The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29

the approval in his
critical eye. There, now, we are
ready for the gut
The young man who had been fol-
lowing 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 ~affectionately, he
exclaimed:
81 wish you were going with us, IA
Their"
81 wish l were" warmly responded
Esau, and then added, as a merry
twinkle came into his eye, "but it is
lucky for you that ! 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-
lenge, "for | 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.
well done, Eliphaz. You do your
father credit" exclaimed Esau, in ad-
miration.
THE boys as clever with the bow
as | was at his age" he added, as
the young hunter, equipped for the
chase, started off.
Yes" responded Judith. the boys
mother. "and he seems to be as fond
of hunting as you used to be-"
"As fond as | am now, you might
say. for it is not that | 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
er," 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
SlDSluDCt idu lIlNl tdAtu mn " hid
found the land of his father Isaac
far toe small for the needs of his
growing flocks 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 1t had come 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 il riches almost without measure
and honors and power can bring con
tentment and self-complacency, Their
Fsau 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 its
simplicity and limitations. He coulC
not understand how, If the birthriSh
and blessing were so important as h
had at one time supposed, that NJ
could have ~prospered so, and Jacob. ac
cording to all the reports he coult
gather from the far distant cointrl
where Jacob had gone, had done s.
poorly. More than once he had Laughed
with Judith over the distress and bit
ternesc which had filled their heart
when Jacob had stolen the blessing
"Im glad" he exclaimed, after a lon
siIerce. 'that Jacob escaped, II for M
other reason than that he might SCI
some day how little | needed the bless
ing and the ~birthright. Why, hav'
moro focks and herds than Jacob hal
sheep. and more gold and silver than h
ever saw. And not only so as regards
nv possessions, but consider the mum
her OF men bearing arms who are in m!
following"
"Yes," assented his wife. proudly. "
overheard one of the men saying yester
day that the king had no more powerful
ally than thos.'
(which is true, as was proved in TIL
last struggle which the king had witt
the fierce tribes inhabiting the countrl
to the south of Edom. Had II not beef
that my men had stood firm in the face o
the enemy and checked the terrific as
sauit when the rest Of the kings arm.
were ~wavering, they would have beef
victorious and have piilased and lai'
waste our country" And the memory
pf that thrilling encounter brought tn