St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1905-08-05

our bereavement, had sent messages G
! coincidence and sympathy. And tn
/ princess, whomyou remember we met o.
{ several occasions when at Abimelech'
. court, sent this Preaching within tn
folds OF his robes and bringing fort
a jar of very costly and very fragran
ointEnent), with the message that it wa
to be scattered about the tomb of GU
dead in token of the fragrance an.
beauty of the life of my dear mother
Was not that delicate and graceful
tribute?' questioned Isaac with fervor
his glowing face revealing the depth O
feeling within. But in the great Low.
which he bore his mother he was all un
conscious that his appreciation of thu
princess gift and message was closet,
akin to love, and that it needed only the
kindling light of favorable circumstan
ces to cause it to burst into vigorous
1 flame
1T surely was, my son." responded
Abraham, thoughtfully, as he laid his
hand lovingly upon that Of his son.
"And | am going at once to annoint
the tomb exclaimed Isaac, as he ross
to go. Scarcely had he departed when
! Eliezer ushered in the envoy from King
Abimelech into Abraham's presence,
who came not only with messages Of
coincidence but of offer of the hand OF
the princess in marriage to Isaac.
you shall have your answer in the
morning." Abraham said, after the
long conference had ended, and he was
bidding his guest goodnight.
And in the quiet of the eventide tho
father and the son talked together of the
plans for the future and seemed
agreed that an alliance with the house
OF Abimelech would prov most happy
and fortunate. Eliezer had been in.
vited into the conference and it was
plain to see that the decision met with
his hearty approval.
On the next morning the sun was
quite an hour high and still Abraham
had not appeared. His tent was closed
and no sound cane from within. The
messenger of King Abimelech' was up
betimes in the morning, and had direct
ed the preparations for the return jour
ney, which was to be taken up that
and patiently waiting. and the messen-
ger paced back and forth uneasily, while
Eliezer, annoyed by the situation, hur-
ried hither and thither trying to MAIN
tain good-nature and order and assuring
the envoy that Abraham would appear
shortly p1rf he oh
last Eliezer ventured to enter Abra-
hams tent
But he found it empty!
At that moment the familiar form of
the aged patriarch was seen approach
ing from the direction of the altar and |
place of sacrifice. His head was bowed
and he walked slowly as though the
nights vigil had wearied him. That |
something unusual had happened could |
be seen in his face ere he came where |
the waiting company stood. Without |
pausing he approached the kings envoy,
and, responding to his gracious bow, he |
said:
Tell thy master that Abraham's God |
has forbidden any alliance between my
son Isaac and the house of Abimelech.
And abruptly turning and without
any further attempt at explanation (for
it is better and safer to walk the way
pointed out by God without explana-
tom, he entered his tent.
Silently, almost sullenly, the messen.
ger and his attendants departed, while
Eliezer and Isaac in amazement and
Wonder watched them until they disap-
feared out of sight
Three years passed away. Abraham
md Isaac had returned to Beersheba.
tut nothing more was said in reference
o wife for the son, and the latter, in
utiful obedience, waited for the father
0 speak.
One afternoon, as Isaac returned
rom longer walk-than usual in the
rove, he found Elfezer busy preparing
Or journey. Ten camels had been
rought in from the herd and were being
quipped for an early start in the morn .
ag. Isaac watched while the rich an
arel and jewels were being brought
ut from the stores under Eliezer's
and and placed in the packs; he saw
le elaborate preparations for a long :
'urney, the abundant provisioning, !.
nd wondered what it all meant, hui 7
sked not: What doest thou?" bui
ought his fathers tent T.,
How glad l am, father, that we have
aited," he exclaimed, after his father r
I'D explained all, and he understood
DIV the servant had been directed h
} return to Abraham's kinfolks and
ere secure for him wife It was plain
him now why God had warned his y
Their against the alliance with Abim- al
ech's daughter, and he continued, fer :. -
dly. How near We came to fallin., ae
to serious error!" T
Yea, my son, ana let us not forget
is, which we are SO prone to do: God -
a factor in every relationship of life,
I'd unless we first seek to know His
III we are almost sure to err in judy
emit, and take the wrong pathway.
ne marriages are divinely appointed.
d Gods children should never be led
form alliances with unbelievers,"
,raham responded.
The greetings are over, Eliezer has
ID the wonderful story of his Jour-