1. HOW THE WORLD WAS MADE

(Genesis 1, 2)

In the beginning, long, long ago, God created this wonderful world

and all things in it. At first there was no earth, no sun, no moon or

stars, no grass or trees, no seas or sky. This great round ball, on

which we live, was nothing but a great cloud of mist without shape

or size. Everywhere there was great darkness. God was living in his

home in heaven, and he said, “Let there be light.” So light was the

first wonderful thing God made. Then God separated the sky mists from

the earth mists. He made the waters roll back into seas; and the

mountains, with great lakes between, appeared. When the sun and moon

and stars shone out more brightly, driving the mists and water away

from the dry land, God made grass and trees and flowers to spring up in

great beauty and abundance; and each tree and flower had little, tiny

seeds to send up little shoots to make others. Then great swarms of

living things appeared--strange fishes and sea-monsters to swim in the

waters, reptiles and creeping things to creep on the land, birds to fly

through the air, and all kinds of four-footed beasts to roam through

the forests. Still, there was no man nor woman, nor any little child

anywhere to enjoy what God had made. So God created a man and called

his name Adam. God placed him in a large garden called Eden, filled

with beautiful and useful things--rivers of water to water it, gold and

precious stones, trees good for food, animals, birds, and fishes. Adam

gave names to all the animals. But among them all there was not one to

talk with him. So God made a beautiful companion for Adam and called

her name Eve. This first man and woman lived together very happily

in this beautiful Garden of Eden, caring for the flowers and fruit,

watching the animals, loving each other, and talking with God, their

Creator and Friend.

2. HOW A HAPPY HOME WAS LOST

(Genesis 3)

Adam and Eve were very happy in their beautiful garden-home in Eden. In

the cool of the day, when the sun went down, and the garden was quiet,

they knew that God was very, very near them, walking and talking with

them. All the animals and plants, all the beautiful trees were for

their use. But there was one tree with fruit that God, to teach them

to obey, told them not to eat. For a long time they thought of nothing

else but doing exactly what God told them. But one day Eve stopped in

front of the tree and looked at the fruit. How good it looked! She

wondered how it tasted. Then she turned to go away, for she knew that

God had said that whoever tasted it would die. Just then she heard a

voice. She looked, and the voice came from a bright, shining snake,

coiled close in front of the tree. The snake said, “Did God say you

shall not eat of any tree of this garden?” Eve said, “God said we shall

not eat of this tree, nor touch it, lest we die.” “You will be like

God if you eat it; you will know good and evil.” She listened to this

voice tempting her to do what was wrong. Then she looked at the tree

again. It looked so good to eat and so pretty, and as if it would make

one know a great deal, that she picked some of the fruit and ate it.

Then she ran and gave some to Adam, and he ate it too. That evening,

when the sun was going down, making long shadows upon the grass, and a

cool breeze was rustling the leaves, and the garden was all lonely and

still, Adam heard the sound of God in the garden. Instead of gladly

running to meet their heavenly Father and Friend, as they had always

done before when he came to talk with them, they were afraid, and ran

and hid themselves among the trees. God called to Adam, “Where art

thou?” Guilty and ashamed, Adam said, “I heard thy voice, and I was

afraid.” God said, “Hast thou eaten of the tree of which I commanded

thee not to eat?” Adam said, “Eve gave it to me and I ate.” Eve said,

“The snake tempted me, and I ate.” God told the snake he must crawl

always flat on the ground, and every animal and man would hate him

more than any other creature. He told Adam and Eve, because they had

disobeyed him, they must be driven out of the beautiful garden and must

dig and work hard in getting their food in desert lands among thistles

and thorns, stones and timber, and at last, he said, they must die. But

God still loved them, and gave them a beautiful promise of a loving

Saviour who would be so obedient and pure and strong that he would

prepare for them a beautiful city in the place of their garden-home,

which they had lost through disobedience.

3. THE FIRST TWO BROTHERS

(Genesis 4)

The first two brothers in the world were Cain and Abel. They were born

after their parents were driven out of their beautiful garden-home in

Eden. When these boys grew up, Cain, the elder, became a farmer, and

Abel became a shepherd. Their parents brought them up always to ask

God to forgive them when they did wrong, and to bring offerings to

him of what they had. One day when they came with their gifts, Abel,

with a loving heart, carried a lamb, the best of his flock, but Cain

brought some fruit in a careless way. God was well pleased with Abel’s

gift, because of the love that came with it; but not with Cain’s,

because Cain kept hatred to his brother in his heart. Cain was angry

and his face became dark and scowling. God said: “Why are you angry and

scowling? If you do well, will you not be happy? If you do not well,

hatred in your heart will crouch, like a lion, ready to spring at you.”

But Cain paid no attention to God’s loving word. One day he said to

Abel, “Come into the field with me.” When they were there alone, the

crouching lion of hatred in Cain’s heart sprang up, and Cain lifted

up his hand and slew his brother. Then Cain heard God’s voice saying,

“Where is thy brother?” He answered untruthfully, “I know not; am I my

brother’s keeper?” Then as Cain had done this wicked deed, God sent him

from his home and parents to become a wanderer on the earth, working

even harder than his father and his mother did. Cain’s suffering was

just what he had brought upon himself, yet he said, “My punishment is

greater than I can bear.” He was afraid wherever he went men would seek

to kill him, for he knew he deserved to be killed. But God gave him a

mark by which he could know that God was still watching over him and

would not let any one kill him. So Cain went away and built a city and

lived unhappily the rest of his life, away from his father and mother,

because he had allowed hatred instead of love to live in his heart, and

because he had not tried to please his loving Father in heaven.

4. THE FLOOD AND THE RAINBOW

(Genesis 6-8)

Once when God looked down on the people of the earth, he saw that

there was only one good man to be found anywhere. All the rest were

disobedient and very wicked. So God planned to save all who would be

obedient to him, but to destroy all the disobedient, in order that

such great wickedness should not increase over all the earth. God told

Noah, the one just and good man, his plan. He told him to build a large

ark, half boat and half house. It was to be five hundred feet long,

fifty feet high, and eighty-three feet wide--about the size of a big

ocean steamer to-day. There were to be three stories, many rooms, and

a window on the top. The one door was to be on the side. This great

houseboat was not to be for travel, but only to float on the water. In

the ark Noah, his wife and sons, and his sons’ wives, and all others

who would obey God, were to be saved. For one hundred long years

Noah and his sons worked away building this strange ship--hammering,

sawing, planing, and laying great beams hundreds of feet long. The

people laughed at Noah and mocked him. It was very hard for Noah to be

mocked, but he kept right on with his work, telling them of God and

his holiness and how their wickedness was grieving God. But they would

not listen, nor change their ways, nor believe any flood would come.

At last the great ark was finished. Then Noah gathered together two of

every kind of birds and animals, and they marched or flew into the ark,

and behind them Noah and his family went in, with food for all to last

for many months. And God shut the door. So they were safe because they

had obeyed God.

Then the rain began to fall. Thunder crashed and echoed from the

mountains and the wind dashed the rain against the ark. Torrents of

rain came down, until soon the ark began to float. Higher and higher

it rose, rocking and tossing, up above the treetops, above the hills,

above the mountains. The flood had come, and the wicked people were all

drowned. But Noah and his family were safe inside the ark. After forty

days the rain stopped, but the water flooded in from the sea. For one

hundred and fifty days the waters rose, and then began to go down. But

the ark rested on one of the high mountains. Noah opened the window

and sent forth a raven, and then a dove. The raven flew away, resting

on things floating in the water. The dove came back several times,

once bearing an olive-branch in her beak. At last she did not return,

by which Noah knew the dove had found land on which to rest, and that

the water was gone. Then Noah and all in the ark went out, after being

in it more than a year. The first thing Noah did was to thank God for

saving him and his family. Then Noah looked up in the clear, blue sky

and there was a wonderful rainbow, with every color in it, arching the

heavens. This was God’s sign and promise that he would never again

destroy the world with water. So every time they saw a rainbow after

that, they remembered that God was looking at it too, remembering this

promise of his: “During all the days of the earth, sowing and reaping,

and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not

cease.”

My heart leaps up when I behold

A rainbow in the sky;

So was it when my life began;

So is it now I am a man;

So be it when I shall grow old,

Or let me die!

The child is father to the man;

And I could wish my days to be

Bound each to each by natural piety.

5· THE GENEROUS UNCLE AND THE SELFISH NEPHEW

(Genesis 12-19)

Long, long after the flood, there lived a good man whose name was

Abram, “the friend of God.” He was the first Hebrew. At first he

lived in a large city on the river Euphrates. It was a beautiful city

with fine buildings, gardens, fountains, statuary, and other things

for comfort and pleasure. Abram and his people were rich. They had

everything to make them happy, excepting one thing. Abram saw that

in all that great city, in all that country, none worshiped God but

himself. There were many temples where the people worshiped the sun,

moon, stars, and many false gods. There were beautiful temples built,

and beautiful music sung to the Sun-god, but no thanks were given to

the great Creator of the sun and moon and man. A good deal of their

worship was very wicked and cruel, and often boys and girls were burned

to please the idols. Abram saw all this was false and wicked. One day

God told him to leave that land and take a long journey to another land

that God would show him. At last Abram reached a land so rich in vines,

fruit trees, and pastures for flocks and herds, that it was called “the

land flowing with milk and honey.” Here Abram and Lot, his brother’s

son, lived in tents. Both were very rich in cattle, goats, sheep,

servants, and silver and gold. But when the servants of Lot and Abram

kept quarreling over which should have the best pasture for feeding

their flocks, Abram said to Lot: “Let there be no quarrel between thee

and me, and between our servants, for we are brethren. Choose the land

you wish, and I will take what is left.” Abram was older than Lot, and

had always been kind and generous, like a father, to him. Lot should

have given his uncle the first choice. Instead of that, Lot greedily

chose the well-watered plain-lands near the river Jordan, leaving to

his uncle the hilly land. Abram generously let him keep them. Lot moved

close to the wicked city of Sodom. Soon after, in a battle, Lot and his

family and his servants were taken prisoners. Lot had not treated his

uncle well, but that made no difference to Abram. He was a true friend,

loving Lot even when he did not do right. So he rescued Lot and saved

all the property the kings had stolen. Lot went back to Sodom, making

his home this time inside the city, among its wicked people, and he

grew more forgetful of God.

One day, in Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities of the plain, a great fire

broke out which destroyed everything Lot had. Only for Abram’s prayer

to God, Lot would have been burned up too. But for Abram’s sake, two

angels came and led Lot and his wife and two daughters out of the city,

telling them not to look back nor stay in all the plain, but flee to

the mountains. Lot’s wife looked longingly back at the wicked cities,

and was changed into a pillar of salt in the very plain upon which she,

with Lot, had so much set her heart. Lot and his two daughters were

saved only by fleeing to the mountain land that Lot had despised and

Abram had taken. So, after all, the selfish nephew did not choose so

well as the unselfish uncle, “the friend of God.”

Yes, Faith, Life, Song, most meetly named him “Friend”;

All men’s he was and is, till time shall end.

And in the Christ-path he so closely trod

That all men saw he was “the Friend of God.”

6. THE OBLIGING GIRL AT THE WELL

(Genesis 24)

“Laughter” is a queer name for a boy. But “Laughter” is the name

Abraham gave his son. That is what Isaac means. When Isaac grew up

Abraham did not like the idea of his son marrying any of the young

women of that land because they all worshiped idols; so he called his

head servant and told him to go far away to the country where Abraham’s

own people lived, and there find a young woman who would be the right

sort of wife for Isaac. It was a long, long journey across the desert.

Abraham gave the servant ten camels, and servants, and tents, with gold

and silver, and precious stones and rich robes, to give as presents to

the young woman and her family. After many days of travel the servant

came to a city where some of Abraham’s people were still living.

