Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1907-06-27

Tho father looked MP at the tower
ing figure at his side. while n re-
/ ir'ved look chased away the angry
lush from his face
60. then. quickly. my SON." Kish
replied eagerly Take the servant
here with thee that he may tell thee
whore he lcft the asses and may aid
thee in the search"
And the eyes Of the father followed
him in loving pride as he started on
in response to his Urgent words.
There was not another man in all
the tribe OF benjamin. and as far as
he knew in all Israel. who was "a
tall as he, and he had proved himself
To be every inch man lie had
come 10 bc ripht hand help In man
a.cment Of all the affairs Of the cs-
tate, and when he had proposed going
after the valuable herd Of asses which
had straycd tn, father felt a load OF
anxiety taken from his mind for he
knew that Saul would search long
and far until they were found
And as for Saul. all day long there
had been an unrest within his breast an
eager desire to go some place. to do
something. and he welcomed this op-
portunity Of getting out and away.
II had come as he had mingled with
the crowd and had heard the talk con-
corning the new king which was to
be- chosen. He wanted to hear more
about the matter And as he started
on his mind was filled more with these
thoughts than with the matter OF tho
lost asses.
Little did he realize the momen-
'ous events which were to transpire
before he again returned home to
Gibeah. And while Saul and the serv-
ant continued their search through
the country. strange events were shap-
Ing themselves in the city where the
prophet Samuel dwelt During the
days which had passed since he had
/ dismissed the elders with the prom
iso that he would give them king
10" had been hurdeuod by the thought
as TO how the promise was to be full
hllod. But one day. while making
Preparations for the sacrifice and feast
which was 10 be celebrated by the
reopl" on the following day. the Lord
spoke TO him. saying that on tho NOR
. row he would send him a man out OF
the land Of BENJAMIN whom he should
anoint as captain over his people
And for whom is this choice por.
| tion2' asked the servant the same
day of Samuel. as he prepared for
the feast which the prophet was to
give certain of the chief Of the peo-
pie.
That is for one who shall come as
| special guest to the feast"
But there are none others in the
| place whom thou canst invite" re-
| piled the servant, wonderingly.
But the place will be filled" was
the quiet response of the prophet as
he turned and went away
The sacrifice had been performed
and the guests had assembled for
| the feast and all are contemplating
/ In wonder the vacant seat at the
right hand Of the prophet Are they
not all present that have been bid
! den? Then who is there to occupy
the vacant seat2 And the prophet,
What causeth his delay? And while
they wait they talk concerning the
matter
One Of the servants says that the
prophet has this moment gone down
TO the gate of the city whispered
one.
Can it he that he has invited one
from ahroad?" queried another.
Thus the buzz of conversation kept
up until at last footsteps were heard
and there entered the prophet accom-.
panied by tall stranger. upon whom
all eyes centered with growing inter.
est
What a magnificent physique"
thought one. What a goodly face"
was the thought of still another
What leader he would make" ex.
claimed another under his breath
And while thus the company was
busy with its thoughts, Samuel led his
guest to the chief seat, and command
ed the cook, saying:
Bring in the extra portion which
! gave thee. and which | told thee
to set by against the time | should
call for it"
In this unusual way did Samuel in
troduce the young Saul to some of the
chief men of the nation The feast
continued with strange spirit of ex.
pectancy pervading 1t. but no man
asked: What meaneth the presence
of this man." But all were thinking
deeply. and when the company broke
up and the events OF the afternoon be.
came known abroad. the name of the
young man Saul was upon everyones
lips.
So the days passed until the dav
appointed by Samuel for the tribes tn
come together to Mizpeh. With fever.
ish interest the people watch the cast.
ing of the lots. One after another
the tribes are passed over until the
tribe of BENJAMIN is taken, and then
from that tribe the lot at last fall,
upon Saul. And as Saul appeared be-
fore them. they all shouted: God
save the king"
CAN FoRETELL THE WEATHER