The Tupelo journal., 1907-11-01
and conndant who rode with

attendant and confidant who rode with
him in the chariot, he whispered:
They will soon become used to. this
early morning appearance. Yea. all
Israel shall know that Absalom stitch
at the gate Of the city and thinketh
upon the welfare of the nation"
Thou hast the wisdom as well as
the beauty of the gods" fiatteringly
responded the other.
And Absalom hath q right royal ad-
wiser in thee" said the prince, patron
izingly. WAS 1t not thee who first
got an inkling of the scheming OF
Bathsheba to place her son Solomon
on the throne? And was it not thee
who limited that the place for the
prince and heir was in the gate of the
city OF the king, whittier those from
every tribe in the nation come OIL
matters Of business?"
That was the beginning of busy days
with Prince Absalom. No one loved
ease and pleasure more than he. but
when it came to personal ambition and
the qualification of his pride no hour
was too early for him and no task too
hard for him to undertake. When the
first int:mation had come to him that
plans were being laid whereby the
kingdom should go to Solomon, the
youngest son Of David. rather than to
him. the eldest living son and rightful
heir. he was filled with the bitterest
OF anger and was for plotting the
death of the young prince. but his
close confidant. seeing at once the fol.
ly and peril of such a course, had per-
suaded him to abandon the thought,
and had showed him that if he was to
save the kingdom for himself he must
do II by subtlety. He must turn the
hearts and thoughts Of the people to
himself, and then strike the blow that
would place the throne within his
grasp. And SO 1T came to pass that
day after day he rose up early and
stood beside the way of the gate and
greeted in gracious manner all who
came thither. And when any man that
had a controversy in the town or dis
trict from which he had come and
sought the king out for judgment, ABB
SALON. would draw from him his story,
win his confidence, and then exclaim:
See. thy matters are good and
right: but there Is no man deputed
Of the king to hear thee. Oh, that l
were made judge in the land, that
every a which hath any suit or
cause might come to me, and l would
do him justice!"
And when any man came nigh to
him to do him obeisance. he put forth
his hand and took MIN and kissed him.
And in this name did Absalom to all
Israel that came to the king for judg-
ment, and as the years went by the
fame and favor Of Absalom spread
throughout all the tribes of Israel, so
that none was SO popular or so much
talked of as he.
But disquieting word came to him
Il day as he sat in his accustomed
place by the gate. There had been
secret messengers from the king. so it
was intlmated. mingling with the peo-
pie who had come to him for uccor
| Gnu W w hilu OoCiSdilCCt auu HS lS2I GU
lest the matter of his plotting should
reach the ears of the king and bring
him into trouble ere he had had time
to strike the final blow. For this
eason he quickly gathered his follow
ers together and sem them secretly
throughout all the land, saying:
LAS soon as ye hear the sound of
the trumpet, then We shall say Absa-
lom reigneth in Hebron"
And when he had sent the last man
away he repaired to the palace and.
being admitted to the presence of the
king. his father, he did obeisance, and
said unto him:
Il pray thee. let me go and pay my
vow. which have vowed unto the Lord
in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a
VOW while | abode at Geshur in Syria,
saying. If the Lord shall bring me
again indeed to Jerusalem. then will
serve the Lord"
And the king said unto him: Go in
peace"