Outside the city was a well with a trough for the camels to drink from.

He knew every evening young girls and women came with their pitchers

for drinking water to this well. He decided when they came he would

ask for a drink, and whoever gave him a drink and also offered to give

the camels a drink by filling the watering-trough, would prove the

wife for Isaac. He also prayed God to guide him. While he was praying

there came to the well a beautiful young girl carrying a pitcher on

her shoulder. When she had filled her pitcher the servant said, “Let

me drink, please.” She said, “Drink, my lord,” and quickly let down

her pitcher upon her hand and gave him a drink. Then seeing how tired

the camels looked, her kind heart made her say, “I will get water for

your camels too.” Camels drink a great deal of water, and there were

ten of them, but this obliging girl did not stop filling the large

watering-trough until every thirsty beast had drunk enough. Quietly the

servant watched her, and when he saw how friendly she was he gave her a

splendid gold earring and two beautiful bracelets of gold and asked her

name and whether there was room in her father’s house for him to stay

over night. She told him her name was Rebecca--a relative of Abraham’s

family--and said there was plenty of room for them to spend the night.

Then the servant thanked God, for he knew this kind, obliging girl was

just the one whom God wanted to become Isaac’s wife. When they came

to the house, the servant told his story to all, and gave still more

beautiful presents to Rebecca and to her sister and brothers. Early the

next morning the old servant wanted to start back at once, because God

had prospered his journey. They called Rebecca and said to her, “Wilt

thou go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” So Rebecca’s queer

bridal party, herself and her old nurse, Deborah, and several maids,

mounted on camels and escorted by Abraham’s servants, began the long

march to Isaac’s home in Canaan where she and Isaac were married. They

loved each other dearly. And Abraham was glad that “Laughter” had found

so good and true a wife in the friendly girl at the well.

7. THE LADDER THAT REACHED TO HEAVEN

(Genesis 28)

Isaac and Rebecca had two boys, Esau and Jacob. Esau became a hunter,

and Jacob a shepherd. One day Esau came home from hunting very hungry.

He asked Jacob to give him some of the red broth that he had just

cooked. Jacob knew that Esau cared nothing for his birthright (that is,

all that he would receive as the eldest son). But Jacob wanted that

more than anything else in the world. So Jacob said, “Will you give me

your birthright if I do?” Esau said, “Yes, I am starving; give me the

broth for the blessing.” Jacob could not believe Esau meant it; but he

did mean it, and so sold his birthright for something to eat. Not long

after, Jacob received the birthright blessing from his father, Isaac.

Then Esau was sorry and angry, and hated his brother, and planned to

kill him. Rebecca told Jacob what Esau was planning to do, and sent him

to her brother’s home to save Jacob’s life.

So Jacob had to leave his father and mother and home and start alone

on a long journey with nothing but a long cloak to wrap about him at

night. When the sun went down, as he was thinking of the great wrong he

had done his brother, tired and sad at heart, he lay down to sleep on a

stony hillside, placing one of the stones under his head for a pillow.

At last he fell asleep, and in his dream he saw a ladder reaching from

earth to heaven. He saw beautiful shining angels coming down the ladder

and going back. At the top he saw God looking down on him, saying, “I

am the Lord, the God of Abraham and thy father Isaac.” God promised if

he would do what was right, that he would forgive all his wrong--be

with him in all his journey and give him the wonderful promises made to

Abraham and Isaac.

Early in the morning, when Jacob awoke, he knelt beside that stone,

promising God that he would be a better man. He lived to be an aged

man--one hundred and forty-seven years old--but he never forgot that

place which he called “The House of God,” from which he saw the ladder

that reached to heaven, showing him that God was near him.

From this story the beautiful lines of the hymn, which have been such

a comfort to many upon battlefields and in the hour of death, were

written:

Though like a wanderer,

The sun gone down,

Darkness be over me,

My rest a stone,

Yet, in my dreams I’d be,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee.

8. THE SLAVE-BOY WHO BECAME A PRINCE

(Genesis 37 to 47)

Jacob had twelve sons, and Joseph was next to the youngest. He was

the best loved of all, and his father showed how much he loved him by

giving him a coat of many colors. This made his older brothers jealous

and angry. When Joseph was sixteen years old he dreamed that he was

binding sheaves of grain in a field with his eleven brothers and his

father and mother, and all the other sheaves bowed down to his sheaf.

Another dream he had was that the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed

down to him. When Joseph awoke he told these queer dreams to his

brothers. No wonder they called him “the dreamer” and teasingly said,

“Shall we all, indeed, come to bow down to you?” Soon after this his

nine big brothers caught this boy out in a field and put him down into

a deep pit, and then sold him to camel-drivers as a slave for twenty

pieces of silver (about one hundred and twenty dollars). Then they

killed one of their own goats, dipped Joseph’s coat of many colors,

which they had taken off him, into the blood, and taking it home,

wickedly made their father think a wild beast had eaten Joseph. Jacob

mourned for him as dead, and the brothers thought the dreamer would

never tell any more of his dreams.

The camel-drivers sold Joseph as a slave in Egypt to a rich man who

promoted him to be the chief ruler of his great house. It was a fine

place for him. But one day some one told a very wicked lie about him,

and he was cast into prison. But Joseph was so cheerful and kind and

useful, even in prison, that he was soon placed over all the prisoners.

When the king heard that Joseph had power to tell people the meaning of

their dreams, he sent for him to tell the meaning of two dreams that

troubled him. Joseph told the king his dreams. So Joseph was removed

from prison to the king’s palace, and was dressed in fine clothes, with

a gold chain around his neck and a gold ring on his finger, and made

ruler over all the land, next to the king. Soon a great famine arose

(just as Joseph had told the king) in all lands except Egypt, because

Joseph had filled big barns with corn. Joseph’s ten brothers came from

Canaan to Egypt to buy food to keep their families from starving. They

were taken into the presence of the great ruler who sold the corn,

and they bowed down to the earth before him. So the dreamer’s dream

came true, though they did not know it then. Joseph knew them, and

treated them kindly without letting them know he was their brother.

He longed to see his youngest brother, Benjamin, and told the older

brothers to bring him down with them when they came again, or they

could have no more corn. When they brought him, and when Joseph looked

upon Benjamin’s face, this great Prince of Egypt burst into tears and

said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt, but whom God

sent before you to preserve life.” Then they were afraid, but Joseph

lovingly put his arms about their necks and kissed them and cried with

them until they knew that he freely forgave them. So they went home

quickly and brought their old father, Jacob, the good news, “Joseph is

yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” Jacob could

scarcely believe them. But when they told him how he had forgiven their

wickedness, he said, “I will go and see him before I die.” So all

together they went to Egypt and lived in a beautiful house which Joseph

gave them. Then he took good care of them all, and lived near his dear

old father until the old man died, happily and peacefully, because he

was with his beloved Joseph, whom he had lost as a slave and had found

again as a prince.

9. THE BABY BROTHER IN A BASKET-BOAT

(Exodus 2)

Long, long ago, a little boy was born in a Hebrew home, at a time when

a cruel king of Egypt ordered all Hebrew boys that were born, to be

thrown to the crocodiles in the great river Nile. But this little babe

was so beautiful that his mother hid him in the house and prayed God

to keep him safe. She hid him carefully for three months. Then, being

afraid some one might hear him, she went to the river and gathered

some long, strong grasses that grew there and braided them together,

making a small basket and shaping it like a boat. To make it warm and

dry inside, and to keep it from sinking when placed in the water, she

painted it with black paint inside and out. Early one morning, when

all was ready, the mother took her baby boy quietly sleeping in the

basket-boat, and went down to the river Nile, the little baby’s sister,

Miriam, following closely behind her. The mother hid the basket among

the tall grasses near the shore, and again prayed God to keep her

baby safe. Miriam was left hiding in the tall grass near-by to see

what would happen to her little brother in his new bed. Very soon the

princess, the daughter of the cruel king of Egypt, with her maids,

came down to the river to bathe. Quickly she spied the basket-boat and

cried, “What is that floating on the water among the tall grasses?

Bring it to me.” One of her maids ran and picked up the basket and

brought it to the princess. When she opened it, there was the most

beautiful baby boy she had ever seen! The child was wide awake, and

seeing the strange face, began to cry. “It is one of the Hebrew babies

that my father ordered drowned!” she said. “But I have found him,

and I will keep him as my own little baby boy. I will call his name

‘Moses.’”

Miriam was watching from her hiding-place in the tall grasses. She ran

out and said, “Shall I bring a nurse for the baby?” “Yes,” said the

princess. Miriam ran home as fast as she could, and whom do you suppose

she brought? The baby’s own mother! And the princess told her to take

him home and nurse him and care for him for her, for she loved him as

her very own, and the king would not harm him.

So the prayer that Moses’ mother made to God to take care of her little

baby boy in the basket-boat was answered. And Moses grew up to be a

great and good man.

10. WHY BOYS TAKE OFF THEIR HATS IN CHURCH

(Exodus 3)

When the boy Moses was old enough to leave his mother he went to live

with his new mother in the king’s palace.

Moses was a good boy. He studied his lessons so well in school that he

grew up to be one of the wisest and best young men in all the land.

But Moses never forgot his own Hebrew people. He was not careless of

the cruel way they were treated as slaves by the king’s officers. He

tried to improve their sad condition in his own hasty way, but he soon

saw that neither his own people nor their masters wanted a princess’s

son to interfere. They were both ready to kill him for trying to help.

So Moses had to flee for his life into the mountains where he became a

shepherd. One day as he was leading his sheep up the mountainside, he

saw a thorn-bush all aflame; and it kept on burning, but was not burned

up. Moses wondered to see so strange a sight. Leaving his sheep he

went near. Suddenly a Voice called out of the midst of the fire-bush,

“Moses! Moses!” Moses answered, “Here am I.” The Voice said, “Take

off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest

is holy ground,” It was God, in the form of an angel, speaking to him.

Moses at once took off his shoes and bowed reverently in the presence

of God. Then God told him a better way by which he could help his

downtrodden people and set them free from their cruel masters who were

beating them and making their life so hard. He told Moses he wanted him

to lead his people out of their bondage. At first Moses was afraid he

was not able to do what God wanted him to do, but God said, “Certainly,

Moses, I will be with thee.” Moses obeyed the Voice that spoke that

day to him out of the fire-bush, and he became one of the greatest of

leaders and lawgivers that this world ever saw. Men and boys take off

their hats in church to-day for the same reason that Moses removed his

shoes before the fire-bush--to show reverence in the presence of God

and respect for his wonderful way of speaking to men.

II. THE BOY WHO LIVED IN A CHURCH

(1 Samuel 2, 3)

Once there was a little boy, about seven years old, who was taken by

his mother to a beautiful church and left there to be educated by the

minister, who lived in a room at the side of the church. The little

boy’s mother had promised God that if he would give her a little boy

she would give him back to him, and that all the days of his life

her boy should serve him. So as soon as he was old enough to leave

her she remembered her promise. A little room was fitted up for the

little fellow next to the minister’s room. Little Samuel learned to

trim the lamps, to open and close the church doors, and to be useful

in many little ways in helping the minister. Once a year his mother

came to see him, bringing for him a beautiful little, new, white coat,

which she had made for him. It was the same kind of white coat the

minister wore. One night as the little boy was lying asleep in his

room, suddenly a beautiful Voice rang through the chamber, calling,

“Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel thought it was the minister calling him. He

ran to the minister’s room, saying, “Here am I!” “I called not,” said

the minister; “lie down again.” So the boy went back to bed. Then again

the Voice called, “Samuel!” Again he ran to the minister who said, “I

called not; lie down again.” When all was quiet, the third time the

Voice called, “Samuel!” and again the boy sprang up and ran quickly

to the minister’s room. Then the minister knew God was calling him.

