The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-01-19
ALe1end of Solomon.
(SOuthern Pines Free Press

recorded that during the building of tho
temple the illustrious Solomon, King of
Israel, had frequent occasion to exer
else his judgment in deciding cases of
dispute which occasionally arose be-
tween the workmen, and from the sat-
sfaction which his decisions invariably
gave, acquired the surname Of Tho
Wise,' title of which he became at
last so proud that the great Architect
of the world, by whom doubtless he
had been inspired, thought fit, in His
mercy and wisdom, to reprove him, for
as rabinical writer justly observes:
VANITY is a serpent that devoureth
| the core of wisdom" One Of the over
rection of the work and the payment of
the men, being summoned to attend a
meeting ofhis class, called to him two
of his craftsmen and placed i'll their
hands sum Of gold, directing them if
he did not return by the appointed time,
to pay the hire of their fellows. As
several hours we're wanting to the time
of payment the two craftsmen agreed
to bury the treasure which they had
received and proceed to their different
occupations. They accordingly sought
a secluded place and committed tho
gold to the guardship of its native
earth. About an hour before the hour
of paying the people arrived the over
seer returned and demanded of tho
craftsmen the treasure which he had
confided to them. They told him what
they had done with it and conducted
him to the place whore it had been de-
posted. On their arrival they began
to dig, and after removing the soil,
found that the treasure had vanished.
The overseer Immediately charged the
two men with robbery, the men each
accused the other, and finally we're car
ried by the soldiers whom the officer
summoned before the judgment seat
of the King.
1t CHANGED that ON that day Solomon
presided in royal state, in the midst OF
his counsellors, to receive the ambassa-
doris of the different monarchs, who,
!: hearing of his fame, were solicitous OF
his alliance. He naturally wished,
therefore, to distinguish himself before
them, but it pleased the Architect oil
. all that his pride should be rebuked.
Tina two craftsmen, on being question ed
cence and answered every question
T with the utmost ingeniousness. They
were examined with the most subtIe
skill but nothing could be ELECTED.
They must have been watchedu
exclaimed their judge. half vexed a,
the difficulties which presented them.
selves, land the treasure stolen BY
some robber; see no other solution
f This, however, the men both declared
: to be impossible. mot tree was il
t sight, said Joel. the first of the crafts
] men. mot shelter for sparrow:
;, said Iran, the second, and then the,
each began to accuse the other of tn,
theft. Finding it impossible to com,
to decision the mortified Solomo,
, hastily dismissed his council, after frs
remandlng the men to prison, and the,
1 walked alone to enjoy an hour of re
Fiction i'll the royal gardens.
1t happened that two old craftsmen
who had been present at the examina
ton were seated under cedar tree dis
. cussing the affair, and not perceivin:
II the presence of the King, continued
their conversation. 1.-The judgment o
e the ruler seems at fault" observed tn,
first. 1.-The wisdom of the King hail
e failed" 1T is the Divine will, doubt
e less replied his companion, ''to re
IS prove the vanity Of Solomon. to teacl
y him that his power and wisdom ar,
. but the gift of the Most High, or els
Il he could scarcely have erred in so sim
pie NATTER
, The King, who had overheard tn
# last speech, was highly incensed a
e their presumption, and commanded tn
guards to seize them. TO their en-
e treaties for mercy no replied: IL
n thou canst decide this matter not onl,
D. will give thee life and freedom, but
:, chain of gold and ring from the treas
- ury Of Israel will add, and make the
>, ruler over thy fellows; if not, by m
y royal word, thou diest!' II accept tn
}. condition cheerfully," answered the oil
s. man. my trust is in Him who neve
>, failed His servants who sought Him i
re fear and humility. Call together, @
l. King, the council, and in an hour wi
% l appear before thee and make know
~ the guilty to thy justice.'
- Again was Solomon seated upon th
70 throne of Israel, his brow sparklin
Il with the diadem, his ounsellors an
n wise men around him and the ambas
,e sailors of his allies before his face. Th
I, old craftsman entered, bearing in hi
lie hands a vessel covered with liner
r Bowling reverently before tho thron
H. he said: behold, o King, am no,
:, prepared, let the criminals stand befor
thy presence" They we're led on b
&c the guards, when the monarch by tn
,e direction of his aged coadjutor, then I'D
as dressed them. In the vase befor
you, which is half filed with sand, lie
buried serpent which was sent m