The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-06-21

his sons as Judges In his stead. Dc.
a. fine passed and 1t was found that
Joel and Abiah we're not men aiIei .ne
integrity and uprightness OF their IA
Their. but that they let money influence
their judgments, the DISSATISFACTION
grew. until at last the murmnring hau
become SO bitter and the protests 50
loud that the elders were forced 10
take action. They were loath 10 20 "
Samuel with the matter and had at
last decided that they would go to the
accused judges themselves. Joel ana
Abiah received them with seeming
cerdiality and listened with felghed
surprise while the charges oil corrup'
ton we're being made. They at hrst
Indignantly denied that they mad peeh
guilty of wrong-doing, but when tne
indlsputable proofs were shown, their
manner had changed to naughty dls'
dam. What right had any n TO
call in question the conduct OF a son
of Samuel? Had not he been called OF
God TO judge Israel, and had he MOI
appointed them to their office? were
they not entitled to their living? ana
had they done more than receive re-
Enumeration for their services? Did
not both parties to a controversy have
to bring their offerings before the case
would be considered, and why should
not the one in whose favor the judg-
ment was given make special offering
Of gratitude?
In such manner did Joel and Abiah
make answer to the elders of Israel
and then abruptly dismiss them.
why exclaimed Joel, after they
had gone, zone would think that the
elders Of Israel and not our father were
the head oye Israel"
"Yes," replied Abiah, at is well to
have 1t understood who are In author
ity. Our father is growing old and 1t
will not be long before the sole respon-
sibility of judging Israel will rest
upon our shoulders. 1t therefore be-
hooves us to look well to our place
and authority"
"And what think you, will our father
say when the elders go to him with
their tale?" asked Joel.
81 think it were well If we, too,
went to our father and presented our
side of the case. He will be slow to
believe evil concerning his sons" Abb
ah replied, confidently.
"Then let us go at once" urged his
brother.
The next day Samuel was visited by
the elders of Israel. but not until after
his two sons had seen and talked
with him, giving him their version Of
the affair, and preparing him for the
coming of the elders.
What then can we hope for?" said
the elders one to another after they
had talked with Samuel and found
him u~nresponsive to their plea.
WHITTIER shall we look for judgment
when Samuel, who is old, is gomez"
would that we had a king like the
natiAns about u.s." exclaimed one of
the number.
"A king! A king" exclaimed the
others with one voice. This is our
hope"
mand that Samuel give us a king in
his stead, so that when he is gone we
shall have one to judge us" urged
the n who had first suggested a
king.
The answer to this proposition was
an enthusiastic .acquiescence, and
Don they were again in the presence
of the aged Judge.
What! a king?" exclaimed Samuel,
in distress and sadness. why. God
is your king. Would you desert him?"
may, but we will have a king in our
midst to rule yer us like the nations
about, for thou art old, and when thou
art gone, to whom shall we go?"
But the thing displeased Samuel,
and the disappointment which he had
felt when the complaint was made
against his sons gave place to a deep.
er sadness as he realized that the ma
ton was rejecting God who alone was
their king. And Samuel prayed unto
the Lord concerning this thing, and
the Lord said: "Hearken unto the
voice of the people and make them a
king"