And that repose which ever dies at birth.
The retrospect of life through many a day,
Now to its close attained by Heaven's decree,
Brings forth from memory, in sad array,
Only old errors, fain forgot by me,--
Errors which e'en, if long life's erring day,
To soul destruction would have led my way.
For this I know--the greatest bliss on high
Belongs to him called earliest to die."




X

DANIEL


In striking contrast to the bowed and sorrowful old prophet Jeremiah
is the alert and eager youth Daniel. The two men were contemporaries,
though there was a difference in their ages. When, in the reign of
Jehoiakim, the Jews were taken into captivity to Babylon, the youth
Daniel went with them, while the old prophet Jeremiah was left behind.
Daniel was chosen, with three companions, to be educated at the court
of the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. They were taught the Chaldean
language and the sciences, and the king was delighted with their
progress.

An opportunity soon came for Daniel to be of service to his royal
patron. Nebuchadnezzar had a strange dream, which none of his