The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-07-12

Beersheba, there II famine"
AYE, famine
"And thou, poor beggarf Even II
thou wouldst work, what wouldst thou
do. who art old and weakf Thy plight
should melt even the heart Of Master
Gaal, II aught could melt that heart Of
flint"
Master Gaalf' cried Jether piteous-
ly. "He rules here, thenr
"Not while his father, Jesse, lives"
replied Rissah resentfully.
"Ah, then Jesse lives" sighed Jether
joyfully. But hast thou no mistress7"
What is that TO thee r. inquired Ris-
sab suspiciously.
"A womsn's heart, when kind, IL
kindest."
At this moment Naomi came from
the house 20 find out the reason for
Riasah's delny in bringing the water.
The young girl, noticing that a stran-
ger was there In rags and evidently In
distress, ran quickly. She knelt beside
him, but Jether averted his face.
"A beggav. and probably hungry a.
, well as sick and tiredr' she cried sym
patheticslly. "And In rags. am
sorry"
And thus It was that the wanderer
came hcmel
Naomi did not recognize Jether, as,
indeed, few could who had known the
lad when, in the full flush OF vigorous
| young manhood, he had left home 30
many months before.
Thou hast no need to fear that thou
wilt leave here hungry" she said gen
erously. "Rissah, prepare some food.
No stranger comes through Hebron too
poor or mean to be a welcome guest at
Huldahs table, for he might bring It'd
ings long awaited for one who
She paused as n sudden thought came
to her.
"Hadnt thou perchance but met some
one upon thy travels who hath heard
and told thee aught of Jether. son Of
Jesse. thou couldst have the best this
house affords to take with thee upon
thy travels. Hadst thou heard such
tidings"-
Jether's voice choked with a sob as
he murmured to himself, "She still
cares for me-"
Each day his mother strains her
eyes from the high watchtower to be
hold him first upon his return" con-
inued Naomi sadly. II have seen her
clutch the empty air and smile upon 1t
with great tears In her eyes"
"All for her sonr cried Jether eager.
ly. yet incredulously.
Thou canst not understand moth.
er's love-" continued Naomi. '"Thon
art man. But women know. Why,
myself, though | have seen him lost In
revelry, with a strange woman In his
arms. and drunk with wine that day l
was In the city. yet still T.
She paused. not realizing that she
was about TO give her confidence to a
beggar. But Jether, still averting his
face, said huskily:
Then Il was thou?'
I what meanest thou, old manf" In
quircd Naomi.
idle saying that a mother loves her
worst chilu BEST
Naomi smiled sadly and wistfully.
Hast thou perchance son who went
astrayY'
an all this world no man IL more
alone than l." said Jether. "And thou,
who didst see this man In sin, what
didst thou tell his mother?"
IL told naught save that the kins-
man whom l visited had heard NO
word Of Jether. What l saw locked
In my own heart"
''rhen hast thou been kind to his
mother" added Jether.
But now" cried Naomi, suddenly
struck with an idea, thou shalt do
this FOR me. IL there IL sin In 1t let II
be ON mine own head Thou shalt de-
clare that omewhere-just where thou
hast forgotten-thou didst hear OF one
named Jether, the son OF Jesse, who
has won great honors-somewhe here
Speak not OF his work, for Jether
worked not overmuch. and they would
question. Say that thou hast heard
that for his fair face and form and gift
Of words and for his winsome eyes
thou hast rd-sopewhere-a wo,
mans heart felt for mm and opened a
gate TO honor for him. This shalt thou
tell his motherv
Jether shook his head sadly.
IL could not lie--to her." he said sim
ply.
Then this thou shalt do and still be
truthful man." continued Naomi
For thou hast Travelled much. I shall
tell Master Gaal that thou perchanct
may know where crops failed utterly
and where the people must buy. That
will delight him well. Then he must
pay thee money and give thee gar
ments, for thine are past all use. Wait
here but little while. and will send
thee food"
And before Jether could refuse the
young girl had fed into the house, and
he was alone.
He staggered to his feet, and, sup
porting himself upon the STAFF. he slow
ly faltered to the stone steps that led
to the main doorway Of the house OF
Jesse. From within came the clink OF
silver upon crockery as Rissah laid the
table for the evening meal. Through q
small uindnuu ea ma m liOht and tha