The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-03-20
SAVING A KINGS LIFE.
An Application of the Saving of
the Life of Young King Joash.
Tho Various Efforts to StrangIe Chris.
tlanlty Have Always Resulted In a
Fresh and More Vigor-
Gus Growth.


mon in Paris, from the text:
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 hi m and his nurse, in the bed
chamber from Athaliah so that he was not
slain. And he was with her hid in the house
of the Lord six vears.-II. Kings, XII, 2, 3.
Grandmothers are more lenient with
their children's children than with their
own. At forty years of age, if disci-
pline be necessary, chastisement is used,
but at seventy the grandmother, look
ing upon the misbehavior of the grand
child, is apologize, and disposed to sub
stitute confectionery for whip. There
is nothing more beautiful than this mel
lowing of old age toward childhood.
Grandmother takes out her pocket
handkerchief and wipes her spectacles
and puts them on, and looks down into
the face of the mischievous and rebel
ious 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 1
can't do it. Grandmothers are not fit to
bring up children" But here, in my
text, we have grandmother of differ
ent hue.
have within few days been in Je-
rusalem,. where the occurrence of the
text took place, and the whole scene
came wildly before me while I was GO
ing over the site of the ancient temple
and climbing the towers of the Kings
palace. Here in the text it is old Atha-
hah, the queenly murderess. She ought
TO have been honorable. Her father was
King. And yet we find her plotting
for the determination of the entire royal
family, including her own grandchil-
dren. The executioners' knives are
sharpened. The palace is red with
blood of Princes and Princesses. On all
sides are shrieks, and hands thrown up,
and struggle, and death groan. No
mercy! Kill! KILL But while the ivorv
floors of the palace run with carnage,
and the whole land is under the shadow
of great horror, f1eet-footed woman,
elergyman's wife, Jehosheba by name,
stealthily approaches the imperial
nursery, seizes up the grandchild that
had somehow as yet escaped massacre,
wrapped it up tenderly but in haste,
snnggles it against her, flies down the
palace stairs, her heart in her throat
lest she be discovered in this Christian
abduction. Get her out of the way as
soon 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
olden time, unwraps the young King
and puts him down, sound asleep as he
is, and unconscious 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 it is 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 low
atty to the boy Joash and stand around
for his defense. See the sharpened
swords and the FURNISHED shields!
Every thing is ready Now, Joash, half
afrighted at the armed tramp of his
defenders, scared at the vociferation 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?n
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 they royal family, but Joash has
come to light"
Then the queenly murderess, frantic
with rage, grabbed her mantle and tore
It to tatters, and cried until she foamed
1T the mouth:
q You have no right to crown nv
grandson. You have no right to take
the government from my shoulders.
Treason! Treasonl''
While she stood there crying that, the
military started for her arrest, and she
took short cut through back door of
the temple and ran through the royal
stables; but the battle axes of the mill
tary fell on her in the barn-yard, and
for many day, when the horses were
being Embossed from the chariot, after
drawing out young Joash, the fiery
steeds would sport and rear passing the
place, as they smelt the place of the
carnage.
The first thought I hand you from
this subject is that the determination of |
righteousness is an impossibility. When |
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- I
nate the last scion of the House of
David, through whom Jesus was to
come. There was plenty of work for
embalmers and undertakers. She would
clear the land of all God-fearing and
God-loving people. She would put an
end to every thing that could in anywise !
interfere with her imperial eriminality. /
She folds her hands and says: 1.-THE /
work is done; it is completely done Is
It? In the swaddling clothes of that
church apartment are wrapped the cause