St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-01-16

heart was struggling hunger for the
truth. He believed in the gods before
whom he served He believed they
were the great gods before whom no
other gods could stand. And now,
behold, here was the word from the
king, the great Darius, proclaiming
the power and majesty of another,
and an unknown God, god he called
the living" God.
Our gods are not living gods, he
thought to himself as he pondered the
meaning of the words of the proclama-
ton. And deep in thought he entered
the temple where the images of their
gods reposed.
Can it be that there is one God
and these are no gods at all?' came
the vague questionings into his heart
as he came and stood before the hid
eous creatures of wood and stone that
looked down in meaningless way upon
him.
Surely some great thing must have
happened at Babylon that the king
should have sent out such decree,
he exclaimed aloud. who is this man
Daniel, to whom the king refers and
whose God hath delivered him from
the raging fury Of the lions?"
Art thou troubled by these
things?" asked a voice at his elbow.
The young priest started violently,
for he had supposed he was alone, and
turned to look into-the face of his su.
perior. He was too surprised to an
swer at first and the question was re.
peated with fresh emphasis.
Il would know concerning this man
Daniel and his God," at last came the
hesitating response.
A dark look shone in the face of the
older man as he said, half menac.
ingly:
1T were not we'll for thee to wander
after other gods than. thine own, lest
the first thing thou knowest thy call.
ing shall be gone"
''But what if the God of this man
Daniel should be greater than our
gods?" questioned the young priest.
Dare you to question the greatness
of the gods whose priest ye are?" de.
manded the other.
Il would know of this God whom
the king declares is the greatest OF
GODS" was the earnest response.
Turn from this folly of thy mind"
exclaimed the other with intense
voice. Let well enough alone" And
with those words he turned and left
the younger man standing alone.
A strange resolve had been forming
in the mind of the young priest while
his superior had been talking to him,
and now that he was alone he started
to put it into execution. He Invested
himself of the robes Of his priestly Of
fee and, hastily donning the simple
clothing of a traveller, and placing his
few possessions in bundle, he start.
ed forth.
Il will not even retuan home and let
the family know of my intentions lest
word reach the chief of the temple and
he forbid my going" he exclaimed to
himself, as he FASTENED through the
now dark and deserted streets of the
city. He knew of the road which led
from his city toward the great Baby
lon, and when he had reached the gate
Of the city he slipped quietly through
and struck out boldly into the dark
ness.
Footsore and weary many weeks Ia.
ter dust-covered traveller was seen
to enter the gates of Babylon, and he
was soon surrounded by the wondering
people in the market place. 1t was the
young priest from the far off corner of
Darius kingdom. He spoke strange
tongue to those in Babylon and the
people around him shook their heads
as he strove to make himself under
stood. At last one word seemed to
catch their ear and they repeated after
him, questioningly, "Daniel?'
A great light of joy broke over his
face and he shook his head vigorously.
''He wants to see Daniel" spoke the
people, and with willing eagerness
they had soon guided him to the pal
ace.
Would Daniel see traveller from
far off proyince?"
Surely" spake Daniel himself, and
he had soon found an interpreter for
the young priest and was listening at.
tentively to his story.
''Thy journey has not been in vain
Daniel responded, when the young
man had finished, and he went on to
tell the young man all the wonderful
story of his devotion to the true God
of heaven and OF his miraculous deliv-
erance from the mouths of the lions
With strained, eager intensity the
young man listened, drinking in every
word as Daniel spoke and the interpre-
ter repeated it in his own tongue
Then he sat in silence for some min
utes and then, rising, he pointed up
wards and then toward his own heart,
and then, looking out in the direction
in which his far distant home lay, he
pointed thither, saying:
''Ill go back and tell"