The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-04-26

"whiie I have sweated In the sun to
bring the harvest In before the holy
day. father and ! 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-starlng at the sky.
How thou canst be OF the same par
ents as myself ! cannot see. Yet thou
art my brother, and one day I must
give thee third Of all there Is, yea.
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 a 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 compliment hypocriteT
In another moment the two men
were clasped In each others arms as
Gaal. making a 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 a 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 stan
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 a reflection upon himself and sought
to make his peace with his father.
81 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
Gaai hesitated as II the Indictment
were too great to lay upon his fathers
head. but Jetber laughingly and mock.
ingly babe him 90 on.
Speak. good brother" jeered Jether.
'-Thou hast ne'er before lost any
chance to speak III Of me. This time
thou canst find many witnesses against
me. My father listens. Speak"
Jesse raised his hand for silence
"Peace, both Of YET he cried IT am
the master here Gaal. thou art the
elder. Thou shouldst be the wiser.
Thou knowest Jether has too high o
pride to let thee tell him what to do.
Besides. that is my duty. not thine
Go get thee ready for the evening
meal"
Gaal hesitated and cast an angry
look at the mocking Jether.
go. I 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 lei
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.
er that thou dost repent of thy child.
ish act"
"I-ask pardon Of Gaalf" replied
Jether increduously, drawing back In
amazement. ASK pardon Of GaalT'
The kindly face Of the venerable
Jesse smiled indulgently as he 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 Ii honorable In
moderation. Thine. II uncurbed. may
bring thee to calamity"
"Ill not have Gaal the master over
me-" muttered Jether.
"Nor shalt thou" agreed Jesse ap-
provingly. only to thy father shalt
thou account. Where didst thou spend
last nightl From the high watch
tower ! saw thy sheep upon the hills
at dawn this morning, but thee ! did
not see. Where didst thou spend last
nightf"
Jether came to his father petulantiy
almost pleading. "Am a childf'
The old man looked with loving eyes
upon the lad.
an many ways thou art, and yet the
fault Is not all thine. Thy mother
hath INDUCED thee overmuch, and
! myself DerhaDs Jether thou dost moi