The L'Anse sentinel., 1907-11-16

Of me King Of 0sshr. And this con.
tempt which she had felt for Ahinoam
she had instilled into the heart OF her
son Absalom. 30 that he had como TO
feel that her son Amnon was quite be-
meath him. This feeling had grown
with tho years and there was NO pleas.
ant intercourse between the half bro
thers. and as Absalom came to man.
hoods estate and the pride and ambi'
tion took complete possession OF his
heart there grew upon him the feel.
ing that somehow Amnon stood In his
way to success; that he was doing
him an injustice.
He had been told too often Of the
charms OF his own person net TO be
conscious Of them, and he felt that
his beauty and grace would never be
fittingly set forth until he was sur.
rounded by regal honors and power.
Amnon seemed In his way Of realiza
ton of this ambition, and long before
the wicked conduct Of Amnon had
brought him within his power he had
secretly plotted how he might com.
pass his ruin without evil consequences
to himself.
Hence. as we have said. when Am.
non so wickedly wronged his sister.
he welcomed 1t as the long sought op
portunity, but even in his passionate
eagerness to strike the blow he knew
that he. must move cautiously, else he
would frustrate his own ends. For
this reason he counseled his sister to
say nothing which would bring punish.
ment upon the head OF Amnon and
take him out of the reach of his pow
er. His hand and his alone should deal
with him, and all Israel should know
that Absalom was as brave as he was
beautiful, and as fearless In righting
wrong as he was in defending the In.
nocent.
So the time slipped by until. as VS.
have said, almost two years had
passed. That had been an exception.
ally good year with Absalom. Ills
fields and his fiocks had yielded splGp.
did increase, and there seemed moth.
ing for him to desire.
Others had forgotten his enmity to-
wards Amnon, In fact even the latter.
had in the brutishness of his own
black heart ceased to think about 1t,
for pleasures Of the present always
shut out the memory Of past misdeeds.
But Notwithstanding the prosperity
which had come to him. Absalom was
not satisfied. The ranking hatred in
his heart gave him no peace day or
night. The one thing he desired above
all else was to destroy his brother
Amnon. He deserved to die, he ar
gued with himself, and his death
would place him in direct succession
to the throne.
One day, as the time for shearing
the sheep drew near. as he was out
inspecting the fiocks and planning for
the harvest Of wool, the thought
flashed across his mind:
why not make the feasting time
and the time Of gladness which always
marked the sheepshearing season the
occasion of shifting Amnon? The
very thing!" he exclaimed aloud. "All
the royal family knows what q pros
porous year this has been with me.
and they will all find delight in re-
joicing with me In the good fortune
which has come to me. will invite
even the king himself"
"But what II Amnon will not conner"
asked voice from within. to which
Absalom responded, grimly:
YEA, but where the wine and the
feasting are to be found there you may
be sure Amnon will come. He will not
withhold himself from the company Of
the kings sons"
And so Absalom came to King David
his father and said:
Behold now, thy servant hath
sheep-shearers; let the king, I beseech
thee, and his servants go with thy
servants"
NAY. my son." replied the king,
''let US not all now go. lest the burden
of our entertainment rest too heavily
upon thee"
And Absalom pressed the king to go.
but he would not; however he spoke
his blessing upon Absalom.
"If thou wilt not go, then let him.
who Is thy heir go that he may .repre-
sent thee, for this shall be right
royal feast, for see how the Lord
hath prospered met"
And he pressed the king that he
should let Amnon and all the kings
sons go with him, and he finally con-
sented.
And when Absalom had prepared for
the feast and every servant was in his
place he spoke secretly with those
whom he could trust, saying:
Mark ye now when Amnon's heart
is merry with wine, and when say
unto you. smite Amnon; then kill him,
fear not; have not commanded you?
Be courageous. and be valiant"
And the servants of Absalom did
unto Amnon as Absalom had COM
manded, and Absalom fed and went to
Talmai, king Of Geshur, his grand
father, who commended him for the
success Of his wicked plot and assured
him Of his support when he SHOULD
strive for the kingdom Of IsrsA.
The Test.