72 HOUSE OF1 BRkEAD.

her what to do. After the feast she went softly to Boaz
and said, I am Ruth; thou art a near kinsman." Yes,
Boaz had been thinking of that, too. 1 I said, Blessed
be thou, my daughter, for thou followest not young men,
whether poor or rich." Boaz was so much older than
Ruth he spoke like a father. But," he said, there is a
kinsman nearer than I; if he will do his part, well, if not,
then I will." As she was going away he said, Bring the
veil that thou hast upon thee;" then he measured six
measures of barley and put in the veil, saying, Go not
empty unto thy mother-in-law."
 The next day Boaz went to the citv gate. He saw
the other kinsman coming; "Ho," he said, sit down
here." Then to ten of the elders of the city he said, "Sit
ye down here." Then to the kinsman, Naomi, the widow
who came back from Moab, has a piece of land to be
bought back by the nearest of kin; but it must also be
redeemed of Ruth, and you must make her your wife."
" I cannot do it," said the kinsman. Then I will do it,"
said Boaz, and to the elders, "Ye are witnesses that I have
bought back all that was Naomi's husband's, and that I
take Ruth to be my wife." So Ruth was loved and cared
for. Do you think she was ever sorry for her choice ?
 By the next year's harvest a child was in the house
of Boaz and Ruth, and Naomi took the baby in her
arms and nursed it, rejoicing. From her child and fam-
ily came Christ the Babe of Bethldeem."