St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-04-17

the grapes. Over on the other side OF
the little valley through which he
passed, there was another man busy
in the field, tying and stacking the
grain, preparatory to loading it and
drawing it to the threshing floor. And
still again, further on, he found a
group of men busy upon the threshing
| floor, the sound of the fails ringing
out upon the morning air
And this is the Sabbath day." he in.
wardly groaned.
At that moment he met a man pass
ing along the pathway and, stopping
him, engaged him in conversation, say
ing:
do not the Jews observe the Sab
bath day."
The man looked at Nehemiah for a
moment without speaking, and
i then deep crimson spread over his
face as he stammered:
THE rulers gave not the portion to
the Levites, and so the temple serv-
ice has been broken up, and we have
been forced to return to our fields for
a livelihood"
Thou art of the Levites?" ques-
toned Nehemiah.
Il am" replied the man, uneasily,
"but there is no longer place for us in
Jerusalem
And are the Sabbaths given over to
work in the fields and buying and sell
| ing in the market placer" demanded
Nehemiah, severely.
Such is only too sadly the truth"
admitted the LeVite.
And how came such condition to
exist?" persisted Nehemiah.
well, first the worship in Gods
house was neglected, the rulers of the
people not giving the portion to the
Levites which was due them. Then
the traders from roundabout invaded
the city and the people, having naught
else to do, fell into the habit of fire.
quenting the market place, and, step
by step, conditions have come to the
pass that you see them. But" and the
LeVite hesitated, "are you stranger
to these things?"
"Yea, am Nehemiah, the governor,
just returned from Babylon"
The Levite threw himself upon the
ground before him, and cried out in
dismay:
Now is trouble come upon US, in.
deed, and the city will feel thy dis
pleasure"
Rather, may we fear the wrath Of
our God Summon thy brethren of the
priesthood to me at the temple at
once exclaimed Nehemiah, and turn
ing about he fastened into the city.
If the market place had been
scene of confusion the night before, it
was now place where bedlam was let
loose, and what with the cries of the
traders as they called their wares, and
the voices of the people as they bag
gled over the prices, there was a din
such as Nehemiah had never before
witnessed. On to the temple he
passed, and when the rulers and
priests had gathered unto him he de-
manded to know why these things
were.
Excuses there were in plenty, but
reasons none, and Nehemiah, turning
to the scroll of the Mosaic law, read
the law of God concerning the Sabbath
day, and pointed out that the wrath
Of God would certainly fall upon them
and consume them if this iniquity was
not purged from the city.
"But how can WEI" questioned the
rulers and the Levites, in dismay.
''The traders are so firmly entrenched |
in their place in the city, and to Of
fend them will be to ruin the business
of the city"
Would you temporize with evil?"
sharply demanded Nehemiah. Come,
/ will show you"
And striding forth again into the
market place, followed meekly and |
wonderingly by the Levites and the |
rulers, he commanded them, saying:
Pass among the people, and say:
What evil is this that ye do to pro
fame the Sabbath day? Did not your
fathers thus, and did not our God
bring all this evil upon us, and upon
this city?'
Not daring to disobey, the voices of
the rulers and Levites sounded through
the market place, and soon a stiffness
fell upon the place, wonder filling the
hearts of the traders, and fear the
hearts of the Jews.
And then, with a loud voice. Nehe-
miah ordered ali the traders to depart
from the city, and not daring to refuse,
for fear was upon their hearts, they
silently gathered together their mer-
chandise and went outside the city,
and the gates were shut.
So it was done the next Sabbath
day, and Nehemiah, observing that the
traders were preparing to carry on
their business outside the walls, he
spoke to them from the wall, and
warned them that did they gather
there another week he would lay vio-
lent hands upon them and confiscate
their goods.
And from that time forth they trou.
oled not the city on the Sabbath day.
just One Day.
1t ought not to be hard to live well
one day. Anyone should be able to