The Tupelo journal., 1909-08-06

then We shall die. But If We a Ger.
tify me that Bel devoureth them, then
Daniel shall die for he hath spoken
blasphemy against Bel"
Thou hast spoken well,' said Dar
iel, looking full into the eyes of the
assembled priests.
1t was agreed that test should be
made that the king and Daniel should
shut and seal the doors of the temple
after they had placed the usual
food and drink and offering before
the image. And the priests little
regarded the matter, for under the
table they had made a privy entrance,
whereby they entered in continually
and consumed those things which
were set before Bel. But Dan
iel was as subtle as the priests them.
selves, and unbeknown to- them he
caused his servants to strew the floor
of the temple with very fine ashes.
Then were the doors shut. and sealed
with the kings seal.
In the morning with eager step
came the king and Daniel with him,
and the king said:
"Ah, ha, are not the seals whole?"
Yea, my lord, they are whole"
Then the king commanded that the
doors be opened, and when they had
gone within behold the table was
empty, and the king cried:
Great art thou, o Bel, and with
thee is no deceit at ALL"
But Daniel only laughed, and point
ing to the pavement where the ashes
had been spread, he said:
Mark we'll whose footsteps these
be-"
And when the private entrance had
been disclosed to the king he was
very angry and he caused the priests
to be slain and delivered. Bel and
the temple into the hands of Daniel.
who caused them to be destroyed.
Now there was also in the same
place a great dragon which the peo-
pie of Babylon worshiped. And the
king said unto Daniel:
wilt thou also say that this is of
brass? Lo, he liveth, and eateth and
drinketh. Thou canst not say that
he is not a living god. Therefore
worship him."
May" responded Daniel, but 1
will worship the Lord my God; for
he is the living God. But give me
leave, o king, and l shall Stay this
dragon without sword or staff"
And the king having given his con-
sent, Daniel took pitch and fat and
hair and having made of them great
balls he took and threw them into
the great yawning throat of the
dragon from which issued a hot and
scorching breath. Now, as soon as
the pitch balls had reached the in
terror of the dragon they burst into
fierce flame and caused the image to
burst asunder in the middle. Then
turning to the king, he said:
These be the gods We worship"
But when the people of Babylon
heard that Daniel had destroyed not
only Bel but the dragon which they
worshiped, they were wroth and made
common cause against him, declaring
that if he we're not delivered into their
hands they would rebel against the
king and destroy him. Now when
the king saw the straits into which
he had fallen he gave Daniel into
their hands and they cast him into
the den where were eve lions, fierce
and hungry. There Daniel was for
six days. But God by a mighty spirit
carried his prophet Habbacu from
Jerusalem to Babylon. bearing a bowl
of pottage and broken bread, which
he gave into Daniels hand and he
was strengthened. And on the sew.
enth day came the king, and when he
found Daniel safe he cried: Great is
the God of Daniel"
And he caused Daniel to be drawn
forth and those who had sought his
hurt were cast in thither and were
devoured of the lions.