOKING"
NAY" rejoined Jacob, calmly,
those are the terms On which | would
serve thee"
BE it as thou hast said, then" said
Laban, trying to conceal the inward
exultation of his misery soul.
And that day he and his sons re-
moved the he goats that were ring
streaked and spotted, and all the she
goats that were speckled and spotted,
every one that had some white in it,,
and all the brown among the sheep,
and gave them into the hand of his
And he sent Jacob with the re-
mainder of the tlocks a three days
down the valley, and as he
started off with his all white sheep
and all black goats he chucklsd to
himself, saying:
Never a speckled and spotted one
will he get out of those hoGks."
The months rolled by, aud so dill
gently did Jacob apply himself to the
task in hand that his visits home we're
few and far between, and to Laban's
questions as to how he was getting on
he returned but brief and indefinite
answer, At last. unable to curb his
curiosity longer. he sent one of his
sons to spy IN Jacob, and the reports
which he brought first astonished and
then alarmed him, Inc finest of lambs
and the kids We're speckled and SPOT
ted. How could it be? 1t was moth
ing short of a miracle. Nothing like
it had ever been done before. Laban
went in before his gods and bowed
himself and burned incense to them
that he might win their favor. And
then, not certain that he could trust
them to protect his interests, he lost
ed off to where Jacob was feeding his
ilocks and Indignantly charged him
with fraud and insisted on changing
the agreement so that the speckled
and spotted should thereafter be his.
And Jacob quietly submitted. and
went on feeding the hocks. And when
Laban found months later that no
longer was the increase Of the locks
speckled and spotted, he again
changed the agreement, and again
Jacob submitted, knowing that he was
in Gods hands and that he could trust
Him. And thus the years rolled by
and Laban had changed his wages ten
times, but still he patiently served on
and In spite Of Laban's double deal.
ing, he Increased exceedingly and had
much cattle, and id.seryants and
m~en-servants, and camels and asses.
On one of his Visits home Jacob
CHANGED to be passing the sheep fold
OF Laban, and, hearing loud and angry
talking, he paused to listen. He req.
7gnlzed the voices at once as those
OF Iahan's sons. m
see how he hath stolen that which
was our fathers, itcll you n Ii cons
TIME there will not be left anything