St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-01-25

not for a moment to keep her eyes.
The humorous side of the situation
appealed to the official, and after lin
gering few moments and failing to-
obtain anything save superficial I'm
Outstanding of the matter, he turned,
and with an amused expression on his
face he again entered the palace
courtyard and was soon mingling
with the groups of men who had as
sembled in the kings audience hall.
The king had not yet assembled his
throne, and the buzz of conversation
filled the great hall as the officials
talked of the various matters which
were to be brought before the king.
AS the last conner entered and
Joined himself to group standing
not far from the throne he was greet
ed with the inquiry:
"And what errand brings you
thither?"
And then one of the group, noticing
the half-amused expression which had
not yet left his face, spoke up and
said:
Surely it is pleasant message
which Nahshon hath for the king this
day"
And thus challenged, the man ad
dressed went on with great. gusto to
relate the incident which had just
transpired at the outer gate.
ut was not quite clear to me
hot
to present the king with the babe,
and each was contending for the
honor of so doing"
"And to think that they should sup
pose that the king had time or thought
for such as they or for matters such
as might come between them
The words of the last speaker were
! spoken with rising infection, show
| ing the contempt which he felt at so
absurd proposition, and during the
momentary hush which had fallen
they rang out clear and distinct, so
that the king, entering at that mo
ment, overheard what was said.
Instantly upon the appearance OF
the king there was hush, and every
thing else was forgotten in the for
malities of receiving and paying hom'
age to their lord.
For some moments after the formal
ceremonies were over the young king
remained silent, thoughtfully contem'
plating the assembly of the chief mer
before him.
What think you," he asked at
length, lis the most important mat
ter to come before US? Is the king
dom greater than the rights of the in
dividual?"
Puzzled by the words of the king
the officials before him remained 81
lent. And again the king spoke.
! Should not the king have time FOL
any who desire judgment rendered.
Again there was silence. Then
turning his eyes upon the official who
was speaking when he entered, he
asked:
And who is it that is beneath the
thought of the king?"
In great confusion and trepidatior
the man mumbled something, anG
then Nahshon, grasping the trend O.
the kings mind and heart, boldly
stepped forward and recounted witt
no spirit of ridicule, now, the story O.
the two women who had been waiting
at the gate that morning.
I'VE shall do nothing this day un
ill the case of these two women il
heard" calculated the king.
Instantly one of the kings Close
) advisers stepped to his side and whis
pered in his ear something at which
the king impatientIy shook his heaC
and exclaimed, so that all in the room
heard:
What if they are? Have not ever
the harlots need Of the righteous judg
{ ment of the king?"
And then turning to one Of the mes
sengers standing near he commando
the women to be sought out an
J brought in forthwith.
Had ever such a thing come to pas
before in Israel, the chief men aske
themselves that day as they left tn
audience chamber and departed TO
J the different portions of the king
dom? Surely the wisdom and justic
of God rested on their king that eve
the lowest and most despised shout
] be able to come to him and find hell
And everywhere throughout tn
kingdom the story spread of the tw
women and the disputed babe, an
, the judgment which the king ha
: Judged; and all Israel feared tn
king; for they saw that the wisdom {
God was in him to do judgment.