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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 15, 1900)
Jephthah’s Daughter: A Story of Patriarchal Times, By JULIA MAGRUDER... COPTBXOBTBD 1890, 1894 AITS 1808 BT BOBZBT BOKITBB’S SOWS. CHAPTER II.—(Continued.) She knelt behind the curtain of her window as the troop came near, es corting their leader to his home, but her father knew this way of hers, and sent a glad giance upward as he dis mounted. Adina saw and understood the look, and quick as thought, glanced upward, too; but while the look of Jephthah lingered on Namarah’s case ment, the look of the young man was hastily withdrawn, and even In the golden flush of the sunset the hue of his cheek deepened. Namarah saw that it did, and the consciousness sud denly reminded her that she was thinking of some one eUe beside her father, at the moment of his return from battle, and that was a thing that had never happened before. She rose to her feet and flew down the stairs to meet Jephthah at the entrance to his chamber, as the body of soldiers passed onward down the street. Into his arms she sprang, her soft flesh crushed against the metal of his armor, and her hands clasped tight about his neck; nor would she loose her hold when he had kissed and fon dled her repeatedly. “Dost thou love thy old father so Indeed?” he asked. “And art thou trembling? Why, maiden, thou art a soldier’s child, and battles are his dally work. Wilt thou never lose thy timorousness? Thou lovest thy old father too much, my little one. Thou shouldst have some one else to spend thy woman’s heart upon. I would fain see thee married, with a husband and children of thy own to love." But at these words, behold the maiden hurst into great sobs, and clung to his neck weeping, and de claring earnestly that she wanted no husband—she wanted no love that would separate her from her father. Then did Jephthah soothe and caress her full tenderly, until the smiles had scattered the tears, and Bbe took his armor from him, as was her custom, and led him to his favorite seat, that he might rest As she stood holding the great breast plate In her little hands, she said sud denly: “Am not I as good an armor bearer as the tall young man thou sentest here this morning?” Whereat she laughed, softly and blushed again. “That thou art,” answered Jephthah, fondly. “No one could perform the office better than thou dost do It But what thoughtest thou of the young man Adina?” “He seemeth to he a soldler-llke young man enough,” Namarah an swered, carelessly, and fell to polish ing with a fold of her white gown the shield she was holding. “Thou carest aa little for him, I see, as for the others of his kind; but, Na marah, see that thou ever treatest him kindly when he cometh In thy way. But tor, his courage In the sudden at tack this morning, thy father might be with thee now dead Instead of living.” CHAPTER III. As he told the story of the young man’s bravery and self-devotion, Na marah'a eyes grew brilliant, and her breath came thick and fast; and as Jephthah dwelt upon the imminent danger that had threatened both, a look so terrified came Into her face that he said again, as he had said so often: “Thou lovest thy old father too much." It often happened, after this, that the young man Adina would come to the house in company with Jephthah, or by his ordering or permission, and make his way to the great room where were kept all manner of pieces of ar mor and weapons, and other trappings of war. And at times it transpired that, as he approached the house, Namarah would be in the garden feeding her doves. Sometimes he would pass on with only a gracious reverence to her, but again he would wax bolder and come near, laughing with her to see the white birds scatter at his approach, and then, as he would stand very still by Namarah's side, settle back content edly at her feet and go on with their breakfast. He delighted to see her feed them from her mouth; and they soon grew so accustomed to him that they would fly to her without heeding him, sometimes perching for a moment on his shoulders,and hopping thence to hers. “They are carrier birds," she said one morning, as he stood beside her thus. She looked up in his face and smiled, but quickly her eyes dropped to the doves at her feet “Hast thou tested them?" he asked. “And will they, indeed, bear tidings to thee from afar?" “Truly,I cannot tell thee of mine own knowledge," she made answer; “but I know it is their nature, and I feel as sured that if one of my birds should be taken far away it would return to me.” "Maiden, I well believe it," he re plied. And at these words, so gently spoken, lo, there came into her cheeks again that treacherous rose-color which he alone, or the mention of him, had power to summon there, “Dost thou believe it?" she made