The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-29
THE END OF ABSALOM.
COMPLETE BfOGBAPHf or 4 FAST
IOUNG MN.
Having Lost Ills Head In III Life, lie Lost
His Life by His Head-->unday-
school Lesson.
Atsalom's Defeat and Death.-2 Samuel
N.IIl ny


Atsaloms Defeat and Death.-2 Samuel
Nylii, 9-lT.
The intrigue and connection which hau
lorg Il ieateLed Davlds throne had AT
last burst into a terrific storm "hich
promised 10 sweep everything before Il.
The news OF Absaicm's revolt filled the
fathers heaort with grief and alarm.
and he Immediately fed from Jerusalem
accompanied by lis court ana the few
soldiers that were available. He was IN
no condition 10 meet an enemy OF airy
sort mich less his beloved son -ho ~
p,cIally hoped q az hs 'ilslt oy rlN
Ing tho nation an opportunity 10 i1So'J.
ffCm its temporary madness, ~ouii a.
tcecther avert the threatened cCuhics.
David was hardly out Of sisnt OF ,lc
city before AbfalCm entered It's sat's
rn,t proceeded 10 MAKE royal history
after the usual maLEer OF me ldSl 3o'"s
nan. The brief record OF MS ctIlL- ~ 90
a klng Is q ford Of oepfaFitg unf'i-s
eR hy a single stLsible act. ana we blds-
IL turn from IL 60 the more ediiynE. II
sadder. story Of lis fathers night WIN
covered head and barred feet the aseu
king tolls uD Mount ohNet, giving vent
in means and tears to the agony or
breaking heart Well might inc kine
weap. for be- rad with his own hands
sown the wind OF which TINS ieIIl9le
wlIrlwiud was the harvest tolysamg
had made his palace hot-bed or intrs que
and strife. ~ plotting and counter-piot-
ting of all the curses which are the uNlu-
raj results of that debasing relation. Tie
Ten C0mmai dments had not ueen ehlole.
ed at home and 10 seems that the laws on
the kingdom rad not been enforced
abroad. lie had irdulged Ms taForite son
instead OF requiring his ohedlence. Nt
had dotted upon him instead II recurring
honor from Elm. But We would not. with
Sh.mci east stones or dust at the weep
ing king. I9ther. we would point out tne
beautiful traits of character which now
300 the hour Of his calamity shine ont
With marvellous Clearnoss. Never was
Doe moro uuseinsh than now. He would nor
willingly have any one share his troubles.
We might probably pause mere 70 re-
fleet upon the srifshness OF sorrow. How
many n 90 time OF trouble secretly de-
rI.se those who are happy. or lind COM
fort BOO making trouble FOR others. or
are cad To- know that somebody else
bias more trouble than they have How
natural d. is Boo "A time OF suffering 10
feel that We are under no obligation %
bn considerable of feilOd-sInerers.
n he would not shoulder hs burdens on
others neither would he take advantage
of bis authority as King 10 secure what
benefit there might De- iu the presence u
the ark N God. He seems 90 have felt
That God was the author OF hls tiou-
h'cs. that God was ch1stising him. and
that it was his duty TO bare his back 10
the fuu force OF the rod. Probably it
WAS an after thought that suggested the
importance 10 his cause OF the presence
in Jerusalem OF the priests attending the
ark whom he ki ew 90 he his friends.
lhe day WAS crowded with Incidents
WAlcn pulled or the kings hedr-strings
and brought our in 70 beautiful light his
tenderness his thOushtfulness. hts graft
tuie. and BIS ht multv. or mis- conduct
when subjected 20 humiliation hv Shi-
MEL We cannot speak with certainty the
motive not being clear But IL IS worth
uIuns that TIE prayer which was wrurg
from his heart hy the news Of the disaf-
Ieeiion az Ah.fnophel. his most valued
counsellor. reached the ear or jehovah.
though IN came 0ut OF the dark DEPTHS Of
ara almost hopeless grief And Do was
answered. not as 10 WAS asked because
God thinks Of more ways OF answering
than we thinks OF asking
lt was some time after Dayids flight
hoIore Al SALON. got at Israel together
and followed his father across the Jor-
dan. The rest Of the story is valuable
Tor the picture n gives us OF the sad end
of fast young man and IT'S companion
picture or the hcart-brtaking agony
v hich such an end brings 10 his father.
There is nothing strange about the end
OF such q man, when We know the be
ginning. Ills career Is IKE the career Of
balloon. swollen with vanity De as
cends 90 the very clouds. while an the
world stands gazing opon-mouthed at
the pretty show. when suddenly there is
au accident that leaves him hanging in
"a tree. his glory forever departed. Such
was the history Of Absalom. Riding
through the woods on the royal mule, bis
long beautiful ha.r-always his pridc-bc-
came cntaleled 800 the h0ueh OF tree.
and the royal beast went on. leaving him
suspended between heaven and earth fra
nt position for Joah's darts. And SO. hav-
ing lost his head in his life. be- lost his
life by his head-whch. boy the way. may
bo set down as the complete biography
of a fast young man.
But tho arrows which went through
the heart Of AbsllOm pierced The heart
OF his father and Boo an history there ls
no cry $50 pathetic MS that which broke
from the iins OF the aged king as with
covered face De wended his way mp TO
IT, chamber over the safe.
Except one. go Jerusalem. Jerusalem
thou that killest the prophets. and
stluest them which are sent unto thee
how often would I have gathered thy
children together. even as hen gath
creth her chickens under her wings. and
Sc would not"
EDWARD l.. PELL.