Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-05-20

'"N hAfy OthNH W HtTNtiilt
MIN, and when Tobit realized &C
what straits such treatment might
drive him. he secretly made his way
into Media and left with a FRIEND
there the great bulk Of the wealth he
had accumulated. for said he &c his
wife before his departure. If mine
enemies learn that | am possessed OF
this money they will take II from me-
The wisdom Of his course was evi
dent, Tor following his return the per
s"cution broke nj with new vigor
against him. Then Enemessar the
King died and S~ennachcrib ruled ir
MS stead. At that time there were
many fugitive Jews seeking refuge
IN Nineveh. and the king. i%ncensed
thereby. caused many such 10 be put
to death. And Tobit, without any
thought for himself. continued to bury
| such.
Now his enemies seized upon this
AS opportunity to make complaint di
rect TO the king against him. and hav
ing obtained decree from the former
they swooped down upon the quiet
household Of Tobit and stripped him
OF everything he possessed.
All. the bitterness Of that hour. To
bit cared not for himself. but to see
his wife and tender boy suffer caused
untold anguish.
Then he remembered his wealth
left for safe keeping in Media. but nc
could not 20 thither owing to the
troubled state Of the kingdom.
Has God forgotten me?" he asked
himself. over and over again. Are
my good deeds. my devotion to the
law of God to be N no effect?'
II would seem SO. for secret word
was brought him that a plot was I'M
der way to slay him. and he fled from
the city. leaving Anna his wife and
his son behind. But so wicked a king
could not long reign. and shortly aft
or this two of his sons slew
him and Sarchedonus ruled in his
stead
Now II came to pass that Achiach
arus was appointed over the accounts
OF the new king. and he being a son
Of Tobit's brother Anael. Anna be
sought the latter that he would plead
with the king that Tobit be brought
back. This consent was at last won
and the day approached when he
should return to Nineyeh.
Great was the joy Of Anna and To
bias the son. who made a feast ready
for his coming.
And II would have seemed as though
when Tobit was again in the midst of
his family and had sat down to the
feast spread by his wife Anna. that he
would have felt that he might enjoy
the season in the seclusion thus of his
family. But no. the thought Of Tobit
was ever with his unfortunate breth
rem. and as he sat down on that glad
day when fortune was again returned
to him he paused and then said to
his son:
Son. the Lord hath indeed been
good To us. in that we are again re.
stored unto thee and thy mother. And
We have here an abundance while
without in the city there are those Of
our brethren who are in want. o.
hither. and bring what poor man so
ever thou shalt be able 10 find. who
fears the Lord. 10, we will larry for
thee"
Some time later Tobias the re
turned. but without a companion and
with the awful story that one of their
brethren had just been strangled and
even then lay in the market place.
Notwithstanding that IL was his in
terest in his unfortunate brethren
which had before won him disfavor.
he went at once and brought the body
and lay IT in one OF the upper rooms
until the going down Of the sun.
And that night he went and buried
the body. but some Of his old-time
enemies saw him. and said:
This man is not yet afraid to he
put to death for this matter. who fed
away; and yet 10. he burieth the dead
again
And when Tohit had finished his
task. being unclean therefrom. he Law
without by the wall of his courtyard
And during the night there fell into
his eyes from the walls a dust which
took his sight and No physician was
found which could help him. Then
Tobit prayed. saying:
20 Lord. Thou art Just, and
all thy works and all thy WAYS
are mercy and ruth. and thou
iudgest truly and justly forever. Now.
therefore. deal With me as aeemcth
best unto thee. and command my
spirit to be taken from me. that 4
may be dissolved. and become earth.
For il Is profitable for me to die.
rather than TO live. because I have
heard false reproaches and have much
sorrow Command. therefore. that I
may be delivered out Of this distress
and 20 into the everlasting place
Turn not thy face away from me-
Thus he prayed. but God in bis
mercy preserved him in his asiie.
tion. for through the darkness he vas
to come TO the Iifht and gu of the al.
niction was to come great blessing.
Living Unto God.
EAa