Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-07-31

spoil 10 make Onerfng TO the LORD.
and surely the bringing OF Agag back
was but the rightful trophy OF a zen
queror," exclaimed another OF the
group.
But Samuel nd not think 30, evi.
IDENTIFY, for in great anger he slew
Agag, and would take no part in the
offerings which King Saul had caused
to be made to the Lord"
Various EXPLANATIONS followed this
piece of news, and the speaker went
on to say:
in fact, Samuel hath returned to
his abode at Ramah in high dudgeon.
refusing to hold converse with any
upon the way, and it is said by those
who have reason to know that ;ineo
his return home the prophet hath
ceased not to mourn day nor night
over this matter"
We'll, well, to what q pass we have
come" exclaimed one OF the group
who up to this time had remained 81.
lent and who was known as a close
friend OF the king. Our king de
spairs because of the rebuke of the
prophet"
Thou wouldst not speak lightly Of
the word of the prophet Samuel"
came reproving voice from the far
side OF the group. followed by several
approving mods and ordinations.
Nay" quickly responded the other
far be 1t from me so to DO, but should
we not seek to cheer our king in the
hour OF his trouble? Surely he hath
wrought valiantly for his people in
the utter destruction of the Amale
kites"
There was instant response to this
suggestion and steps were at once
taken to bring an offering to the king
and to assure him of their continued
| loyalty.
Thus 1t was that few days later
a deputation of the people of Gibeah
came to Saul who received them gra.
cfously and seemed greatly refreshed
| by their kindly words and by their
gifts, but the sting and smart OF Sam
uefs words still remained, and after
they had gone he lapsed into his sui.
len demeanor
One day Saul confided to one of Ais
friends that he was troubled because
Samuel came not to see him.
What will the nation think If the
prophet come no more TO see me as
formerly" asked Saul with troubled
look
Why do you not send an earnest
entreaty to him that he Gomez" ques-
toned his friend.
But how dare / when no word has
come to me from him since he turned
from me in anger there at Gilgal?"
Let me go, and / will entreat for
thee" responded his friend, earn
estly.
Go, then, and may thy way be
prospered."
A week later Saul was sitting alone
In his dwelling. The messenger to
the prophet had not yet returned.
for the prophet had refused TO re-
ceive him or to send any word back
to Saul. AnXiously day after day Saul
sion of his home.
1T is small matter to make such ado
over" he muttered to himself.
What is that you say, father?"
spoke up his son Jonathan, who at
that moment entered the room He
had felt the detection of his father,
and had sought by every means in
his power to cheer him. He did not
have clear understanding of his IA
Tiers trouble, not having been at
Gilgal at the time of the meeting
with the prophet and the common
talk throughout the kingdom did not
reach his ears for the reason that the
people feared to talk freely with him
on account of his father. And, fur
thermore, his father did not show any
desire to enlighten him, and hence
he was much Puzzled, and scarcely
knew how to approach his father.
However, he had fingered near him.
with anxious, loving solictude. and
when he had heard his father speak.
ing he had entered the room ana
now stood at his fathers side waiting
for him to reply.
II said" responded his father, petu.
lantly rising and shaking his great
form as though he was casting from
mann oOiiC IL hoOIlit DuIubI anu WOIII6
nave no more of II, II said. It is a
small matter to make such ado over -
and then moved by some strange i'm.
pulse, he told the whole story to his
son, ending by repeating the words
which he had spoken at the begin.
ming, only putting them in the fora
OF question:
DO you not think IT small matte
TO make so much ado over?"
a troubled, panied look crept over
the noble features of the handsome
youth. and it was plain TO see that he
hesitated to speak what was i'm his
heart.
We'll, boy, speak, savagely cried
the father, suddenly losiag control Of
himself, as though some evil spirit had
seized him.