The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-05-06

E1NN e: @ :.: i; !. : :: !. !:
its last good night
before dipping behind the western
crags Of the rugged hills, and the first
fresh whiffs of the cool mountain air
are descending and whispering their
welcome greetings. 1t is a time when
heat and cold mingle in delightful fell
loWship, and all nature is astir in glad
appreciation.
Beyond a cIump OF giant oak trees,
through whose spreading branches the
ample outlines of a cOmmOdiOus tent
are diScerniDle, a man and a woman
are seen leisurely walking. The loose,
flowing robes Of each, brilliant in
their rich c~olOrings, LEND picturesque
ness to the scene, and emphasize, rath-
er thar conceal, the splendid physique
and manly bearing of one, and the
grace and beauty OF the other. 1t can
be seen that neither one is what
would be called young, and yet it
would be hard to guess their ages. for
tho years ave dealt kindly with them,
and there are a freshness and buoy
aDcy in face and figure which speak Of
the viGOr and fire and hope of youth.
AS the woman pushed a stone out
OF her pathway with her sandaled foot,
she said, petulantly:
The rich plain OF the Jordan valley
should have been yours, Abraham. Ii
Q had listened to me, Lot never
would nave taken such unfair advan-
tage Of you, and you, instead OF he,
would be enjoying the luxury and ease
OF that beautiful and fruitful country"
Abraham was silent, while a look of
panied sadness passed over his face.
\ few days before tidings had com
from SodOm Of the prosperity of Lot.
who, since his choice Of the garden
spot in the valley Of the Jordan, had
grown very rich in focks and herds
and silver and gold, and had gone to
live in the luxurious and gay city of
SOdOm, wn&Gs honors and powers had
come to him. SO sharp was the con
trast between the circumstances and
position of Abraham and Lot. that
Sarah could not help but feel keen
Is that an injustice had been done.
But hath not God told me that
nCCtnWard and southwark, eastward
and westward, was to be my possess
sion. n that Of my children. for
ever" at last responded Abraham, the
confident note of faith ringing in his
voice. Thou knOwest how God spoke
10 me after Lots departure, and gave
me this PROMISE"
Yea, but when?' impatiently broke
in the other. "Lot is possessed OF
all that his heart could wish. while
You even now are dwelling in 4 place
that is not your own; our tent is
spread under the oaks of Mamre, the
Amorite, and Eshcol and Amer. his
brothers, possess with him the land.
God has promised. We must wait"
was the simple response of Abraham.
and they walked on in silence.
The air was growing cool, and the
shadows lengthening as Abraham and
his wife returned to their tent and pre-
pared for the evening meal. 1t was
eaten in silence, for each was occu-
pied with the thought and conflict
within, and while thus engaged hur-
ried footsteps We're heard without. and
the next instant q breathless runner
burst into their presence. and threw
himself half in exhaustion and half
in c~eremoniOus bow at the feet Of
Abraham.
The incoherent tumble CO words
which poured from the parched IiDs
of the excited and trembling stranger
told Abraham that some startling and
dreadful thing had happenal, and he
caught the words: "Battle,-Sodom,-
Observation-Disclosures" Finally. with
much questioning Abraham learned
the whole story of the battle of the
kings in the vale of Siddim. of the de-
feat of the southern kings. of the plum
dering of Sodom and Gomorrah. and
the carrying away captive of the ir-
habita1ts, among them Lot, with all
his family and substance.
II any feelings of resentment
over the selfshness of Lot in his treat
ment of them arose in the hearts of
Abraham n Sarah; if any feelings Of
exultation or satisfaction over the mis-
fortune which had befallen him: If any
promptfngs to say: 1T serves him right.
let him alone to his just deserts" there
were no outward evidences of such for
Abraham was quickly giving orders to
his servants, and Sarah and her women
were 0on busy doing what they could
to prepare the men for the journey. All