In Naaman's House

BY MARIAN MacLEAN FINNEY
THE ABINGDON PRESS NEW YORKCINCINNATI
Copyright, 1922, by MARIAN MacLEAN FINNEY
Printed in the United States of America
TO MY FRIENDS
“Other blessings may be taken away, but if we have acquired a good friend, we have a blessing which improves in value when all others fail.”
“I like not the maiden, Caleb. No good will come of taking in this daughter of strange people.”
“Thy words belie thy kind heart, Sarah. Thou wert willing to take under our care the child of my kinsman, even though estranged from his father’s house by his marriage. I fear, however,” and the man’s voice was troubled, “that we shall not be able to make her happy.”
“Make her happy!” broke in the woman’s indignant tones. “I fear that she will not be able to make herself useful. She hath not so far.” Then, more gently, “Yet is she welcome to all we can do for her now that she hath no kin save us, but I am fearful because her mother was of the natives of Canaan so that she hath not been instructed in the way of Jehovah. If she should have a wrong influence over our little Miriam!”
The woman in the doorway glanced over her shoulder at the scene within the dwelling where an animated conversation was in progress.
“Awake, Judith. I myself have awaked early. See, the door hath been opened and the fresh morning breezes blow sweet after the night-time when no air cometh in at all. Father hath almost finished leading out the animals. Did they bother thee last night with their stamping? Peradventure some wild animal was prowling about outside. Is it not a fine arrangement to have the mangers built between their part of the house and ours? And is it not comforting to know that at night and on stormy days they are safe under the same roof with us? Art thou still asleep?”
An older maiden sprang to her feet. “Who could sleep through thy chatter, Miriam? Thou makest more noise than the oxen and the asses and the cow and the calf all put together.” But a smile tempered the severity of the speech.