St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-07-22

-
!: !; s: 6: :: :: :;
which the CHEEKY
blast had come.
"That is Jerah's horn, if I mistake
not" quickly spoke up a tall, comely
young man, rising to his feet. Il
must be going. Eliezer has his hands
more than full these days in taking
the accounting of the fiocks 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 better year
that l remember, father. And l know
Eliezer is we'll pleased, for repeatedly
during the last few days, as the reports
have come in, he has exclaimed: How
hath the Lord prospered my master!' +"
"And it is all for thee, Isaac" burst
out the mother, eagerly, expressing the
ever present thought of her heart, for
all through the years as she had cared
for and watched her baby grow into
boyhood, and then young manhood,
ard then into the full-grown man OF
the present moment, she had noted
With deep satisfaction the increasing
prosperity of Abraham, knowing 1t was
all for Isaac, their only son and heir.
BY way of response Isaac stroked
.enderly the silvered locks which fell
gracefully over the brow and temples
of his mother, and then, kissing her
affectionately, turned and walked
away with light, eager step. AS he
reached the adjacent grove of hand
some trees which Abraham by his own
hand had planted at Beersheba years
before, he turned and gayly waved a
gooG-by and was gone.
Neither parent spoke for some time,
but letting their eyes rest on the spot
where their son 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:
GLOW graciously Jehovah hath dealt
with us. He hath withheld nothing
from u.s.
"Yea, and the Lord hath spoken
nothing but good concerning our son,
Isaac" rejoined Sarah, confidently.
at 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.
''Thou doest WE'LL" we're the encour-
aging words of Sarah as he left the
tent.
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 it 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 she'd its blood, a
voice called him, saying:
"Abraham!"
Behold, here am t. quickly re-
sponded Abraham, staying his hand
and waiting reverently 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 burnt offering upon one of
the mountains which I will tell thee
Of"
The voice ceased. Abraham's hand
dropped nerveless at his side. Cold
beads of Precipitation 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 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 upon one of
the mountains which I 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 and fierce was the conflict, but
at last victory, and calm peaceful
ness which always comes when the
soul has placed itself unreservedly 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 had spoken. and that he
must obey. The other was that God.
who had so miraculously given him
and Sarah son in their old age, could
also restore him to them, though he
were dead
Thesafternoon 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-
plations that he did not hear the tread
Of footsteps. but the gentle pressure OF