The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-06-28
versa.ion. stepping to his fathers

flush from his face.
go. then, quickly, my SON." Kish
replied eagerly. Take the servant
here with thee that he may tell thee
where he left the asses and may aid
thee in the search"
And the eyes OF the father followed
him in loving pride as he started OF
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 as
tall as he, and he had proved himself
to be every inch a man. He had
come TO be right hand help in man.
agement of all the affairs OF the es-
tate, and when he had proposed going
after the valuable herd of asses which
had strayed the 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 OPP
portunity Of getting out and away,
1t 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
off his mind was filled more with these
thoughts than with the matter of the
lost asses.
Little did he realize the momen.
tous 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
Use that he would give them a king
he had been burdened by the thought
as to how the promise was to be full.
filled. But one day, while making
preparations for the sacrifice and feast
which was to be celebrated by the
people on the following day, the Lord
spoke to him, saying that on the NOR
row he would send him a mar out Of
the land of Benjamin whom he should
anoint as captain over his people.
'fAnd for whom is this choice por.
tion?" 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 filed" 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 seat? And the prophet!
What causeth his delay? And while
they wait they talk concerning the
matter.
Zone of the servants says that the
prophet has this moment gone down
to the gate Of the city" whispered
one.
Can it be that he has invited one
from abroad?" queried another.
Thus the buzz of conversation kept
up until at last footsteps were heard
and there entered the prophet accom-.
panied by a tall stranger, upon whom
all eyes conferred with growing inter.
est.
What a magnificent physique"
thought one, What a goodly face"
was the thought Of still another.
what a leader he would make" ex.
claimed another under his breath.
And while thus the company was
busy with It's 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 a strange spirit of ex.
pectancy ~pervading 1t, but no man
asked: What meaneth the presence
of this MANI" 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 mar Saul was upon ~everyone's
lips.
SO the days passed until the day
appointed by Samuel for the tribes to
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 falls
upon Saul, And as Saul appeared be.
fore them, they all shouted: God
the king"
CAN FoRETELL THE WEATHER.