hat our illustrious
sovereign, owing to illness, will not be able to deliver the royal
address. This no one can regret more than your unworthy servant. Is it
any wonder that--"

Just at this time, the king himself, with a flushed countenance and a
very unsteady step, appeared on the stage. It was glaringly evident to
all who were not in the same condition themselves, that the King of Judah
was altogether incompetent for that important branch of business which,
in despite of the kind remonstrances of his personal friends, he was
determined to undertake.

The reader is already aware that the king had been twice disturbed by the
dark predictions of the persecuted Jeremiah. In the attempt to throw off
his embarrassment, and appear courageous before his friends, he sought
relief in mixed wines, of which he partook without restraint. These, in a
measure, proved sufficient to stupefy his guilty conscience, but they
added to his vanity and self-conceit. Long before the hour arrived for
the delivery of the royal address, the King of Judah's conversation
amounted to nothing more than drunken babbling.

A number of his most influential courtiers endeavored, with all their
tact and ingenuity, to dissuade their sovereign from the attempt, urging
that the excitement of the night had already so prostrated him that it
would be unsafe for his health to enter again into the uproar of the
festive hall. Now, Sherakim had come to the conclusion that their
arguments had finally prevailed, and that the king had been comfortably
removed to his bed-chamber; hence his remarks, which were cut short by
the sudden appearance of the king. Jehoiakim, without any ceremony,
commanded the orator to fall back; which command was instantly obeyed.
Instead of ascending the throne, as usual, he took the stand that had
been vacated by Sherakim, waved his hand, and loudly laughed, while the
audience cheered; then, with violent gestures and faltering tongue, he
went on:

"Princes and Nobles of Judah! I am here! I tell you I am here! Am I not
Jehoiakim, King of Judah? Is not this the glorious reign of my
anniversary? Where is the villain that dares to say it is not? Then that
is a settled question. I hear no contradiction. Who dares contradict? I
hear no reply. Who is afraid of the King of Babylon? If ye know of such
an one, bring the cowardly dog to me, and I will take off his head--Ha!
ha! ha! Old Jeremiah! Where is he? Ah, I'll soon put him out of the way