MY DEAR DOT— I will begin by saying Daniel the Captive was of the tribe of Judah, he lived in the time of the reign of King Jehoiakim. In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon besieged the City of Jerusalem. The Lord gave Jehoiakim into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. We find, 2 Kings 24:1,1In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him. (2 Kings 24:1) that Jehoiakim became Nebuchadnezzar’s servant for three years, and in 2 Chron. 36. that he was bound in fetters. The king said to Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring certain of the children of Israel, in whom there was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding in science, and such as had ability to stand in the king’s palace, and where they might learn the language of the Chaldeans. Among these was Daniel. The name given to Daniel was Belteshazzar. The king appointed them a daily portion of the king’s meat and of his wine, so doing for three years. But Daniel would not partake of it. At this period God had brought Daniel into favor with the prince of the eunuchs. Thus after a time Melzar took away his portion. God gave to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah knowledge and skill in all wisdom, and made Daniel to show and interpret dreams and visions. One day Nebuchadnezzar communed with the captives of Judah, and among them all none were found to be like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Daniel continued unto the first year of Cyrus. In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams which troubled him greatly and brake his sleep: He called all the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to come forth and tell him the dream. The king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. The Chaldeans said unto him in Syriac, O king, live forever, tell thy servants the dream, and we will show thee the interpretation thereof. The king told them that the dream was gone from him, and if they would not make it known unto him he would cut them in pieces, and their houses should be made a dunghill. The conversation continued till the king became angry and furious, and ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be slain. Daniel said to Arioch, Why is the decree so hasty? Then Arioch made the thing known unto Daniel, as you will find in Daniel 2:1515He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel. (Daniel 2:15).
Then Daniel went in unto the king, and asked him to give him time to think it over, and made the thing known unto Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were then his companions. When Daniel had had his time in thinking it over, he went in unto the king, and made the thing known unto him. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many gifts, and also made him ruler over the province of Babylon. I am obliged to pass the next chapter. In the fourth chapter, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream, which came to pass upon himself not long afterward. Daniel came in unto the king and told the interpretation thereof. You will see from the thirty-third verse to the end of the chapter all about the dream. In the next chapter you will read about the feast of Belshazzar, and how the writing upon the wall made his knees shake, and also how Daniel interpreted the writing, and how he prophesied that Belshazzar should be slain by the Medes and Persians. That very night Belshazzar was slain. The king’s name now was Darius, and he set several princes over Babylon, the chief one was Daniel. A law was passed that everyone found praying to God should be cast into a den of lions. One day Daniel was found praying; it was his habit to pray three times a day. They went and told the king, who was very angry with himself, — he was obliged to east him into the den. But an angel was sent to shut the mouths of the lions. Darius, when he heard of it, was very glad, and had him taken out, and cast the other men with their wives and children, that had accused Daniel of praying, into the den of lions, and were eaten up. His prayers are given in the seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters, and his prophecies in the eleventh and twelfth. Yours most faithfully,
CHARLES TOZER.
Aged eleven, years.
5 Park Terrace, Maidenhead,
Sept. 3rd 1877.
Next year we think of doing little differently about the prizes, but Mr. Editor, who has just stepped into my corner, says, I must not tell tales out of school, so we must wait till next month to see what the change will be. But if Jesus comes before then, ah I what a happy thought for us who belong to him. He will call us away to be with Himself; then He will have His prize, those for whom he shed His precious, precious blood. With much love to you all,
Your affectionate friend,
54, Paternoster Row. DOT.
Auckland, New Zealand.
I SHOULD wish to inform the Editor that these little papers are much appreciated by us, and I for one feel glad to have made acquaintance with him and “Dot.”
I remain, yours truly,
THEOPHILUSA B. HEATH.