Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1907-05-30

scarcely given Naomi chance for .
snare In IT all How the old womans
heart yearned for sense Of owner
ship and proprietorship in the child.
How her eyes Toasted themselves upon
the face and form of the babe. and
followed with a great hunger in her
eyes every move that the little one
made. The mother became conscious
/ Of this and the thought had flashed
through her heart she wants my
/ baby for her own" And then had
come the climax. as Indicated in tho
opening conversation Of our story
From that moment, when the whole
situation was revealed to the heart OF
Ruth, there began great struggle in
her heart II was her baby Yes. her
heart welled with gratitude and love
as she remembered how It was through
/ the loving. helpful influence of Naomi
/ that she had come to know the true
/ God and had found entrance to a new
/ life that now had opened up to her
seemingly In all its rich fulness and
] blessing. and yet, as she Rugged her
baby close, she would say over and
over to herself: lie is mine"
And Naomi. as she lowered about
mother and child. and sought in tender
sollcitude to minister to them. by
quick intuition became conscious OF
the state Of Ruth's heart and II came
as great and cruel stab at her own
heart This babe that had come like
an answer from heaven that the name
OF her dead husband might not be cut
on in Israel. and forever shut her
family from hope Of being in the IA.
yored line of the promised one who
should be leader like Moses: this
babe whom sho felt belonged to her in
peculiar way: this babe whom she
felt instinctiyely was destined TO be-
come great in Israel-was she not to
have special charge Of him? Was she
not 10 have the direction Of his mind
and life as she alone. a devout mother
IN Israel. was able to give it, How
she wanted to pour the wealth Of her
devotion to God into that little life as
1t unfolded. that It might prove life
pleasing unto God
Thus in the hearts OF these two wo-
men the struggle went on.
But with Ruth the conflict was e.
pecially fierce. for the natural inclina.
tions OF the mother heart were pitted
against the higher and better self She
was conscious OF Naomfs peculiar
claim upon the child and OF her special
fitness 10 have the care and training
Of him. But how could she Yield the
place she wanted 10 occupy to her
son. even though II was To one whom
she knew could MI It better? So she
asked herself over and over again. and
was still asking the question on the
day appointed when the neighbors and
friends had been summoned To the
presentation OF the child before the
priest Eli. In fact. after all the guests
had arrived. the question was still I'M
answered The baby was still in her
arms. where. with feverish solicitude.
she had kept him. as though fearful
that to put him down was to lose him.
All through the ceremonies she held
him. and nov has come the time
when he shall b. named II IL her
right 20 name him. and she can call
him Boax. as she had expressed her
wish 20 DO silence has fallen upon
all the glad. eKpectant company. All
eyes turn TO Ruth and wait for her 10
speak
The conflict RACES fierce within her
breast VIII she speak. or will sha
give her baby up, What shall she
do. She must do something They
are all waiting Shall she let the self.
ism claims Of her own heart dictate;
or shall she yield 10 the dear Naomi,
She rises TO her feet. the precious
baby still in her arms She advances
across the floor. the baby still Rugged
close 10 her bosom She turns. when
in the center. and moves swiftly to-
wards Nasmi She reaches the old
woman's side. She stoops and, open
ing her arms. she places the precious
baby in the arms of the mother.in-
law. while a great and glorious light
Eliminates her face.
A glad note of approval sweeps over
the company. and the women said unto
Naomi:
Blessed be the Lord. which hath
not left thee this day without a kins-
man that his name may be famous in
Israel. And he shall be unto thee a
restorer of thy life and a nourisher OF
thine old age; for thy daughter-in-law.
I IA fnh
thee than seven sons, hath born him."
And they called his name Obed, and
Naomi took the child and laid it in
her bosom, and she became nurse un.
| to it,