the blush of maidenly modesty, but her dark eyes sparkled, and her tones were clear and distinct as she replied, her heart responding to the manifest call of Providence, "I have chosen, my father; I will go with him."

to meet in a foreign land the husband who was still an entire stranger to her.

As they drew near to Hebron, at the decline of the day, Rebekah saw a man walking in the fields, apparently lost in meditation; and struck by something in his appearance, she inquired of Eliezer the name of the unknown. When told that it was his master Isaac, she instantly alighted from the camel on which she rode, and covering herself with her veil, awaited his approach. Isaac took the fair Syrian at once to his heart and home, and in her love ceased to mourn the loss of Sarah his mother, though her memory was still tenderly cherished.

MIKE his illustrious father,

Isaac was for many years after his marriage childless, and he of whom it had been promised that his posterity should be as the sand of the seashore for multitude, was destitute of an heir. But when his faith had been sufficiently tried, God visited him, and made Rebekah the happy mother of twin sons, Esau and Jacob.

From their birth there was a marked difference between the children, which increased as they grew in years. Esau the elder was dark, with a rough hairy skin and a reserved disposition, loving hardship and courting danger; while Jacob was fair and ruddy, cheerful in temper, loving home and its simple pleasures better than wealth or fame.

Esau was the favorite with Isaac, who loved the savory meals of venison provided by his skill as a hunter; but the mother loved her youngest son, whose domestic tastes contributed so much more to her happiness than the pursuits of Esau.

While the brothers were still in early manhood, Esau came in one day from the field faint for want of food; and as Jacob had just made ready a dish of pottage, he begged for a portion of it. Instead of saying frankly and generously, Take it, brother, with my blessing," Jacob availed himself of this opportunity to obtain what he had long coveted, the birthright, or right of primogeniture, belonging of course to the eldest born.

This among the Hebrews involved numer

ous advantages, temporal and spiritual, and was highly valued by its possessor; but Esau, who seems to have been more like a Canaanite than a Hebrew, regarded it as of little worth. He readily assented to Jacob's proposal, and gave it in exchange for the food which his hunger craved; thus despising that which the promises of God had made the richest inheritance on earth.

It was probably about this time that, in consequence of a famine in Canaan, Isaac and his family removed to Gerar, among the Philistines, where Abimelech the son of Abraham's friend was now king. Here the fault of Abraham and Sarah was repeated by their children, and with a similar result. The great beauty of Rebekah, which seems not to have faded as she advanced in years, attracted the attention of the Philistines, who questioned Isaac concerning her, and were told by him, "She is my sister."

Coming after a while to the knowledge of the truth, Abimelech sharply rebuked Isaac for a falsehood, which might have brought great guilt upon the king and people of the