Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-08-11

THAT is welcome news indeed. was
the quick. eager response OF the man
standiss at his side, for the flocks and
herds are parched with thirst"
And is the water which we brought
with us all gomez"
The man pointed to the empty water
skins strapped on the backs of ths
asses browsing a short distance away
and said
Yes and if the Phlistines had had
their way you would not even have had
that 20 succor you on the Journey And
the face of lsaac's chief steward plainly
showed the anger and resentment which
he felt at the treatment his master hal
received
The day before Isaac had departed
from the land of the Philstines. being
driven out by King Abimelech. He and
his petple had watched with jealous
eye the growing greatness and prosper
ity OF the son of Abraham The abund-
ant harvests-fOr Isaac had sowed and
reaped a hundredfold on the lands which
he rented OF Abimelech-and the i'm
mense hocks and herds and numerous
company OF servants aroused their envy
and enmity. and persecution in various
forms. even 20 the filling OF the cells
his father had dug had followed, and
finally Abimelech had come and said
that he could not longer dwell in the
land The chief steward was indignant.
and urged that vigorous prot est be made
10 such treatment and some of the serv-
ants were for open hostilities but lsaacs
pacific nature would not consent 10 such
action. and. yielding peacefully 10 the
injustice, he had quietly gathered all
his substance and departed journeying
far down the valley Late on the after
noon OF the following day. when the need
for water was pressing they had come
20 region where years before Abraham
had dwelt The familiar landscape was
a welcome sight to Isaacs eyes. He
knew that not far distant were wells
which his father had dug. and with a
company OF his servants he hurried for
ward
Wonder is the place" cried Isaac.
pointing 10 the white limestone curbing
rlistening in the sunlight in the dis
lance
The welcome sight OF the well-curbing
and the promise of water revived their
dropping spirits This would be rhe
place TO camp and rest Here the iocks
and herds could feed without molesta-
ton. And grateful memories OF Father
Abraham's diligence In sinking wells
and seeking water wherever his fiocks
had fed filed the heart OF Isaac.
What a goodly heritage he hath left
US in these wells " he exclaimed.
Yes. responded the chief steward
warmly. thy father. though dead, yet
speaketh The wells which he dug are
greater monument 20 HIS memory than
nations conquered could have been.
Isaac nodded assent TO the sincere
tribute and while he fastened forward.
a flood OF memories crowded in upon
him He recalled the circumstances Of
the building OF the well towards which
they were Fastening He remembered
the answer which his fat her had given
when told he was foolish for digging the
well on land which was not his own.
But If do not get the good of IT, ne
had said. Others will reap the blessing.
And now new sweetness and meaning
came to the words spoken so many years
before
Almost reverontly he knelt upon the
wells brink and looked in
But instead OF the shining surface OF
the water in the cool depths. he saw
almost up 10 the wells mouth the rock
and dirt which had been thrown there
by some wicked hand Instead OF the
cooling draught. there was the evidence
OF he burning haterd of some foe.
With an exclamation of bitter disap-
pointment. Isaac sprang TO his feet.
The work OF the miserable PILLS
tines" mutter the chief steward. his
black and angry looks telling more
plainly than words how he would like 20
punish them.
Better to die fighting for our RICH s
than TO die OF thirst" hercely exclaimed
another. and II was evident from the
mods OF assent which greeted this senti-
ment that the others cherished the same
angry feelings All eyes were turned
on Isaac They saw that fierce strug-
gle was going on in his heart. He looked
first at the choked well. and then at the
angry faces of his followers. He knew