Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-04-19
where vert thou last

Gaal angrily. "Where vert thou last
night?"
Jether flippantly and lightly turned
on his heel and strobe toward the
well.
Where chose to be-" he answered.
'Then can guess!" cried Gaal, con-
trolling his anger with difficulty.
while / have sweated in the sun to
bring the harvest in before the holy
day, father and l and all Of us, down
to the meanest servant, thou hast
shirked thy one task like the other,
lying about by day and night, COM
panion to the worthless in the village,
or on thy back a-staring at the sky.
How thou canst be of the same par
ents as myself ! cannot see. Yet thou
art my brother, and one day / must
give thee third Of all there is, yea, a
third. Be thou accursedv'
Jether laughed contemporary. Be-
fore him stood the well, the pitcher of
water which Rissah had but recently
drawn to take within the house and
the cup from which the servants
quenched their thirst. He filed the
cup with water, and, turning to the
towering figure of his elder brother,
whose fist was raised in threatening
manner as though to strike him, the
young boy hurled the water full in the
eyes of the elder. Gaal staggered back
in surprise and anger
''Take thou my blessing for thy
curse" cried Jether as Gaal, tempo
rarily blinded, sought to dry his eyes.
"May the water cool thy wrath and
purify thee for the festival, thou pious,
self complacent IMPORTER
In another moment the two men
were clasped in each others arms as
Gaal, making sudden rush, sought
to overthrow the younger brother. But
Jether was quick of foot and agile in
squirming from his brothers grasp.
Again they clinched, each striving to
throw the other, yet Gaal in spite of
his superior size proved not more than
an equal match for the energetic Je-
Their. Suddenly voice, strong, deep,
commanding, made both brothers pause
and involuntarily relax their holds.
stop, my sons"
Upon the upper step in the doorway
of the house stood the aged patriarch,
Jesse of the tribe of Judea, his staff
in hand, his left hand raised in an
imperious gesture, his long white hair
and beard making him seem almost
like an Inspired prophet. Slowly and
with majestic mien the aged Jesse, he
who sixty years before had been the
boyhood friend Of the great King Da-
vid. came down the steps, while the
two brothers fell back before him. The
patriarch gazed reprovingly from one
to the other and shook his head sor-
rowfully. Gaal took this silent rebuke
as reflection upon himself and sought
to make his peace with his father.
II did but reprove him for his lazi-
ness, my father, and he hurled an in
suit into my very beard" he cried an
grily. "Didst thou but know one half
of Jether's doings, my father
Gaal hesitated as if the indictment
were too great to lay upon his fathers
head. but Jether laughingly and mock
ingly babe him go on.
Speak. good brother" jeered Jether
Thou hast ne'er before lost any
chance to speak i'll of me- This time
thou canst find many witnesses against
me. My father listens. Speak"
Jesse raised his hand for silence.
peace, both Of yer he cried II am
the master here Gaal, thou art the
elder. Thou shouldst be the wiser
Thou knowest Jether has too high a
pride to let thee tell him what to do
Besides, that is my duty, not thtns
Go get tkee ready for the e.SninE
Aeal."
Gaal hesitated and cast an angry
look at the mocling Jether.
go, say commanded the venera-
BILE patriarch, pointing toward the
house. With muttered and indistinct
remark Gaal slowly re-entered the
house.
"And thou, Jether," continued Jesse,
laying his hand in kindly affection
upon the shoulder of his Younger son,
thou hast done wrong to lift thy hand
against thy brother. Never again let
there be strife between you. Tonight
before ask Gods blessing upon my
household, yes, even before we gather
at the table, thou shalt tell thy broth
err that thou dost repent of thy child
ish act"
"1-ask pardon of GaalY' replied
Jether increduously, drawing back in
amazemeQt. ASK pardon of Gaalg
The kindly face of the venerable
Jesse smiled indulgently as lie gazed
upon the headstrong boy
Not less for thine own sake than
for his" he continued. Thou art too
quick Of speech. Thy pride is over
great, though pride is honorable in
moderation. Thine, if uncurbed. may
bring thee TO calamity"
"I'll not have Gaal the master over
me-" muttered Jether.
Nor shalt thou" agreed Jesse ap-
proyingly. Only to thy father shalt
thou account. Where didst thou spend