The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-07-12

over this matter"
Well. well. TO what a pass we hav,
come" exclaimed one OF the groui
who up 10 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 a reproying voice from the far
side Of the group, followed by several
approving mods and explanations.
May" quickly responded the other,
FAR be IL from me so to do, but should
we not seek to cheer our king In the
hour ot HIS troublc2 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 10 bring an offering to the king
and to assure him Of their continued
loyalty.
Thus It WAS that a few days later
a dcputatioU OF the people Of Gibeah
came Ia Saul who received them gra-
ciousiy and seemed greatly refreshed
by their kindly words and hy their
gifts, but The sting and smart u sam
nels words stilI remained and after
they had gone be iapsed into his sui
len dgHeaHpr.
One day Saul cohfacd to one of hts
friends that be was troubled because
Samuel came not 10 see him.
What viii the nation think n the
prophet come no more tn see ms a,
formerly?7 asked Saul with troubled
look.
Why do you not send an earnest
eRtreaty to him that he Gomez qacs.
toned his friend.
But how dare ! when no word has
come to me from him since he turaed
from me In anger there at Gilgal?"
Let me go, and / viii cntreat for
thee" responded his friend, earn,
estly.
Go. then, and may thy way be
pr0spered,"
A week later Saul was sitting alone
in his dwelling. The messenger to
the prophet had not yet returned.
for the prophet had refused 10 re-
ceiye him or to send any word back
20 Saul Anxiously day after day Saul
had watched and waited, In the seclu,
sion Of his home,
1T is small matter TO make such ado
over he muttered to himself.
What is that you say. father2'
spoke up his son Jonathan. who at
that moment entered the room. He
had felt the detection OF his father,
aud had sought by every means In
hts power to cheer him. He did not
have a clear understanding of his ia.
TIERS trouble, not having been at
Gilgal nj 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 e~nltghten him, and hence
he was much puzzled. and scarcely
knew how to approach his father.
However, he had fingered near him,
with anxious, loving solIcttude, and
when he had heard his father speak.
ing he had entered the room and
now stood at his fathers side waiting
for him TO reply.
u said responded his father, petu.
lantly rising and shaking his great
form as though he was casting from
him some irksOmo burden and would
have no more of It, ~ 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
he had spoken at the begin.
ming, only putting them In the form
a question:
DO you not think It a small matter
to make so much ado over?"
A troubled. palncd look crept over
the noble features of the handsome
youth, and 1t was plain to see that he
hesitated to speak what was in his
heart.
We'll, boy. speak" sayaEely cried
the father, suddenly losing control OF
himself, as though some evil spirit had
him.
Jonathan was startled by the sud,
den outburst. but recovering himself,
he turned %appealingly to his father,
But, father, ia II a small matter
10 disobey God7 Surely, II thou wilt
the Lord will forgive"
Repent! Repent. Repent!!,"
shouted the now fairly cursged man,
rising voice. What have | TO
OF? Have not | faced danger
and death Ia battle doing the com.
mand Of the Lord? Did | In saving
Agag and In taking the spoil do more
han is the right of a king and a con.
l%ueror' Get thee from my sight, for
.hou bast also entered into league
thy father, | care not that
be prophet not to see me. Is
bot Saul king OF Israeli" And from
bat day Saul was a changed man. and
eri! spirit took possession Of him