The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-07-17
lBElSBURG. July Il. 1851.

the nercies of God and His power, she replied,
''shat were He powerful, He could not be mer-
ciful, or He would not have taken her husband
and child away without taking her Also" All
l could say made 40 impression, nor seemed to
abate her determination, and time would not
permit my stay, nor did ever chance again to
traverse the same scenes; but 1 have no doubt,
from my knowledge of Indian character, she
subsequently carried her --eselrtien into effect
Solomon and the Two Mothers.
Solomon is supposed to have been under
twenty years Of age at the time of his fathers
death. Josephus, the historian, speaks Of him
as being mere youth when he took upon him
self the honors and responsibilities of king
His father had been blest in remarkable man
ner during his reign, and the expectations of
the people being raised very high, Solomon felt
his own weakness and inability of himself to
meet their wishes; he therefore depended upon
the God of his father TO qualify him for the
discharge of the duties of his important station.
His discernment and wisdom were soon thor
oughly tested There came two women who
were ''harlots," and made known to the king
the fact that there was a difficulty existing
between them.
One proceeded to make q statement Of the
case, and said that she, and the one with her,
occupied house by themselves, and each Of
them had a son, and there was but three days
difference in their ages; thus they were living
by themselves, no one else being present, when
the death of her companions child suddenly
occurred during the night. The mother of the
deceased arose cautiously at midnight, and
placed the little corpse by her side, and took
the living child to her bosom! The one who
had permitted her to tell her pitifuI tale with
out interruption, then declared the statement
was false for the living child belonged to her
self!
What was the young King Solomon to do in
such an intricate case as this? Ye prudes in
virtue and discretion, what would We have
done? As there were no witnesses in this
transaction, and both parties were alike siren
uous and positive, the cause became extremely
difficult; and probably it was referred TO the
kings hearing because it had proved too diff
cult for the inferior judges. Solomon, in de-
termined manner, commanded one in his pres
ence to hand him sword and he said, s'Divide
the living child-give half to one and half to
the other" The true mother beseechingly ex-
claimed, ''Oh, my Lord, give her the living
child, and in no wise slay it." The other in
sisted the divisionl The king proved the
parentage by exposing the workings of maternal
love, and bestowed the living child upon her
who would have given it to another rather than
have it slain in its innocence an Offering to the
enUy of an unprincipled woman. The one who
consented to the division, perhaps expected. to
obtain Solomon's favor by this acquiescence :;
but she betrayed the want of natural affection,
and her resentment against her competitor;
while the other expressed the feelings of
mother in an artless and inimitable manner
When the people saw that by this extraordi-
nary measure Solomon had extorted the truth
beyond all further doubt, they revered and
stood in awe of him, Notwithstanding his yonth,
perceiying that the wisdom of God was in him,
enabling him to judge with degree of pru-
dence and propriety, far beyond his years and
their lofty expectations.-IMrs II. ID. Morton.