The Tupelo journal., 1905-09-29

NJ ilINTYE1 cuSc Ol LIS hlllC-
@NIM blade, until at lasr
! N it seemed to meet
the approval in his
critical eye. There, now, we are
ready for the gut"
The young man who had been fol-
towing the operations with absorbed
interest, and had anticipated the next
step in the process, quickly reached
forth the twisted tendon and watched
almost breathlessly while his father
bent the bow over his knee and secured
the gut at either end. AS he took
the completed bow in his hands and
twanged the string a~ffectionately, he
exclaimed:
II wish you were going with us, ia
Their"
II wish I were" warmly responded
Esau. and then added, as a merry
twinkle came into his eye, "but it is
lucky for you that I am not, for l
would not give you a chance to get
a single antelope"
ooh, I'm not SO sure of that" the
other replied. ready to accept the chal-
ienge, 'for l am pretty quick with the
bow. and sure of my aim. Watch that!"
And the arrow sped from the bow and
was soon quivering fairly in the cen
ter of the trunk Of a small sapling
some 200 yards distant.
We'll done. Eliphaz. You do your
father credit" exclaimed Esau, in adj
niration.
"The boys as clever with the bow
as | was at his age" he added, as
the young hunter, equipped for the
chase, started off.
eyes" responded Judith. the boys
mother. land he seems to be as fond
of hunting as you used to be-"
Gas fond as | am now, 0 might
cay, for it is not that I have tired of
the chase that keeps me from trailing
the deer and hunting the lion in his
lair"
ooh, the burden of riches and pow
err" responded the woman, with mock
reproach in her voice.
Esau smiled good-naturedly. The
years had indeed dealt bountifully with
him. Great prosperity had come. His
substance had increased until he had
found the land of his father Isaac
far too small for the needs of his
growing focks and herds, and he had
a couple of years before moved east
ward and southwark into the land of
Edom. And there his wealth and i'm
portance had continued to increase.
| The king. eager to form alliance with
| him, made him one of the lords of
| the realm. and mustered into his serv-
| ice his strong force of fighting men.
Thus it had conc to pass that the
new burdens and responsibilities had
interfered with the wild. free life of
| the huntsman, and often with longing
| heart he had wished for its return.
| But ii riches almost without measure
and honorss and power can bring con-
| tentment and self-complacency. then
| Esau should have enjoyed such frame
of mind. and he did. With riches and
success there had grown Up in his
heart a sort of contempt and commits
Grafton for his earlier life and it's
| simplicity and limitations. He could
not understand how, if the birthri5ht
and blessing were so important as he
had at one time supposed. that he
could have prospered SO, and Jacob. ac-
cording to all the reports he could
| gather from the far distant country
where Jacob had gone had done SO
poorly. More than once he had laughed
with Judith over the distress and Bit
| terness which had filled their hearts
when Jacob had stolen the blessing.
I'm glad he exclaimed, after a long
| silence. that Jacob escaped, If for no
other reason than that he might see
some day how little l needed the bless
ing and the birthright. Why, | have
more fiocks and herds than Jacob has
sheep, and more gold and silver than he
ever saw. And not only SO as regards
my possessions. but consider the num-
Der of men bearing arms who are in my
following"
YES" assented his wife, proudly. Il
overheard one of the men saying yester-
day that the king had no more powerful
ally than thou"
(which is true. as was proved In the
last struggle which the king had with
the fierce tribes %inhabiting the country
to the south Of Edom. Had it not been
that my men had stood firm in the face of
the enemy and checked the terrific as
sault when the rest of the kings army
were wavering. they would have been
victorious and have pillaged and laid
waste our country" And the memory
Of that thrilling encounter brought the
fash and fire into his eyes, and stirred
every nerve and muscle in his powerful
body to that alert, tense attitude which
bespoke tremendous strength and un-
daunted courage.
But he continued, musingly. as his
thoughts reverted to Jacob, Il cannot
understand what father could have
meant when he declared that / should
serve my brother"
"Oh, It was the whimsical notion Of q
weak old man. Judith rejoined with an
impatient toss Of her head, as though
she would dismiss the matter al Of no
possible s~ignidcance.