St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-05-25


was as nothing now to the anguish of
soul he endured as the accusing voice
of conscience cried out in his heart
and condemned him. He, the Nazarite
to God; he, the chosen one of God to
deliver and judge Israel; he, the
mighty champion who had never
known defeat during all. the 20 years
he had judged Israel, come at last to
this! Could it be possible?
He shook himself to see if he were
awake, and it was not all a hideous
dream, but the clank Of the chains
came as an answering voice. He lift
ed his trembling hands to the sight.
less eyes.
ooh, God" he cried, chow could
have done this thing?" And in the
| agony of his despair he beat upon his
breast until the ring of the rafting
chains echoed and reechoed through
the prison house.
Like flood there swept across Ids
soul the memory of his wrongdoing.
How he had allowed himself step by
| step to be drawn into the power of
that wicked woman. How he had
had forgotten his high calling and OBJ
legation. And, worse still, how he
| had fallen so low as to reveal the
sacred secrets of his God to the heart
of profane and profiigate Philistine
woman.
During these meditations, when it
seemed as though his very soul
would be crushed by the burden of his
guilt and his God had forsaken him
| forever, there came into the prison
| house company of the lords of the
Philistines, whose citation was mani
tested as they looked down upon their
old enemy and tainted him with the
humiliation of his position and gloried
in his weakness At last they tired
of this diversion and turned to go,
saying as they did SO:
1--WE must needs offer a great sacri.
fee to our god, Dagon, for see how
he hath delivered into our hands our
enemy"
The words aroused Samson, and
long after they had departed he kept
repeating them over and over and
saying to himself:
Nay, it was not the god Dagon, but
my sin that brought me to this place.
Shall Dagon, indeed, receive the
glory?" And he buried his head low
between his knees as he realized how
| grieVously he had compromised the
cause of his God. And even while he
was thus bowed there came whisper
ing to his soul that with his God there
was forgiveness and mercy.
ooh, God" he cried, as he lifted
his sightless eyes toward heaven, 'tlet
this thing come to pass that may yet
show that it is to God that victory be-
longeth! Let not these uncircum-
cised Philistines forget that the God
of Israel and not the god Dagon rul-
ETH"
From that moment something like
peace came to Samson, and as the
days came and went the repentant
heart of Samson reached out in faith
and took fresh hold upon the God to
whom his life had been consecrated.
Thus there grew up in his heart new
hope and confidence, and the old
thrill of his strength and power came
back to him.
At last the great day o1 the feast
and sacrifice to Dagon, the god of the
Philistines, arrived. Multitudes crowd
ed into the great amphitheater, and
other thousands filed the roof over
looking the arena. Then came the
cry for Samson that he might make
sport for them, and while they waited
impatiently messenger was dis
patched to the prison house to fetch
him. What a shout that was as they
saw the form of their old enemy come
cropping into the arena before them!
How different from the old Samson
who had withstood the armies of the
PhiIistines and had, single-handed,
slain thousands of their strongest
men. There he was in their power,
forced to make sport for them, and
right royalty did they cheer his every
feat and shout in his ears:'
"Now doth our god Dagon find
pleasure in Samson! Now are we
avenged for all that Samson hath
done unto u.s."
And while the tlmult was at it's
height, Samson turned to the lad that
had led him into the arena and said:
Suffer me that may feel the pill
lars whereupon the house standeth,
! that I may lean upon them"
The shouting ceased as he reached
position between the two main pill
lars which sustained the weight of
the roof Eagerly his hands CROPPED
about until they touched the great
wooden piers. All eyes were turned
upon him now in wonder to see what
next he would do, and breathless ex-
pectancy filled the place.
Suddenly upon the stiffness which
had fallen rose the voice of Samson
as he lifted his face towards heaven;
and the eager multitudes leaned for
ward to hear what was said, while the
crowds in the rear, realizing that
something unusual was transpiring,
pressed toward the front.
20 Lord Cod" rang out the words,
clear and loud, remember me, pray
thee, and strengthen me, pray thee,
only this once, o God, that l may be
at once avenged Of the Philistines for
my two eyes,"
A shout of derisive laughter rang
out from the people as they cried;
He prayeth to his God!" But the
sound thereof was quickly drowned in