Year: 1868

wife, as was the manner in oldeu times


Such being the case, we cannot too ofte


take review OF some of the incidents Il


recorded in Holy Writ of these none i


more interesting than the marriage @


Isaac to Rehekah, so simple, vet so i'm
posing, void of all affectation and vail
show, and at the same time romantic ant
sublime.


The cold formalities of etiquette were
unknown in those days of primitive sim
plicity. a great patriarch aud ruler send
ing his servant unto distant country tt
select maiden to become the wife of hi.
eldest son.


Boys and girls did not "spark" in those
days; they lived with their parents unit
they became men and women in the true
sense.


After Abraham had purchased fami
ly burying- place, and had buried Sarah
his wife in the cave of Machpelah in
Canaan, and being much stricken in years,
and blessed by Providence bountifully,
he called unto him his servant, and
swearing him by the Lord, the God of
heaven and the God of the earth, he then
commanded him to 90 unto his native
country and kindred, and select wife
for his son Isaac, and not take unto his
son wife from among the Canaanites.


Abraham promised that the Lord would
prosper him on his journey and in his
undertaking. Then Abraham's servant
arose, and taking ten of his masters cam
els, departed on his journey to the land
| nf AloSOnafot,io Il, -
When he arrived before the city, he stop
ped at well. 1t was evening, the sun
was sinking behind the western horizon
all nature seemed tuned in harmony
with the sweet cadence of the smiles Of
heaven. 1t was the hour when the young
damsels OF the city came out of the gates
to get water from the we'll at which
Abraham servant was stopping. What
strange place in these days for great
ruler to select a wife for his son
When Abraham's servant saw the
young damsels coming forth he thought
Of his masters directions, and he looked
to tire Lord and prayed that he would
show kindness unto his master, saying


"Let it come to pass that the damscl
to whom [ shall say let down thy pitcher,
| pray thee, that l may drink, and she
shall say drink, and | will give the cam
els drink also; let the same be she that
thou hast appointed for thy scryan,
Isaac"


And, before he had flushed his prayer
behold a damscl came out of the city with
pitcher npon her shoulder to carry wa
ter IN. She was very fair to look upon,
! and virgin, and the servant met her,
aud asked her for a drink of water, and
she said


"Drink, my lord"


After he had drunk, she said l.:
81 will draw water for thy camels also"


The servant was amazed to so soon see
the fuflment Of his prayer. After the
camels had done drinking he gave the
damsel rich gold ring and bracelet for
her hands


BY this it would seem the wearing Of
rings and bracelets is rather an ancient
custom.


Abraham's servant then made the in-
quiry, and found that the name of the
lovely damsel was Rebekah, "the daugh-
ter Of Bethuel, the son of Mccah, which
she bore unto Major" He thcu sought
lodging in her fathers house she told
him to come and stay.


Rebekah ran to her parents and told
them what had happened at the well
aud her brother went out Immediately
and invited them in they went and af,
ter they had ungirdled their camels and
given them provender, they sat down to
eat.


But the servant said, "I will not eat
until | had told mine Grand"


He then told them he was Abraham 8
servant, and that the Lord had blessed
his master greatly that he had focks
and herds, and silver and gold, and men
and maid-servants, and camels and asses,
and that his master had sent him hither
to seek out a damsel to become the wife
of his son Isaac and, after, relating what
had happened at the we'll, he asked them
for Rebekath.


Then they said


"Behold, Rebekah is before thee take
her and 60 thy way, and let her be thy |
masters sons wife as the Lord hath spok-
en-"


The servant then bowed himself to the
earth and worshipped the Lord after
which he gave Rebekah jewels of silver
and jewels of gold, and raiment and
many precious things to her brother
and he and the men with him did eat
and drink, and tarried all night at early
dawn, they arose, and he said unto Re
bekahs father and mother:


"Send me away unto my master"


But her mother said:


"Let the damsel abide with us few
days"


Then Abraham's servant said:


"linder me not, seeing the Lord hath
prospered my way


They called Rebekah, and asked her if
j. 4