and when he had done drinking, she said, “I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.”  Thus did the maiden clearly prove that she possessed some of the qualities most necessary for a wife—­that ready self-forgetfulness, that kindness, cheerfulness, and desire to promote the happiness of others, that sunshine of the heart which sheds its brightening beams over all the clouds that darken domestic life.  Through all the ages of the world, in all the circumstances in which mankind are placed, the wife has ever need of them, and wisely may the suitor look for them.  But the servant of the patriarch, “still wondering, held his peace.”  Not until assured that she was of the race of the true worshippers of the God of Abraham, that she had been trained in the fear of the Lord, did he feel assured that the fair and kind Syrian damsel was to be chosen for the wife of his master’s son.  He had felt that the prayer was answered.  He had taken out the rich gifts intended for her, but he seems to hesitate as he says, “Whose daughter art thou!  Tell me, I pray thee, is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?” And she answered, “I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore unto Nahor.”

“And the man bowed down and worshipped the Lord, and he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth.  I being in the way, the Lord hath led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

The negotiation between the servant of Abraham and the father and brothers of Rebekah was soon concluded.  They deferred not the answer to be given, when the messenger had laid before them his errand, and told them of the wealth and honour of his master; and the whole transaction impresses us with an idea of the piety and kindness of the family of Bethuel.

The thing is from the Lord—­while the rich gifts, made to all the members of the family, proved the truth of the statements of the messenger, and perhaps enforced his plea.  Yet, when he urged the immediate departure of the bride for the tent of her husband, the hearts of the mother and of the brothers yet clung to the youthful maiden.  They shrank from a separation so sudden, so complete—­and they said, Let the damsel stay with us a few days—­at least ten.  Oh, do not snatch her away from us so suddenly.  But after that, she shall go.

And he said, “Hinder me not.  Seeing that the Lord hath prospered me, send me away that I may go to my master.”  And they said, “We will call the maiden, and inquire at her mouth.”  And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, “Wilt thou go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.”

Are we not, even at this period, taught lessons of parental wisdom, in the care displayed by the ancient patriarch respecting the choice of a wife for his son?  In the care taken to secure an unstained parentage in one who had been early trained in the habits of piety and godly principles of action?  The character of the family is often stamped upon each member, and the marked features are transmitted from generation to generation, even where the character of the woman may be modified by her new relations.  As she advances in years she often returns to the habits of her youth, while she almost invariably adopts the practice of her own mother in the early nurture and training of her children.