The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-03-18

WORLD


WHEN A MAN
he International Sunday School les.
son for March = Is "Isasc and
RebekAh," Gen. -.
(By WILLIAM +. EII1S.)
When the Bagdad railway, which
now building. has got all h way
10 Babylon, We may be sure that pas
sengers from Europe will show more
Interest in the stop at Haran and Re-
bekah's Well. which is there, than
in many Of the ruined cities Of antiQ-
uity passed on the way. About Re
bekah's Well fingers the spirit OF the
eternal romanceI 1t has q touch OF
the human that means more to people |
than the vast movements Of ancient !
empires. The guide-books will give |
more space to Rebekah's Well than
TO the tomb Of ~Sennacherib. For the |
beautiful idyl OF Rebekah ia dear to
the heart Of all who read.
This twenty-fourth chapter Of
Genesis, which is one Of the most
intrinsically beautiful and interest
with fable or fiction. Every Tine Of
IL attests It's human reality. In some
form or other 1t is being lived over
again in every part OF the world.
Older than the Well which the travel
er through Mesopotamia still may
see, is the sentiment which 1t repre-
SCENTS: the quest Of a life for its COM
plement.
Since the race began, Rebekahs
have been going to wells, and about
che other humdrum daily tasks,
dreaming beautiful dreams OF a pos
sible lover from out Of the West. There
is a bit Of moral in passing in the
fact that 1t was while about her days
duties, and not When arrayed in festai
g-xr, mn AiOplo In n rna~
ncrs," that Rebekah commended her
self to the representative Of Isaac,
seeking a wife. Nobody knows around
what corner fate awaits. At the most
unexpected time II place there nay
be the meeting which determines all
Of ones future.
How One Woman Got a Husband.
The best things in life come by in
direction. The person who goes
incoming through the days. longing
Tor a lover. is likely to fail Of the
search and to become a pitiable and
silly creature. They who go straight
on in life's highway. busy about the
usual duties, taking time for the
great dreams, find that life's richest
blessings are met by the way. Neither
happiness nor husbands come for the
seeking. Rebekah. like u~ncOunted
millions Of young women before and
si1Ce, was QOiOS 0cJ snare VI the Ad'A'
lily work by filling the water jars Al
the village we'll.
How many times I have seen thu
young wome Of Mesopotamia, ant
other parts Of the Near East, on thi!
daily pilgrimage to the we'll. chatting
socially as they travelled, or as the!
gathered waiting another's turn
a huge water jar on the head O
shoulder. The eastern woman !
trained to bear burdens.
Kebekah went blithely OF an even
Ing to the we'll outside Haran. TIL
day did not seem different from 9th
er days. She little dreamed. whel
h put the empty water jar on he
head, that destiny was sitting on tn
Well-curb waiting for her. The way
farer who wanted drink was not dit
ferent from other travellers whor
she had often o~bligingly served. Sn
commended herself to Eleizer. VIII
a been commissioner to n q VIII
for Isaac. because OF her quick nelE
fitness and wholesome good MATURE
He saw that this ready and efhcier
woman was the very wife for h
master.
Going Wife Hunting.
Let us not cry shame upon 1saa
tina he did not do his own wOoin
Aside from the fact that he was M
tNal SUI OK IIldIIs Oesh6 VA ScAAH>
that let's other people do for him.
was the usage OF the land and II
time-a usage which still persists
the same region-for marriages to !
arranged by Intermediates. TT
"shadchanS' Of the East Side OF Ne
York arc still engaged in the san
business. The wife for Isaac was
his fathers providing. We may
sure that he would accept whatev
vas given to him, for he was a neg
tive character, whom somebody h
called "a valley between two hills
a mere link between Abraham al
Jacob.
When Abraham was dying he co
nissioned his servant to find a W
OF his own people for his son 1sas
The long years. and the wisdom tn
comes from quiet communion Wi