St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-26

1
advantage because OF the advancing
season." persisted Joab.
Let US start tomorrow, then" the
king replied, with some of his old
time promptitude and vigor.
tbs well,' exclaimed Joab, eager
s ~, and hastily withdrew to make the
final preparations for the march.
The king took an impatient turn
around the roof terrace and then
threw himself with disconnected
sigh upon one OF the soft divans
which furnished the sumptuous apart.
ment. It was a delightful place to
be, he thought, as he looked about
him, and then up at the blue sky
which was deepening with this even
ing shadows. The thought os leav
ing the ease and comfort of his splen-
did palace filled him with impatieat
regret
Why should he go?" he asked him,
self. Why not let Joab go alone?
Yes, he would lose the glory of the
victory, but was he not as king en-
titled to seek his own ease and COM
fort?' thus he reasoned, and at last
the resolve was made and he dis
patched one of his servants with a
note to Joab telling him that he would
tarry at Jerusalem and commanding
Joab to lead the army against the
Ammonites as had been planned.
So it came to pass that the next
day the army departed leaving King
David behind to enjoy the ease and
comfort of his palace.
i will join Joab later" he prom
ised himself, as he watched the long
defile of soldiers pass down the val
ley. He was in his favorite place on
the terrace, and when the last divi-
sion had passed out of sight, he threw
himself back upon the couch and gave
himself up to dreamy speculation of
the probable development in the
campaign against the Ammonites. He
had not the least shadow of doubt as
to the outcome Had He, it is doubt
full whether he would have been con-
} tent to have remained behind. But
with the absolute certainty of victory,
he gave himself up to the enjoyment
of the luxury about him.
So the days passed It had been al
most a week now since tidings had
come from the army, and while he
did not feel uneasy as to the progress
of the campaign. the lack of news
served to again raise the question III
his own mind as to his place of duty.
Why should he tarry there in ease
while the men of Israel endured the
hardships and the dangers of bat
tie? He felt half ashamed of himself,
and was almost On the point of order
ing the servants to prepare for the
journey, when the impulse was check
ed by the inner prompting to delay
starting for days
Perhaps" he said by way of apollo
gy, to his better impulses, they are
on the way home even now, and delay
sending word that the whole army
may share in the jog of bringing It'd
ings of victory
In this spirit of self-complacency he
settled himself for his midday rest,
promising himself by way Of compro-
mise to start surely on the morrow ii
ttdings had not by that time reached
him. Little did he think what his
procrastinatfon was to cost him. But
the promise to start on the morrow
served to still the troubled conscience
within, and he gave himself up to the
ease and pleasures about him with
fresh relish
NO. he said when the servant
i awoke him from his afternoon slum-
Der. No, will not attend the even
ing sacrifice" and he stretched him.
self languidly and took a turn around
the room. Ease and indulgences in
the luxuries of the table are not con-
dueive to piety, and be it said for
David that of late he had grown cold
in his religious life. As he looked
about him he could not help think
of the contrast there was between
what he now enjoyed and his simple
life as a shepherd boy years be-
fore
I guess that I did live nearer to
God then than do now" he confess
| ed to himself as the thought came to
him of his harp and the joy he used
to get out of it as he sang praises
to God on the sides of the Judean
hills while his sheep grazed con.
tentedly about him.
And why not get the old harp out
/ and sing some Of the old songs here
and noW?" urged the inner voice.
Not tonight" he said, half impa-
tiently, "else | will miss the delight
full eventide in my favorite nook on
the roof terrace" and he started to-
ward the stairway leading to the love-
ly spot
Not even the better promptings
could hold him. He had become so
accustomed of late to yielding to the
mere physical desires that the
thought of denying himself was an I'M
welcome one.
Tomorrow" he promised himself,
as he reached the roof, Il will get out
my harp and worship God in the old
songs.
Tomorrow" All, fatal mistake,
disastrous delay, for that night there
came the temptation which swept him
off his feet, and forever linked his
name with his companion in sin, the
f. T-..s L.