Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-06-20

MN-'ENG ,.x% "P~N H0i' "HU
So -. the lines of anx-
ious care upon
her face deepened. She was aroused
at last from her reverie by the
bleating of lamb tethered close
by the door. which now came and
pressed its soft, moist nose in her
hand. Looking down, she patted tho
creatures head, gently, saying, softly:
NO, had not forgotten you. little
lamb, but thought of you makes me
anxious for Abidan's return"
And again the woman lifted her
eyes and searched the distant horizon.
put nothing was to be seen but the
groups of low-lying huts of the He
Drews and an occasional tree or bush.
which moving in the breeze. she tried
TO persuade herself was an advancing
| figure, and might be Abidan. but as
her eyes watched intently and she
found 1t neither advanced nor receded.
she knew she was mistaken. For near
ly week now she had been expecting
her sons return. Word had been
sent him far down in Egypt as soon
as Moses had commanded the people to
necessary time had elapsed for his
arrival she had watched with grow
ing anxiety, and every moment she
could steal from her work she woul1
slip to 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 had
increased. for in four days more the
lamb was to, be slain and all of the
household who were not behind the
sheltering blood would perish, as the
Lord had said. And that little lamb
under her eye all day long was a con-
slant reminder of the vital importance
OF her sons return
What if 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 close.
and still he was Gbsent, she felt her
heart would break with its burden of
anxiety.
The little lamb gave a plaintive bleat
as though he had entered into sym-
pathetic feeling with his mistress in
her troubles. Again the woman
looked down. and then, dropping on
the ground "a his side, she threw her
arm about the gentle creature. and
having no one else to talk to- for
her husband was away at 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 was said to him.
and responded occasionally with an ex-
pressive bleat
On, Lamby, why don't he Gomez"
she said. "All the other absent ones
have returned. Even Sheber. neighbor
Ephah's son, has come. and he was
Tar to the south of where Abidan was
at service. | had hoped he would bring
some tidings Of my boy. but he did
not, and now it 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. "But
what of Abidan? What of Abidano
The Lord has said He would mass
through the land, and if Abidan. nv
first born son. be not with us in the
house, he will perish even as the Lord
has said Culess.' and "a new note of
hope sounded in her voice -"unless
some other Hebrew home where the
blood is sprinkled gives him shelter"
The thought brought a glimmer of
comfort to her heart. and set her n
thinking. If her boy was far away
and dependent upon some other He
brew family TO give him shelter. per
haps some other mothers boy was I'm
her neighbOrhOod who would need an
invitation and a sheltering roof To pro.
tect him Why had she been so wrap-
ped up IN her own as 20 forget fboea
about her? Had not Moses spoken OK
pressly that the lamb and the home
was 10 be shared with the family too
small 10 need one lamb or too poor TO
procure onc2 And here for days she
had been 90 filled with the thought Of
the return of her own boy that she
had not looked about her To- sec who
there might be who would need bor
help. She blamed herself for her self
ishncss and thOughteesuo-s ana rio
ing TO her feet she hustled about her
work with new purpose while every
now and then she nodded towards the
little lamb approyingly and said.
yes, your precious lie shall shelter
as many as ] can find who Will b,,.
no other place To- go. Surely God viii
be pleased TO have it thus. and per
haps some other mother will look
after my boy 81 he return not"
After her husband return in the
evening twilight and the simple meal
had been partakon Of she told him OF
her plans and they met his approval.
leaving the older children 70 look