Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-11-09


king commanded, and they brought
Daniel and cast hin into the den o.
lions"
Darius was king of Babylon, and the
young Fan Daniel was 50 much ia
vorite with him that he made him
prime minister, or secretary OF state.
BIT no maa could gain such hioh
position without exciting the envy ana
Jealousy of the people There were
dema5ogues in Babylon who were 30
appreciative of their own abilities that
they were affronted ct the elevation OF
this young man. Old Babylon was
AFRAID OF young Babylon. TIE taller
the cedar the more apt it is to be
riven OF the lightning. These deEa-
gOgUes asked the king to make a
decree that anybody that made a
petition to anyone except the king
during period of thirty days
should be put to death. King
Darius. not suspecting any foul pay,
makes that decree. The deu,aSogues
have accomplished all they want, be-
cause they know that no one can keep
Daniel from sending petitions before
God for thirty days.
So far from being afraid, Daniel
goes on with his applications three
times day and is found on his house
top making prayer. He is caught in
the act. He is condemned to be de-
voured by the lions. Rough execu-
TONERS of the law seize him and hast
en- him to the cavern. | hear the
growl of the wild beasts, and l see
them paving the dust, and as they
put their mouths to the ground the
solid earth quakes with their below
ing. | see their eyes roll, and almost
hear the fiery eyeballs snap in the
darkness. These monsters approach
Daniel. They have an appetite keen
with hunger With one stroke OF
their paw or one snatch of their teeth
they may leave him dead at the boz
tom of the cavern. But what a
strange welcome Daniel receives from
these hungry monsters, They fawn
around him; they lick his hand; they
bury mis- feet in their long names.
That night he has calm sleep with his
head pillowed On the warm neckS OF
the tanned lions.
But not so well does Darius, the
king, sleep. lie has an attack of ter
rife insomnia. He loves Daniel and
hates this strategem by which he h s
been condemned. All night long the
king walks the floor He cannot sleep.
AT the least sound he starts, and S
flesh creepS with horror. He is iMp1-
tient for the dawning OF the morning.
AT the first streak Of the daylight Da-
rius hasteEs forth TO see the fate OF
Daniel. The heavy palace doors open
and clarg shut long before the people
Of the city waken. Darius goes TO the
den CT the lions. He looks in. All is
silent. His heart stops. He feels that
the very worst has happened; but,
gathering all his strength, he shouts
through the riffs CT the rock, 20 Dan
iel is thy God, whom thou servest Goa
tinually able to deliver thee?" There
comes rolling up from the deep dark
ness a voice which says: 20 king,
live forever. My God has sent his
angels TO shut the lions mouths that
they have not hurt me- Then Daniel
is brought out from the den. The
demagogues are hurled into it, and no
sooner have they struck the bottom OF
the den than their flesh was rent and
their bones cracked, and their blood
spurted through the riffs in the rock,
and as the lions made the rocks trem-
bic with their roar they announce
to all ages that while God will defend
his people the way of the ungodly
shall perish.
Daniels Greatest Onense.
Learn from this subject that the
greatest crime you can commit in the
eyes of many is the crime of success.
What had Daniel done that he should
be flung to the lions? He had be-
come prime minister. They could not
forgive him for that, and behold in
that a touch of unsanctifed human
nature as seen in all ages of the
world. So long as you are pinched in
poverty. so long as you are running
the gantlet between the landlord and
taxgatherer, so long as you find il
hard work to educate your children
there are people who will say: POO.
man, | am sorry for him." But after
awhile the tide turns in his favor
That was a profitable investment you
made You bought just at the right
time. Fortune becomes good humor-
ed and smiles upon you. Now you are
in some department successful, and
your success chillS some one. Those
men who used to sympathize with
you stand along the street and they
scCwl at you from under the rim oil
their hats. You have more money Oh
more influence than they have, and
you ought to be scowled at from under
the rim of their hats You catch a
word or two as you pass by them
stuck up says one. Got it dishon-
estly." says another. will burst
soon," says a third. Every stone in
your new house is laid on their hearts
Your horses hoofs went over the.l
has been to them an item of discom-
future and despair Just as soon as in
any respect you rise above your fel
lows, II you are more virtuOus, If you
are more wise, if you are more influ
entail, you cast shadow on the pros
poets of others. The road to honor
and success is within reach Of the enc
down. or I'll knock you down." 81 dc