The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-10-05

ry1ng him stumbled n fell near tn9
head of the long flight of stairs lead.
ing from the palace, and the mex. rec
objection he had was of lying helpless
on his couch with his legs bandaged
up and pains so intense that it seem
ed as though he must die. And since
that day he had wondered why he had
not died, and had often wished as he
considered his helplessness that he
had.
AS we have said, he was always In
tensely interested in news from the
land Of his birth, and had followed
with special interest the rising for
tunes of King David. The old servant
who had carried him and cared for
him tenderly in his youth had told
him of the great friendship which had
existed between King David and his
father, and much of the gentle, heroic
spirit which had characterized his
| father was possessed by himself He
felt a warm glow in his heart at every
mention of King David's name, and
he had a longing desire to have him
for his friend, too.
When it was suggested to him once
that the kingdom of Israel belonged
to him by right of inheritance rather
than to David, and that had 1t not
been that he was a cripple he might
by force of arms have asserted his
| rights. he had replied with spirit that
| if his father Jonathan had recognized
| the divine will and was willing to
| Weld the kingdom to the man whom
God had chosen for king surely he
was nat going to be less a man. He
| felt he could honor the memory or
| his noble father in no better way than
to cherish the friendship which he
| had held for David.
And so it was when the messenger
came from David seeking him. ne
did not share the evil f~orebodingS
| which troubled his friends. They were
| certain that King David plotted his
| hurt, and that for him to place him
| self entirely in David's power was to
court disaster of the most distressing
kind.
BE it good or bad which shall be
fall me-" he had replied, quietly, "nev'
erthelesS | will go. l would see the
face of him who vas so great e friend
of my father" And quickly gather
ing his household together, he prepar-
ed to leave with the messenger on the
following day.
How came King David to know OF
me and my whereabouts?" he ques-
toned the messenger as they made
their journey.
"One Ziba, a servant of the house
of Saul, thy grandfather, told him OF
thee and he would not rest content
until he had sent for thee" the mes
senger replied.
But why should the king TAX
thought for one like me, who am least
of all my fathers hOuse-and a Grip
pie" he added, sadly.
"Ah, but thou knowest not the good
ness of the kings heart. His thought
is toward the least of his people in
Israel. Surely thOu knOweSt the great
love which he had for thy father Jona-
than. and would he not desire to do
kindness INTO his SON."
But do not the great burdens OF
ruling so vast a kingdom press heavy
upon him and give him no time to
follow the dictates of his own heart?
Again thou dOst not understand or
know the king, for more precious IN
his sight is loyalty to the friend Of
former days than all the prestige n
honor and glory which the making OF
new and powerful friends can bring"
was the earnest response.
And so as they %journeyed the heart
of Mephibosheth was cheered by the
gave of all the righteous acts of the
king, until at last he exclaimed:
Surely, God hath chosen a man
like unto himself to rule over his peO-
pie"
In this spirit of alteration for King
David, M~ephibosheth entered Jerusa-
lem and was shown into the royal
presence. And M~ephibosheth fell upon
upon his face to the ground and did
the king reverence. But the latter
came forward quickly and placing his
hand upon the bowed head, said, af-
f~ectionately:
"Mephibosheth!"
Behold thy servant" responded
Mephibosheth, earnestly.
Fear not, Mephibosheth. for I will
surely shew thee kindness for iona
than thy fathers sake, and will re-
| store thee all the land of Saul thy
t father; and thou shalt eat bread at
: my table continually" said David.
!, The possessions of the house of
, Saul and a place at the royal table.
| M~ephibosheth listened as one in a
dream. Could it be true? Again he
!, bowed himself before the king. and
, said:
, What is thy servant, that thou
( shouldst look upon such a dead dog as
| ann"
, But the king would hear no more.
bit forthwith gave orders that Me
! phibosheth was to become a member
Of the royal household and calling
{ Xiba, the old servant of Saul, instruct
IL Ill.,, a0Daon~ %ho roo~n~1-,o~