The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-12-24

One thousand nine hundred ana
nine years ago, in the days OF the
mighty Herod, there lay upon hill
side not far from Bethlehem, one Ben
Joseph, the shepherd, son OF Joseph
of Jeffa. Ben Joseph was almost IL
now, and had been a shepherd nearly
as long as he could remember. Prac-
tically all his life he had stTolled over
the hillsides with his charges through
out the days, and when night had
come had laid himself down to sleep
among them with sheepskin for his
couch and a sheepskin for his mantle.
And in those long years of loneliness
he had grown strong of body and wild
Of spirit, knowing little Of faith, hope
or charity and caring less; believing
only in the law of reCompense and
that an eye was fair exchange for an
eye and a tooth for tooth.
Now while Ben Joseph was silent
and rather surly Of face, he was only
inclined to be wicked when aroused
| At those times, however, he was apt
to be as savage and merciless as a
| wolf, for it was then that the blood
lust burned hot in his throat. And It
happened that upon the day of which
we are speaking he was nursing a
great rage, for while he had been
sleeping a few nights before some
enemy had crept into his flock and
cut the threats of three Of his finest
ewes. And this deed meant that very
bad times we're in store for Ben Jo'
seph indeed, for when his master
came to count the sheep and found
the three missing, Ben Joseph knew
that he would be beaten with staff
until he could scarcely hobble, and
even worse than that, he would be
charged with their value; sum
which it would take him months Of
watching to repay. And, furthermore
he knew who had committed the das
tardly crime. 1t was none other thar
Ben Hadad, who herded his flock il
the hills to the westward and witt
whom Ben Joseph had quarreled anC
fought a year before, and who nov
had come prowling across hill ant
valley in the dark of the moon for hi
revenge. and that Ben Joseph nigh
be soundly beaten in payment for tn
whipping which he himself had re
ceived In his haste the marauder hat
dropped the red stone which he al
WAYS wore as charm, and Ben JC
} seph picking it up among the dea
sheen had instantly known to whom
; belonged. Muttering he had sworn t
himself that he should have his re
venge.
And on this night he was formula
ing his plans. If Ben Hadad coul
creep upon him in the middle of tn
night and kill his sheep, then certain
T. " he could creep upon Ben Hada
| and kill him. Clearly he felt tina
2 if was the only thing to do, and ari:
ing in the early darkness he felt c
. the edge of his knife and finding
nlentv keen enough he seized hi
crook and went Looping off among tn
hills towards where he knew his Ell
envy could be found, 1t was a Ion
tourney, but he travelled fast, an
] when midnight had come he ha
marked the fold, while near by it
his rough shelter of skins he coul
hear the steady breathing of the u
suspicious man whom he sought. An
70 At that token of the others helples
ness his eyes took on the glitter of
wild beasts, and with his knife hel
firmly he crept onward to where til
S sleeping one lay behind his screen.
/ Beneath the starlight he saw tn
0 recumbent form lying still and d
fenseless, and with last wriggle an
. leap he landed fairly upon 1t, the d
- gers Of one hand fastened In II
y throat and his blade held high.
81 have come to kill you. Hen Il