The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-12-24
Far tothp eastward there
Sl1Ona q new star =

dad" he said coldly The man be-
meath him shook like a wind-thrum- |
med reed.
why should you wish to kill me?
I have never done you wrong and you
once whipped me-" he pleaded. His
Captor laughed sharply.
You lie, and for lying | shall let
you feel the tooth OF my knife before
you feel its full bite" he returned as
he pricked his captive until the latter
squirmed again. And now" he went
on. you shall die as my sheep died
and be of less value afterwards than
they were. For at least their skins
are worth something and their flesh
was wholesome, while you dead Will
be even more worthless than living"
! Ben Hadad made a final appeal.
"At least you will let me pray to the
stars before | die" he pleaded, and
Ben Joseph smiled grimly and said
that he might spend one minute in
that useless way. And as Ben Hadad,
beginning to mutter his last words,
turned his despairing gaze towards
the eastern heavens. the one who sat
upon his breast and watched him
closely in his hate, suddenly saw the
eyes below him grow great with won
der while the distorted face smoothed
and became soft as a childs. Greatly
amazed at the wonderful transforms,
ton he turned his eyes upward as the
other had done, and as he did so he
gave a great gasp, his fingers loos-
ened and he sat staring up into the
night. For far to the eastward there
shone new star in the armament,
such a star as the world had never be-
fore seen: lustrous, pure white, shin
ing with a soft brillianCy beyond com
pare; the star of Bethlehem in all its
glory as it hung over the manager OF
the new born Christ, the redeemer OF
the soul of man
And as he gazed transfixed by this
miracle wonderful and subtle
change came over the hard heart Of
, Ben Joseph. From out of it his WratE
. fed like a scourged evil thing; the
Goals of hate that had burned therein
turned to ashes and into their place
> stole a softness such as he had neve1
: felt before. He shuddered, threw hi!
knife into the night and getting upol
>, his feet held out his hand. Arise
= Ben Hadad. leave you in peace" h
said gently.
4 Full of wonderment the released on
+ arose and together the two stood star
n ing at the glowing marvel, all fear AM
!. hate vanished. Then Ben Hada'
spoke:
81 murdered your sheep because
I, hated you, and in return you spare
q my life. Why did you do 500" Be
e joseph shook his head as much puz
/, zled as was the other.
u "That | do not know. I only know
II that hate you no longer | even seer
5. to care for you" Ben Hadad laid hi
u hand upon the others shoulder.
II "Also my heart has grown soft. 70
Is shall take three of my best sheep i
L the place of the slain ones and W
l. will be friends from this night on.
8 His companion nodded.
~ I'VE will be as brothers Throughout
u our lives. | will come for the shee
Il another day, bringing you a presen
u Until then peace be with you" Int
Il, the darkness he passed, his eyes sti
~ fastened upon the eastern miracle,
song of happiness arising from ri
{, heart. For though Ben Joseph kne
ia it not, the son of God had come
&c earth and already the influence OF h
gentle spirit was waiting like tn
le night breeze throughout the Ian
e. soothing the breast Of man as tn
Id night breeze soothed his cheeks. FL
n. such was the coming and spread
le the holy spirit of the Master; tt
spirit of peace on earth and good wi
g. to man.