St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-03-09

the beautiful Achsah as his wife. The
| bitter enmity of those who were
leading Israel astray seemed to
| center upon him and he found it ex.
pedient to withdraw from the midst
of Israel and to dwell in portion
of his inheritance quite apart from
/ them
When this had been accomplished
the false leaders congratulated them.
selves that now there was no hin.
drance to their undermining the ma,
ton of Israel and making it like the
| great nations about them. In order
to do this it was deemed necessary
to introduce some of the social Gus
toms of the other nations, and this
led to inter-marriages and it was not
long before the strange gods of the
other nations had found their way
into the cities of the Israelites.
"And why should they not?" asked
the liberals. edo not these, our
neighbors, sojourn among us to buy
and sell, and why should we refuse
to let them have their gods to wor-
ship and serve, even as we worship
and serve our God?"
Then as they became familiar with
the more festive and elaborate serv-
ice of the heather worship, they be-
gan to feel that the worship of their
| God was too narrow and severe and
unattractive. And so it came to pass
that in time their worship was cor
rupted, until finally 1t was an easy
and natural step to share with their
heather associates and neighbors in
the festive worship of the strange
gods.
! More than once Othniel and the
few who had stood with him had
cried out against this thing, but
had met with such sharp rebuff and
ridicule, that with great sorrow of
heart they ceased further protest,
realizing that they must let the evil
run it's course.
And the evil was not long in bring
ing its penalty, for, weakened by
their sinful indulgences, they were
unable to withstand the demands Of
ing of the richness of the country, de-
scended upon it and placed it under
tribute. Then was it that the bur-
dens of oppression rested heavily
upon the land. The king demanded
more and more and as the tribute
money was increased, the taskmas-
: tiers multiplied to collect the same.
| s~I,4
; serve this powerful king, and they
found that the friends and associates
; from among the nations about them
were no longer kindly disposed to-
wards them. but sought by many
ways to trouble them and rob them Of
their sustenance.
In these sore straits the people be-
. gan to call upon the name of their
God, and repented of their folly in
going after the gods of the people
; about them and in following their
. customs.
> One day a group of men had gath.
cred and were bemoaning their un-
; happy condition.
"Ah, if we had only listened to
: Othniel and the few who counseled
with him. exclaimed one. Where,
: ROW, is our boosted prosperity?
. Where now are the friends we made
: among the nations about us? Where
now is the greatness and glory OF
: our nation? Gone! Gone! And
what hope is there for us? Where
. shall we go for one to help u.s."
. At these words they all shook their
! heads orrowfully and were about to
. separate, when one of them spoke up
: and said:
. LET us go to OthnieI. It may be
!: that he will help u.s."
But what can Othniel do against
this powerful king Of Mesopotamia?' q
spoke up another, dejectedly.
But nevertheless let us go anyway "
urged the other.
+ And even as they went the spirit
of the Lord came upon Othniel and
he went forth and met them in the
way, and when he had gathered to
himself an army he went out and
made war upon the king of Mesopo
tamia and the Lord delivered him
into Othniel's hand, and he judged
the land, and the nation had peace
> for 40 years, even during the life OF
, Othniel.