This unaccountable preference, unless it was because it was proffered by
her son, it would seem, must have produced unhappiness and discomfort,
on her part, on witnessing this daughter the livelong night restlessly
turning from side to side, and her child restless and crying. But not
one expression of regret was manifested the next day by either mother or
son.
The day after the incident referred to above occurred, a kind friend
whispered in Joseph's ear a truth, which, perhaps, till then had been
entirely overlooked by him. This friend reminded him that when he
plighted his vows to his young wife at the altar, he did most solemnly
promise, agreeably to God's ordinance, "that he would forsake father and
mother, and all others, and he would cleave to his wife, and to her
alone; that he would take her for better or for worse."
We may laud the conduct of Naomi and Ruth in their beautiful attachment
to each other, at the point of history where they are first introduced
to us. But their love to each other was doubtless greatly modified by
the circumstances into which they were now brought. They had a
remarkable sympathy and fellow-feeling for each other in their
sufferings. That son and husband, the bond of this tender and happy
union, and the occasion had there been any strife between them when this
loved object was living, was now forever removed from them, and not a
trace of any thing to blame or to regret was still remembered by them.
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