Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-02-07

sons who had married Moabite girls,
soon followed him to the grave, leav
ing Naomi widowed and childless, and
two widowed daughters-in- law Very
naturally Naomi began to yoarn for
her old home, her relations, and for
the religion of her people, especially
as she learned that good times had
returned to the children of Benjamin.
So with her sons widows, Orpah and
Ruth to whom she had become at
tached, she set out on the return
journey. On the way she began to
think Of her own poverty. and the
hard life and probable lack OF
sympathy that awaited the younger
women in an alien land and among
people of an antagonistic religion. She
implores the girls to turn back TO their
own land, find husbands among their
own people and accustomed religion,
and settle down to ordinary life, giving
them In parting her grateful blessing
Both protested at the separation. but
Naomi recited to them some OF the
difficulties that life among her people
held in store for them, She was too
old TO marry again and bear sons to
take the place OF those death had
taken. and even II she had, they would
not want to remain single until her
children could grow up to marrying
age. So Orpah yielded and kissed
her mother in law farewell, but Ruth
refused to be persuaded She insisted q
on remaining with Naomi, no matter
where she chose to go, no matter what
hardships she had to share, even to
death itself; adopting as her own both
the religion and the nationality of
Naomi and finally calling upon
Jehovah to witness the sincerity and
the unchangeableness of her decision.
Thy people shall be my people, and
thy God my God" This put a stop to
discussion, and from that hour Ruth
became Ia effect the daughter of
Naomi, an adopted citizen of Israel
and convert to the faith Of Jehovah.
A Mothers Anxiety
That the hand of God was in this
surprising decision is evident from
what followed The return of Naomi
was the occasion of much commits
serating gossip in Bethlehem, as has
been the fashion in all ages of the
world, hut she accepted her lot in be-
coming humility, looking to the Lord
who had both given and taken way.
Being In the time Of barley harvest
and being pressed by poverty, Ruth
was sent out in the field to CLEAN in
the footsteps of the harvesters. II
was the custom, as well as the law,
for the harvest hands to be not over
particular in gathering every head OF
grain, for the leavings were recognized
as the legitimate property OF the poor
people who followed them. This was
the humiliating task Of Ruth, and in
no doing she met her fate" I'm
knowingly she wandered into the
fields OF Boaz, rich man. and
a near hnsman of her father
in-law Elimelech. 1t was not
long until. she was noticed by
the proprietor. who gave him men
orders to be little extra careless in
their reaping while she was near. He
also discovered her idenity and gave
her special favors and advice. indicat-
ing that he was bound both In duty
and gratitude to see that she and his
kinsman's widow should not suffer
from poverty. He advised her to CLEAN
only in his fields and provided for her
to share in the food and water pre-
pared for his hired men. So Ruth
went home with a light heart and a
heavy load of barley. Naomi was
naturally elated, not only that the
CLEANER had prospered, but because
she had found favor with a rich and
benevolent relative. Her future looked
brighter, but the circumstance also
showed her an added responsibility
Ruth must be provided with good
husband, and the possibility OF a
match with Bosz looked good to Ma.
omi. ;Here is where she played the
part of solicitous ,mother, and she
found Ruth quite willing to do her
share in. carrying out the plot.
In the line OF David.
The events which followed might
not be looked upon favorably by de
signing matrons Of the present day,
but they were strictly moral and
proper according to the lava and
customs of that day. The Mosaic
code provided that a childlese widow
should be taken as a wife by the near
est available hndsman, in order to
preserve the inheritance of the de-
ceased. BY a subterfuge Boaz wal
reminded of his duty to the widow
of Elimelechs son. and he set about
promptly to fulfil the law. There was
another kinsman whose claim wal
ahead of Boaz. But this man wher
called on promptly withdrew his
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