St. Tammany farmer., 1905-11-04

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! ! ! ! ! !. |. / |. . |. . | | |
Go HERE was con-
sternation in the
household Of Ja-
cob. One Of the
KIM sheep herders had
lNeJ IN cone hurrying in
M1AN{xVN that morning and
NAXNN1 reported to the
MkVkNI sons that strong
lsVS YlN|h body of Canaan
fLFHf WI ties had been lurk-
7IIM IN ing about in the vi
NJ VVkN cinity, and judg-
EZIH ing by their dark
S9 Aw looks and the
fact that they
were fully armed there was reason to
expect trouble It was now a week
since the massacre of the men of
Shechem and the spelling Of the city,
and the awful passions of hatred and
revenge which had stirred Simeon and
Levi and their brothers and made them
like madmen had subsided, and with
the reaction had come forebodings Of
trouble. The boldness of unreasoning
rage and passion had been succeeded
by the weakness and fear OF an ac-
cusing consciousness of guilt and
crime, and now the alarming news of
that morning had created panicky
desire to fee. In this spirit they
sought out their father and appealed
| to him to strike their tents and steal
away ss quickly and quietly as pos
sible
I'VE may be attacked this very
night" Simeon exclaimed, apprehen-
sively. LET us flee at once. To-day" !"
"But whither?" Jacob asked.
Though uneasy over the disquieting
reports he maintained his self-control,
and was disposed to move with eau
| ton
"Whither?" queried Reuben, the eld-
est son. in surprise. Where can we
go but back towards the land of our
mothers father? If we go forward or
Zee on either hand we but plunge our
selves more surely into the power OF
our enemies.
To this speech there was ready and
emphatic assent by the rest of the
sons, and they waited for their father
to speak. 1t was plain to see that
a conflict was going on within his
heart. He sat with bowed head. but
his lips moved as though in prayer.
At last he looked up and, speaking
slowly, but with emphasis, he said:
I'VE cannot go back, my sons. :"
And then noting the dark looks OF
disapproval and disappointment on the
faces before him, he added: I
"In obedience to Gods word we have
come into Canaan. He has promised
us the land. We may not depart, ex-
ccpt at His word. He is able to de-
liver us from the present peril.
"But we cannot stay here while our
enemies are gathering to destroy us"
Simeon cried, impatiently. He had
been largely responsible for the attack
upon the city of Sheehem, and he now
realized that as the leader Of the
movement, he must do his best to find
a way Of escape.
"Ah, my sons sobbed Jacob, over
come by the thought of his own fall
ures, mine is the sin that we have
tarried SO long In this place. Had
we but continued on to Bethel in
stead OF pitching our tents before this
city, all that has befallen us here
would have been avoided.
He was silent for few moments,
and then continued, more cheerfully:
But If we have sinned in thus lin
gering along the pathway God would
have us travel. let us not commit the
greater sin Of rushing headlong,
whittier He does not lead. Let us
await Gods word In the present ex-
ltremity.'
| And as he finished speaking he arose
and left them It was. evident his
words had had some effect, for the
brothers fingered in a dispirited man
Iner, no one seeming bold enough to
take the lead and counsel move con-
ltrary to their fathers will, though 1t
was very apparent that they we're en-
Itirely out Of sympathy with his at
Ititude. But there seemed nothing for
them to do but to wait, and sullenly
and silently they one after another de-
parted.
That night the hocks and the herds
were all driven in and the camp made
las secure as possible. The flashing
signals from the surrounding hills did
mot tend to quiet the fears of the peo-
ple. for that they guided and directed
! the gathering OF the Canaanites they
| felt sure The presence Of the women
Iand children Of the men slain, and the
Irich booty they had seized were con-
stant reminders Of the danger that
Threatened them now, and they found
| the hours Of the night filled with anx-
Iiety and dread. The sense OF the haste
md Wickedness Of their bloody deeds
arew upon them as they kept vigil,
not knowing what minute the enemy
might burst in upon them.
And the unexplained absence Of
Jacob did not tend to lessen their ap-
prehension. They had searched for
| him all through the camp, but had
found him not, and no one seemed to
| Sc able to tell why he was missing or
where he was to be found. No one
| had seen him since the afternoon be-
| fore, and then he was going in the
direction Of the place where he had
erected the altar to his God. That he
Ishad been there was evident from the
Ireuort of the servant who had been
sent there late in the evening, and
found the IRE still burning on the