Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-10-06


echoed and re.
echoed through his heart. When he
had departed from home and his Ia
Their had charged him TO take a wife
Of the daughters of his mother s
brother, he had thought little of il; in
fact his mind had been so filled with
the fear of his brothers threat that
his going was prompted by anxiety
for his own safety rather than the
sentimental one of marriage
Once or twice on the hong journey to
Uaran his fathers last words had re-
Cured TO him and his cool. calculating.
grasping nature had led him to scheme
how the taking of wife might be TO HRS
advantage. No thought of love or senti-
ment Such feelings seemed quite for
eign 20 his nature. He approached the
subject of marriage just as he might
have considered a trade in cattle or
sheep or the purchase of a new mantle
or rug from some Egyptian trader. How
could he get the best of the bargain?
How could he make the most out Of 1t
for Jacob? Such had been his feelings
ing the fair Rachel. And now the schem-
ing, crafty. grasping Jacob had given
place to new Jacob. with a real heart
of flesh and blood.
He arose and passed out into the night
The soft glow of the moon, the CHEEKY
flashing of the myriad stars the gentle
murmur OF the breezes. and the content
Al oh ~
seemed to be in friendly harmony with
his own thoughts and spirit new sym
pathy seemed to awaken in his heart to
the nature about him, and as he drew
near the place where the night before
he had so Unexpectedly met Rachel. he
paused and exclaimed fervently:
How beautiful il all is. How delight
full is this place"
He threw himself on the ground at
the foot Of the tree. where he had sat
the night before. 1t almost seemed he
could feel again the touch of Rachel's
hand. and hear her softly-spoken
words of welcome
She shall be mine" he broke out, as
though in answer to the yearning of
his heart II viii ask Laban for her
hand in marriage on the morrow.
But he continued. as his brow cloud
ed. what have | to offer? No treas
ure OF gold or silver or precious stones.
No cattle"
And his mind went back to the album
dance which his father possessed.
'Oh. why did they send me empty
away? Why. if they wished me to
take a wife, did they not provide suit
able gifts2 Must | come like a beg
gar?" And Jacob. now thoroughly
miserable in the face of the new diff
Guilty, arose impatiently and paced
back and forth. He could not go back
home, for fear of Esau. What could
he do? Must he give UP his Rachel?
At that moment a commotion in the
direction OF the sheepfold caught his
attention. Instantly all the instincts
Of the careful faithful shepherd were
aroused with him.
WITH the sheep in peril he never
gave a thought to the danger to him
self. but sprang into the Enclosure.
while he took a fresh grip upon his
club. Already three sheep lay bleed.
ing on the ground. and the tawny form
Of the lion could be seen on the other
side fiercely tearing at a fourth and
sucking its life's blood. Its tail
swished back and forth on the ground
defiantly. and its blazing eyes. like balls
Of fire. watched Jacob as he fearless.
ly advanced. With an angry roar IL
sprang into the air to meet its new
foe. Jacob braced himself. and
swinging his knotted club with all his
might he caught the beast on one OF
its forelegs. breaking 1t and swerving
its great body to one side just enough
to miss striking him. With a terrible
howl OF rage and pain Ii turned and
in spite of its disabled leg IL again
leaped forward. Again the swish of
he club sounded, and this time the
aim was truer and it came crashing
down upon the skull OF the lion with
such tremendous force that the bone
was shattered. But the blow was not
sufficient to check the momentum OF
The huge body. and before Jacob could
spring TO one side II struck him, and
he fell to the ground, with the lion on
top OF him That was the last Jacob
knew until he found himself lying on
the cot in his tent. with the anxious
faces of the family bending over him.
Feeling better now" Laban asked.
inxiously. THAT was a close call you
had"
What Is the matter? What has hap
,enei?" Jacob asked la confusion.