The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-18

kings gate. In this capacity he learned
that two chamberlains. Bigthana and Teri
esh, had entered into a plot to kill the
king. He made this known to Esther,
who informed the king. The two cham
berlains were hanged on a tree and the
event was duly recorded in the royal book
Of chronicles.
After this King Ahasuerus promoted the
notorious Hannah, the son or Hammeda-
tina, the Agagite, to the Office of Grand
Vlzier, which made him the most power.
fu, person in the kingdom after the sover-
eign.
One of the finst things Hannah noticed
was that Mordecai, the Jew, who stood at
the palace gate. neither bowed to him, nor
did him reverence, as was the custom Of
all the people.
Hannah scorned to lay hands on Morde-
cal alone. That would not have satisfied
his vengeance and soothed his injured van
ity. He planned to destroy Mordecai and
all the people of his race In Persia.
Hannah went to Ahasuerus and told him
that the Jews were scattered throughout
his kingdom; that they were making
money, and that they did not observe his
laws. but laws of their own. Therefore
they were inimical to the Kings rule. He
proposed to remove this great source of
danger by destroying all the Jews, and
said that he could carry out his plan at a
cost Of 10000 talents of silver.
Ahaseurus was fully persuaded to adopt
the cunning Haman's view and gave him
full authority. 1t was settled that all the
Jews sshould be slain on the thirteenth
day Of the twelfth month, which is called
Adar.
Then says the Book of Esther: 1.-THE
King and Haman sat down to drink, but
the city Of Shushan was perplexed.'
When Mordecai received the news 81 the
plot to massacre his race ne sent word to
Esther and between them they formed a
plan to avert the calamity.
Although II was a law that no one, man
or woman. should appear before the King
in the inner court. under penalty of death
unless called, Esther, who had not been
called before the King for thirty days, de-
termined to risk her life and appear before
him to plead for her people.
She put on her royal apparel and stood
in the inner court of the Kings house.
This variable monarch was Immediately
struck with pleasure at the sight OF her
and held out his golden sceptre to her.
which she touched. Then he said to her:
What wilt thou. Queen Esther? And
what is thy request? 1t shall be even
given thee to the half Of the kingdom"
And Esther answered. ''If It seem good
unto the King. let the King and Haman
ccme this day unto the banquet that /
have prepared for them"
OF course. the King granted this request.
Haman. who was ignorant Of Esther's race
and plans. was mighty pleased by the
compliment paid him. But he was still
greatly annoyed by the sight of Mordecia
in the gate paying no attention to him.
He spoke to his wife, Zeresh, about 1t,
and she said:
Let a gallows be made OF fifty cubbts
high and tomorrow speak thou unto the
King that Mordecai may be hanged there
on; then go thou merrily with the King
unto the banquet
The thing pleased Hannah and he caused
the gallows to be made in the court of his
own house.
That night King Ahasuefus could not
sleep. and to pass the time he aad MS
book of chronicles read TO him. There he
learned how Mordecai had told Of the
plot OF Bigthana and Teresn to kill him
At this very moment Hannah came into
the court yard. intending to ask that he
might hang Mordecia on the gallows which
he had prepared.
The King greeted Hannah by Saying.
what shall be done unto the man whom
Haman. firmly believing that he was the
man referred to. told of all the Ans things
that such man ought to have-the royal
apparel. the Kings horse, the crown royal
ard so forth.
Then said the King to Haman: Make
haste and take the apparel and the horse,
as thou hast said. and do even so TO Nor
decai. the Jew, that sitteth at the Kings
gate: let nothing fail Of all that thou hast
spoken"
The King attended another banquet
given by Esther on the second day. and
again he pressed her TO accept some great
gift as a mark Of his favor. Then she told
him how Hannah had cruelty plotted to de-
stroy her race including Mordecai. who
had saved his life. and the King became
at its height one OF his chamberlains. VINO
evid ntly had an ill-feelng against Hannah,
told him that the Grand Vizier had erected
a gallows fifty cubits high in his house n
which to hang MOrdecai.
Then said the King: Hang Hannah
thereon"
He further gave permission 10 the Jews
that when they should be attacked as Ha-
man had planned they might defend them
selves They did so and slaughtered their
enemies in great numbers. In honor OF
this event the festival OF Purim was in
stituted.
Esther remained the honored Queen OF
Ahasuerus all her life and Mordecia be-
came his Grand Vizier.
THE BOOK OF ESTHER.