San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-15

was about to apply the shamir to split it, and
thus gain access to his brood, when Benaiah
uttered a startling cry. In alarm the fowl
dropped the shamir, which was caught in
triumph by Benaiah, and given in due course
to Solomon.
The temple was completed, and Ashmodai
still was held in bondage. Solomon rioted in
his glory and strength. What treasures did
he gather, what palaces erect, what magnifi-
cent cities establish The world was ram
sacked to add to his pleasures, yet be was
never satisfied. His ambition, his pride his
love of grandeur and extravaganza, were I'M
quenchable
80 king" said Ashmodai one day, as he
noticed Solomon in a restless mood, thou art
become, thanks to my help, the miGhtiest Of
mortals But, chained as l am, my powers
are limited. Set me free, intrust to me but
for moment thy signet ring, and | shall
make thee still mightier."
The king heard, and, full of boastful pride,
handed him the precious ring and struck Off
the chain that bound him.
The air grew black without the palace hall
A huge Kissing made Solomon turn pale.
Ashmodai rose to an immense height. His
feet touched the earth, but his head reached
the sky He hurls the ring into the sea; he
casts Solomon thousand miles away. Then,
with the utmost unconcern, he dons Solomon's
robes and assumes the monarch's privilege
Thus began the tragedy of Solomon's wan
behring's. AS beggar, unknown and uncared
for, he Travelled from land to land.
Spurned by the populace, thrust from his
palace gate, despised and rejected, Solomon
turned i'll despair from Jerusalem; and one
evening as its towers were bathed in the
moonlight he began his wanderings anew.
Toward the royal city of Ammon he betook
himself, and soon arrived at the palace, at
whose gate he knocked as humbly as the
lowest slave in the realm.
Take pity on me-" said he, in tones of
entreaty, as the gate was opened. II am
starving and foot sore from travel. am
willing to do any service for little shelter"
~ do need help" the royal cook exclaimed.
Enter, and thou canst abide with u.s."
1t was Solomon's duty to carry wood, to
draw water, and perform other mental service,
but the cook quickly noticed that the man
was superior to such work, and the cook made
him his assistant.
The dishes that Solomon prepared pleased
the king, and he was appointed chief steward.
How the household rejoiced at his advance
mentl but none with greater pride than
Mama, the lovely daughter Of the king, a
fair and stately maiden, whose heart had
gone out to Solomon. And Solomon recipro-
Gated her affection; he sang to her thrilling
songs of love. He compared her beauty to
Jerusalem and babe her turn away her eyes
lest they might undo him in their splendor.
He prayed for the shadows to fee and the
day to dawn-the shadows of servitude and
the day of restoration to his throne Then,
as his tones of sadness made her countenance
troubled, he changed his mood and ex-
claimed:
Set me as q seal upon thine heart
AS seal upon thine arm,
For love is as strong as death.
The secret of their love could not long re-
main concealed. Despite Mama entreaties,
Solomon was condemned TO death, and it
was only her mothers tears that influenced
the king to sentence bim instead to life long
exile'in the desert.
In the solitude of the wilderness, Solomon's
heart was chastened at last, his proud, boast
full spirit purified. God seemed nearer to him
in his loneliness than when he reveled in
Jerusalem. Was it his pure love for Mama
which had worked the change. or his long
continued wanderiAgs and su-ferings9 He
felt different man. Hope sprang anew in
his heart, not of power or earthly aggrandize-
ment, but hope of higher things which ape
deathless like the stars-wisdom, love, right
eouSnesS.
II thank thee, my Creator" he cried, as he
bowed in prayer. Thou hast taught me the
lesson. Thou art the King of kings alone.
Blessed be thy holy name"
Full of wondrous peace, although his raj
ment was tattered, he left tie desert and
entered city by the sea- A fisherman ap-
preached and offered a fish for sale He
purchased it with'his last coin, and, opening
it, found therein his holy signet ring, which
Ashmodai had cast into the sea.
But little remains to be told Fow'Solo-
mon regained his regal splendor, how he
married the faithful, Mama, how he con-
fronted Ashmodai, the usurper, and made
him vanish at the sight of the ring; how he
assembled the Sanhedrim and told them all
his trials and uiumphs-is it not all written
between the lines in the Talmuda But while
the people soon forgot the romance and the
tragedy, and the story of the kings return
became only nine days wonder Solomon
himself never lost the impressions Of those
years of wandering. A certain fear never
left his mind, and in the night time, so the
Song of Songs relates, his'couch was guarded
by sixty armed men.-Abram S. Isaacs in
Harper's Bazaar. 4.
Partridges Killed by Fleas.
SportSmen throughout all this and neigh
boring counties report that partridges are
getting very scarce and threaten soon to be-
come extinct Some parties say this decrease
IS owing to so many wet summers of late
years, the young birda being drowned and
the nest flooded and the eggs spoiled. We
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