The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-11-23
4 GREAT L0NQUBR0R.
Alexander's Rash Courage.
ALEADER OF LONG AGO.


Cousin Lois, in Christian Intellisencer.
Alexander the Great was a mighty
conqueror, who lived over 800 years be-
fore Christ came into the world. In
the story of this hero's life, now being
published in the Century, the author
tells how be once ran fearful risk
rather than give up what he had deter
mined to gain.
Alexander had set out from Greece
at. the head of an army; bad subdued
one KINGDOM after another, forcing his
way even to far-off India. When bis
army refused to go further with him,
he at last decided to return.
On his way back, he took city after
city, compelling The homage OF their
inhabitants. At last, be came to q
town belonging to people calling them
selves Mallians. They had strong
walls about their city, and a fortress,
into which all the population gathered
determined to defend themselves from
Alexander and bis soldiers.
At first it seemed as though they
might succeed, so difficult wis 1t to
break through their Notifications. At
length, two scaling-ladders we're placed
against the walls. On one of these
Alexander mounted, followed by two
trusty captains, Peucestas and Leon
natus. Up the other climbed another
veteran, named Abrsss.
The soldiers crowded behind their
leaders>in such mum bers that the lad
ders broke. Alexander stood on the
ram part, his back to the wall, and de-
led his enemies. His soldiers called
to him to leap back to them, but the
story says "He cast no look behind
but, measuring with glance the dis
tance, deliberately sprang from the
rampant straight into the heart of the
citadel and into the midst of the enc
my. 1t was rashness, perhaps it was
folly, but 1t wss the folly OF one
who never sought success ltwhout
risk, and who always succeeded
of one who made himself leader
of men without parallel, because hii
followers never saw him falter nor hes
1tate, but always act"
Reading this, is not one reminded o
the Lord Jesus Christ, the Captain o
our Salvation, who so unhesltatingly
Welded himself to death, not to gair
glory for himself, but to win eternal
life for us? Do We not remember
when he foretold his own suffering and
death, and Peter rebuked him, how
severely he reproved the disciple7 HI
would havejno thought for bis owl
safety. He would finish the worl
! which he came from heaven to do.
4 Alexander was severely wounded II
: his-conflict with the Mallians.
> heavy blow upon his helmet daze'
him so that he lowered his shield
Then an immense arrow entered hi
breast. The great general tainted
!, His two faithful friends, Peucestas an
!. Leonnatus, stood by and defended hin
q though Abreas- he'd fallen. See,n
8 their leaders peril, the army withou
grew furious No power could resl'
them then. They would have the cit,
i They would save their general.
, They did it at the cost OF man
lives. Alexander was carried upon b
: shield to a tent, and there, un1er b
, own directions, the large arrow-hea
was drawn from his breast. A fe
DAYS afterward, he had himself, thoug
still weak, placed upon barge, whic
was allowed to float down a river to tt
place where the main part OF his arm
) was encamped. There he showed hin
self to his host, that they might kno
that he whom they had heard vi
dead was still alive. When they we
assured that they still had Alsxande
their confidence returned.
Does not this remind US OF the stol
1[of the risen Christ, as he showed hlr
!, self to his disciples? When they kne
AZ that he was really living, what bra
y men they became! They had no ie
RI nm oN1d1G