THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
29
THE FRUITS OF SACRIFICE
MR. R. II. K E N N E D Y ’S A D D R E SS TO TH E G R A D U A TIN G
CLASS
HERE is a beautiful story, full of loving devotion, in
the life of David that reminds us that common-place
things are made sacred by sacrifice. It is not a famil
iar story to most of us. Many who read their Bibles
regularly come to this 23rd chapter of 2 Samuel, see
that it is a list of David’s mighty men, with names
hard to pronounce, and turn to a more interesting
chapter. But hidden away here in the list of hard names is the story:
“ And three of the thirty chief men went down and came to David in
the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam. And David was then in the
stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
And David longed and said, ‘Oh, that one would give me water to drink
of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate.’ And the three mighty
men brake through the host of the Philistines and drew water out of the
well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it to David: but he
would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord. And he said,
‘Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: Shall I drink the
blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?’ Therefore he
would not drink of it.’’
I do not know where you will find a more beautiful story of chivalry
and devotion than that. A poet could take it and make an epic that
would stir the hearts of the world. Let us look at it and think of it for
a little while, that we may see its beauty and its significance.
David was at war with the Philistines, and was ma king his head
quarters for the time in the cave of Adullam, near the home of his boy
hood in Bethlehem. The Philistines had a garrison in the town, and
were well fortified. As David looked toward the city he longed for a
drink of cool water from the well that was by the gate. He remembered
how cool and refreshing the water was when, a barefooted boy, he would
come in from a day’s play and pleasure on the surrounding hills. Then,
as a shepherd lad; he remembered how he would stop and drink when
he came home in the evening, tired from the day’s work with the flock.
And he said, “ Oh, that I had a drink of water out of the well that is
by the gate of Bethlehem.” He was not in need of water; it is just a
wish for a drink from that particular well, dear in the memory of his
boyhood. Don’t you long sometimes for a drink from that spring near
your boyhood home? If I ever go to Virginia again, I shall want to
drink from the old well under the cherry tree with the grape vines grow-