“Lots of times. It will bear it. But what about Hobab, Frank? Much you care about the old chap, don’t you? Davie, come here and listen to Frank.”
“If you would only give Frank a chance to speak,” said his mother, smiling.
“Did Hobab go, do you think, aunt?” asked Frank.
“He refused to go,” said Jem. “Don’t you remember he said, ‘I will not go, but I will depart into my own land, and to my kindred?’”
“Yes; but that was before Moses said, ‘Thou mayest be to us instead of eyes, forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in this wilderness.’ You see, he had a chance of some adventures; that might tempt him. Do you think he went, aunt?”
“I cannot tell; afterwards we hear of Heber the Kenite, who was of the children of Hobab; and his wife took the part of the Israelites, when she slew Sisera. But whether he went with the people at that time, we do not hear. Very likely he did. I can understand how the people’s need of him as a guide, or a guard, might have seemed to him a better reason for casting in his lot with the people, than even the promise that Moses gave him, ‘Come with us and we will do thee good.’”
“That is to say, mamma, he would rather have a chance to help others, than the prospect of a good time for himself. That is not the way with people generally,” said Jem, shaking his head gravely.
“It is not said that it was the way with Hobab,” said his mother; “but I am inclined to think, with Francis, that perhaps it might have been so.”
“He must have been a brave man and a good man, or Moses would not have wanted him,” said David.
“And if he went for the sake of a home in the promised land, he must have been disappointed. He did not get there for forty years, if he got there at all,” said Jem.