BOYS OF THE BIBLE. 195

worse than a broken reed. The hand that pretended a desire
to lead Absalom to the throne of David, his father, was the
hand of an assassin.

Absalom’s revolt against the crown and throne of David,
his father, grew apace, but it grew in secret. The young
prince began now to descend to all the meanness and trick-
ery of the modern professional politician. Nothing was too
low for him to do; he would have kissed any dirty voter
who would give him a vote—supposing there had been
voting in those days—and worse than that, to gain the
throne and possess the power of kingship, he was willing to
wade knee-deep in the blood of his royal father. Let us
hear what the Bible tells us about the mean, unfilial treach-
ery of this beautiful prince.

“And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way
of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a
controversy came to the King for judgment, then Absalom
called unto him and said, Of what city art thou? And he
said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And
Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right;
but there is no man deputed of the King to hear thee.

‘Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in
the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might
come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was
so that when any man came nigh to him to do him obei-
sance, 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 judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of
the men of Israel.”

Did you mark that last impressive line? “So Absalom
stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” Stole! He who steals
money is a poor, miserable thief! But what is to be said of