Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1906-06-07

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kH III when her search
ious care upon
her face ~deepened. She was aroused
at last from her reverie by the
bleating OF a lamb tethered close
by the door. which now came and
pressed It's soft. moist nose in her
hand. Looking down, she patted the
creatures head. gently. saying. softly:
No. I had not forgotten you. little
lamb. but thought % you makes ne
anxious for Abidan's return
And again the woman lifted her
eyes and searched the distant horizon.
but nothing was to be seen but the
groups of lOw-lyins huts of the he
hrevs and m occasional tree or bush.
which. moving in the breeze. she tried
to persuade herself was an advancing
figure. and might b. Ahidan. but "a
her eyes watched ~intently and she
found Il neither advanced nor recetsd.
she knew she vas mistaken. For near
ly a week now she had been expecting
her sons return. Word had been
sent him far down in Egypt as sooa
as Moses had commanded the people 20
prepare for the Passover. and when -he
necessary time had elapsed for hts
arrival she had watched with grow
ing anxiety. and every momeut she
could steal from her work she would
slip 10 the doorway and look in The
direction from which he would come.
When the tenth day arrived and the
lamb had been chosen. her anxiety har
Increased. for in four days more the
lamb was 20 be slain and all OF the
household who acre not behind the
sheitering blood would perish. as the
Lord had said. And that little lamb
under her eve al day long was a con-
slant reminder Of the vital importance
Of her son's return.
What IL he comes not in time. she
asked herself over and over again,
and As the third day since the lamb
had been chosen drew towards a clcSe
and still he was @bsent. she felt aer
heart would break with its burden Of
anxiety.
The little limb gave a plaintlve bIeat
as though he hal entered into syn
pathetic feeling with his mistress in
her troubles. Again the woman
looked down. and then. dropping on
The F~nnnH 4H 81 ia -.
arm about the gentle creature. and.
having no 4 els 10 talk 10. for
her husband vas away a. his tasks and
The children were out. she poured The
thoughts OF her heart into his EAR. and
the little lamb listened as though he
understood all that vas said 10 him.
and responded occasionally with an ex-
pressiye bleat.
oh. Lamby. why don't he comer"
she said. All the other absent mes
have returned. Even Sheber. neighbor
Eph7hs son, has come. and he was
FAR to the south Of where Abidan was
AZ service I had hoped he would bring
some tidings OF my boy. but hs did
not. and now 1t is but one more dav
and then
She paused abruptly.
Yes she broke out at last. swal-
lowing hard to keep down the sob. we
shall be sheltered behind thy blood.
And almost reverently she laid her
hand upon the head Of the lamb. "Bur
what Of Abidan? What of Abidan,
The Lord has said He would pass
through the land. and If Abidan. nv
first born son. be not with Us in the
house, he will perish. even as the ord
has said. Uuless.' and a new note Of
hope sounded in her yoiee--unless
ONE other Hebrew home where the
blood is sprtnkied gives him shelter
The thought brought a glimmer Of
comfort 70 her heart. and SET her IN
thinking II her boy was far away
and dependent upon some other he
brew family 70 give him shelter. per-
haps some other mothers boy was IN
her neigheorhood who would need an
invitation and 4 sheltsring roof In pro-
tsct him Why had she been 50 xrsD-
ped up in her own as to forget those
about her Had not Moses spoken ax-
Pressly that the lamb and the home
vas 10 b. shared with the family TOO
small 20 need one lamb or too poor m
procure ONE And here for DAYS she
had been - filed with the thought ~
the return Of her own boy thar She
had uot looked about her To see who
there might be who would need her
help She blamed herself for her self
ishuess and thoughtlessaess. and ris-
ing 70 her feet she hustled about, her
work with a uev purpose while every
nov and then she nodded towards the
little lamb approyingiy IN said:
Yes. your precious life shall shelter
as many as ! can md who will have
40 other place 20 30. Surely God will
be pleased TO have il thus. and nor
haps some other mother will look
after my boy. Il be return not"
After her husbands return in the
evening twilight and the simple meal
a been partaken of. she told him of
her plans and they met his approval.
Leaving the older children to look
after the younger mes n put them
10 bed she FASTENED on down the a
Tor as b had studied over in her
mind what she could do there had re-
CARED to her mind that down the road
4 piece there lived a family that had
a hard work in getting even the
oarest necessities Of life. The husband
and father had been sick and when he
had failed 70 tnrn up at his task the
supplies which Pharaoh had been met
ing gu to them were Withdrawn. and
even the little lamb whIh they had
been able to a y from the flock which
had been taken from them when mis-