Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-01-03

| a. W ms vi MAlCu was SET dDdil lOI lu0
use of the young men whom the king
was having trained for his service.
And the change had been a welcome
one, for these Hebrew princes had
! been accustomed to the comforts and
Injuries of the royal court at JerusaS
lem, and when it was told them that
they were to be educated in all the
learning OF the Chaldeans, they all
felt especially Daniel, more reconciled
to their lot. So it was that when the
evening meal was served all were in
quite a cheerful mood, and fell to-
eagerly partaking of the rich bounties
spread before them.
All but Daniel. The food before him
remained untouched, and as we have
already said his conscience troubled
him, for it was an abomination for a
Hebrew to partake of food which had
been offered to the heather Gods, and
was not food from the kings table
rendered sacred by reason of having a
| portion offered to their gods?
This fact had been emphasized and
| impressed upon his mind during the
| formal ceremony that afternoon when
they had been received into the pal
ace, for each had been given a new
name in token of their dedication to
the service Of the king in the names
of the Babylonian gods. To him had
been given the name Of Belteshazzar,
prince of the god Bel, and now they
were expected to partake of meats and
| drink offered to idols.
But what else could he do?" he
asked himself again. why should he
Hebrew slave in heather court,
draw such fine distinctions? Did not
circumstances absolve him from his
obligations to the God of the He
| brews? And then too, how tempting
did the viands look before him. He,
felt impatient with himself for letting
such thoughts trouble him and gave
outward expression to the inner irri-
tation by shrug of his shoulders and
a savage shake of his head.
This Ashpenaz, who had just en-
tered the hall, noted, and sent for him.
What comely-looking youth he
is" the prince muttered to himself as
he waited Thoughts Of home have
iopDCu IhC wy vi dpPCIiIC' Ahu
| then aloud as Daniel came before him
and bowed, he said, abruptly:
What ails thee, my son? Speak,
and fear not" he added, as he noted
Daniels confusion.
Now it was not in the nature Of
Daniel to dissemble and so frankly he
told the prince that it was defilementl
| Go, 70 toll ne hat 11ybf nh
was offered to idols.
But are not these, thy brethren,
eating of the meat which the king has
sent them?" inquired Ashpenaz, in
surprise "Why shouldst thou let the
laws of the Hebrews trouble thee
here? Thou art no longer in Jerusa-
lem but in Babylon. Act in accord
ance Herewith"
"But why may not plain food which
has not been offered to the gods be
given thy servant to eat?"
plain food" exclaimed Ashpenaz,
in alarm. plain food Dost thou not
know that thou art to be prepared to
go before the king? and why should
he see thy face worse looking than
these thy brethren? Then shall ye
make me endanger my head to the
king. I fear my lord the king, who
hath appointed your meat and your
drink"
With these words Ashpenaz dis
| missed Daniel and he returned to
his place but the food before him re-
NAMED untouched. That night three
| % II, lot da 70 Nd in
quired of him why it was that he had
not eaten and what it was that Ash
penaz had said to him, for they had
observed what had transpired.
81 am resolved" replied Daniel
simply, that I will not defile myself
with the kings meat"
"Then what will you eat" demand
ed Mishael. 1--WE are in Babylon now,
not Jerusalem, and we cannot starve."
But the God of the Hebrews still
lives. l will serve him." Daniel re-
sponded, firmly.
Let US ask, Melzar our steward, to
test us and see if the plain diet work
eth i'll with u.s." exclaimed Hananiah,
suiting his action to the words and
starting off in the direction of the
steward, who had just appeared in the
doorway.
Finally after much persuasion and
many misgivings on the part of Mel
Ear, the latter gave his consent to the
test, and thenceforth Daniel and the
young men he had influenced to faith
fulness to their God had their plain
food to eat, and at the end Of the
ten days which had been agreed upon
and Melzar had looked upon their
face he was delighted with their ap-
pearance and declared that they