The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-02-21
Rv WILLIAM T. ELL1S.l

wicked woman, q coVetous hihS'
gnileless property-holder ana a ita!-
less prophet are the chaIaeto 800
this story. The woman lanes -.
place in the action, ana d 49,
the infamous JeZebel, she shouiu NC
given most consideration, Tor is not
the woman question one OF the HVe
issues Of the day!
The instance is the familiar n OF
King Ahab's desiring to annex the
adjacent vineyard of Naboth to the
royal grounds. Naboth refused To part
with his ancestral inheritance. SO Je-
zebel craftily had him slain. FOr
this deed Elijah pronounced condem-
nation upon the king and his queen.
The Thirst For More Land.
No census-taker can make a record
Of the farmers homes that are living
lives Of poverty in order that an ad-
jacent section of land may be added
to the already extensive homestead.
The lust for and is one of the tempta-
lions of ali property-holders. To have
a fair share Of the earth's surface.
ON which to erect a home, is an hon.
orable ambition, would that it might
steal into the hearts Of more jewellers
in city apartments and tenements.
But the discomfort which will not rest
without more acres n yet more, no
matter how much hardship their &C
q%uisation may impose Upon a neigh
Dor, is quite the reverse Of noble.
When a man grows land-hungry he
is prone to forget the other mans
rights. Ahab wanted the vineyard Of
Naboth, though he already had royal
gardens. Failure to buy them threw
him into unkindly sulks. His real
estate nerve had been touched. The
same sort Of antics are played today
by men who should be rich and con-
tented in what they already possess.
Especially let the taxes go up a few
dollars in the aggregate, n behold
the tumult. All Of us have known
good citizens to raise more protest
rate, for more purpose Of public wei
fare. than they ever did over any
moral danger that threatened their
neighborhood. II men were as sensi-
tive about the moral standards
aroun them as they are about the
tax rate there would be less wicked
ness in the world.
Ahab forgot that he was a king and
a grown man. No disappointment in
merely maternal things should have
the effect upon a mature persons con-
duct that this really drifting episode
had upon King Ahab. He seems to
have been more worried over Ma
both's vineyard than he lac been over
the three years drought in the land.
Certainly he showed less distress over
the idolatrous innovations Of his
heather wife.
A Good Citizens Martyrdom.
Virtue does not always get re-
warded. The brave citizen, Naboth,
who knew his rights and stood for
them, eau he possessed certain
principles that were more important
in MS eyes than the kings favor fares
badly in this story. He would not sell
his ancestral inheritance. Family
rights and obligations meant much to
him, though Ahab might regard them
lightly and distain his royal obliga-
tons. Naboth had a sound pride in
his name. He remembered his fathers
and he. would not shame them by
loosely parting with that which had
cost them dear. A sturdy, stout
hearted good citizen was Naboth; one
of the sort who are the pillars Of a
state.
True he had more principle thar
tact. Had he been more polite he
would have known that it is not safe
to make powerful enemies. The guile
full man does not anger a king. But
he pinned his faith to abstract prin-
cipies Of Justice. he knew he was
was a point Of honor with him. Alas,
though right is often on the scat
fold and wrong upon the throne. The
evil have from the day Of air slain
the good: and NabOth was craftily
sent to his death. while the machina-
tions OF the kings wife "succeeded,'
as h world counts success.
Enter the Woman.
Like many another man in high
place. Ahab had an ambitious wife
That possession may be the greatest
blessing or the greatest curse We
rightly laud the countless host Of
good women who have inspired theil
husbands to larger achievements; tn
best asset a young man can have a
the beginning Of his career is a level
headed, religious wife. On the otheI
hand we keep charitablJ quiet con
corning the homes that have beer
mad ~shipwreck, n the lives tina
have gone upon the rocks OF failur'
and disaster. because OF vain ant
thoughtless and selfish ambition o
wives and daughters. The motive o
-hioA noasoo1na MANY mel