Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-12-03
MISS. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 3, 1905.

4 ~ lJVC.
all II made little difference what they
were called, provided they remained
true to their God. they settled them.
selves TO the tasks assigned them.
Thus matters ran FOR a few DAYS.
and then came the circumstance
which was TO 81 severely test Daniel
and his three friends. One DAY there
came the decree from the palace OF
the king ordering that provisions from
the royal kitchen should be served 10
the young men.
They shall have the best that the
kings table affords. that there may be
nothing lacking In preparing them
for service in the palace" he had
said. and forthwith had issued his de.
cree.
And the prince SO over the Hebrew
captives had read the decree when
the first meal from the royal kitchen
had been served What an array Of
goodly things that had becn--the rich
meats. the choice wines. the leavcned
cakes and bread. The low table fair.
ly groaned under its weight of good
things. Silently the young men had
taken their places around the table
and at first not mouthful Of food
was touched. The prince noted this.
and spoke reassuringly. telling them
that II was owing 10 the special favor
of the king that he had done this
thing. and that II would BE- periiou, 20
offend him by refusing to eat.
But there Is defiement In partak.
ing OF that which has been offered to
idols. venturcd Daniel. looking up
earnestly into the face Of the prince
Remember" sharply rcjoined the
prince. that you are In Babylon. and
not Jerusalem. and that the laws that
were binding upon you there have no
claim upon you here. Here you are In
the service Of the great king OF all the
earth. Obey him"
True" spoke up boldly one OF the
Hebrews reposing at the other end Of
the table. True. we cannot call into
question the hospitality OF the king
into whose hands our God has Sven
us" And suiting the action TO tho
word. he began to eat the food set be
fore him.
Then one after another the rest fol
lowed, except Daniel and his three
friends.
What shall We eat II not thisg'
whispered Mishael who sat on one
side of Daniel. He was more than
half inclined to follow the example OF
those about him who were now busily
engaged In eating. and It was evident
from the looks ON the faces Of Han.
aniah and Azariah that they. too. felt
the same inclination
God will provide" was the quiet
rejoinder OF Daniel. and the food be
fore him remained untouched
But that was only the beginning Of
the struggle He and his three com.
panions became the butt Of ridicule Of
the others. And then there was the
prince to deal with.
Why should you. when your life Is
In the hands Of the king. let your re.
ligious scruples cause you TO be lean
and illfayored. when you shall be-
brought before the king he demand
ed. after a long argument following
the second meal which had also zone
untasted.
Why" echoed Daniels three com.
panions. who We're standing with him
\ panied look crossed the face Of
Daniel
"Rememberest thou not" Daniel de-
manded. earnestly. as he sought to
strengthen their wayering resolution
how we pledged ourselves as we were
leaving Jerusalem. TO remain true to
the God Of Abraham and Isaac and
Jacob And shall we fail him when
the first test comess know no, what
shall come Of IL. but surely one who
would serve the true God cannot eat
OF the food offered to IDOLS
But what shall We eat them >
Dare We call into question the acts Of
the king? And shall we refuse 10
obey him into whose hands God has
delivered us2"