an swer. "Then, truly, thou mayst test it some day. When next thou goeBt on a Journey, thou mayst take one of my white doves with thee, and we shall see whether or not It will return." "So belt, maiden," he replied. “There is even now a message I would fain send thee by It, had I the courage." And as he spoke he turned and left her, before the wonderment his words had roused found voice in speech. "What message?" she murmured again and again, speaking In hushed silence to her own heart as she wan dered alone about the garden, or sat with her maidens at her embroidery. They were engaged upon the task of working a rich vestment for the high priest, and no one had so fine an eye for the blending of colors, nor such deft fingers in handling the brilliant silk and golden threads with which they wrought, as Namarah. But as she sat at work today her mind and senses were preoccupied, so that the silks got tangled in her fingers, and the colors were mismatched In a clumsy manner that none had ever seen In Namarah before. That evening, when her father Jeph thah came home, there was a look up on his face that made Namarah anxious. When their evening meal was ended, he called the maiden to him, and fondling her with more than his usual lovingness, he revealed to her the care he had upon his mind. ^ “I .have not told thee of it, child,” he said, "because that I refrained to cause tLee uneasiness until the time were come; but of late there hath been great trouble and strife in the land of Israel, and the children of Ammon have made war against it And in con sequence of this a strange thing has happened unto me, for, behold, the el ders of Gilead have come to fetch me out of the land of Tob that I may be their captain to fight against the child ren of Ammon. But I spake unto them and said: ‘Did ye not hate me and ex pel me out of my father’s house, and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?’ And the elders of Israel said unto me: ‘Therefore we turn again unto thee now, that thou mayst go with us and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.’ Then said I unto the elders of Gilead: ‘If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivers them before me, shall I be your head?’ And behold they an swered: “The Lord be witness between us, if we do not according to thy words.’ ’’ Now, as he spake, the maiden Na marah had felt her heart within her smitten with a great and mighty fear. "Go not, my father,” she pleaded, hanging about his neck and hiding her face against him. "Did not the elders of Gilead thrust thee out and disown thee? Why goest thou then to fight against their enemies?” But Jephthah answered and said: “These be the enemies of the Lord, my daughter, who have lifted up their hands against His people Israel, and I must even go forth to meet them, strong in the power of bis might.” But Namarah only wept and clung to him, and said: “Let my words find favor with thee, O my father, and go not forth to battle, lest thou lose thy life, and I be left alone and comfortless.” “I would fain have thee take my tid ings more submissively, my little one,” made answer Jephthah, as he stroked the masses of her unbound hair. “Thy father is a soldier, and thou art a sol dier’s child; and I would have thee gird my armor on, and wish me God speed against the enemies of the Lord and His people, trusting in His power, to bring me back, triumphant and vic torious into thy arms again. But Namarah seemed to get no com fort from his words, and answered only: “Do not leave me. Thou art all I have.” “My child, my little child,” said Jephthah, with a mighty sweetnesa in hia voice, ‘if often grievea thy father's heart that it ia even ao. Thou never kneweat a mother’s care and love, and though, God knoweth, I have tried to let thee feel no lack of tenderness, yet often it doth trouble me that thou hast on earth no binding tie of love save this to me; and it would even fill my soul with comfort to see thee wed to one who might worthily cher ish thy youth and protect thy tender ness.” But Namarah, with her face still hid against him, only shook her head, as if in strong opposition to his words. “Child, bethink thee,” Jephthah said, when he had gently kissed and stroked her head in silence for a moment, “it must never be for thee to die unwed, for who knows but the will and pur pose of the great God may be that thou shalt be chosen among women to be the mother of thy people's deliverer? It hath even seemed to me that in the eyes of the Almighty thy meekness and pureness and humility may have found such grace, that this great hon or, wherewith one woman is to be hon ored above all others, may come to rest upon thee. Forget not this, my daugh ter, and order thy mind to become a true and loving wife, as thou hast been to me a true and loving daughter. Whether