“Go lie down,” he said, “and if you hear the Voice again, it is God

calling you; say, ‘Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.’” As soon as

Samuel lay down again, God called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and little Samuel

kneeling beside his bed said, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.”

Then God told him what he wished him to do for him when he grew older.

So the little boy who was obedient to God’s voice grew up to be a great

and good man, living always for the good of his people.

12. THE DAUGHTER WHO HONORED HER MOTHER

(Book of Ruth)

Far away in the strange land of Moab a poor widow started to return

to her own home in the land of Israel. Ruth and Orpah, her two

daughters-in-law, the wives of her sons who had just died, wished to

go with her, for they could not think of the poor, old, sad mother

returning all by herself on that long journey. But after they had gone

a little way, the old mother kissed them and said, “Go back to your

home and native land!” So Orpah kissed her good-bye and returned, but

Ruth clung to her mother-in-law and said: “Entreat me not to leave

thee and return from following after thee; for whither thou goest I

will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my

people, and thy God my God; where thou diest will I die, and there will

I be buried. Nothing but death shall part thee and me.” Ruth knew that

where Naomi was going she would be poor, and that they would have to

work hard, but she loved this old mother too much to leave her. Soon

they saw the hills and then the houses of Bethlehem, Naomi’s home. They

settled down in that little town, but were so poor they did not know

how to get even food enough to eat. The time of year had come when the

farmers were beginning to cut the barley--the harvest-time. It was

the custom in that land to allow poor people to go into the fields

and gather up the loose ears of barley that were left by the reapers;

and Ruth went to glean a little food for herself and her mother. She

happened to go into the field of a rich man named Boaz. By and by when

Boaz came to see how the reapers were getting on, he saw Ruth gleaning,

and asked his reapers who she was. They told him that she was Naomi’s

daughter-in-law, just come from Moab. Then Boaz called her to him and

told her that she was welcome to glean in his fields all through the

harvest. He said: “I have heard all about your goodness to Naomi. May

you be fully rewarded by Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings

you have come to take refuge.” At dinnertime Boaz told her to sit down

with the reapers, who gave her food and drink. She ate all she wished,

and still she had some left, which in the evening she took home with

her, with the barley she had gleaned, to Naomi. At the end of the

barley harvest, this great and good rich man, Boaz, fell in love with

Ruth, and she became his wife. The old mother, Naomi, went to live

with them in their large and beautiful house, and she never was in want

again. When a little son came to them, Ruth called his name Obed, and

when he grew to be an old man, he was the grandfather of King David. So

Ruth, the gleaner, who was kind and loyal to her mother-in-law, became

the great-grandmother of the greatest King of Israel.

[Illustration: “ENTREAT ME NOT TO LEAVE THEE”]

13. THE SHEPHERD-BOY WHO SLEW A GIANT

Far away on a hillside, one starry night, a shepherd-boy was watching

his father’s sheep. The little lambs were cuddled up close to their

mothers and all was quiet and peaceful in the moonlight when out of

the woods near-by came a dark animal. It was a big brown bear that had

come to steal a lamb. Nearer and nearer it came when the shepherd-boy,

who loved his sheep, quickly placed a large sharp stone in his sling

and slung it at the bear’s forehead. With a great cry of pain the bear

rolled over dead. So the lambs were saved from the bear. Another time,

a lion sprang out from behind a rock and, seizing a little baby lamb in

his mouth, started to run away with it. On the minute the shepherd-boy

was after him, slinging one of his sharp stones at the lion’s head. It

struck the lion without killing him, but, letting the baby lamb go, he

turned roaring and sprang at the boy. He caught him by the beard, and

with his shepherd’s staff struck at him until the great animal fell

back dead. So the lambs loved the shepherd still more, for he had saved

them from the lion too. Some time after, this same shepherd-boy went

out to the battlefield to take some corn and loaves of bread to his

soldier brothers. While he was talking to his brothers a great giant

came out and stood upon a high cliff and cried across the valley, “I

dare any man to come and fight me!” This giant was ten and a half feet

in height--so tall that a boy would not come as high as his knees. Upon

his head was a helmet of brass; his whole body was covered with armor

of brass; even on his legs were heavy plates of brass. In his hand he

held a long staff with a sharp spear-point at the end; by his side hung

a sword, and a man went before him carrying a shield. This was the

famous Philistine giant, “Goliath,” before whom all the Hebrew soldiers

trembled and ran away to their tents in fear. This young shepherd-boy

was surprised that none dared go out and fight him, especially when he

heard that King Saul had said whoever would kill this terrible giant

should receive great riches and have the king’s daughter for his wife.

This boy said, “I will go and fight him!” Some one told the king what

he said, and Saul sent for him and said: “Surely you are not able to

go and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighter from

the time he was a boy.” This shepherd-boy bravely replied: “When I was

smaller than I am now, I was watching my father’s sheep, and a bear and

a lion came to take a lamb out of the flock, and I smote both the lion

and the bear, and this giant shall be as one of them, because he has

defied the armies of the living God. My God, who delivered me out of

the paw of the lion and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me

out of the hand of this boastful giant.” The king said, “My boy, go;

and may God be with you.” Then he offered the shepherd-boy his armor

of brass, his helmet, and sword. But the shepherd-boy said, “Please,

may I go without these? My shepherd’s sling and staff, with God, are

all I need.” Then he ran to the brook and selected five smooth stones

and put them in his shepherd’s bag and went forth to meet the giant

who came to meet him. When Goliath saw only a boy he said: “Am I a

dog that you come to me with a stick! Come to me, boy, and I’ll give

your flesh to the birds and beasts!” And he cursed him by his gods. The

brave shepherd-boy did not flinch, but replied: “You come to me with

a sword, and a spear, and a javelin. I come to you in the name of the

God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day God will

deliver you into my hands, and I will take your head from you and give

it to the birds and wild beasts, that all the earth may know that there

is a God in Israel, and that they may know that God saves not with

sword or spear; for this battle is God’s, and he will give you into our

hands.” The proud giant, clad in his brass armor, began walking toward

the boy, who quickly put his hand into his bag, took out a stone, slung

it with all his might at the giant’s forehead, and Goliath fell on his

face to the ground--dead. Quickly he ran, stood on the giant, took the

great sword of Goliath out of its sheath, and with one blow cut off

the giant’s head in the sight of the soldiers of both armies. When the

army of the giant saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran

away over the mountains and, with a shout of victory, Saul’s soldiers

ran after them and took them prisoners. So the shepherd-boy, with a

sling and a stone, and the help of God, won a great battle that day. He

became the king’s son-in-law, and when Saul died he became king, one of

the greatest and best kings Israel ever had--King David.

14. THE ARROW-BOY AND THE TWO FRIENDS

(1 Samuel 18 to 20)

The shepherd-boy who slew the giant was invited to live at the king’s

palace, and he became a great friend of the king’s son, Jonathan.

David and Jonathan soon loved each other greatly. All the people too

came to love David more than they did King Saul. This made the king

very jealous, and he resolved to kill this popular young soldier, whom

everybody praised so much; even the women and girls singing of him in

the streets:

Saul hath slain his thousands,

And David his ten thousands.

When Jonathan suspected his father’s evil intentions, he told David to

go away from the palace for three days. “After three days,” he said, “I

will come to your hiding-place and bring an arrow-boy with me, and I

will shoot three arrows. If I say to the boy, ‘Run and find the arrows

on this side of you, come back,’ you can come back to the palace in

safety; but if I say, ‘Haste, stay not,’ then there is danger, and you

must flee.” After two days Saul missed David at the dining-table, and

told Jonathan that if he found David he would surely kill him. And he

threw a javelin at Jonathan to kill him too, because he was the friend

of David. Quickly Jonathan went with the boy to the place appointed and

shot an arrow far beyond the mark and cried to the boy, “Haste, stay

not.” The boy ran and brought him the arrow and returned to the palace.

David came out from his hiding-place. The two friends kissed each other

and made promises of eternal friendship. And they saw each other only

once after that day. So the arrow-boy helped the two friends.

15. THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE

(2 Samuel 4: 4; 9: 1-13)

One afternoon, long ago, a little boy prince five years old, was

playing with his toys in his father’s palace, and his nurse was

watching him. Suddenly a messenger ran up to the house and rushed in,

bearing the sad news that a terrible battle had been fought between

the Hebrews and the Philistines in which King Saul and the little

prince’s father, Jonathan, David’s friend, had been slain. “Yes,” he

said, “Saul and Jonathan are dead! Flee for your lives!” The nurse

picked up the little boy in her arms to carry him away quickly, when,

in her haste and fright, she stumbled and fell. In the fall the little

boy’s ankles were broken, and ever after he was a helpless cripple.

The little lame prince was hidden away in a friend’s house so safely

that almost everybody supposed the Philistine soldiers must have slain

him too. A few years afterward, David said: “Is there yet any left

of the family of Saul that I may show the kindness of God to him for

Jonathan’s sake?” One of the servants said, “Jonathan hath yet a son

who is lame in both his feet.” “Bring him to me,” said David; and when

he was before the king, David said: “Fear not; for I will surely show

kindness to you for Jonathan, your father’s sake. I will give you his

farm lands; and you shall eat at my table as one of my own sons.” So

David’s friendship for Jonathan was shown to this lame prince who was

crippled in both his feet, and whose name was Mephibosheth.

16. THE BABIES AND THE WISE JUDGE

(1 Kings 3)

One night a King was sleeping, and in his sleep he dreamed that God

came to him and said, “Ask what I shall give thee.” He said, “Give me a

wise heart to judge the people justly in all things.” God said to him:

“Because you have not asked for riches, or long life, or the death of

your enemies, but have asked for a heart of wisdom, I will give you a

wise heart, and riches, and long life if you will obey me.”

The young King awoke; and it was a dream. But he became one of the

richest and wisest of the kings of the earth to rule and to judge his

people. One day two mothers came to him, each bringing a baby boy,

but one was dead and one was alive. One mother said: “O king, judge my

case! We two mothers live in one house. One night this woman’s baby

boy died, and she came into my room and stole my little baby boy away,

and put her dead baby boy in its place while I was sleeping. In the

morning, there beside me in my bed was her dead baby.” The other woman

said, “No, no, the living is my son, and the dead is your son.” The

King said to his servants, “Go quickly, and bring me a sword!” They

brought a sword. The King said, “Divide the living baby in two, and

give half to one and half to the other.” The mother whose the living

child was cried out to the King, “O my lord, give her the living child;

do not slay it!” But the other said, “Yes, divide it.” Then the King

knew which was the real mother and said, “Give her the living child;

she is his mother.” All the people heard of this, and they said, “King

Solomon is the wisest man that ever lived to rule wisely and to judge

justly.”

17. THE LITTLE BOY KING

(2 Kings 11)

There were troublous times in a king’s palace when a little prince was

born. He was only two months old when his father, the king, was killed

in battle and this little baby boy had to be hidden away by his aunt in

a storeroom in the sacred temple to save his life. For seven years he

was hidden there and very few knew that the little boy, who should be

the king, was alive. His grandmother, a very wicked and cruel woman,

Athaliah, became queen. She first ordered all the royal children she

could find to be put to death and then she did many such cruel and evil

things so that her people became worse and worse. After seven long

years, one day a good man in the temple told five brave captains his

secret, and showed them the young king and asked their help to crown

him king in the place of the wicked, cruel grandmother. They promised.

Soon many other soldiers came to know the secret, and on a day they

decided upon, these men armed themselves with swords and spears and

shields, and gathered in the temple to crown the little boy king. His

granduncle, the high priest, brought him out from his hiding-place, set

him upon a high platform, put a little crown of gold upon his head,

while all the men clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!”

