Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1907-08-01

The enemies OF David were not long
In discovering the mood OF the king
and by sly inuendos served to inname
/ his mind yet more. so that the i'm
[ preston grew up In Sauls mind that
David was plotting against him. But
the climax came a few days later wien
one Of the kings attendants returned
from a Journey which had taken him
through bethlehem. and brought to
Sauls ears for the first time the story
Of David's amounting By Samuel. the
prophet. Like an angry food there
swept over saul the memory Of his
last intervieW with the prophet and
Of how the latter had declared that
God had rejected him from being king
over Israel He saw IL all now. David
vas surely after the kingdom. Had
he not won his way into the palace for
this express purpose, Had be not
thrown around his son and heir. iona
than. an influence which he had noted
of late seemed TO hold him in com
plete control And had he not heard
tust the other day how David had won
from him a pledge Of support All the
rage and violence Of Sauls strong na-
ture surged within his soul. so that
he could scarce contain himself. But
with cunning forethought he planned
that when next David appeared before
him he would slay him.
That night he made request that
David bring his harp and play in his
presence. and even while he was thus
engaged. with never n thought OF dan
ger. King Saul suddenly arose in his
seat and laying his hand on a iavelin
which had been standing in the cor
ner. he hurled 1t with all his might at
David. 50 that the latter avoided be-
ing pinned to the wall only by the
quickest OF moves.
When the king saw that he had not
killed David. he sought TO laugh the
matter OF as a joke. declaring that
he only wanted TO give David a good
scare. and asking him to continue his
playing This he did but with watch
ful eye. and he was thus able again to
avoid the javeIin which Saul threw at
him Then II was that David knew
that Saul desired his life.
And when Saul found that he had
failed he thought to bring the young
man into disfavor by removing him
from his place at court. This he did
but David behaved himself wisely and
Saul grew to be even more afraid Of
The young man.
II was not long after this that King
Saul called all his servants before
him together with his son. Jonathan.
and told them that they should kill
David. promising special favors to the
one who should succeed. But iona
than warned David of the charge his
father had given to his servants and
David was able 10 escape the trans
which were set for him Thus mat
tiers stood until Jonathan was able by
dint Of much effort to wiring from his
father a promise that he would not
kill David. but would restore him to
his old place OF favor.
One night when David was playing
on his harp before the king. as on
former occasions. one Of the violent
tempers which were growing upon the
king seized him. and like a mad man
be sprang toward David and drove
his javelin into the wall at the point
where a second before David had
been sitting. And now all the blood
thirsty hatred against David returned
upon Saul with redoubled fury and he
sent messengers unto David's house
whittier he had been traced to watch
him and to slay him In the morning.
But Michal. David's wife. the daughter
Of King Saul. learning of the plans
warned her husband and let him down
from the window. and he fed that
night and escaped
II was then that for the first time
there swept over the heart Of David a
consciousness Of his condition. The
king determined upon his death. and
the plotting against him had grown to
such extent that he was no longer
safe anywhere in the kingdom He
was a fugitive. Had God forgotten
him? Were all his visions OF the fu-
ture to be blasted? What had meant
his amounting years before IL this was
TO be the ending? What had he done
that such hardship and peril should
have befallen him. All, the bitter
ness of the struggle of that night as
he fed friendless and alone from the
men who sought his life.
No. not friendless." he thought at
last as he turned his eyes upward.
God liyeth and will not forget. And
Jonathan? Yes, he will prove faith.
full. | must see him once more
And Drawing the perils that attend
ed such an effort, he sought out the
trysting place which long before had
been agreed upon. should matters
come TO the worst. And Jonathan
true 10 his word. was there. That was
the last time they ever met again. but
Il was a meeting which gave them
both strength and courage TO face the
dark and stirring events which were
to follow during the future years.
David never forgot that meetin.. nor
Jonathan's last words. as he said:
Go in peace. forasmuch as We
have sworn both Of US in the name
OF the Lord. sayins. The Lord be be.
tween me and thee. and between INV
seed and thy seed forever