Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-02-13

He is making his way home, which
he expects to reach in the early
part of February. DIR. Talmage's
text was: "Jehosheba, the daughter OF
King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took
Joash, the son of Ahaziah, and stole
him from among the Kings sons which
were slain; and they hid him, even him
and his nurse, in the bedchamber from
Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And
he was with her hid in the house of the
Lord six years. III. Kings, XII, 2, 8.
He said:
Grandmothers are more lenient with
their chidren's children than they were
with their own. At forty years of age,
If discipline be necessary, chastisement
is used; but at seventy the grandmother,
looking upon the misbehayior of the
grandchild, is apologetic, and disposed to
substitute confectionery for the whip.
There is nothing more beautiful than
this mellowing of age toward childhood.
Grandmother takes out her pocket
handkerchief and wipes her spectacles
and puts them on, and looks down into
the face of her mischievous and rebel
lious descendant, and says: 81 don't
think he meant to do it. Let him off
this time. I'll be responsible for his be-
havior in the future" My mother, with
the second generation around her-a
boisterous crew-said one day: 81 sup
pose they ought to be disciplined, but
can't do it. Grandmothers are not fit to
bring up grandchildren" But here, in
my text, we have a grandmother of a
different hue.
/ have within a few days been at
Jerusalem, where the occurrence of the
text took place, and the whole scene
came wildly before me while was going
over the site of the ancient temple and
climbing the towers of the Kings palace.
Here in the text it is old Athaliah,
the queenly murderess. She ought to
have been honorable; her father was
king, her husband was a king, her son
was king, and yet we find her plotting
for the determination of the entire royal
family, including her own grandchildren.
The executioners' knives are sharpened.
The palace is red with the blood Of
princes and princesses. On all sides are
buflCkS, anu up anu
struggle, and death groan. No mercy!
KILL KILL But while the ivory floors
of the palace run with carnage, and the
whole land is under the shadow Of great
horror, fieet-footed woman, q cleryman's
wife, Jehosheba by name, steathily APP
proaches the Imperial nursery, seizes
upon the grandchild that had somehow
as yet escaped massacre, wraps it up
tenderly but in haste, snuggles it
against her, flies down the palace stairs,
her heart in her throat lest she be dis
covered in this Christian abduction.
Get her out of the way as quick as you
can, for she carries precious burden,
even young King. With this youthful
prize she presses into the room Of the
ancient temple, the church Of the olden
time, unwraps the young King and puts
him down, sound asleep as he is, and un-
conscious of the peril that has been
threatened; and there for six years he is
secreted in that church apartment.
Meanwhile old Athaliah smacks her lips
with satisfaction, and thinks that all
the Royal family are dead.
But the six years expire, and = e now
time for young Joash to come forth and
take the throne, and to push back into
disgrace and death old Athaliah. The
arrangements are all made for political
revolution. The military come and
take possession Of the temple, swear
loyalty to the boy Joash and stand
around for his defense. See the sharp |
ened swords and the FURNISHED shieldsl
Every thing is ready. Now, Joash, half |
affrighted at the armed tramp of his de-
tenders, scared at the Yociferation of his !
admirers, is brought forth in full re-
gala. The scroll Of authority is put in
his hands, the coronet OF government is
put on his brow, and the people /
clapped, and waved, and huzzaed, /
and trumpeted. ''What is that?"
said Athaliah. "What is that sound |
over in the temple?" And she
flies to see, and on her way /
they meet her and say: "Why, haven't /
you heard? You thought you had slain /,
all the Royal family, but Joash has
come to light" Then the queenly muir
deress, frantic with rage, grabbed her
mantle and tore it to tatters, and cried
until she foamed at the mouth: You
have no right to crown my grandson. You
have no right to take the government
from my shoulders. Treasonl Treason"
While she stood there crying that the
started for her arrest. and she
took short cut through the back door
Of the temple and ran through
the Royal stables; but the battle
axes of the military fell on her in the
barn-yard, and for many = day, when
the horses were being unloosened from
the chariotA after drawing out young
Joash, the f lry steeds would snort and
rear passing the place, as they smelt the
place of the carnage.
The first thought hand you from
this subject is that the determination Of
is an impossibility. When
a woman is good she is apt to be very
good. and when she is bad she is apt to
be very bad. and this Athaliah was one
Of the latter sort. She would extermi-
nate the last scion Of tho house Of Da-
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