When the queen-grandmother heard the shouts she came to the temple and

looked in, and behold, there was the little boy king standing on the

platform with the crown upon his head and all the captains and guards

and trumpeters and people rejoicing and blowing trumpets. The queen

tore her clothes in anger and cried out, “Treason! Treason!” But all

her soldiers and people were sick and tired of her cruel reign. So the

captains seized her, led her out of the temple, and slew her near the

horse-gate of her palace. So this little boy only seven years old was

crowned king because he was of the family of King David and because God

took care of him in his hiding-place during all those seven long years.

He reigned as King of Judah many, many years, doing great good for God

and for his people. His name was Joash.

18. THE WOMAN WHO SHARED HER LAST LOAF

(1 Kings 17)

In a land where no rain had fallen for long months the grass and

flowers were withered, the fruit trees were dead, the grain-fields and

gardens were hardened and parched, and the streams were almost dried

up. In the time of this fearful famine a poor woman looked into her

jar of flour and cruse of oil, and saw that they were almost empty. She

said: “There is just enough flour to make one more little cake, and

just enough oil to mix it. I will go and gather a few sticks and bake

this little cake for my boy and myself, and we will eat it and die.”

She went out to gather the sticks, when she heard some one speak. She

looked up and saw a strange man standing near. He was tired and worn

and dusty, as though he had been walking many miles in the hot sun. He

said to her, “Fetch me, I pray you, a little water, that I may drink.”

She forgot for a moment how hungry and sad she was, and started at

once toward her house to get the water for him, when he called to her,

“Bring me, I pray you, a morsel of bread in your hand.” She turned back

with a sigh and said: “O sir, truly I have not a cake; I have only a

handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse; and now I

am gathering two sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my boy

that we may eat it and die.” The man said: “Fear not; go and do as you

have said, but make me a little cake first, and bring it out here to

me, and afterward make a cake for yourself and your boy. For Jehovah,

the God of Israel says, ‘The jar of meal shall not be empty, neither

shall the little bottle of oil be empty, until it rains upon the

earth.’”

She stood and looked at this strange man with his strange request--to

share her very last piece of bread. She did not know who he was, nor

who the God was he spoke of; she only knew that this man with the tired

face was hungry too, and he had not even one piece of bread, and she

said to herself, “I will share what we have with him.” She went back

into her kitchen, kindled the fire with the sticks, scraped the last

bit of flour from the jar, and poured in the last drop of oil from the

cruse; but, when she had taken out enough for the little cake and

looked into the jar and cruse, there was just as much flour and oil as

before. She made the cake, took it to Elijah, God’s wonderful prophet,

and she, and he, and her son had plenty to eat from the jar of meal

that did not empty and the cruse of oil that did not fail all the days

of that famine. And it all came about because that good woman, though

hungry herself, was willing to share the little she had with another

who was in need.

Is thy cruse of comfort failing? Rise and share it with another,

And through all the years of famine it shall serve thee and thy brother.

Love divine will fill thy storehouse, or thy handful will renew;

Scanty fare for one will often make a royal feast for two.

For the heart grows rich in giving; all its wealth is living grain;

Seeds, which mildew in the garner, scattered, fill with gold the plain.

Is thy heart a living power? Self-entwined its strength sinks low;

It can only live by loving, and by serving love must grow.

--_Elizabeth Rundle Charles._

19. THE SLAVE-GIRL WHO HELPED A GREAT CAPTAIN

(2 Kings 5)

One day a sweet-faced little girl was playing in her home as happy

as any little girl could be, all unconscious that a cruel battle was

being fought. Suddenly some soldiers came and seized this little girl

and carried her away with other prisoners to a far-off land where she

was sold and became a slave-girl in the house of a great captain. She

had to do errands for his wife and wait upon her, and do anything she

asked. Often when this little girl was in her mistress’s room she saw

big tears run down her cheeks, and a sad look come upon her face. One

day she found out what made the tears. Captain Naaman was a leper.

That was a terrible disease in his flesh which no doctor could cure.

The little girl had often seen Captain Naaman. She thought he looked

so fine in his rich uniform as he rode away in a chariot with prancing

horses. She knew that the king of that land had made him captain over

all his soldiers because he was so brave. “But he is a leper, he has

leprosy--how sad!” she kept saying to herself; “how I wish I could help

him!”

One day a thought flashed into her mind that made her eyes sparkle

with joy. She knew in her own land there was a great and good man

named Elisha who had done many wonderful things in helping people. She

said, “I am sure he could make Captain Naaman well.” She could hardly

wait to be sent for to do another errand, she was so eager to tell her

mistress about Elisha. At last the call came, and as soon as she went

into her mistress’s room, she said, “There is a good man in my land,

Elisha, who could heal my master.” The mistress looked at her and said,

“Tell me, daughter, tell me what you mean! Who is Elisha?” And the

little girl told her all about the wonderful things the prophet had

done. When Captain Naaman came home his wife told him what the little

girl had said. The captain went to the palace and told the king, who

said, “I will send a letter to the King of Israel; get ready to go.”

So Captain Naaman started, riding in a beautiful chariot, drawn by

prancing horses, the king’s servants riding beside him, carrying gifts

of gold and silver and beautiful clothes which the king was sending as

presents to the King of Israel. Every one looked as they rode away.

The little girl was the most excited of all. At last Captain Naaman

and his soldiers and chariot stopped at the door of the little house

of Elisha, but the prophet did not even come out to see Naaman’s fine

things, but simply sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in

the river Jordan seven times and thy flesh shall come again to thee,

and thou shalt be clean.” Naaman was angry and started to go back home

as much a leper as he had come. But when his servants reasoned with

him and persuaded him to do what the prophet said, he went down to the

river Jordan, and dipped himself--once, twice, thrice, four times, five

times, six times, seven times--when lo! his rough, red skin became soft

and smooth as the skin of a little baby. Naaman was so pleased that he

hurried back to the little house of the prophet to reward him, but not

a thing would Elisha take from him. Then the captain hastened back to

his own land and home. His wife and the little girl saw him coming. Up

the street he rode and stopped in front of the beautiful house. “He is

well! He is well!” cried the little girl. Then she knew a little girl

can indeed be a great helper.

20. FOUR COLLEGE BOYS WHO KEPT STRONG

(Daniel 1)

Four boys, who were great friends, were taken from their homes and

carried far away into a great city in a foreign land to live among

strangers. One day the King ordered his officers to select from among

the Jewish captive boys four of the brightest, and these four boys were

chosen and brought into the King’s palace to be educated for three

years in the King’s college for royal service. Thinking it a great

honor to them, and that it would make them strong, the King ordered

that these boys should be given a daily supply of the rich food and

wine, such as he and all his military cadets received. But the very

first time the silver tray, with all of these dainties, was brought to

these four college boys, one of them, whose name was Daniel, said to

the officer who took charge of them, “Please let us not have this rich

food and wine, but have plainer food.” The officer laughed and said:

“I am afraid that if you do not eat this rich food your faces will

become thinner than those of the other college students, and then the

King will cut off my head!” But Daniel said: “Try us ten days. Give us

only vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then look at our faces and

the faces of the other boys that eat the King’s rich food and drink his

wine, and see.” The officer said he would try them for ten days. He did

so, and at the end of that time their faces were fatter and rosier,

their bodies plumper, and their minds clearer, stronger, and brighter

than all the other boys. At the end of the three college years, the

King sat upon a golden throne, and all the students were brought before

him, and he saw that these four were stronger than all the rest, and

that they knew ten times as much as the magicians and astrologers in

all his kingdom. So Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, these four

friends who were true to their principle, showed after all that they

kept their health and were stronger and better by going without the

rich food and the royal wine.

21. FOUR FRIENDS IN THE FIERY FURNACE

(Daniel 3)

It was a wonderful sight to see the King’s golden image which he had

set up in the great plain. The King was a worshiper of images of wood

and stone, and he sent forth his herald with a loud trumpet to cry

aloud “To you it is commanded, O people, nations and languages, that

when ye hear the sound of the instruments of music, ye shall fall down

and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar, the King, hath set

up; and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall the same hour be

cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.” From all the country

and provinces around people came to see this great image and to

worship, and at the sound of the instruments of music all fell down and

prayed to it, except three young men who stood upright looking before

them, without bowing their heads or knees to the golden image. These

were the three Hebrews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the friends of

Daniel, who must have been away on a journey at that time. When this

was told to the King he was very angry and ordered them at once to

worship his image or be cast into the furnace, which they saw in front

of them glowing with a terrible fire. They said to the King: “Our God

is able to save us from your fiery furnace, and he will save us. But

if he does not, be it known unto you, O King, we will not worship the

golden image you have set up, or serve your gods of gold.” The King was

more angry, and ordered his strong men to make the fiery furnace seven

times hotter and cast these three friends into the midst of it. But

they were not afraid though they were tied with ropes and cast into the

fire, which was so hot the flames leaped out and burned up the men who

threw them into it. The King was sitting where he could look right into

the furnace. A few moments after, he sprang up greatly astonished and

cried: “Look, look; did we not cast three friends into the furnace? Lo,

I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are

not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God!” The King

ran to the mouth of the furnace, crying, “Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego,

ye servants of the Most High God, come out!” And they came out of the

fire, and not a hair of their heads was singed, nor were their coats

scorched, nor was there even the smell of burning on them. And it all

came about because these three friends were loyal to the one true God,

who had sent the other Friend, “the form of the fourth,” to deliver

them out of the burning fiery furnace.

22. THE MAN WHO WAS NOT AFRAID TO PRAY

(Daniel 6)

Daniel was the man who dared to stand alone in work, in worship, and in

play. He could be trusted in everything. Because he was so industrious,

faithful, and thoughtful, the new King promoted him to be next to him

in rule over all the land. The other officers were jealous and set

plans for his downfall. They persuaded the King, Darius, to sign this

law: “Whosoever shall pray to any god or to man for thirty days, save

to thee, O King, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” The King was

delighted to think of every one in the city praying to him just as if

he were a great god, so he signed this wicked law. Daniel knew what

these evil men would do, but when the time came at noonday for him to

pray, he went straight to his home, opened wide his windows toward his

old home in Jerusalem, as he was accustomed to do, and knelt down and

prayed and gave thanks to his God. That night he did the same thing. He

could have waited until he was in bed where none could see him say his

prayers. Or he could have left his window closed. But he was not afraid

of the King or his officers. They were watching down the street, like

detectives peeking from behind the corners perhaps, and when they saw

Daniel pray they hurried to the King and told him. Darius loved Daniel

and was sorry he had signed the law, but as the laws of that land could

not be changed, he said that Daniel must die. So Daniel was brought to

the great cave of the hungry, roaring lions. The cage was opened at

the top and Daniel was thrown right down into the midst of the wild

animals. The King was sad and said, “Daniel, your God will deliver

you!” Then the King went back to his palace, but he was so sad he could

not eat nor hear music. All night long he thought of Daniel, how good

and useful he had been, and how cruelly treated. Early in the morning

he arose, hurried to the cave, looked in, and there was Daniel--alive

and well. The King cried out, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has

your God delivered you from the lions?” “Yes,” answered Daniel, “my

God has sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not

hurt me.” The King was glad. He called his servants to come and take

Daniel out of the den. When he was drawn out there was found not even a

scratch upon him. The King said, “Bring those mean and jealous men, who

tried to kill Daniel, and cast them into the den.” So they were caught

and cast into the den, and so hungry were the lions that before the

men reached the floor of the den the beasts had seized them and were

crunching their bones to pieces. Then the King made a new law that all

in his kingdom should pray to Daniel’s God, who had delivered him out

of the lions’ den, and who had given him the power to dare to stand and

to pray alone.

