The Meeker herald., 1908-02-01


Of Prince Absalom had become f.
miliar sight to the people Of Jerusa-
lem. but this was the nrst morning
that the shouting Of the heralds. the
notes Of the buglers. the clatter and
tramp Of the prancing horses and the
rumble of the chariots had been heard
10 early in the day. and many were
the conjectures as to the reason for
1t.
surprise which mingled with the looks
Of admiration and approval on the
faces of the people AZ he passed. and.
turning with a significant smile to his
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 sitteth
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" flatteringly
responded the other.
s"And Absalom hath right royal ad-
wiser in thee" said the prince. patron
ixingly. WAS 1t not thee who first
got an inkling of the scheming OF
Bathsheba to place her son Solomon
on the throne? And was 1t 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 on
matters of business?"
That was the beginning Of busy days
with Prince Absalom. No one loved
ease and pleasure more than he. but
when 1t 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 intimation 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 II he was to
save the kingdom for himself he must
do it 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 80 1t came to pass that
day after day he rose up early and
stood beside the way Of the gate and
t1I tn t~,,u
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 exclaini:
"See, thy matters are good and
right; but there is no man deputed
of the king to hear thee. oh. that I
were made Judge In the land. that
every man which hath any suit or
cause might come to me. and 1 would
do him justice!"
And when any man came nigh to
him to do him obeisance, he put forth
his hand and took him and kissed him.
And In this manner 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 dlsquieting word came to him
one day as he sat In his accustomed
place by the gate. There had been
secret messengers from the king, 80 1t
was intimated. mingling with the peo-
Pile who had come to him for succor
and to do him obeisance, and he feared
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
reason he quickly gathered his follow
ers together and sent them secretly
throughout all the land. saying:
"As soon as We 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:
II 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,
oavip0 ~ the Lord shall hiring me