New Britain herald., 1923-04-03
CONTRIBUTED
Del, the Babylonian Idol From the Apocrypha

From the Apocrypha King Cyrus, who was called the grea,
 Conyersed with Daniel,
 In whom he had much confidence
 And honored him as well. The Babylonians did have
 A famous idol "Bell",
 And 1t is stated as fact
 They fed 1t mighty well. A lot of -four and forty sheep
 un Bel were daily spent. Besides six vessels full of wine;
 So every day it went.
 While Daniel did worship God
 King Cyrus worshipcd Bel, And also questioned Daniel.
 Who thus did answer well. "I worship but the living God. A God not made by hand, He that created all the world"
 And peopled all the land" Why thinkcst thou" the king replied,
 '"rhat Bel lives not the same7 How much we feed him every day
 How little doth remain?" Then Daniel smiled and said, 70 king,
 Be thou not thus deceived, Bel never yet has tasted wine,
 No meat hath he received. The hand of man did fashion Bel
 Of naught but clay and brass, The store of things thus set for him
 Some other way doth pass" And then King Cyrus in his wrath
 Did call the priest and say. Who is it that devoureth these
 Expenses every day?" If now ye tell me not the way
 These thing go daily by. The king will surely make decree
 That all ye priests shall die. But if ye certify that Bel
 Consumes this vast supply, Then that blasphemous Daniel
 Shall be the one to die" Now Daniel said unto the king
 ITO this I do agree, According to thy word o king.
 So let the matter be- The priests who ministered to Bel,
 Were full three score and ten, They and their wives the temple filled, As sheep do fill pen. | When to the temple door of Bel
 The King and Daniel came, The priests did say "Lo we go out
 While thou o king remain. And on the table set the meat,
 Make ready there the wine, Shut fast the door and seal it with The signet. which is thine. Then on the morrow come again With scrutinizing eye And should those things still be in
 sight, Condemn us all to die" But little they regarded it Since through secret way, They entered in and did consume Those things from day to day. Now when the priests had all gone out. The king prepared for Bel, The table with the meat and drink And sealed the door as well. 1: While there, in presence of the king, Did Daniel with care, lave ashes strewed all OCT the floor To track those coming there. hen in the night came all the priests, I Their wives and children too, Ind ate and drank up all the stuff, ], As they were wont to do. When Daniel and the King returned $ They found no wine or meat. i The king exclaimed Great art thou C In thee is no deceit" I 'ut Daniel laughed and said, 70 king, a Now look the pavement OCT, md mark thou well the footsteps
 there
 Imprinted on the fioor.' he king saw footprints of the priests, Their families as well, nd on the whole deceitful gang His indignation fell. hey showed the king that secret way For going in and out, tl o rob the place Of all the store b For Bel set there about. q he king slew all the priests of Bel, ts And through the kings command, k he temple and tho idol Bel |" Were razed by Daniels hand. T 25 Fears Ago Today' (Taken from Herald of that date) Water Department receipts will ap- P 'oximate s55,000 this year. Judge Andrew in police court today scharged two leaders of the Salva-