The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-19

1
a piece of mortar lost from its place.!
"There," say the unbelieving Israelites.
Didn't I tell you so? Why, those ministers
are fools. The idea OF going around the city
with those musical instruments and expect
ing in that way to destroy 1t! Joshua has
been spoiled. He thinks because he has
overthrown aud destroyed the spring freshet
not philosophic. Don't you see there Is no
relation between the blowing OF these musi-
cal instruments and the knocking down OF
the wall2 It isn't philosophy"
And suppose there we're many wlseacres
who stood with their brows knitted, and
with the foreflnger Of the right hand to the
forelnger of the left hand, arguing it all out
and showing 1t was not possible that such g
cause should produce such an effect. And
suppose that night in the encampment there
was plenty of philosophy and caricature. and
if Joshua had been nominated for any high
military position he would not have got
many votes. Joshua's stock was down. The
second day, the priests, blowing the musical
instruments, 60 around the city, and fail.
ure. Third day, and failure; fourth day,
and failure; fifth day, and failure; sixth
day, and failure. The seventh day comes,
the climacteric day. Joshua is up early In
the morning and examines the troops, walks
all around about, looks at the city wall The
priests start to make the circuit Of the city.
| They 60 all around once. all around twice,
three times, four times, five times, six times,
seven times, and failure.
There Is only one more thing to do, and
that Is to utter a great shout. I see the
Israelitish army Strengthening themselves up,
| filling their lungs for vociferation suoh as
was never heard before and never heard af-
| ter. Joshua feels that the hour has come,
and he cries out to his host, "Shout! for the
Lord hath given you the city!" All the peo-
pie begin to cry: "Down, Jericho! Down,
Jericho!" And the long line of solid ma
sonry begins to quiver and to move and to
rock. Stand from under! She falls! Crash
60 the walls, the temples, the towers, the
palaces! The air is blackened with the dust.
The huzza of the victorious Israelites and
the grosn Of the conquered Canaanites COM
debris Of the wall, hears voice saying,
''There shall not any man be able to stand
before thee all the days Of thy life."
But Joshua's troops may Lot halt here.
The command is, Forward, march," There
is the city of Al. It must be taken. How
shall 1t be taken? A scouting party comes
back and says: "Joshua, we can do that
without you. 1t Is going to be very easy
Job. You Just stay here while we go and cap
ture It," They march with asmall regiment
in front Of that city. The men of Al look at
them and give one yell, and the Israelites
run like reindeers. The northern troops at
Bull Run did not make such rapid time as
these Israelites with the Canaanites after
them. They never cut such sorry figure
as when they we're on the retreat.
Joshua falls on his face in chagrin. It's
the only time you ever see the back OF his
head. he falls on his face and begins to
whine, and he says: 20 Lord God, wherefore
hast Thou at all brought this people over
To- - %1 1n1{ int
Amorites to destroy us2 Would to God we
had been content and dwelS IN the other side
of Jordan! For the Canaanites and all the
inhabitants Of the land shall hear OF 1t and
shall environ US round and cut OH our name
from the EARTH"
I am very glad Joshua said that. Before
1t seemed as II he were supernatural being,
and therefore could net be an example to us,
but / find he is a man, he Is only aman. Just
as sometimes you find q man under severe
opposition, or in bad state OF physical
down and signing about everything being
defeated, am encouraged when hear this
cry of Joshua as he lies in the dust.
God comes and rouses him. How does
He rouse him2 By complimentary apos-
trophe2 No. He says: sect thee up. Where
fore liest thou upon thy face?" Joshua
rises. and. I warrant you, with mortified
look. But his old courage comes back. The
fact was that was not his battle. II he had
been in it, he would have gone on to victory.
They march on. He puts the majority OF
the troops behind o ledge Of rocks IN the
night, and then he sends comparatively
small battalion up in front OF the city. The
men Of Al come out with shout. This bat
talon in stratagem fall back and fall back,
and when all the men Of Al have left the city
and are in pursuit Of this scattered or SEEM
ingly scattered battalion Joshua stands on
rock see his locks flying In the wind as
and that is the signal. The men rush out
from behind the rocks and take the city, and
it is put to the torch. and then these Israeli
ties In the city march down, and the flying
battalion of Israelites return, and between
these two waves Of Israelitish prowess the
men of Al are destroyed, and the 1sraelites
gain the victory, and while see the curling
smoke Of that destroyed city on the sky, and
while hear the huzza of the Israelites and
the groan of the Canaanites, Joshua hears
something louder than it all, ringing and
any man be able to stand before thee all the
days of thy life."
But this is no place for the host Of Joshua
to stop. Forward, march," cries Joshua to
the troops. There is the city of Gibeon. It
has put itself under the protection ofJoshua.
They sent word: "There are five kings after
US. They are going to destroy US. Send
troops quick. Send US help right away"
Joshua has three days march more than
double quick. On the morning Of the third
day he is before the enemy. There are two
long lines of battle. The battle opens with
great slaughter, but the Canaanites soon
discover something. They say: "That is
Joshua. That is the man who conquered
the spring freshet and knocked down the
stone wall and destroyed the city Of Al.
There is no use fighting" And they sound
retreat, and as they begin to retreat
Joshua and his host spring upon them like
panther, pursuing them over the rocks, and
as these Canaanites, with sprained ankles
and gashed foreheads, retreat the catapults
of the sky pour volley Of hailstones into
heavens with bullets of iron pounds the
Canaanites against the ledges of Beth-horon.
But it is time for Joshua to go home. He
is ITO years old. Washington went down the
Potomac. and at Mount Vernon closed his
days. Wellington died peacefully at Apsley
House. Now, where shall Joshua rest2
Why. he is to have his greatest battle now.
After ITO years he has to meet king who
has more subjects than all the present popu-
lation of the earth his throne pyramid Of
skulls. his parterre the graveyards and the
cemeteries of the world, his chariot the
worlds hearse-the king Of terrors. But II
this is Joshua's greatest battle it is going to
be Jeshua's greatest victory. He gathers
his friends around him and gives his vale
dictory, and 1t is full Of reminiscence.
Young men tell what they are going to do.
Old men tell what they have done.
And as you have heard Il grandfather or q
great-grandfather. seated by the evening
fire, tell OF Monmouth Or yorktown and then