Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-01


copyright by WILTON Elliott F. RdU Coms'ock
and Morris Gcso
CHAPTER
THE setting sun, disappearing over the
L western hills toward the distant Medi-
terranean, cast lengthening shadows from
the fig tree which sheltered an archway IN
n garden wall. Far off in the distance
single trumpet sounded faint and indist'nc''
A nearer trumpet echoed and re-cchoed the
sound then u shepherd hidden In nearby
valley took up the silvery notes upon ms
own instrument and sounded the tdhss
that the day was Ger. =.
Irpon the roof of the house of Jesse, OIL
tho tribe of Judea, a maiden sat embroid-
ering a girdle She was fair and slender
with brownish hair. which hung in two long
braids But while she piled her heeule M
dustriously, she occasionally stoppeu "nu
shaded her eyes, gazing wsttully toMalu
the horizon Far in the distance the sheeP
,yere beInp herded together by the watch
ful shepherds and their dogs in preparation
for the coming of the night. To the east
and west the maiden cast her eyes III vail
for what she saw satisileu her ho.' ~
the north lay Hebron, where the great N."e
David had first reigned, and beyond that-
sonewhere to the north, so the malden nan
heard-was a wondrous city OF buildings
great palaces, rich caravans ana fasnlon,
ahlv dressed Aolk--Jerusalem. But Oh an
this the maiden knew naught ana hau nv
desire to learn. With sign she resume"
her work upon the girdle.
Inside the house of Jesse all was eN-
citement for the morrow was the hallowed
dav when none might labor in the helos'
The trumpets called men and women from
their labors to prepare for the evening ile"'
which should precede the approaching res
tiyal In the courtyard, by the We'll me
faithful Rissah. handmaiden 10 Huloah'
wife of Jesse. gathered up the clean hheh
which had been washed by two girls knead-
ing the garments with their bare feet in
a trough of water
trumpet blew again-nearer. shep-
herd was bringing in part of his flock
Eagerly the girl, watching from the roof,
ran down the fight of stone steps which
led to the courtyard and approached the
newcomer
"Shelah" cried the girl anXiously, hast
thou seen Jether?"
The shepherd, an aged man with young
lamb snuggIcd In his arms shook his head.
Nay, Mistress Naomi" responded Shelah
laying the lambkin upon the grass by the
well and slgnifying that Rissah should wash
its hurt. Nay, Jether was not upon the
hills last night l found his flock INTENDED.
For the second day Jether hath not led
them to water and none knows where the
lad may be. Some of the sheep the wolves
have slain, and others, like this poor lamb
kin, have suffered because of his neglect"
The girl clasped her hands together
nervously.
But what of Jether?" she inquired
tensey Can he h i'll or sick?"
Have no fear, good Mistress Naomi"
replied Shelah. His worst danger lies in
his fathers wrath"
What meanest thou?" cried Naomi
quickly.
"On the road hither met Oxen and He
bron he who keeps an inn there. and Oxen
told me Jether was there all night with
companion, Tola, an evil man whom all
know we'll"
The girl glanced about her nervously
as one by one the laborers from the field,
the shepherds and their fioCks passed into
the courtyard and the sun sank lower upon
the horizon. Then she turned to the shep.
herd again.
Please, sNelah, thou wlt aid me- DO
thou hasten to Hebron and find Jether. He
has forgotten that at sundOwn we celebrate
the hallowed day. Hasten, | beg of thee"
The stolid shepherd shook his head. A
trumpet blew in the distance.
DO not the trumpets sound on every
hill? Do they not bid all cease from toll
and hasten home to cleanse themselves be.