The Tupelo journal., 1907-07-12

over this matter"
We'll, well, to what a pass we have
come" exclaimed one of the group
who up to this time had remained 81
lent and who was known as a close
friend of the king. "Our king de-
spairs because Of the rebuke of the
prophet.
Thou wouldst not speak lightly of
the word of the prophet Samuel"
came a reproving voice from the far
side of the group, followed by several
approving mods and EXPLANATIONS.
May" quickly responded the other,
"far be it from me SO to do, but should
we not seek to cheer our king in the
hour of his trouble? Surely he hath
wrought v~aliantly for his people In
the utter destruction of the Amale-
kites"
There was instant response to this
suggestion and steps were at once
taken to bring an offering to the king
and to assure him Of their continued
loyalty.
Thus 1t was that a few days later
a deputation Of the people of Gibeah
came to Saul who received them gra-
ciously and seemed greatly refreshed
by their kindly words and by their
gifts, but the sting and smart of Sam
ueIs words still remained, and after
they had gone he lapsed into his sui
len demeanor.
One day Saul confided to one of his
friends that he was troubled because
Samuel came not to see him.
What will the nation think il the
prophet come no more to see me as
formerly?" asked Saul with troubled
look.
why do you not send an earnest
entreaty to him that he Gomez" ques-
toned his friend.
But how dare / when no word has
come to me from him since he turned
from me in anger there at Gilgal?"
LET me go, and l will entreat for
thee" responded his friend, earn
estly.
GO, then, and may thy way be
p~rospered."
A week later Saul was sitting alone
in his dwelling. The messenger to
the prophet had not yet returned,
for the prophet had refused to re-
ceive him or to send any word back
to Saul. AnXiously day after day Saul
had watched and waited, in the seclu.
sion of his home.
sTf &c cy,o11 ynotfa~ RI r,oE0 such odN
over" he muttered to himself.
What is that you say, father"
spoke up his son Jonathan, who at
that moment entered the room. He
had felt the detection of his father,
and had sought by every means in
his power to cheer him. He did not
have a clear understanding of his ia
theirs trouble, not having been at
Gilgal at the time of the meeting
with the prophet and the common
talk throughout the kingdom did not
reach his ears for the reason that the
people feared to talk freely with him
on account of his father. And, fur
thermore, his father did not show any
desire to enlighten him, and hence
he was much puzzled, and scarcely
knew how to approach his father.
However, he had fingered near him,
with anxious, loving solicitude, and
when he had heard his father speak
ing he had entered the room and
now stood at his fathers side waiting
for him to reply.
Il said" responded his father, petu-
lantly rising and shaking his great
form as though he was casting from
him some irksome burden and would
have no more of it, Il said, it is a
small matter to make such ado over"
and then moved by some strange i'm
pulse, he told the whole story to his
son, ending by repeating the words
which he had spoken at the begin
ming, only putting them in the form
of a question:
"Do you not think 1t a small matter
to make so much ado over"
A troubled, panied look crept over
the noble features of the handsome
youth, and it was plain to see that he
hesitated to speak what was in his
heart.
We'll, boy, speak," savagely cried
the father, suddenly losing control of
himself, as though some evil spirit had
seized him.
Jonathan was startled by the sud
den outburst, but recovering himself,
he turned appealingly to his father,
saying:
but, father, is it a small matter
to disobey God? Surely, If thou wilt
repent, the Lord will forgive"
Repent! Repent! R~epent!!!"
shouted the now fairly enRaged man,
with rising voice. What have l to
repent of? Have not I faced danger
and death in battle doing the COM
mand of the Lord? Did 1 in saving
Agag and in taking the spoil do more
than is the right of a king and a On
queror? Get thee from my sight, for
thou hast also entered into league
against thy father. l care not that
the prophet comes not to see me. Is
not Saul king of Israeli" And from
that day Saul was a changed man, and
an evil spirit took possession Of him.
Beware Of the Dog!