this glory above all glories may be destined for thee or not, grieve not thy father’s heart by refusing to be wed, so that he may see thee with thy children about thee before he dleth and sleepeth with his fathers.” Namarah made no answer, but her fluttering breath grew calm and though she spake no word to signify her ac quiescence in his desires, yet neither did she gainsay him any more, a thing whereat her father marveled. How ever, he spake not the thought that was in his mind, but was thankful in the silence of his heart After these weak and faint-hearted words, the brave spirit of the girl came to her again, and she went about her household duties, and particularly the ; preparations for her fa ther’s going forth to war with a courage even greater than her wont. Her father she loaded more and more with endearments and cares ses, but she ever avoided speech about his coming dangers in the field, except that once she said to him suddenly, and with her head bent low over her work: ‘‘Will It be that thou takest with thee thine armor-bearer—the young man, Adina?” And Jephthah answered: ‘Ay.” , “Then,” said she, with her head still ben.., “It is well done, for truly he hath said to me that he would shield thy body with his own. But go not into danger, my father. Be careful of his life and of thine own.” ' “Thou speakest unwisely, maiden, and not as a soldier’s daughter. Thou knowest that in battle a brave man must not shun the place of danger, but if he trusteth in the Lord no harm can hurt him. Adina also is a man that feareth God, and therefore will we trust to be delivered and brought home in safety.” “Amen!” the maiden said, full rev erently, and bent her head more lowly yet, as one who prayeth. The full moon rose o’er Jephthah’s garden on the eve of bis going forth to battle, and Jephthah’s daughter stood alone and held her heart to lis ten. Her white robe fluttered in the cool air of evening and clung about her slender limbs; and standing there, her pale face settled into a mute repose, she looked like a fair white statue, clad in a wind-blown raiment No sound disturbed the stillness of the night, except the cooing of the doves in their house close by. But, after lonlg waiting, there mingled with this the tread of approaching footsteps. The folds of her white gown trembled on her breast, as if the heart beneath them fluttered. Nearer came the foot steps through the trees, beneath the overhanging vines, until the moonlight revealed the tall form and noble fea tures of the young man Adina. “Is it thou, O maiden?” he asked, stopping a few paces from her. ‘The, God of Israel bless thee that thoi|^ heardest my prayer, and hast let me? speak to thee, before I go to battle. Hast thou no thought, Namarah, of| the words I have come to speak?” f The doves cooed and gabbled wltlji their little muttering sounds, but N&i marah answered not. They stood pace or two apart—the maiden Nama rah and the young man Adina—but still the silence was unbroken. “Hast thou even brought me here to break my heart, Namarah?” the young man said. “I love thee maiden, and unless thou’lt love me in return, thf God of Israel grant that I may fall li) battle, for my life is naught to m^ without thee.” (To be continued.) | Master of the Steam. J * There Is one thing for which an en* gineer Is noted. This Is the absolute obedience of orders. He is brought u$ on that from the time he starts to fli> Ing till he becomes a graduate and takes charge of an engine. Then h# becomes the Instructor of others, and* of course, never loses the main pointy There is a story told illustrative o$ this. Two men were applicants foi positions on one of the railroads in Boston not long ago. They both want-' ed to be engineers, and there was but one place vacant. The superintendent before whom they appeared asked one^ a question, which ran after this fash-} ion: “Suppose you were on a siding with orders for a train to pass. Aj message would go over the wire that the oncoming train for which you were waiting was two hours late. What would you do?” The first one was asked the question, and he pulled his hat down over his face and said: “I dunno. That is the conductor’s job] not mine.” The superintendent said he might leave his address, and if they needed him they would drop him a line. The second man was standing at a respectful distance, with his cap In his hand, and was asked the same question, “I tell you, sir,” he said, “if the orders looked all right, and I thought the signature t?is good and all that, I would stand on that siding forever.” “I guess you had better re port to the roundhouse for duty,” said the superintendent.