Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-06-28
A JEWISH LEGEND.
BY ADRIAN S. ISAAcS.

BY ABRAM S. ISAAcS.
Who could be happier than Solomon?
His land was at peace; his treasury full! !;
his power acknowledged by the nations;
his fleet covered the seas; his court at
traCted the best and wisest. Learning
and science, art and industries, -four
ishcd. Jerusalem, the capital, shOne
with une xamplcd splcndor; it's 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 wisdom, the source
Of his strength, was also the secret OF
his weakness. He knew all languages,
spoke 5000 proverbs and sang Il multi
) tudc Of songs. He knew the speech of
birds and beasts, and the mystery of
trees and. flowers. If his knowledge
bad not passed these limits all would
have been well, but it transcribed
things Of earth and penetrated the Sc
crets 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 catastro-
phe was threatening his house? Those
golden-eyed torget-me-nots shining in
the armament of blue SO peacefully and
trustfully, could they prcsage Woe?
Solomon was blessed not only with
power and wisdom, but also with
daughter Of surprising loneliness.
When the evening shadows fell upon
lions hills he loved to sing to her his
choicest song. In the morning hours
his converse with her was his sole rec
reation. His soul was knitted to hers.
She was his inspiration and solace, as
n nf
youth, when. to we'd the maiden of his
heart, he left throne and people, and
wandered, foot-sorc 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 Solomon lived again his old-time ro-
nance as he saw Mammals eyes in his
daughters countenance. And the
princess repaid the fathers love by
daughters devotion.
One evening as Solomon was obscTV-
ING the stars the thought occurred to
him to discover who was destined to be
the princess husband. Long and in
tently he gazed at the consultations.
silent aud profound were his mcdita-
tons in the watches of the night; and
then. Just Us the first dim light spanned
the far east. and the morning stars were
singing their cradle song for the new
dav. the monarch's heart felt an unac-
-customed pang He read the secret of
his daughters fate. There it stood
blazoned on the fiery consteIatlon--she
was to we'd the poorest man in Israel
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, fragrance, the music of rip
pling waters. the magnlticence of his
surroundings, his books and songs and
favorite pastimes, palled upon him.
His lovely daughter i'll vain stroYc to
}sooth his disturbed spirit. Each fresh
,endcarment Only increased his irrita-
ton. Her voice, once SO gentle,
seemed to him us harsh as the screams
of candor. The majden's heart was
troubled indeed as she noticed the
change in the king, and she withdrew,
weeping. from his presence.
s'lt shall potbe y Solomon exclaimed.
"Mv daughter we'd boggar A pau
per>s child to sit upon the throne of
David. Nay, | snail defeat the AL
mighty. | shall"
And there fell deep silence on his
spirit \ picture from the past arose
before his vision. 1t was king hurled
from his throne on account of his pride,
and doomed to wander unknown, and
to suffer severe prtNanonS, untll he nad
learned to control himself and trust the
Almighty He saw the ring which he
gave Ashmodai, and heard the fierce
yell of triumph as the demon assembled
the throne, while he, Solomon the
Great sank down, down into an I'M
fatholnahe abyss. Then another pie
tnre arose In memory-thc weary fugi-
tive spurned on all sides, fanine-strick-
enand sick at heart, until the lesson of
peace WAS learned
"Forgivc me, forgive mc, Almighty !"
he cried. Must | learn again the cost
of mortal pride? Forgive me for
doubling thy purposes and measuring
my puny powers with the intinite Let
Thy will be done. | shall watch Thy
wisdom and abide by the result My
heart has lost its anguish and its fear
Upon the rocky seaeoast Solomon had
a lofty tower constructed. Walls high
and inaccessible surrounded it ON all
sides People wondered at the build
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