put it under his head and went to sleep. Suddenly he saw in his dream that a ladder seemed to reach from the earth to the sky, and angels were going up and down on it, and at the top the Lord Himself was standing and saying:—
"Jacob! the land where thou liest I give to thee, and to thy descendants."
Jacob got up and said:—
"How terrible it is here! This must be the house of God: I will come back and build a church here."
Then he lighted a shrine lamp, and went on his way. And he saw herdsmen guarding cattle. Jacob went and asked them whereabouts his uncle Laban lived. The herdsmen answered:—
"There is his daughter driving sheep to water."
Jacob went to her; she was finding it impossible to lift the stone from the well. Jacob lifted off the stone and gave the sheep water, and said:—
"Whose daughter are you?"
She replied: "Laban's."
"I am your cousin."
They exchanged kisses and went home together. His uncle Laban received him and said:—
"Jacob, live with me and I will pay you money."
Jacob said: "I will not serve for money; but give me your youngest daughter Rachel."
Laban said: "Live with me seven years and I will give you my daughter Rachel."
Jacob served seven years, and his uncle Laban gave Jacob Leah instead of Rachel. And Jacob said:—
"Uncle Laban, why have you cheated me?"
Laban said:—
"Live with me seven years longer, then I will give you my youngest daughter Rachel; but it is not our custom to give the youngest daughter first."
Jacob lived with his uncle seven years longer, and then Laban gave him Rachel.
About Joseph.[1]—Jacob had twelve sons. He loved Joseph best of them all, and he made for him a coat of
- ↑ From the book of the eight-year-old boy F.