—Boston Journal. In the Tunnel. A young governess, going on a long journey, was recommended, among oth er means ot precaution when passing through a tunnel, always to put her hand in the pocket in which she kept her money, so that it might not be stolen. She acted upon the advice, and on coming to a tunnel put her hand in her pocket, but was startled on finding it already occupied by another. She grasped the intrusive hand and held it firmly until the train emerged Into daylight, when the gentleman sitting next to her explained, with a smile, that both hands were in his pocket.— Weekly Telegraph. FABM AND GAUDEN. MATTERS OF INTEREST TO AGRICULTURISTS. Sons* Cp-to-Dat* Uinta About Col* tlvmtlon of the Soli and Tlelda Tberoof—Horticulture, VI Uc altar* and Floriculture. Uortlenltural Obaerratlona. Irrigation on a large scale Is seldom feasible for the middle west. Yet in many places it will pay the gardener to do a little experimenting. From this he may get only an increased fund of Information, and he may get real benefits. We do not suggest that the first experiments be on any large scale. There are here and there brooks run ning through nearly level fields, and such brooks are susceptible of being utilized at some part of their course in Irrigating at least a few square rods of garden land or of land on which small fruit is being grown. We hope that many trials of this kind will ba en tered on, and that the results will be reported to the Farmers' Review. We have in this part of the country some notable examples of the success of ir rigating garden patches. At the asy lum at Kankakee, 111., a 40-acre garden patch has been under irrigation for years, and it has produced enormous quantities of garden truck. Here and there successful experiments of this kind are being carried on as far east as the Hudson river. We do not be lieve It will pay to irrigate gardens, except where the natural conditions are such that it can be done success fully and at little cost, but we are certain that many opportunities of that kind exist that are now not recog nized. Why not beautify the farm by set ting out here and there a few ever greens? Deciduous trees have their advantages, but the advantages of the evergreens are peculiar to themselves. In winter, when other trees are bare, the evergreens have a peculiar interest. Who has not contrasted an evergreen forest in winter with a forest of oaks or other trees? Even in the cold and windy days there is a calm among the evergreens that rests and almost warms one. We do not advise the planting of evergreens in excess, nor In positions where they will surround the house, but in places where they may be of value and beauty. We have seen them planted so thickly about houses that they became a men ace to the health of the family. We have Been them planted in lawns by the hundreds and so close that many of them had to die out and presented the appearance from year to year of red and unsightly dead trees. But planted in a grove and on land that is of little value for other things they add tQjfthe beauty of the farm. Often there are rocky hill tops that can be utilized. In the east most of the mountains are forested with ever greens that have taken root and de veloped even where the soil would ap pear toonoor and thin to support any thing. This fact should be a sugges tion on how to utilize our bare and rocky hill-tops. RadUlie*. To have fresh, crisp, brittle radishes they should be grown quickly—that is, the soil should be quite rich and kept constantly loose and fine as deeply as possible by frequent hoeings. They are quite hardy, and the first sowings may be made in the open ground when the trees are starting in leaf. A selec tion of varieties maturing in succes sion Bhould be planted, or else fresh plantings should be made every week or ten days. Small plantings made frequently will give the most satisfac tory results for the home garden. For the earliest plantings select the small, very early varieties. Later in the sea son the larger summer varieties should be grown, and in July and August sowings of the winter varieties should be made. In August and September sowings should be made of small early spring varieties for fall use. Sow the seed thinly in shallow drills one-half inch deep and cover with fine soil; make the rows far enough apart to admit of frequent workings, and when the young plants are well started thin out the small early varieties to two Inches apart in the row, summer varieties to four inches and winter varieties to six Inches apart. Gather while young and tender and Just be fore needed for the table.