23. THE GOLDEN SCEPTER IN THE PALACE OF THE LILY

(Book of Esther)

Once a King gave a great feast in his Palace of the Lily to all his

people. They drank wine from cups of gold in the garden court of the

palace which was paved with red marble and mother of pearl. On the

seventh day of the feast, being drunk with wine, the King ordered his

officers to bring out Queen Vashti in her royal robes that the princes

and people might look at her, for she was very beautiful. She refused.

So the King said she should be cast out of the Palace of the Lily, and

another Queen chosen in her place--the most beautiful woman they could

find. One was chosen whose name was Esther, a captive in Persia. Her

father and mother were dead, and her cousin, Mordecai, had brought her

up as his own daughter. He was a proud old man who always did what was

right, and so he displeased many persons, among whom was Haman, the

ruler next to the King. Because Mordecai would not bow down to him,

Haman planned to kill the stern old man and with him all the Jews in

the land. He persuaded the King to give a command that on a certain day

all Jews, young and old, women and little children, should be slain.

There was great distress among the Jews, but Haman was happy with the

King, drinking wine and talking over his great decree. Esther did not

know what had happened until she saw her cousin weeping, and then he

told her that her life was in danger too, unless she went to the King

and pleaded for her people. She said: “Every one knows that whoever

goes before the King into the inner court, who is not called, is put to

death, unless the King holds out his golden scepter, and for the last

thirty days the King has not called me.”

Mordecai replied: “Do not think you will escape! No, if you fail us

now, safety will come by others, but you will perish; and who knows

whether you are not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Then Esther said: “Go, gather together all the Jews and pray three

days and three nights for me, and I will go before the King, and if

I perish, I perish!” At the end of three days she put on her royal

robes, went into the inner court, and stood opposite the King as he

sat on his throne. When he saw her he held out his golden scepter, and

said, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? Speak and you shall have it

to the half of my kingdom!” She said, “May it please the King to come

to-day with Haman to a banquet that I have prepared.” At the banquet

the King again asked her wish, and she said, “If it please the King,

come again to-morrow to a banquet with Haman.” Haman was delighted as

he went home and told his wife and friends about his good fortune; but

he said, “I am unhappy as long as Mordecai refuses to bow down to me!”

They said, “Build a gallows, and ask the King to let Mordecai be hanged

on it.” He did so. But that same night the King read in the book of

golden deeds how true Mordecai had been to a former King, and he knew

that this service had never been rewarded. When Haman came in the King

said, “What shall be done to the man whom the King delights to honor?”

Thinking it must be himself the King meant, he said: “Let royal apparel

be given him and a royal horse, and a royal crown, and bid him ride

through the city for the people to honor.” The King said, “Then make

haste and do all this for Mordecai.” This he had to do. And when he

went to the Queen’s banquet he was not happy. The King said: “What is

your wish, Queen Esther? Speak and I will give it, to the half of my

kingdom.” She said: “O King, let my life and my people’s life be given

me; for we are sold, I and my people, to be slain and to perish.” The

King said, “Who is he? where is he that dares to do so?” Esther pointed

to Haman, and said, “There he is, this wicked Haman!” Haman was afraid,

and pleaded with the Queen to ask the King to spare his life, but the

King said, “Hang him on the gallows that he built for Mordecai.” This

was done at once, and when Haman was dead Mordecai was put into his

place next to the king, and all the people rejoiced. So Queen Esther,

to whom the King extended the golden scepter in the Palace of the Lily,

saved all her people, the Jews, that day and they lived in peace and

prosperity.

VII

BIBLE STORIES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

(_Adapted for Children, Six to Twelve Years._)

1. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS DAY

(Luke 2)

One starry night, in a grassy field outside a little village, a company

of shepherds were watching their sheep that were fast asleep. The men

were talking together of the wonderful Saviour-King who had been so

long promised to the world. Suddenly a bright light shone around them

and, in a moment a beautiful angel appeared and stood near them. The

shepherds were afraid and fell on their knees, while the angel said:

“Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which

shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the City of

David, a Saviour, who is Christ, the Lord.” As they listened the angel

continued, “This shall be your sign; ye shall find a Babe wrapped in

swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.” Just then the light changed

to a soft rose-color, and angels of white--a great multitude--filled

all the sky singing the glad song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on

earth peace and good will to men.” It was the sweetest song ears ever

heard. Soon it ceased, the angels of white went back to heaven, and the

light faded away. “Let us go at once and see this new-born child!” the

shepherds said one to another. So they left their sheep in care of one

shepherd and hastened to the town. There they found the little Babe in

a stable, wrapped in coarse clothes and lying in a manger. By his side

was Mary, his mother, and Joseph. They knelt down beside the manger,

looked into the wide-open eyes of the Christ-Child, and told Mary and

Joseph of the wonderful light, and of the song and sign of the angels.

It was morning when the shepherds went back to their sheep, but they

never tired of telling that the Christ-Child was born, and that the

angels had said he should bring “peace on earth and good will to men.”

That was the first Christmas Day.

2. THE WISE MEN AND THE STAR

(Matthew 2)

In other lands besides the one in which the Christ-Child was born, good

men often talked together of the promise of his coming to the world.

One night, in a far-away land, a wise man who liked to study the stars,

was looking up into the sky, and saw a star he had never seen before.

“There is the star of the Christ-Child!” he cried; “I will go and find

him and take him a gift of gold!” So he mounted his camel and started.

Soon he met another man riding a camel. This man said, “Where are you

going?” “I have seen the star of the Christ-Child,” he said, “and I

am going to find him.” “I saw the star too, and I will go with you,”

said the man; “I shall give him a gift of my sweetest incense.” Soon

they met a third man riding on a camel. “I too,” he said, “saw this

wonderful star, and am seeking the Child-King. I have for him a gift of

myrrh, my most precious perfume!” So they journeyed together--on and

on--ever following the star until they came at last to the little town

of Bethlehem, and the star stood shining over the little house.

“Ike! Ike!” each traveler shouted to his camel. This meant “Kneel;

kneel!” The camels slowly knelt down; each man put his foot on his

camel’s neck, stepped upon the ground, and went into the house, where

they saw the young child and fell down and worshiped him. Then they

opened their bags and gave for the Star-Child their best gifts, of

gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, such as were given only to kings.

Some time after they returned home to their study of the stars again,

but they never forgot the star that led them to the Child-King who was

born to bring to the world “peace and good will, good will and peace.”

3. WHEN JESUS WAS A BOY

(_An Imaginary Sketch._)

(Luke 2: 40, 52.)

When Jesus was a boy he lived in a little country town, called

Nazareth. It was a beautiful place, with little white stone houses,

and little narrow streets; high green hills rising above it; many

gardens full of bright flowers--roses, tulips, lilies, orchids, and

wild geraniums; orchards of fig trees, olive trees, and orange trees;

cooing doves and other birds flitting here and there on the housetops

and among the trees; and in the center of the town there was a fountain

from which water was carried by the people to their homes in large

stone jars borne on the shoulder.

The house in which Jesus lived had only one room with a dirt floor.

It had no window except a hole in the wall; no bedstead, no chair, no

pictures, no looking-glass. The people in these poor houses ate their

meals from a low bench or shelf as they sat or reclined upon the floor

or upon cushions. They slept upon quilts spread on the floor at night

and neatly folded up by day. The only furniture was a chest or cupboard

on one side of the room, where they kept their best clothes. Near

the door stood the jar of water for drinking, cooking, and cleansing.

[Illustration: WHEN JESUS WAS A BOY]

When Jesus was a boy he wore a bright, red coat with long sleeves and

tied around his waist with a sash of different colors. When he was very

little he wore no shoes or stockings. Later he wore little sandals.

Sandals were taken off when people entered a house. Perhaps it was

easier for a boy then to take off his sandals than to wipe his shoes on

the door-mat as boys should do now. But these boys had to wash their

feet as they came indoors, and perhaps that would be harder for a boy

who doesn’t like to wash even his hands when he comes into the house

now.

When Jesus was five years old he began to attend the village school

with other boys. After school was over he loved to play games with the

other boys around the village fountain or upon the level place on the

hillside. He played “funeral” and “wedding” and many games such as boys

play now. He used to climb to the top of the green hills gathering

wildflowers, watching the birds, and perhaps sometimes he would chase

the butterflies, but if he caught them he would never hurt them. He

helped his mother feed the doves and the chickens, often laughing

heartily as he saw the chicks run to hide under the mother’s wings.

Every Sabbath he went to the village synagogue, which was the same

place as the day-school. He listened attentively to the minister

reading and explaining the Bible. After the synagogue service all the

children stayed to the Bible school. All the children sat on the dirt

floor and listened to the Old Testament read and explained. Boys, like

Jesus, were glad to learn a great deal of the Bible by heart and then

to repeat it from memory.

Jesus’ father, Joseph, was the village carpenter. He made and repaired

stools, mangers, plows, yokes, and such things for the home and farm.

Jesus doubtless loved to be in the carpenter shop, helping Joseph by

bringing saw and hammer, holding a board, and learning all he could.

Jesus and Joseph were chums and partners, always trying to help each

other. We may imagine that one day Jesus saw an Arab in the village

making a tent. When Jesus got home he said, “I would like to have a

tent.” So Joseph helped him, and he soon learned to smooth and sharpen

the pegs, sew cloth together, and when at last the tent was finished

and put out in the garden, no boy was ever happier lying under his own

tent that his own hands had made, than Jesus was. One day, perhaps,

Joseph took Jesus over to the lake, where they went fishing. What fun

that was to Jesus, as well as the rowing and sailing and swimming in

the lake! When he got home he said, “Let us make a little boat for

little brother.” So they made a nice boat and gave it as a plaything to

amuse his little brother.

Often his mother called, “Jesus, please get some water in the jars.”

Jesus started on the minute. He never said, “Oh pshaw! ask brother!” or

“I don’t want to!” or “Wait a minute!” No, Jesus went at once, and more

often saw what was wanted to be done and did it without waiting to be

told.

Jesus was the kind of boy that helps everybody. So everybody liked

Jesus. He studied his lessons well. He always played fair with the

boys. He was kind and loving and good to all. He loved everybody, and

everything he did he did with his whole heart and tried to do well.

In the evening his father and mother often gathered the children

together and told them the beautiful stories from the Bible--and Jesus

loved especially those about Abraham and Joseph and Samuel and David

and Daniel.

So when Jesus was a boy he was a real boy--a perfect boy, the best

thinking, feeling, speaking, acting boy the world ever saw, just the

kind of boy that God wants every boy to be, “growing in body, in mind,

in soul, and in favor with God and man.”

4. WHEN JESUS WAS LOST

(Luke 2: 41-52)

One morning when Jesus lived in the little white stone house in

Nazareth, his father, Joseph, said: “Jesus, you are now twelve years

old. You are to go to the feast in Jerusalem with us this year.” This

made Jesus very happy. He had been looking forward a long time to the

day when he could go to the great city of Jerusalem that was to him

the most sacred and most wonderful city in the world. So, when the

morning to start came, Jesus was ready. When they started there were

great throngs of people from different towns and lands going up to the

feast, traveling together and crowding the roads. The women and aged

men rode on donkeys, or mules, or horses, or camels. The men walked by

their side, staff in hand. The boys ran on before or played by the side

of the road. These great caravans of people slowly traveled together

as far as they could by day and rested at night in tents or booths.

The boys had tents in which they could sleep together, and Jesus was

with the boys. On the fourth day, suddenly in the distance, on a hill,

Jesus caught the first glimpse of the high towers and great walls of

the city, and the shining roof of the temple and palaces. The people

cried out, “Jerusalem! Jerusalem!” singing psalms of joy together,

accompanied by music of various instruments, as they journeyed onward.

