Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-10-26
A PRECIOUS BURDEN.
SCION OF The HOUSE OF DAVID IN
JeHOSHE6A'S ARMS.


dren 10 Christ.
WASHINGTON. Oct 21.-In this dis
course on n neglected incident OF the
Bible DIR. Talmage draws some com
forting lessons and shows that All
around US are royal natures that we
may help deliver The text is II Kings
xi. 2, 3: "JehOsheba, the daughter OF
King Joram. sister OF Ahaziah. took
Joash, the son of Ahaziah. and stole
him from among the kings sous which
were slain. and they hid him. even him
and his nurse, in the bedchamber from
Athaliah, so that he was not slain.
And he was with her hid in the house
of the Lord six years"
Grandmothers are more lenient with
their childrcn's children than they
were with their own. At 10 years of
age If discipline be necessary chastise-
ment is used. but at 40 the graEdmoth-
CIR, looking upon the misbehavior of the
grandchild, Is apologize and disposed
to substitute confectionery for whip.
There is nothing more beautiful than
childhood. Grandmother takes out her
pocket handkerchief aud wipes her
spectacles and puts them on and looks
down into the face of her miscellaneous
and rebellious descendant and SAYS: 81
don't think he meant TO do il. Let him
Off this time. all he responsible for his
behavior in the future" MY mother.
with the second generation around her.
boisterous crew. said one day: II
suppose they ought to ba disciplined.
but 1 can't do il. Grandmothers are.
not fit to bring up grandchildren" But
here In my text we have grundmoth-
er Of different type
1 have been at Jerusalem, where the
occurrence of the text took place, and
the whole scene came WILDLY before
me while l was going over the site of
the ancient temple and climbing the
towers of the kings palace Here In
the text Ii is old Atlialiah. the royal
murdercsS. She ought TO have been
honorable. Her father was king.
Her husband was a king. Her son was
king. And yet we lind her plotting
for the determination of the entire roy
al family, including her own grand
children. The executioners' knives are
sharpened. The palace is red with the
blood Of princes and princesses. On nj!
sides are shrieks and hands thrown Up
and struggle and death groan. No mer-
cyl Kill, kill, But while the ivory
floors of the palace run with carnage
and the whole land is under the shad-
ow of great horror n feet footed wo-
man, cleFgyman's wife. Jehosheba
by name, ste0lthily approaches the i'm
perial nursery, seizes upon the grand
child that had somehow as yet escap-
ed massacre. Wraps il up tenderly but
In haste, snuggles il against her. flies
down the palace stairs her heart in her
throat lest she be discovered i'm this
compassionate abduction. Get her out
OF the way rs quick you can. for she
carries n precious burden. even n
young king. With this youthful prize
she presses into the room of the an
cicnt temple. the church OF olden
time, unwraps the young king and puts
him down. sound asleep as he is and
unconscious OF the peril that has been
threatened, and there for six years he
is secreted I'm that church apartment
Meanwhile old AthalIah smacks her
lips with satisfaction and thinks that
six years expire. and IL is time for
young Joash TO come forth and take
the throne and 20 push back into dis
grace and death old Athnliah.
Come to Light.
The arrangements are all made for
political revolution. The military come
and take possession of the temple.
swear loyalty 10 the boy Joash and
stand around for his defense. Sec the
sharpened swords ami the FURNISHED
shields. Everything Is ready. Now
Joash. half anrightcd NJ the armed
tramp of his defenders. scared nj the
vocifcration OF bis admirers, Is brought
forth in full regalia. The scroll OF au.
thority Is put In his hands. the coronet
or government is put on his brow. and
the people clapped and waved and huz-
zaed and trumpetcd. What is thatY"
said Athaliah. What is that sound
over in the tcmpley' And she flies 10
see. and on her way they meet her and
say: why. haven't YOU hcardI You
thought you had slain all the royal
family, bat Joash has come 10 light"
Then the royal murdercss. frantic with
rage, grabbed her mantle and tore I; 10
tatters and cried until she foamcd ut
the mouth: You have no right 10
crown my grandson. You have no
right TO take the government from my
shoulders. Treason. trcasoEv
While she stood there crying that the
military started for her arrest. and she
took short cut through back door of
the temple and ran through the royal
stables. but the battleaXes OF the mill
tary fell on her in the barnyard. and
for many q day when the horses were
being unlooSened from the chariot aft
or drawing out young Joash the fiery
steeds would snort end rear passing
the place as they smell tl.e place OF the
carnage
The frs: thought | hand you from
this subject is that the determination
or righteousness is an impossibility.
when woman is good. she is apt 70
De very good. and when she Is bad she |
- apt To he very bad. and this Athaliah !
was one OF the latter sort She would |
eXterniiraic the last scion OF the house |
OF David. through whom Jesus was TO |
come. There was plenty OF work for |
embaimcr& and undertakers. She would |
clear the land OF all God fearing and |
Eod loving people. She would put an /
end TO everything that could In aay-
wise interfere with her imperial Grim
inality She folds her handS and says:
ne work Is done. II IS completely
hone- Ia It? In the swaddling clothes
OF tiat church apartment are wrapped
Inc cause or God and the cause of good
government. That is the scion of the
mouse OF David. 1t is Joash. the God
worshiping reformer. 1t is Joash, the
friend or God. 1t is Joash. the democrat
izer OK Baalitish idolatry. Rock him ten
heriy. nurse him gently. AthGliah. you
may kill all thd other children, but You
cannot XIII him. Eternal defenses are
thrown all around him, and this clergy
mans wife, Jehosheba, will snatch him
un frnm the rnInoo ,...u..-..-- - -. |