"When God speaks, obey, O my son!" the old father would say. And one day there came to Abraham, and Isaac too, a trial of their faith. A vision came again to Abraham. And in the vision the Lord spoke, saying, "Arise, Abraham, and go and prepare an altar upon the mountain. And when the altar is ready, place thy son Isaac upon the altar; for I would that he be sacrificed--a burnt offering--to me." Poor old Abraham! There was nothing in all the world so dear to him as this child, Isaac; but although his heart was sore and heavy, the old man rose and did as he was bid. And when the altar was ready, he called Isaac and told him what the vision had said. For a minute the brave boy's cheek grew pale; his heart beat fast. Then he permitted his father to bind him hand and foot and lay him upon the altar. Abraham lifted the knife to slay the boy; when, lo! his hand was held, and a voice said, "Harm not the lad; for now I do know that thou lovest God more than all else beside." With trembling hands Abraham unbound the cords that held Isaac, and the boy leaped down from the altar. Then, with tears of gratitude, they knelt and thanked God for his mercy. Then the voice spake again: "Because you have done this thing I will bless thee; and all nations shall be blessed through thy children." One day Abraham's wife, Sarah, lay down and died, and Abraham bought the field of Machpelah and made for her a burial place. "Now," said Abraham to Isaac, "it is right that you should find a wife and bring her to dwell in our tent. But take not a wife from the people of Canaan, for they are idolaters. Go rather to Mesopotamia, and there take the wife that God may allot thee." So a trusty old servant was sent into Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac,--a woman who should be beautiful and good, and whose faith was like that of Abraham. [Illustration: REBEKAH AT THE WELL. (_Goodall._)] REBEKAH. His house she enters, there to be a light, Shining within, when all without is right. It was just upon the edge of the village, and just as the sun was sinking, that the servant came to the well from which the village folk drew water. And there, with a pitcher in her hand, stood a maiden, as beautiful as ever maiden could be. "Whose daughter art thou?" the servant asked. And the maiden answered, "I am Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, of the house of Abraham." Then the servant was glad; for he knew now that the maiden was as good, and her religion as pure, as she was beautiful. So he went to the home of Bethuel, and told his errand into Mesopotamia. He told Bethuel of the godly life Abraham had led, and of the noble youth, Isaac. And he asked that he might choose Rebekah for Isaac's wife and carry her back with him to Canaan. The heart of Bethuel was glad; and Rebekah, too, was glad to go; for already she loved the brave lad, Isaac, so proudly had the old servant told the story of his brave deeds and godly life.