Soon they reached the city. It was a new and wonderful world to Jesus,

this wondrous boy of twelve years old, who had lived in the country and

had never seen a large city before. He opened his eyes wide to see the

crowded streets, the marble palaces, the strong towers, and then the

temple courts and buildings. He saw the bright robes of the priests.

He saw the smoking altars and their bleeding sacrifices of oxen and

lambs and doves. He stood in front of the great blue veil of the holy

of holies and wondered what was within. He knew this was his heavenly

Father’s house, and he liked to be there better than anywhere else.

He watched the daily sacrifice and all parts of the feast. During the

seven days of the feast, Jesus walked about the streets looking at the

stores, the wonderful articles for sale, the animals for sacrifice, the

forts, the great gates, and other interesting things in the city, but

he always liked to go back to the wonderful temple.

When the feast was over, Joseph and Mary started toward home. But

as the roads were so crowded, especially toward Nazareth, with the

thousands of returning pilgrims, his parents, supposing he was in

the company, did not discover that he was missing until they pitched

their tents at the close of their first short day’s travel. Jesus was

lost. They searched everywhere and asked everybody they met, and when

they could not find him they were greatly worried, fearing that King

Herod might have caught him and put him to death. They hurried back

to the city very early the next morning and searched everywhere for

the missing boy but could learn nothing of him. At last, on the third

day, they went into one of the side rooms of the temple, a room where

the teachers and wise men met, and there was Jesus in the center of a

group of white-bearded teachers, listening earnestly to what they said,

and asking them harder questions than they had ever heard before. Mary

said: “Jesus, my son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy

father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” Jesus replied: “Mother, how

is it that you sought me? Did you not think that I would be here, in my

Father’s house?” While Jesus had been at the feast during those seven

days he had found out what every boy and girl sooner or later must find

out, what he is to do and to be in the world. But though Jesus now knew

what he was to be and do, yet at once he said to the great teachers,

“Good-bye,” and went back with his parents to Nazareth, a cheerful,

obedient Jewish boy.

And in all that land no son was ever so thoughtful, so kind, so loving,

and so helpful to his parents and to his brothers and sisters, as was

this noble boy and young man, whom his neighbors knew as Jesus, the

young carpenter of Nazareth.

5. WHEN JESUS LEFT HIS CARPENTER SHOP

(Mark 1: 1-11)

When Jesus was the young carpenter in Nazareth he was the best

carpenter of all the land. The children, passing by, liked to peep

in at the open door of his shop and see him at work with his saw or

hammer, making or repairing a stool, or a chest, a manger, a plow, or a

yoke. He smiled sweetly at the children and spoke kind words to them,

so that the children of Nazareth loved him in return. But one day as

Jesus was standing beside his bench, with the shavings at his feet and

his carpenter’s tools about him, he knew that very soon he must leave

that shop and go into the towns and cities where there were other

things for him to mend than stools and chests and mangers and plows and

yokes. At last, one evening, when the shadows lengthened, he went into

his carpenter’s shop and hung up his hammer, his saw, his adz, and each

of his carpenter’s tools, shut the door of his shop, said “Good-bye” to

his mother and his brothers and sisters and friends in Nazareth, and

early next morning started on a long walk over the hills and valleys

toward the river Jordan.

A strange preacher named John, the Baptizer, had come out of the

wilderness to the banks of the river Jordan, preaching that everybody

should repent of his sins and prepare for the coming of God’s Son by

being baptized in the river, confessing his sins. John was dressed in

a rough coat made of camel’s hair, and had lived in the desert eating

nothing but honey and an insect, something like a grasshopper, called a

locust. But thousands of people came to listen to this strange preacher

of the desert and to be baptized.

One afternoon, as a great crowd was around him, John suddenly stopped

in his preaching, and looking at a man coming near, he cried, “Look,

there is God’s Son!” All eyes were turned toward the quiet and gentle

form of Jesus, who walked forward and said to John, “I would like to be

baptized.” John drew back, and said, “Oh, no, no! You should baptize

me, rather than that I should baptize you.” But when Jesus said, “It

is God’s will,” John took hold of his hand and together John and Jesus

slowly stepped out on the pebbly shore, and walked into the river, with

every eye upon them. Standing out in the water, Jesus prayed. Then John

baptized Jesus. And as Jesus came up out of the water, suddenly the sky

seemed to open, and a beautiful snow-white dove flew down and rested

upon the head of Jesus. Then a Voice from heaven was heard that said,

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

This was the announcement that Jesus was the Son of God and the Saviour

of the world. It meant that Jesus would return to the carpenter shop no

more. No more would the farmer bring his plow for Jesus to repair. No

more would the housemother bring her stool to Jesus to mend. In vain

would the children passing by his shop look in at the open door to see

his pleasant smile or hear his kind voice. The saw and the hammer and

the adz were for other hands now. Jesus had entered upon his great task

of mending and healing human hearts and lives, of bringing “Peace on

earth, good will to men,” a task in which every one who loves him and

is like him may still share a part.

6. WHEN JESUS WON HIS GREAT VICTORY

(Matthew 4: 1-11)

When Jesus was a boy and a young man in Nazareth, he was sometimes

tempted to do wrong things or to do right things in a wrong way. But he

had decided always to do what pleased God, his heavenly Father, and so

he met every temptation to do wrong with a firm “No!” which each time

won him a new victory, as it will with any one.

Immediately after his baptism in the river Jordan Jesus was tempted

more than ever before because his baptism was the beginning of his

public life as the Son of God and Saviour of men. Satan, the tempter,

said, “I will make him do something that will not please God!” So, far

off in the desert, where Jesus withdrew to plan the best way to begin

his life-work, and when he had fasted for forty days and was very

hungry, Satan came to Jesus in some strange form and said, “If thou art

the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” He pointed to

some round, smooth stones lying near that looked very much like loaves.

Jesus knew that he could command them to become bread, but he said:

“No, God does not want me to use my power for myself, but for others.

It is better to obey God and do right than even to get bread when one

is hungry. God says in his word, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,’” So Jesus refused

to do what Satan said to satisfy his hunger, and won the first inning

of his great victory.

The tempter tried another plan. He seemed to take Jesus suddenly to one

of the highest towers of the temple in Jerusalem where he said: “If

thou art the Son of God, cast yourself down and surprise the people,

for God’s word says, ‘He will give his angels charge over thee, and

they shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against

a stone.’” Jesus knew that he could easily do this, but he said: “No,

the angels of God only take care of God’s children when they do right

in a right way to please him. It is written in God’s word, ‘Thou shalt

not tempt the Lord thy God.’” So he refused the tempter, and won the

second inning of his great victory.

The tempter tried a third time. He seemed to carry Jesus up into a very

high mountain, from which he could see the whole world and all the

glory of it. Satan said: “All these things will I give thee if thou

wilt fall down and worship me. The Jews want a Sword-King. Become a

Sword-King and lead them out to fight their enemies, and you will win,

for I will help you.”

“Get thee hence, Satan,” cried Jesus immediately, “for it is written in

God’s word, ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt

thou worship.’” Jesus refused to be Satan’s Sword-King, and chose to be

God’s kind of king, a Peace-King. So Jesus won the third inning of his

great victory.

Then Satan left Jesus. God’s angels brought him food to sustain him and

encouragement to revive him. And Jesus was stronger still to do always

those things that pleased his heavenly Father, who would give him help

to win other victories through life, as he had helped him to win this

first great victory.

7. THE CHILDREN’S FRIEND

(Matthew 19:13-15)

One day a great crowd of men gathered about Jesus, the great Teacher.

All sorts of men were there--rich men and poor men; soldiers with their

swords and spears and sandals; rough fishermen, barefooted, fresh come

from their boats and nets; and priests dressed in their long, white

robes with colored fringes.

Suddenly, as the great Teacher was speaking, at the farther edge of the

crowd a noise was heard. Some women and children were trying to get

near to Jesus. These women wore red and blue dresses with handkerchiefs

tied over their heads, which showed they were poor women from the

little white stone houses. Some were carrying their babies, some were

holding their little ones by the hand, and others were followed by

large boys and girls clinging to their mothers’ skirts. All were trying

to press nearer to Jesus who was talking earnestly to the people. Soon

some of the close friends of Jesus noticed these women with their

children, and said: “Women, do you not see how busy Jesus is? He has

grown-up people to talk to, and has no time for you and your children.

Take them away; carry them home where they belong!”

Jesus heard what his friends said, and cried out: “Do not send the

children away. Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid

them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” There were so many of

them--mothers and their children, little babies, small children, young

boys, and girls! Jesus received them all. He let them all come near

him. He took the babies in his arms. He laid his hands on the heads of

the little children. He put his loving arms around the larger boys and

girls. And he blessed them all. It may be he told them some beautiful

stories, for we may be sure that the boys and girls then loved to hear

stories as well as the children do to-day.

So Jesus was the friend of the children! No wonder children like to

sing:

I think when I read that sweet story of old

When Jesus was here among men,

How he called little children as lambs to the fold,

I should like to have been with them then.

I wish that his hands had been placed on my head,

That his arms had been thrown around me,

And that I might have seen his kind look when he said,

“Let the little ones come unto me.”

8. THE MAID AWAKENED

(Matthew 9:18-26)

Once there was a girl twelve years of age who lived in a beautiful

country house with her father and mother, who loved her dearly. Her

father was one of the chief men of that place, a ruler, the president

of Synagogue College, and very rich.

One day this little girl became ill, and day by day she grew weaker

and weaker, until everybody feared she would never be well again. One

morning she lay very white and still with her eyes closed and scarcely

breathing. Her father had left his business that day to sit by her

bedside and watch her. Tears filled his eyes as he thought he must lose

his darling daughter. All at once the little girl opened her eyes and

seeing her father’s tears said: “Father, there’s a good man who loves

children. I saw him one day in town, and he looked at me and spoke to

me so kindly, I just loved him. His name is Jesus. He heals the sick. I

think he would make me well.”

The father had thought of him several times, but as some of his friends

didn’t want to have anything to do with him, he did not go to him. But

when his daughter whispered, “Please, father, tell him I’m sick,” the

father determined at once to go and get him. He hastened to the town

where he was dining in a friend’s house. He fell at the feet of the

great Teacher, crying out: “My little daughter is dying! Please come

quickly and lay your hand on the child, and she shall live!” At once

the Teacher arose and followed the father, a great crowd of people

following, each person trying to get near him and to look up into

his face or to hear his wonderful words. As they were on their way a

poor old woman that had been ill as many years as the little girl had

been on the earth, with a disease that no doctor could cure, came up

quietly behind Jesus in the crowd. She thought, “If I can only touch

his garment, I shall be healed.” And as soon as she put out her finger

and touched the hem of his garment, she felt new life, and she was

healed. “Who touched me?” said the great Teacher, turning around and

looking straight at her. Then he spoke kind and comforting words to

her. All this took so much time the father was worried and said, “O

Sir, please hasten, or my little daughter will be dead before we get

there!” But this great man was never in a hurry, having time to help

everybody. They were not much farther on the way when they saw a man

running toward them. It was the rich man’s servant, who said, “Thy

daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher any further!” You should

have seen the sorrow written on that poor father’s face. Jesus saw it

and said, “Do not be afraid. Only believe in me!” When they reached

the house the doors were wide open and they heard the sound of pitiful

wailing and weeping, accompanied by the flutes and other instruments of

mourning-minstrels, who did not feel sad, but merely did this because

they were paid for it. “Why make ye this ado and weep?” said Jesus.

“The maid is not dead, but she is asleep!” After Jesus had passed,

these weepers laughed and mocked him, saying, “We know she is dead.”

