The Irish standard., 1890-05-10

He gives best gifts who, giving nought
| OF worldly store,
I Gives me his friendship, love and trust
| ask no more.
I Laura Harvey IN Chambers journal
THE PRINCESS WOOING.
Marriage Of Solomon's Daughter
A Rabbinical Legend.
Who could be happier than Solomon?
! His land was at peace; his treasury full:
his power acknowledged by the nations;
his feet covered the seas; his court at
tracted the best and wisest. Learning
and science, art and the industries -four
| ished. Jerusalem, the capital, shone
with unexampled splendor; its temple
| and edifces were the glory OF the age,
| and thousands of strangers drew near
| from all corners of the earth.
Yet Solomon was i'll at ease despite
his grandeur. His VISIONS, the source
of his strength, was also the secret OF
! his weakness. He knew all languages,
! spoke three thousand proverbs, and
the speech of birds and beasts, and the
| mystery of trees and flowers. If his
knowledge had not passed these limits
all would have been we'll, but it tram
scended things of earth and penetrated
the secrets of the spheres above. 1t was
his familiarity with the stars that gave
him poignant unrest. What, then, did
the stars tell him? What dreadful Ca
tastrophe was threatened his house?
Those golden-eyed forget-me-nots shin
| ing in the armament of blue so peace
fully and srustfully, could they presage
| woe?
Solomon was blessed not only with
| power and wisdom, but also with q
daughter Of surprising loneliness.
When the evening shadows fell upon
lions hills be loved to sing to her his
choicest song. In the morning hours his
converse with her was his sole recrea-
ton. His soul was knitted to hers.
She was his inspiration and solace, as
was her mother in the days of his youth,
when to we'd the maiden of his heart he
left throne and people, and wandered,
foot-sore pilgrim. until he met Mama
and plighted his troth. The years had
passed rapidly since then-as rapidly as
the shadow of bird in flight; but Sol
ONION Lived again his old-time romance
as he saw Naama's eyes in his daughters
countenance And the Princess repaid
the fathers 1oee by a daughters devo-
ton. ~
One evening as Solomon was observ-
ing the stars the thought occurred to
him to discover who was destined to be
the Princess husband. Long and intent
| ly he gazed at the consultations. ST.
| lent and profound were his meditations
in the watches of the night; and then,
just as the first dim light spanned the
far East, and the morning stars were
singing their cradle-song for the now
day. the monarch's heart felt an unac-
| customed pang. He read the secret OF
his daughters fate. There it stood
blazoned en- the fiery constellation
was to wed the poorest man in Israeli
she, Princess, and his daughter!
With agonized soul Solomon left his
watch tower. For once the rising day
possessed no charm for him. Bird
note, flower fragrance, the music of rip
ping waters, the magniticence Of his
surroundings, his books and songs and
| favorite pastimes, palled upon him. HIS
lovely daughter in vain strove to soothe
his disturbed spirit. Each fresh en-
dearment only increased his irritation.
Her voice, once so gentle, seemed
to him as harsh as the scream OF the
condor. The maiden's heart was
troubled indeed as she noticed the
change in the King, and she withdrew,
| weeping, from his presence.
.sIt shall not ber' Solomon exclaimed.
My daughter we'd a beggar! A pau
| per's child to sit upon the throne OF
| David! Nay, shall defeat the AL
! mighty. shall"
And there fell deep silence on his
spirit. a picture from the past arose
before his vision. 1t was a king hurled
| from his throne on account OF his pride,
and doomed to wander unknown, and to
suffer severe privations, until he had
learned to control himself and trust the
Almighty. He saw the ring which he
gave Ashmodai, and heard the fierce
| veil ct triunphs as the demon assembled
the throne, while he - Solomon the
Groat-sank down, down into an IN
fathomable abyss. Then another pict-
ure arose in memory-the weary fugitive
spurned on all sides, famine-stricken
and sick at heart, until the lesson OF
peace was learned.
Forgive me, forgive me, Almighty
he cried. stMust learn again the cost
Of mortal pride? Forgive me for doubt
ing Thy purposes and measuring my
| puny powers with the Infinite! Let Thy
| will be done. shall watch Thy wisdom
and abide by the result. Ny heart has
lost it's anguish and its fear"
Upon the rocky sea-coast Solomon had
a lofty tower constructed. Walls high
| and inaccessible surrounded it on all
sides People wondered at the build
ing, but Solomon continued the work
| until it was completed. Th1ther one
night he had the Princess brought, and
! placed her in charge OF seventy aged
| custodians.
s'This shall be your home" said he to
| tho eldest and trustiest. at IS pro.
visioned for years to come. There is nc
| -, - tho fnrfre,Sa az no one can enter