CHAPTER XXVIII.

SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION.

Two demons now arose at the same moment, with strong expressions of interest, and each addressed the speaker"A question."

"Speak one at a time," said Belial.

1st Demon. I wished to ask if the princes of Judah came to meet the king at Jordan, and welcome him home.

"Most of them did," answered Belial. "They now saw that Absalom's attempt was rash, foolish, and wicked; and now that he was dead, they were glad to have David return to the throne again. They were conscious they had done wrong. in favoring Absalom. They were David's old friends, and received him with much cordiality. David, on his part, met them with kindness and reconciliation."

2d Demon. I wished to ask, if the princes of Israel now generally returned to their allegiance.

"Many of them did," said Belial; "but a disagreement arose between the princes of Judah and those of Israel, respecting their claims to the king's favor. And I tempted an ambitious man, Sheba, the son of Bichri, by name, to make an effort to lead off in a new rebel

lion, though I had but little hope of success. Some of the princes of Israel, however, took part with him." "Who was Sheba, the son of Bichri?" inquired one. "He was a Benjamite, of some distinction, who had been an officer in the army of Absalom, and, hearing that Amasa was to be promoted in David's favor, came to meet the king at Jordan, calculating that he too would receive some office or mark of special regard. Being disappointed, he blew a trumpet, and said, 'We have no part in David, neither inheritance in the son of Jesse; every man to his tent, O Israel.' Quite a number of princes and people followed him.”

"I was anxious to inquire what became of Shimei," said another.

Belial smiled; indeed there was a general disposition to laugh manifested through the assembly, and voices were heard, "Good, good; let us hear of Shimei.”

"Shimei," said Belial, "according to the plan of Phinehas the Levite, had thrown himself into the company of the young Benjamites who came down to Jordan to meet the king. They allowed him to march at the head of their column, which greatly delighted Shimei, and caused his old military habits to revive, and flourish in fine style. But at the sight of the king, with Abishai at his side, the heart of Shimei was like to fail. However, he crossed the river, threw himself at the feet of the king, confessed his fault, and implored forgiveness. David was now disposed to be reconciled to all who had injured him. He spoke kindly to Shimei, and promised him forgiveness. Thus Shimei escaped the vengeance he had dreaded, and determined to meddle with political revolutions no more.

"It was not long till his résolution on this subject was put to the test, for when Sheba, the son of Bichri, had resolved to head a new rebellion, among the men he spoke to, soliciting aid in his intended enterprise, was Shimei, who had now resumed his station at the head of the company of Benjamites.

"Excuse me,' said Shimei, 'excuse me; a burnt child dreads the fire. I have just made a narrow escape from the bitter consequences of one sad mistake. My head is positively turned gray with agony. I am resolved to meddle with revolutions no more; at least, while their success is doubtful.'

"Soon after the king reached Jerusalem, tidings came that a large multitude was still following after Sheba, the son of Bichri. So he commanded Amasa, to whom he was still resolved to transfer the chief command of the army, to assemble the men of Judah,* within three days, to pursue and disperse the rebels. Amasa, highly gratified and flattered, set out on his mission.

"The state of public sentiment in reference to Amasa's new position," said Belial, "may be illustrated by relating what took place at Bahurim, where he made an attempt to recruit soldiers.

"Fame soon proclaimed, through the entire community of Bahurim, the arrival of Amasa, and the object for which he had come. The consequence was, that from one end of the town to the other, the men disappeared with astonishing celerity. Amasa went along the principal street, till near the centre of the popula

*It appears from the sacred history, that from this period Benjamin is always included with Judah, when a distinction is made between Judah and Israel. The men of Israel claimed "ten parts" in the king; that is, ten out of twelve.

tion. There he blew a trumpet, and proclaimed that the citizens were called on to embody and join the army of the king, in order to follow Sheba, the son of Bichri. But none responded to the call; not a man capable of bearing arms appeared, and the streets looked deserted, and even the houses seemed but sparsely inhabited; here and there a lone woman, or a small boy, might be seen, taking a momentary peep from a door or window; but plainly, from some cause, there was small likelihood of recruiting an army here.

"What can be the meaning of this!' exclaimed Amasa, in a tone of fierce displeasure. Has the spirit

of rebellion become universal here?'

"Who talks of the spirit of rebellion? And who are you, disturbing our quiet and peaceable town?' "These words were spoken loud by a shrill, firm, female voice, that seemed to challenge debate.

"Amasa turned to see the speaker, and beheld, in the door of one of the nearest buildings, a tall, slender woman, of narrow visage, and remarkably small, piercing eyes. Her nimble tongue, which showed itself repeatedly between a pair of uncommonly thin lips, seemed keeping time with the penetrating twinkle of those keen, courageous eyes. Her age might be that of a grandmother; but her form was erect and her manner firm and undaunted. Indeed, there was that in her whole attitude and demeanor, which showed that she stood forth as the advocate of the town of Bahurim, and that she felt herself fully competent to the task.

"Who talks of the spirit of rebellion?' she repeated, looking Amasa full in the face; and who are you, disturbing our quiet and peaceable town?'

"I am commander-in-chief of the king's army,' answered Amasa, 'and I have come to raise soldiers for his service.'

"You commander-in-chief of the king's army!' said the grandmother, in accents of displeasure mingled with scorn; 'you are not Joab.'

"No, I am Amasa, who have succeeded Joab in the command.'

"Amasa!' exclaimed the old woman; 'Amasa! what, not that man who was the leader of Absalom's army in the rebellion!'

"Yes, the same,' said Amasa, though with evident shame and mortification.

"What,' said the old woman, 'can it be possible that you are that Amasa who led Absalom's large army through our town, five or six days ago, pursuing King David over Jordan, in order to slay him. You were calling for soldiers then, were you not?'

"Yes,' replied Amasa; 'I think we were beating up for volunteers, as we passed through Bahurim.'

"Your army was very large. I was told you had one hundred and fifty thousand men by the time you reached Jordan.'

“We had a very large army,' answered Amasa.

"And where is that army now?' asked the woman, bitterly.

"I suppose,' answered Amasa, 'you know we were defeated.'

"And why did not you stand by your men, and by your young king? You left him hanging in an oak; and left them to be slaughtered by the servants of David, while you fled to secure inglorious safety to