The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-04-01
RELIGIOUS
WORLD
FILING THE PRICELESS
POSSESSIONS CHEAP.
International Sunday School Les
>on for April 6 Is, Jacob n Esau,'
zen. 25:27-34; 27:1-45.
by William r. Ellis.)

zen. 2o:21.S4: xS:l.4J.
by William r. Ellis
Some stories seem to fit all times.
they have their counterpart in every
neration. Such is this tale Of two
Young men who lived nearly four
thousand years ago and whose names
are familiar to everybody. Jacob
and Esau were twin brothers, and
neither was admirable. The story is
one without a hero. The particular !
Incident upon which the lesson is
founded is the bargain for the birth
right. When gluttony and avarice
,ratfic, 1t is always a bad bargain.
Neither young man acted as became
MS family name or his standing in the
world. Both did violence to their
honor.
The episode might be labelled,
business is busin eSS." The old fash
ion of putting aside all considerations
az truth and humanity and inherent
right when making a bargain pre-
vale dwith Esau and Jacob, ever as
With some modern men. Esau was
jmpulSive, gullible, easily deceived and
entirely needless of his own high OBJ
libations. His brother Jacob was
,rafty. adroit and self-Seeking, taking
~adtantage of his brothers need, hav-
ing an eye only for his own main
o. u ~ ISoN represented tAAC
sort Of man who would squander pub
lie rights for private graft, forgetting
all the claims of pOSterity, SO Jacob is
the other not type who
would buy in any market where wares
are cheapest, regardless of ethical o
siderations. Just as ne formed a cor
ner in pottage. so he would corner
wheat or meat. or any other neces-
sity. TO him it would mean nothing
that his profits were wrung out Of the
blood and virtue of his employees. His
answer would be, Business is bust
ness: l made him an offer. He could
take il or leave it; ne did not have to
tuy."
Tine story Down to Date.
The incident irresistibly calls tc
mind the way in which many of us
barter the priceless possessions, be.
cause of our youthful heedleSSnesS
cur hortsightedness or IL sheer slav'
cry to the moments desire. The pO'
litical crisis in America has been du<
10 the fact that the obligations Of citi
zsnship were bartered for ease n en-
grossment in business. Good mel
have sold their power to influence tn
world because they had not the initia
tive, the courage or the vision to eX
"reise that sovereignty. Youth ha
again an dagain sold its irremediabl
nv " ~ AApsSA "a ~
gawd, or at the behest of unbridle,
passion. Thousands have sold the op
portunity for an education and for
discipline in the higher things Of lif
because OF the spirit Of self indulgence
which preferred present ease to futur
power and profit. Friendships hav
been bartered on the altar of indu
Eence and petty self-will. Love ha
been given in exchange for base i'm
tation. even as the avage barter re;
jewels for colored glass.
The story of Esau's tragic betray:
~ his own manhood and ~birthrigl
* eloquent in every line with an al
peal to youth to safeguard the price
less things. If Esau had been gifte
with even "a little bit .of imaginatio
and a mOdicum of sturdy will, I
would rave looked ahead n calle
tomorrow to the succor Of today.
Is wholesome to view the present fro
the standpoint of the future. Tn
habit Of life makes the sagacious ma
The Makeup or u Family.
This is "a domestic scene, but n
a lovely one. When we look fro
the boys to- the parents, we find Isaa
Il weak father who had never set h
sons an example Of sturdy maint
nance of principles. He had the pa
sive virtues, but he had given up /
.rown Of manhood and fatherhoC
The management seems to have be
IN the hands Of Rebekah, a shrev
masterful woman of the same ty
as her brother Laban. Both faith
ana mother wereg Utility Of that care
hal offense in parents, favoriti:
among their children. Isaac, t
weakling, the stay-at-hOme, the p
i.rer about the tents Of h encam
ment. loved his lusty, f~eld-rangil
open-air son Esau. The meditati
father admired the man OF acti'
Rebekah, woman-like, cared not
the rough and animal ways Of t
british follower of the chase. Els
Rad no He was no graz
IN those arts OF courtesy which of
mean more to a woman than the c.
ainal virtues. Jacob, the stay
home, was better broken to SOC
WAYS. He helped his mother a
found himself temperamentially m