The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-16

tai processes of men who so stupidity
tell the truth.
/ The Acting
/ Into the tent where the gray and
lfeeble patriarch lay came the dis
guised Jacob, with not a shred OF filial
respect upon him, as false as his raj
ment. He bore a mess of savory in1i-
] tation venison, which Rebekah had
| prepared, Opening his lying lips he
said:
Jacob am Esau, thy first born;
1 have done according as thou badest
me; arise, L pray thee, sit and eat of
ma"
Isaac-"How is it, thou hast found
| it so quickly, my son ?"
| Jacob (glfbly. not baking at gross
/ Because Jehovah thy
God sent me good speed
Isaae-"Come near, I pray thee. that
I may feel thee, my son, whether thou
be my very son Esau or not. (F'vf-
IDENTIFY the old man had encountered
Jacobs tricks before Then, as the
bogus heir drew near): The voice is
! Jacobs voice, but the hands are the
hands of Esau. Art thou my very
son Esau?'
| Jacob-'I am
Thereupon weakly disregarding his
own suspicious, Isaac ate the mock
venison, drank the wine, and imprint
slowing upon him the coveted blessing
thus:
! Isaac-"See, the smell of my son
| Is as the smell of field which
| Jehovah hath blessed:
And God give thee of the dew of
And of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and new
wine:
Let people serve thee.
! And nations bow down to thee:
Be lord over thy brethren,
And let thy mothers sons bow
down to thee:
Cursed be every one who curseth
thee,
And blessed be every one that
blesseth thee
The DeIlouement.
Gratified, gleefuI and yet fearful
quickly as possible to tell Rebekah of
the success of their ruse. Scarcely
had he gone out when, close on his
heels, came the real Esau. That was
narrow escape for Jacob. Then
came the dramatic climax, when the
firstborn, skillfuh hunter that he was,
having gone afield and shot a deer
while the plotters were cooking a goat
querade, entered the tent bearing the
savory dish that his own hands had
prepared.
Isaac-"who art thou?"
Esau-'I am thy son, thy first-born,
Esau.''
Isaac (raising himself and trembling
very exceedingly)-"Who then Is he
that hath taken venison, and brought
it me, and have eaten of all before
thou earnest. and have blessed him.
Yea, and he shall be blessed"
A loud, hoarse, fierce cry sprang
from Esau's throat, causing Jacob to
cover and shake in the tent where he
whispered with his mother. Rage, dis
appointment, vengeance all commin-
gled in Esau's exceeding great and bit
ter cry. Then, in frantic voice he
pleaded, BLESS me- even me also. o
my fatherI"
Isaac-'Thy brother came with
guile and hath taken away thy bless
ing"
Esau-"Is not he rightly named ia
cob (the supplanter) !? for he hath
supplanted me these two times: he
took away my birthright, and behold,
now he hath taken away my blessing.
Hast thou not reserved a blessing for
me? Hast thou but one blessing my
father? Bless me, even me also, o
my fatherl" And Esau lifted up his
voice and wept.
Isaac owfuily)-"Behold, away
from the fairness of the earth
shall be thy dwelling,
And away from the dew of heav-
en- from above;
And by thy sword shalt thou live
and thou shalt serve thy
And it shall come to pass when
thou shalt break loose,
That thou shalt shake his yoke
from off thy neck
Outside the tent the family retain
ers were gathered with straining ears
Jacob, as he heard the cutlery. and lis
tened to the reports brought from the
center of the encampment by Rebek-
abs messengers. trembled in helpless
dread. But Rebekah. still masterful
and dauntless sent him out of the wav
for the present, and soon. when Isaac's
concurrence in her plan had been Sc
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