“Come with me,” said the Teacher with the gentle voice. Then he took

the father and mother of the maid and three of his friends into the

room where the maid was lying so white and still and breathless. Very

tenderly he bent over her body, took her small white hand in his own

warm hand, and softly said, “Little maid, arise!” In a moment the

rose-color came back to her pale cheeks, and she sat up in the bed, and

threw her arms about her father and mother, who could scarce believe

their eyes for joy. Then she sprang from the bed and walked, perfectly

well. “Give the maid something to eat,” said the Teacher. Her mother

quickly gave her something to eat. Soon the servants prepared a feast

for the great Teacher, and the little maid sat next to him at the

table, as happy and as well as she could be. And she never forgot the

name of that great Friend who awakened her from her sleep of death!

9. THE BOY WITH HIS LUNCH

(John 6: 1-14)

Once there was a good boy who had a very kind-hearted mother. Early

one morning he said, “Mother, I’d like to go fishing to-day.” “Yes,”

said the mother, “you’ve been a good boy; take your fishing-tackle, and

here’s a nice lunch for you.” She put him up five little cakes, such

as he liked, in a basket. He went down to the lake and fished all the

morning and way into the afternoon, and caught only two little fish,

which he held over a fire that he made, until the fish were cooked

brown and looked so good to eat. He was just about to eat them with

his cakes, when he looked up and saw a great crowd of people a little

distance away whom he had not noticed before. He wondered who they

could be. So quickly putting his five little cakes and two fishes into

the basket, he took it up, ran as fast as he could, and pressed his way

to the front, where he saw a great and good man talking to the people

so earnestly that they did not notice the boy. Soon he was listening

as earnestly as any of them. When the great and good man had talked a

long time and no one seemed tired, one of the men said: “I think you

had better send the people home to get something to eat. If they stay

much longer they will get so hungry they will faint by the way.” The

good man said, “You give them something to eat!” The man laughed and

said: “Why, if we bought two hundred dollars’ worth of bread and gave

each person a little, there would not be enough to go around.” When

the boy heard that, he said to a man he knew, “He can have my lunch if

he wants.” The man said: “There’s a little lad here with five little

cakes and two little fishes, and he says you can have his lunch, if you

want!” “Yes,” said the good man, “let him bring it to me.” So that good

boy came right up in front of the great and good man and gave him his

lunch. The good man asked God to bless it. Then he asked his friends to

seat the boys and girls on the green grass in rows of fifty, and the

women in rows of fifty, and the men in rows of a hundred. When they

were all seated, the good man took up one of the little cakes and broke

off a piece, and another and another and another; but the cake did not

become smaller. He kept breaking it until there was a great deal of

bread. Then he took up one of the little fishes and broke off a piece,

then another and another and another; but the fish did not become

smaller. He kept breaking the fish until there was plenty. Then his

friends passed the cakes and fish around to the boys and girls. It was

the sweetest bread and fish they had ever tasted. The boy who gave up

his lunch had all he could eat, so did all the women and all the men.

When they had eaten all they wished, there were twelve baskets full

left over. And it all came about because that good boy was willing to

share his lunch with the great and good man.

10. THE DWARF IN THE MULBERRY TREE

(Luke 19: 1-10)

Once there was a very little man who was no bigger than a young boy.

He was so short that some people called him a dwarf. He lived in a

very large house, was very rich, and had a money-making office. But

no one in the town liked Zaccheus, the dwarf, because he was not

good, or kind-hearted, or honest. People said that he had cheated

them out of money and done other bad things. One afternoon, as he was

walking along the street, suddenly he saw in the distance a great

crowd of people coming along the main road leading into the town. The

people were shouting excitedly, “Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming!”

“How I would like to see Jesus,” said the dwarf to himself as he ran

toward the crowd and tip-toed, trying to catch a glimpse of the great

Teacher’s face. But he wasn’t tall enough. He could see nothing but

heads towering above him. “I know what I’ll do,” he said to himself.

“I’ll climb up into that mulberry tree near my house. Then I can see

him easily.” So he ran quickly and climbed up into the branches of the

great tree, and waited until the crowd came close. “There he is” he

said to himself; “well, if I am a dwarf, no one can see better than I

this time.”

He sat there quietly while the great procession passed by--men,

women, children, and Jesus in the midst. Soon Jesus stopped near the

tree, looked up into its branches and cried, “Zaccheus, make haste

and come down, for I want to stop at your house to-night!” Zaccheus

could scarcely believe his ears. Was it possible that the good Teacher

would visit him, a man so wicked, hated, and despised? How did Jesus

know his name? How did he see his hiding-place in the tree? The dwarf

didn’t know, but he hastened down at once and welcomed Jesus to his

house. In surprise some of the people cried: “Look! Jesus is going to

stay with a sinner. Does he know what a bad man this is?” Zaccheus gave

Jesus the best room in his large house, and did all he could to make

his visit comfortable. “Prepare the best feast for Jesus,” he said to

his servants. And while they were seated at the table, Zaccheus stood

before all and said to Jesus: “Master, if I have taken anything from

any one wrongfully, I will give him back four times over, and one-half

of what is left I will give to the poor.”

Then Jesus said to all the people: “Zaccheus, whom you have despised

and hated, is one of the children of my kingdom. I came into his house

to help him to be good and kind-hearted and just. I came to seek and to

save the lost!”

Zaccheus, the dwarf, never forgot that afternoon when Jesus found him

seated up in the mulberry tree and spent the night at his house and

loved him when everybody else hated and despised him.

11. THE GOOD NEIGHBOR

(Luke 10: 25-37)

One day as Jesus, the great Teacher, was speaking, a lawyer, who really

wanted to know, said, “Who is my neighbor?” and Jesus told him this

beautiful story:

Once a man was journeying over a rough and lonely road. A band of

robbers sprang upon him, struck him down, stole his money and clothes

and left him bleeding and half dead on the road. A temple-priest

happened to pass that way, and when he saw the wounded man lying there

he said to himself, “No one can see what I do on this lonely road.” So

he crossed over to the other side, looked at the beautiful scenery, and

passed on to the temple to prayer and sacrifice, leaving the poor man

uncared for, dying in the road.

A temple-singer also passed that way. When he saw the wounded man lying

there he went up to him, looked carefully at his sad condition, and

said to himself, “Poor man, I would help him if I were not so busy.” So

he passed on to his singing in the temple, leaving the poor man uncared

for, dying in the road.

Shortly afterward a Samaritan, a man who was not a Jew, came along the

road. He saw the wounded man bleeding and dying, uncared for in the

road, and felt sorry for him. He saw that he was a Jew and not one

of his own people, but that made no difference. He went up to him,

raised the suffering man, and gently poured soothing oil into his

wounds, and gave him strengthening wine. Then he helped him upon his

mule and walked by its side, while the man rode until they came to a

small hotel, where he spent the night taking good care of him. The next

morning he said to the hotel-keeper: “Take care of him until he is

well. Here is some money, and if you spend more I will repay you when I

come this way again.”

Jesus said to the lawyer, “Which of these three was a neighbor to the

wounded man?” The lawyer said, “The man that showed mercy on him!”

Jesus said: “Go, and do you be as good a neighbor to all whom you have

the power to aid and to help.”

12. THE STORM-KING

(Mark 4: 35-41)

Just at sunset one beautiful evening, a little fishing-boat was sailing

across a large lake. At the end of the boat Jesus, the great Teacher,

was sitting watching the gold and red and purple of the sky reflected

in the rippling waves. Soon the moon came up and its soft, silvery

beams shone on the waves all around the boat. Then, as Jesus was very,

very tired with his hard day’s work, he lay down on the seat and one of

his fisher-friends brought him a leathern cushion for a pillow that he

might rest easier. No sooner was Jesus fast asleep than the lake, which

had looked so lovely before with its rippling waves, changed quickly

and became rough and choppy, and the wind began to blow very hard.

The moon went under a cloud. The wind blew fiercer and fiercer. The

waves rose higher and higher. Several of the friends of Jesus had been

fishermen and sailors on that lake all their lives, but they never knew

such a terrible storm. The wind blew a hurricane, the waves dashed up

so high that they came over the boat, and it began to fill with water.

Hurrying to Jesus, who was sleeping soundly through all the wind and

storm and darkness, they awoke him, crying, “Master! Master! awake,

we are drowning! Save us!” Jesus awoke and heard the wild roaring of

the wind and the torrents of rain and the dashing of the sea. Then

he arose and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” and the wild wind

heard his voice, and ceased as a dog stops barking when he hears his

master’s command, “Be still,” or as a crying child stops his sobs when

his mother speaks. So the noisy sea trembled; the waves sank to rest;

the moon came out again; and the lake lay still and silent. There was

a great calm. Then his friends knew that Jesus was the Storm-King, and

they said, “What a King is this--for he commandeth even the winds and

the sea and they obey him.”

13. THE KING WITH THE BASIN AND THE TOWEL

(John 13: 1-17)

One evening Jesus and his friends were gathered together at a supper in

an upper room in a house which belonged to a friend of Jesus, and which

had been loaned for this special supper. Jesus and his friends had

walked a long distance that day over a rough and dusty road and their

feet, in the loose sandals, were sore and dusty. Near the door stood

a stone pitcher filled with cool, fresh water, and also a basin and a

towel, but there was no servant at the door to wash their feet when

they removed their sandals and passed to their places about the table.

Each of the twelve friends of Jesus was thinking which would occupy the

highest seat in Jesus’ kingdom, and each wanted to have the highest

place of honor at the table. No one had offered to take the basin and

the towel, but rather they were even quarreling over which should

recline next to Jesus at the head of the table. Jesus spoke not a word.

He arose from the table, went quietly over to the water-jar, laid aside

his outer cloak, tied a towel around his waist, like a servant, took

up the basin, filled it with water, and began to wash his friends’

feet, one after the other, and to wipe them with the towel. Jesus was

the King of heaven and earth! Jesus was Lord and Master, as well as

Friend. One of them should have offered to do this. But no one thought

of serving others in any such slave’s way but Jesus. So, when he had

finished washing the feet of all, he put on his outer cloak again, took

his place at the table, and said, “He that would be greatest of all

must become the servant of all.”

14. WHEN JESUS WAS FORSAKEN

(Matthew 27: 27-66)

For three long years Jesus went about doing good, living for

others--feeding the hungry, healing the sick, opening the eyes of the

blind, unstopping the ears of the deaf, causing the lame to walk,

raising the dead, comforting the weary-hearted, and teaching messages

of love to all. At last untrue men, who did not love goodness and

truth, jealous because the multitudes followed Jesus, said, “Away with

him--crucify him!” And Pilate, the Roman governor, gave the sentence,

“Let him be crucified!” That meant death on the cross, the cruel cross

on which only the worst criminals, and those mostly slaves, were put to

death for the basest crimes. So one Friday morning about nine o’clock,

Jesus, carrying the heavy beam upon his shoulder, was led up the steep

road to a green hill outside the city wall. There they nailed him

cruelly to the cross. Jesus quietly prayed to his Father to forgive

his enemies. He also prayed for one of the two thieves dying near him

on another cross, that God would forgive him and bring him to heaven.

He saw his mother, Mary, weeping bitterly near his cross, and said to

his friend John, “Take care of my mother, and be a son to her.” Just

at midday a sudden and strange darkness came over all the land. There

was thunder and lightning and a great earthquake! The people around

the cross listened and heard through the storm and out of the darkness

this piercing cry from Jesus, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken

me?” It seemed to Jesus that not only had all his disciples and nation

forsaken him, but that God, his heavenly Father, whom he had always

tried to please in everything all his life long, had hidden away his

face from him and had forgotten and forsaken him. After three hours the

light broke out again and Jesus said, “It is finished!” Then, “Father,

into thy hands I yield my spirit.” And Jesus was dead. To make the

more sure that he was dead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with

a sharp spear, and from the wound water and blood came forth. And the

water mingled with the blood showed that Jesus died of a broken heart

for the sins of men!

