to meet him in single combat.* Young David marked the insolence of the mighty champion, and regretted the fear of his countrymen whenever he made his appearance. A secret voice bade him go forth to meet the terrible adversary. He openly expressed his conviction that the warrior might be vanquished, and his words were told to King Saul. The monarch, anxious to try every experiment to encourage his people and avert the calamity of a defeat, sent for the youth and questioned him concerning his origin, his prowess, and his strength, and the meaning of the words he had spoken concerning the armed warrior of the enemy. David told the king not to fear Goliath, and at once offered to go himself, a beardless youth as he was, to meet the insolent challenger. Saul replied to this bold proposition that he was not able to perform such a deed, because of the disparity of the two. But the young hero felt a confidence in the arm that upheld his, and to convince Saul that he did not lack personal courage, he told him how that a lion and a bear once attacked his flocks, and that he smote and slew both, and rescued the lambs they had stolen.† He also expressed his conviction that Omnipotence would give him strength; and Saul at length "put his armor upon him," and with trembling heart bade him go fight the Philistine.

David found the armor too cumbrous, and laying it aside, he took his shepherd's staff, the sling which he used as a defence against the approach of wild beasts, and selected five pebble-stones from a brook hard by as ammunition. Thus provided, he marched boldly to the plain, where each army looked upon his temerity with astonishment. Seeing an individual approaching from the ranks of the Israelites, Goliath went out to meet him, but when he came near, and saw that he was but a beardless youth, and unarmed, he was greatly enraged, for he deemed himself insulted and mocked. "Am I a dog," cried he to David, "that thou comest to me with stones?" And by Dagon and his other gods the angry Philistine cursed the son of Jesse. He threatened him with annihilation, and told him he would give his flesh to vultures and wild beasts. But the heart of David quailed not, and he defied him to combat. More enraged at this defiance, he strode toward the youth to slay him. David prepared his sling with a stone, and when at a proper distance, he hurled the pebble with unerring aim, which sank deep into the forehead of the giant warrior, and he fell upon the ground. To make victory certain, the brave youth took the mighty sword from the warrior's sheath, and cut off his head. Seeing their champion destroyed, the Philistines turned and fled, and were pur

* We find in Roman history a similar account of two warriors from the opposing armies (Romans and Latins), meeting and deciding the victory by single combat.

This exploit of David is very similar to that of the hero in a Bedouinee poem, called "Antar." It is thus: Antar, fond of solitude, used to delight in attending flocks, and in wandering about the desert. One day, when the sun poured down his hot vertical rays, he climbed up among the cool branches of a tree, whence he could overlook his flock. While there, a wolf came out of a thicket, caught a lamb, and dispersed the whole flock. Antar pursued him with his staff, killed him, filled his scrip with his head and legs, and returned to his pasture.

sued by the Israelites with great slaughter and the loss of much spoils.*

David took the head of Goliath, and conveyed it as a trophy to Jerusalem. The news of his exploits went before him, and as he approached the imperial city, matrons and maidens went forth with tabrets, and dancing, and with joy. They strewed flowers in his way, and sang the praises of the young hero, saying, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." The king hearing these things, became jealous of David's fame, and fearing that the sceptre might depart from him and his family, to the hand of the victor, he contrived plans for the young man's destruction, and among others, offered David his daughter in marriage, if he would bring as a dowry, a trophy of victory from the Philistines. The enterprise was so very hazardous, that Saul felt confident that David would be slain, and thus his wicked designs be accomplished. But the same hand that upheld him against the lion and the bear, and the champion of the enemy, sustained him now, and he returned to Saul with his trophy, and claimed and received the hand of his beloved in marriage.

We have thus taken a cursory glance at the opening chapter in the history of one of the most celebrated men of ancient times. The reader of the Bible is familiar with his biography; and who can peruse the events of his life till he was elevated to the throne, ten years after his victory over Goliath, and not be forcibly struck with the frequent manifestations of an over-ruling and special Providence? With a few sorrowful exceptions, his whole life after his coronation, was one of piety and good example.

FOOTSTOOL.

THE Common manner of sitting in the Eastern countries, is upon the ground, or floor, with the legs crossed. People of distinction have the floors of their chambers covered with carpets for this purpose; and round the chamber broad couches, raised a little above the floor, spread with mattresses handsomely covered, which are called sofas. When sitting is spoken of as a posture of more than ordinary state, it is quite of a different kind; and means sitting on high, on a chair of state or throne; for which a footstool was necessary both in order that the person might raise himself up to it, and for supporting the legs when he was placed in it. Chairs,' says Sir John Chardin, are never used in Persia, but at the coronations of their kings, when the monarch is seated in a chair of gold set with jewels, three feet high. The chairs which are used by the people in the East are always so high as to make a footstool necessary; and this proves the propriety of the style of Scripture, which always joins the footstool to the throne, Isa. lxvi. 1. Ps.

c. 1."

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• This event occurred 1063 years before Christ.

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OUR engraving represents a stem and flower of the full double Rose of Sharon, such as are met with in Persia and in Palestine, its native country. Our gardens and ornamental grounds abound with them, but they are frequently single, and have often more the appearance of the flower of the hollyhock than of a rose. In its native climate, blooming in all its beauty, it is one of the loveliest flowers of the field. Indeed the rose has always been celebrated as the queen-flower, and that species called the Sharon rose, ranks among the most beautiful.

In all the poems and love-songs of the East, the rose has some share in indicating beauty. Nor is it cultivated for its beauty alone, but in Persia very extensive fields may be seen, where the plant is carefully reared for the production of the most delicious of all perfumes, ottar of roses, or rosewater. The trees there