—Burpee. Conservation of Moisture. Howard B. Cannon, writing in the Michlngan Farmer, tells of a visit to the Michigan Agricultural College and of his attendance at a lesson in soil physics. In part he says: On one table there stand twenty cylinders of galvanized iron. Each cyl inder is so constructs! as to allow a column of soil thirty inches deep to stand with it3 lower end touching wa ter. There is no evaporation allowed save from the upper end of the cyl inder, where the soil is exposed to the air. The area of this surface is one-tenth of a square foot, which makes comparison with field areas easy; all results may be figured in terms of acres and tons. The twenty cylinders were used to study the ef fect of cultivation to various depths, and also the effect of various mulches, sets of ten being used for each pur pose. The cylinders in which the ef fect of cultivation to various depths as shown in terms of water evaporated during the period, were carefully filled with good soil. From two cylinders soil was removed to the depth of one inch; this portion was worked up in the hands till thoroughly loosened, then it was replaced and the excess struck off. Two cylinders received a similar cultivation two inches deep, two more three inches deep, and two were broken up to the depth of four inches. The remaining pair of cylin ders served as checks. Evaporation for 28 days as follows: Depth of cultivation. 0 in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 0 Equivalent ex Evaporation, pressed in Grams, tons per acre. 212 442 274 156 107 55 66 96 138 262 451 131 74.9 61.4 26.41 31.69 46.1 63.3 125.8 218 Averaging the results from the indi vidual cylinders there is shown the following results—speaking in terms of tons of water evaporated from one acre: No cultivation, 215.1 tons; one inch deep, 128.7 tons; two inches, 70.6 tons; three inches, 48.75 tons; four inches, 29.05 tons. The set of cylinders used to Bhow the effect of mulches of various kinds of soil were arranged as follows: The cylinders were carefully filled with good soil. Two were left for checks and two inches of soil removed from each of the other cylinders. This was replaced by coarse sand, fine sand, clay and muck. During the twenty-eight days the amount of water evaporated from each group was as follows: Check, 464 grams; coarse sand, 37% grams; fine sand, 45 grams; clay, 535 grams; muck 178% grams. In this it appears tha‘ a little fine clay placed above th good soil helps to pump it out Preparing Boll for Millet. The preparation of soil for millet does not differ greatly from the prepa ration required for growing the corn crop. The millets, like corn, are sur face feeders, and so can use the fer tility In the soil to best advantage when it lies near the surface. For this reason the plowing does not need to be deep, and the surface of the soil should receive the most attention in tbe fining. The soils that are heavy with clay should' be avoided, and the same is true of soils with more than a fair proportion of sand. It is evi dent that since the plants feed near the surface a too sandy soil will expose the roots to the effects of drouth. As it is during the heat of summer that the millet receives its time for devel opment it is obvious that it is not advisable to place the roots In a posi tion that will make them certain to be dried out. Millets stand drouth well and grow rapidly, but they must have a fair soil in which to become well established. For the spring crop of millet the land must be plowed just after the plowing for corn has been finished. It is useless to put the seed in while the ground is cold and damp, for it is subject to the same dangers as is corn; it will rot in the ground and have to be replanted. It might be put in at the same time as corn, but where the corn crop is being put in there is no necessity of putting in the millet till after the corn crop, thus giving time to do the corn planting properly. Millet grows and matures much quicker than corn, hence the lack of necessity for haste. When soils that contain much clay must be used, a good deal of work will have to be done to get them in shape. This work cannot oe done till the ground is dry enough so the clods can be pulverized by the working. It does not pay to attempt to grow millet on badly prepared clay soil. One reason why the preparation is often delayed till after corn planting is that by late preparation the weeds are given a chance to start and are then turned under. They do not again come to the surface till the millet has got to grow ing, when it will keep them down. C»« Mature Boar* and Sow*. James Bray, at a Canadian insti tute, said: A farmer can go into swine breeding with very little outlay of capital, and the returns to be se cured from this branch of stock rais ing are very substantial. A farmer in going into hog raising must be care ful to get the breeds best suited to the requirements of the market, and if dis tricts were to adopt the same breed of hogs it would be to the advantage of all the farmers to breed from imma ture stock as light weight pork is given the preference in the markets; but in the end the results from this immature breeding are not beneficial. It