The Grenada sentinel., 1907-07-13
But did not the people talk of tn.

But did not the people talk Of the
SPOIL to make offering to the Lord.
and surely the bringing of Agag back
was but the rightful trophy of con-
| queror," exclaimed another Of the
group.
But Samuel did not think so, evi-
! IDENTIFY, for in great anger che slew
Agag, and would take no part in the
| offerings which King Saul had caused
to be made to the Lord"
Various exclamations followed this
piece of news, and the speaker went
ON to say:
I'm fact, Samuel hath returned to
his abode at Ramah in high dudgeon,
refusing to hold converse with any
| upon the way, and it is said by those
who have reason to know that since
his return home the prophet hath
ceased not to mourn day nor night
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 ST.
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 seveJsl
approving mods and eXclamations.
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 valiantly 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 it was that few days later
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
uels 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 l when no word has
come to me from him since he turned
from me in anger there at Gilgal?"
Let me go, and 1 will entreat for
thee" responded his friend, earn
estly.
Go, then, and may thy way be
prospered."
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.
1T is small matter to make such ado
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. |
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.
81 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, II said, 1T 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 q question:
do you not think it small matter
to make so much ado over?"
A troubled, panied look crept over
the noble features of the handsome
xyoC ,,1oip fn coo that ha