The Tupelo journal., 1907-08-09

- "1aAN SNSA AN
suffered me to go and dwell peace
ably among my people. But what
hath he done? Rewarded me evil
for good. And now what seemeth
to remain for me save to fight for my
life" and he let his hand fall to his
side and caressed the dagger which
hung there, as though it was the only
friend left him.
Master, it were we'll that we were
pressing forward If thou wouldst
reach the side of thy enemy before
the breaking of the morning light"
Abishai said, pointing to the faint
show of gray light in the eastern
sky.
Thus aroused, David readjusted his
light garments, again felt of his short
sword, and then stealthily crept for
ward. His long years of training in
the wilderness as he lived in the fast
nesses of the mountains and the for
ests had given him a tread as soft
and noiseless as that of a cat, and
David and Abishai found no difficulty
in treading their way through the
open ranks of the soldiers of Saul as
Der.
1t had been a long, hard march
which they had had the day before,
and when they had gone into camp
at night, the soldiers of Saul were
only too glad to stretch their weary
bodies on the soft, yielding ground
and give themselves over to refresh
ing slumber. 1t would seem strange
that there should have been no
guard placed or precautions taken
against surprise, but the Ziphite
guides had treasured Saul that 1t
was impossible for a large body Of
men to get through from the strong.
hold where David lay ~entrenched to
the place where Sauls camp was
pitched without their movements be-
coming known, and they said: "A
small body will not venture against
so splendid a company of men," Thus
encouraged, Saul and his men had
sought a much needed nights rest,
and when David and Abislsai reached
the camp the deep sleep of the early
morning vas upon them, so that
even had their tread not been so light
they would not have disturbed the
tired s%leepers.
On and on they crept, until the
outer bodyguard of Saul was reached.
Here the two men paused, scarcely
hrpathino 1pSf thnu rn,,cn cnnon uotnh-
full soldier. David looked about him
and noted the place where Saul lay
and then, cautiously creeping around
the inert forms lying all about, he
reached the side of the king.
How haggard and pitiful was that
countenance. David was shocked by
the lines of wretched agony which ap-
peared as the facial muscles were re-
Taxed in sleep. He saw written there
the tragedy of that life. He noted
the sunken eyes, the dropping mouth
and the nervous, irregular breathing
which indicated that ever in sleep
there was no peace or rest for the
man who had rejected the Lord. AS
David looked closer and examined the
features they told him all the sad story
of the years of soul torture which
had come to this man because of his
willful, u%nrepentant d~isobedience of
Gods commandments, and David's
heart smote him and his hand relaxed
its hold upon the dagger at his side.
And then David contrasted his own
inner peace and confidence in God.
What if the outward conditions had
been trying and desperate; what if he
had been driven from place to place
so that in no region did he feel secure,
was his lot not better than that of the
man with the guilty conscience be-
fore him who was fighting against
God? After all, Saul was suffering
the most.
Abishai watched David closely. He
noted the relaxed features, nay the
almost look of compassion which had
taken the place of the set, determined
expression of fierce anger. Now he
stepped to David's side and said, with
vehemence: God hath delivered
thine enemy into thine hand this day;
now therefore let me smite him. I
pray thee, with the spear to the earth
at once"
David looked up startled, nay al
most guiltily, as he realized how
hatred in his heart had almost
plunged him into an awful crime.
Nay" he said, slowly, God shall
be my avenger. Destroy not; for who
can stretch forth his hand against
the Lords anointed and be ~guiltless?
AS the Lord liveth, the Lord shall
smite him; or his day shall come to
die; or he shall descend into battle
and perish"
AS David finished speaking he
stopped and picked up the cruise of
water standing by Saul's side and,
taking the spear which was at his
head, he turned and as softly as he
had come he went away again, fol-
lowed by his faithful companion, Abb
shat. And in the after years David
eve ceased to thank God that he was
content to let God become his avenger.
Grammar and Glory.