Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-04-26

"Jether''-
Thou knowest now, mother, and l
would have thee get my portion from
my father. Thee he would not refuse"
With half stifled moan Huldah
sank upon the edge of the well and
clasped her hands piteously. So, then,
the boy was in earnest-he really
meant to leave her-and he now want
ed his share Of the estate which some
day would be his and Gaal's.
Thou wouldst go afar and demand
est thy portion?" she temporized.
Gwen So"
Struck by sudden thought, the
voice of Huldah grew hard and stern.
who is thy friend, Jether, who
would lead thee from US? This thought
was never thine
Have l not always wanted to be
free" demanded the boy, ITO go my
own way and to be my own master?
Here what am but spoke in a small
wheel that goeth round and round,
each day over the selfsame road for
the selfsame purpose, and the hub Of
it, my fathers will-never my own.
Mother, I implore thee, get me my por-
ton and let me go forth into the world
and carry out my own career"
But where wouldst thou 20, my
SOM"
whittier will. 1 know not yet,
but somewhere beyond these prison
hills"
Huldah strove to be calm.
and what wouldst thou do, my
SOM"
THE thing it pleaseth me to do when
it is offered me. Here what choice
have L? But in the far great world
beyond these hills, there shall i've"
The mother sought to learn more of
the plans Of the impetuous boy.
But who is this man whom thou
callest thy friend, this man who would
have thee take thy portion and leave
thy parents house all Of sudden
when perchance thou hast not even q
plan?"
Jether came to her full Of enthusi-
assn.
plans? have many plans, but
this only l shall tell thee now: shall
go from this little village, and shall
become man much talked about"
Huldah shook her dead doubtfully
and smiled indulgently.
There are few high places and many
to seek tlnm,' she replied.
But think Of King David, mother!"
cried the boy enthusiastically. Pa
ther and he were boys together amid
these very hills. Yet he became a
greater king than Saul was. All say
that. What If King David had been
content to stay as shepherd boy at
Hebron?"
The mother half smiled through the
tears she sought to hold back.
But art thou David?' she asked
tenderly.
Jether, stung by the implied rebuke,
turned away from her sulkily.
ASK my father for my portion,'' he
said tersely.
Nay; that l shall not do" replied
the mother firmly.
What! Thou wouldst give all to
my brother Gaal?"
Each shall have his share when the
proper time comes, Jether, yet did l
know more of thy plans
Then / will tell thee, motherw cried
the boy, coming to her and kneeling
before her as he had done many times
in the past. II shall go In company
with great merchant whom l met at
the inn near Hebron. What he sells /
know not, and what he buys l know
not. We conversed long on other
things. OF one thing l do know, for
| he hath told me. In Jerusalem he hath
houses and goods in plenty. There,
too, he hath many friends of highest
rank who for his sake will greet me
as their friend"
The nameless terror gripped the
heart Of Huldah again.
what knowest thou of him or OF
Jerusalem?" she queried anxiously.
"Of him? He is my friend declar.
ed Jether. warming with enthusiasm
at the prospect Of the journey to the
big city. But of the city? All, moth
/ cI, COuluSI luOu UuJ See us 1 See wien
from the distant hilltops gaze upon
the lights so far away to the north and
dream OF that upon which they shine
the many streets Of the great city OF
Jerusalem, filed with palaces of gold
and ivory, where dwell victorious cap.
tains and great merchant princes; the
gates in the high city walls that open
joyfully to stately caravans from
Babylon and Nineveh and Egypt
places l know as yet only by name
but wonderful indeed, it's said, to look
upon. see the whole world as
stand there, one of the thousands al
the city's gates. and hear the clamor.
ing throng who would unload the
camels' burdens, and as they bend
tinkling their silver bells, would see
their cargoes' wealth-embroidered pur-
pie robes. and wines that bring men
golden visions, and swords for heroes
nlystically engraved. see them all