is only by proper selection and re tention of the best animals, as well as the best breeds, that the best results can be secured. The use of mature sires is one of the surest means to ensure improvement and success in swine breeding. The sires should be kept in comfortable and commodious quarters. The sow should not be bred too young, for by so doing her de velopment will be retarded. The sows should be bred as near the same time as possible, so that there will be a uniform lot of pigs to feed and mar ket. Care must be exercised in the bringing up of the litters. They should be fed a liberal allowance of skimmed milk, shorts and ground oats after weaning, and then gradually brought on to barley meal. After weaning the sows must be properly looked after, they should oe well fed and let run on pasture. Great care should be taken not to have the Growing Nasturtiums.—The seeds of nasturtiums may be planted in the spring where the plants are to grow, when the trees are well cut in leaf, or they may be started earlier, in pots indoors, for planting out in the flower bed or vases, and giving earlier bloom than from the seed sown in the open ground. When planted in pots not more than one or two seeds should be planted in each pot. The man who has his mind made up to do wrong has used a false make-up. Working Women ore Invited to write to Mrs, Pinkham for froo advloe shout tholr health, Mrs, Pinkham is a wo man, if you havo painful periods, baokaohes or any of the more serious Ills of women, writs to Mrs, Pinkham; she has helped multitudes. Your letter will bo saorodly confidential, Lydia E, Pinkham9s Vegetable Compound is known wherever the Eng* llsh language is spoken. Nothing else oan possi bly be so sura to help suf fering women. No other medlolno has helped so many, < Remember this when something else Is sug gested, Mrs, Pinkham9s ad dross is Lynn, Mass, Nor helping hand Is always outstretched to suffering women, Magnetic Starcb Is the very beat laundry starch in the world. Bow's TblsT We offer One Hundred Dollars reward for any ease of Catarrh that casuot be cured by Hall's Catarrh Cure. P. J. CHENEY & CO., Props., Toledo, O. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the last IB years and believe him perfectly honorable In all business transactions and financially able to carry out any obliga tions made by their firm. West St, Truax. Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, 0-; Walding, Kinnan & Marvin, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, Ohio. Hall's Catarrh Cure Is taken Internally, act ing directly upon the blood and mucous surfaoes of the system. Testimonials sent fre& Price f5c per bottle. Sold by all druggists. Hall’s Family Pills are the best. If you have not tried Magnetic Starch try it now. You will then use no other. A Book of Choice Recipes Bent free by Walter Baker a Co. hut, Dorchester, Maas. Mention thla paper. Try Magnetic Starch—it will last longer than any other. Planning to Paper This Spring? There b Doth Ins that will go COM* PLETELY Trana form your HOME In point of HEALTH and BEAUTY aa our SELECT 1 WALL PAPER. Wei carry ALL the latest design:! at poiv alar prices, from 3^ to 80 cents per single roll. Our large trade enables us to handle the complete line IN CARLOAD LOTS, hence we can price ALL gradrt surpris ingly IX)W. A full Hue of Samples sent, all charges prepaid, f REE upon request. Our Spring Catalogue of 1,000 pages, fling tret log some of the line Tn MTl'»!AL COLORS, will be •ent preraid upon re ceipt of 15c, which pays part of the ex --—-- ■■■ pr«« cnarges, ua will be refunded on receipt of your first order. This catalogue quotes •bolHsla price* on EVERYTHISQ jou EAT, WEAR nnd USX. E«UhlUhad JOHN M. SMYTH COMPANY. IflffI- IM to IM West Madluo St, (M«r by this No. A 11 CHICAGO, ILL. SLICKER WILL KEEP YOU DRY. Don't be fooled with a mackintosh or rubber coat If youwantacoat that will keep you dry in the hard est storm buy the Fish Brand Slicker. If not for sale In your town, write for catalogue to A. J. TOWER, Boston, Mass, It Stiffens the Goods It Whitens the Goods It polishes the Goods It makes all garments fresh and crisp a* when first bought new. Try a Sample Package }j You’ll like It if you try it. You'll buy it if you try it. You’ll use it if you try it. Try if. * Sold by all Grocer*. WANTED SOLDIERS’ HOMESTEADS Tb# addresses of all renera! Soldiers, their widows or heirs, who made'a HOME STEAD FILING on less than 160 acres on or before June 22, 1874, no matter whether FINAL PROOF was made or not. Iwlll buy Land Warrants. Address Comrade W. E. M O S K a. Box 1385, Denver, Colorado. ■kpamftMJlIHM W. MOHR IS, nCNdlUPI Washington, I>. C. W0Successfully Prosecutes Claim*. ■ Lat ePMnctDal Examiner U.S. Pension Bureau. ■ 3 yra in oivu war. IS adjudicating claims, atty since. -4