The Tupelo journal., 1908-02-28

"A TSildfkaUie u man., 0x-
claimed King Solomon, enthusiastic-
ally, as the door closed on Jereboam
and sthe echo of his sturdy footsteps
on the marble thing died away in the
distance. Il made no mistake when
| lifted him from the obscurity and
limitations of the little town of Zere-
da and placed him where his powers
and abilities might have full play. !
shall not forget the bitterness and op.
position of some of the princes at the
young mans advancement, but surely
time has vindicated the wisdom of
my choice. And where could the king
find a more able or loyal servant than
is Jereboam? Surely, though of hum
BILE birth, he is a prince among men,
and the honors of a prince shall be be-
slowed upon him. He shall be second
only to my son Rehoboam in the king
DOM"
This plan, although never as yet
preached to a single person, not even
the most confidential adviser Of his
kingdom, was one of the favorite
dreams he held for the future. A man
Of sach mighty valor and striking abil-
tiles, a commander of men, and com
ing from the great tribe of Ephraim,
the strongest of the nation, he of all
others would make a powerful ~lieuten-
ant and helper for his son when he
should come to the throne. And SO as
this thought had grown upon him he
had made more and more of Jere-
boam, and no visitor at the palace, as
we have said, was more welcome
than he.
And J%ereboam, conscious of the es-
TEEN in which he vas held and realiz-
ing his increasing power and inlu-
ence, made free use of his opportuni-
ties. At first there was a sense of APP
probation of the favors and advance
ment which had been bestowed upon
him, and loyalty in thought as well
as deed marked his services, but as
time progressed, and he became firm
ly established in his place, and he
had proved the powers which lay
within him and became conscious of
them, self-esteem began to displace
the sense Of loyalty to the king, and
self-interests came more and more to
dictate and formulate his policies.
So it was that long before there
had been any overt act against King
Solomon there had been smouldering
the slow fire of insurrection in his
heart. But not until after that last
mornings interview had the thought,
clear and distinct, of definite plot
against the king come to him. He had
taken his place in his chariot and was
being rapidly driven along the high
way toward Milo, where elaborate
plans were being carried out for the
fortification of the city, when a COM
pany Of courtiers on their way to the
palace saluted him and cried: Hail to
the mighty Jereboam." For they
knew the great work over which he
had charge and the favor In which he
was held by the king.
Like a flash came the thought to
Jereboam:
They bow, not for my sake, but
because l am friend of the king. Why
not homage for myself alone?"
Once this thought had fixed itself
took possession of him. Why the SER
want of a king when he felt within
him the powers of dominion and au-
thority? Completely absorbed by the
thought he did not observe that he
had reached Milo and the driver had
stopped the horses and was standing
~deferentially awaiting his pleasure.
Hastily stepping from the e~quipage he
dismissed the driver and, being in no
mood at the present moment to take
up the work of the day, he turned and
wandered off into the fields.
Suddenly there appeared before him
a form wrapped completely from head
to foot in a new mantle, and before
he could speak the man had stripped
himself of the garment and with swift,
fierce movement had torn it into II
pieces, thrusting ten of them into Jer-
eboam's astonished hand, and ex-
claiming:
Take thee ten pieces: For thus
saith the Lord. the God of Israel: Be-
III l Will reno the kln&dOm out OF
the hand of Solomon, and will give ten
tribes to thee"
A twelvemonth rolled by n dur
ing the time Jereboam had cot been
idle. From the hour of his interview
with the prophet in the field he had
not ceased feverish, eager plotting
against the king, for said he, what |
am to have, / will secure at once;"
while at the same time he sought to
maintain a semblance OF loyalty to
King Solomon. But inkling of the fall