That evening some friends came and tenderly took his body down from

the cross and buried him in a new tomb in a garden, and rolled a great

stone across the door of the tomb.

And when the stars shone out that night it was the close of the world’s

blackest day, because the King of Love, who came to bring to men “peace

and good will, good will and peace,” had been rejected and was dead and

buried.

15. THE FIRST EASTER DAY

(John 20)

Very, early on Sunday morning, the third day after Jesus had died, some

Roman soldiers were guarding the tomb where the body of Jesus lay. Just

as the first faint streaks of dawn appeared, suddenly there was a noise

and a shaking of the ground, as a beautiful angel came down from heaven

and rolled away the great stone from the mouth of the tomb. The face

of the angel was like lightning, and his garments were like snow. At

the sight of the angel and the opened tomb, the Roman soldiers shook

with fear and ran away as for their life. Just as they were running

out of one gate of the garden, three women, friends of Jesus, were

coming into the garden by another gate. They were walking slowly and

sorrowfully and saying one to another, “Who will roll away the stone

from the tomb?” They were bringing fresh cloths and spices to put

around his body. It was still dark in the garden, with only a small

streak of light in the east; but what was that bright, shining light

in front of the tomb? They hurried forward and looked--the great rock

had been rolled away and a strange and beautiful angel was sitting upon

the stone in front of the tomb. The tomb they could see was empty. The

women were trembling with fear and surprise. But the angel said: “Be

not afraid, I know ye seek Jesus. He is not here. He is risen. Go, and

tell his disciples that he goes before you into Galilee, and ye shall

see him as he said unto you!” Full of joy the women hurried back and

told the friends of Jesus that he was alive.

Another friend of Jesus came to the garden just as soon as the women

had gone. Her name was Mary. She came to the tomb all alone, and when

she looked into the empty tomb she saw two angels in white sitting,

one at the head and the other at the foot, where the body of Jesus had

lain. These angels were strong and beautiful, with garments dazzling

white like the sun, but she was so sad that she hardly noticed them

until one of them said, “Woman, why weepest thou?” She said, “Because

they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”

Then she stepped back a little distance into the garden and saw a man

she thought must be the gardener. He said, “Woman, why weepest thou?”

She said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have

laid him.” In a low, sweet voice the man said, “Mary.” Then she knew

Jesus spoke to her, and brushing her tears away quickly, she said,

“Teacher!”

So Jesus came to all his disciples, one by one, or two or three

together; until at last all knew he was risen from the dead--that he

was alive again.

This is the story of the first Easter Day. And this is the reason that

in Russia on Easter morning, the peasant people say, “The Lord is

risen!” and their friends reply, “The Lord is risen indeed!”

16. THE CRIPPLE AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE

(Acts 3, 4)

One afternoon two friends were walking along a street in Jerusalem

on their way to the evening sacrifice in the temple. At one of the

entrances--the Beautiful Gate (so named because of its snow-white

marble steps leading up to its great door of costly brass)--sat a poor

lame man, begging. His feet and ankles were so crippled that he had

never been able to walk or even to stand. His friends carried this

helpless cripple and laid him every morning at this temple entrance

to beg charity from those who went to pray. As soon as the man saw

these two friends, Peter and John, he cried piteously, “Give charity!”

Standing still and looking him quietly in the eye, the two friends

said, “Look on us!” He looked up at once most expectantly. Peter said,

“Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, I give thee. In the

name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” Taking him by the hand Peter

lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle-bones became strong.

The man leaped up and went into the temple with Peter and John, walking

and leaping and praising God. All the people were amazed, seeing him

leaping and hearing his shouts of joy as he held fast to his two

friends. A great throng gathered about them in the large open court,

called Solomon’s porch. Peter, seeing the throng, began to tell them

about the wonderful Prince of Life, Jesus, whom they had put to death.

Such preaching within the temple courts aroused the people and offended

the priests, and the chief officer seized Peter and John and cast them

into prison. This caused hundreds of the people to declare themselves

Christians. The next morning when Peter and John were brought before

the council and questioned, the officers said, “We will let you go

if you will promise not to speak or teach in this name again.” They

answered: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you,

rather than unto God, judge ye; for we cannot but speak the things we

have seen and heard.” So, failing to frighten them, the officers were

compelled to let them go. And being let go, they returned at once to

the Christian company, and told what the Jewish officers had said to

them. And the cripple who had been healed at the Beautiful Gate was a

happy Christian in that company, and was one of the loudest in giving

true praise to God that day.

17. THE GIRL WHO KNEW SHE WAS RIGHT

(Acts 12)

Once there was a girl, possibly about sixteen years of age, who lived

with her father and mother in the dreadful days of the persecution

against the early Christians. One evening her mother said: “Rose, your

father and I are going to a friend’s house to-night to pray. Herod, the

wicked king, who killed the apostle James, John’s brother, has shut

up Peter in prison for several days--and to-morrow he is going to put

Peter to death. The Christians are to pray to-night for Peter’s release

from prison.” “Mother,” said Rose, “I am a Christian too; let me go and

pray with you.” Her mother consented. For some hours the Christians

earnestly prayed; and after midnight they were still on their knees

praying, when suddenly Rose, being nearer the door, heard a knock on

the outside gate. She quickly arose from her knees, ran to the door

and said, “Who’s there?” “It is I--I--Peter,” came a voice. Again she

said, “Who is it?” “I--Peter,” came again the voice. She knew at once

it was Peter’s voice, but in her joy and excitement she forgot to open

the door, running back into the prayer-meeting room and crying out,

“Peter is out of prison! Peter is at the door.” All arose from their

knees and said, “Rose, you must be crazy to talk like that.” “No, I am

not,” she said; “it is Peter!”

“Isn’t it too bad?” said one, “Herod has already killed Peter, not

waiting until to-morrow; and God has sent Peter’s angel to comfort us.”

“No,” cried Rose; “no, it is not Peter’s angel; it is Peter himself! I

know I am right! Listen, there he is knocking again!”

All heard the knocking and went toward the gate, and there stood Peter,

alive and well. “How did you get out of prison?” they exclaimed.

“Hush!” said Peter, beckoning them to be quiet; “let me in, and I will

tell you!” He stood just inside the gate, and this is what he said:

“Last night I was in prison, knowing well that Herod intended to kill

me this morning. I was guarded by sixteen soldiers, and each of my

wrists was chained to a soldier, one on each side. I knew you were

praying for me, and I believed that Jesus would answer your prayers. So

I had no worry, but fell peacefully asleep, and in my dream I thought

I saw an angel come into my cell; my chains fell off; the angel said,

‘Rise and put on your sandals and cloak and follow me,’ I followed the

angel past the first and second cells and the sleeping soldiers, and

when we came to the outer gate it opened of its own accord. When we

were in the street the angel vanished. I thought it all a dream until

I found myself really out of prison with no chains on my wrists, no

soldiers guarding me, no prison-cell enclosing me. I saw then that your

prayers for me were answered, and that Jesus had sent his angel and

delivered me out of prison. I came here as soon as I could to tell you,

but now I must go quickly to another place. Good-bye, God bless you

all!”

In a few moments the gray streaks of the morning came, and it was

light. The soldiers awoke and cried, “Where is Peter?” One after

another echoed the cry, “What has become of Peter?” No soldier and no

officer could tell, for none knew. But Rose, the Christian girl, knew

that in answer to prayer Jesus had sent his angel and delivered Peter

out of prison and she knew that her prayer had been answered as much as

the prayers of any of the Christians, and she was glad she had been in

that prayer-meeting that night!

18. THE PRISONER AND THE SHIPWRECK

(Acts 27)

“All aboard!” cried the captain of a sailing-vessel which was just

loosing from the wharf to sail out to sea. There, on the deck, was a

number of prisoners, guarded by soldiers. One of these prisoners was

Paul, who had been seized in the temple at Jerusalem and nearly killed

by a riotous mob. Forty men had secretly vowed not to eat or drink

until they had killed him. The captain of the temple, being Paul’s

friend, told him about the plot, and sent him in the night with a guard

of soldiers to the governor’s house in a distant city. Paul said to the

governor: “I want to have my case tried in Rome before the emperor,

for I am a Roman citizen!” So Paul was sent as a prisoner to Rome on

this sailing-vessel. Some of his friends were with him. One was “the

beloved physician,” Doctor Luke, who had often traveled with him on his

missionary journeys and who is the man that tells this story. Out upon

the great sea the ship sailed until it came to a wharf where there was

a large wheat-ship sailing to Rome. Paul and the soldiers were put

on board this wheat-ship. Counting the soldiers and passengers there

were two hundred and seventy-six people in all. Soon their troubles

began. The wind was blowing the wrong way, so that they had to go very

slowly. But at last they came to Fair Havens, where they stayed much

too long, Paul thought, for the stormy season of the year had come.

Paul said, “You ought to stay here for the winter.” But the captain of

the soldiers only made fun of him. The weather just then seemed good,

so they pulled up the anchors, hoisted the sails, and put out from

Fair Havens. Hardly had they started when a terrible storm broke upon

them, driving the ship far out of its course. The ship was in danger of

breaking in two so that they had to throw great ropes around the ship

to hold it together. Then they lowered the sails and let the vessel

drift. For two weeks they were tossed and driven by the storm, not

seeing the sun or stars. One night God sent to Paul an angel who said

to him, “Fear not, Paul, you shall reach Rome in safety, and God will

save all in the ship with you.” Early in the morning Paul said to the

sailors and soldiers, “Be of good cheer, God will save you all.” They

made fun of him, and the ship drifted on until in the darkness of the

night they found they were near some island. They quickly threw out

four anchors to save them from being dashed on the rocks, and longed

for the morning! As soon as daylight came and they saw the land, some

selfish sailors at the front of the boat pretending to put out some

more anchors, lowered the rowboat, and were just getting ready to row

away to the land, thinking only of saving themselves, when Paul saw

their trick and cried out to the soldiers, “Look! except these men

abide in the ship you yourselves cannot be saved!” No one made fun of

Paul then, but the soldiers ran and cut away the rope of the boat and

let the boat fall into the sea and drift away. After they had eaten

food they threw all their wheat overboard to lighten the ship. As that

did not help, they decided to run the ship upon the shore, but the bow

struck the beach and the stern was broken to pieces by the fury of the

waves. Some of the soldiers said, “Kill all the prisoners, lest they

swim to the shore and escape.” But the captain of the soldiers, who had

grown to think much of Paul, said: “No, but let each man who can swim

jump overboard and swim for the shore first.” This they did, and the

others, including Paul and Doctor Luke, followed on planks and other

floating things from the ship. And all escaped safe to the land. So

Paul, the prisoner, was right; the ship was lost, but God had saved all

the two hundred and seventy-six men in the ship with him!

19. THE SLAVE WHO RAN AWAY FROM HIS MASTER

(Epistle of Paul to Philemon)

In the city of Colosse the Christians met in the large house of a

kind-hearted man named Philemon. He, and his wife Apphia, and his son

Archippus were so kind to the poor Christians that the people in other

cities knew about the kindness of this fine Christian family in Colosse.

In those days even Christian people did not think it wrong to keep

slaves to work for them. So in the home of Philemon there was a slave

named Onesimus. Philemon and his wife and family were kind to Onesimus,

but he was often ugly and did not like to be a slave. One day he made

up his mind that he would be a slave no longer. He stole from his

master some money which he put into his own pocket and ran far away to

the great city of Rome. He thought he would be safe there and could do

as he pleased without any one knowing who he was. He soon spent all

the money he had stolen and became a tramp without money, food, work,

or home. Every moment he feared lest some one should find him and take

him back to his master, for he knew that a master had the right to put

any slave to death for stealing money and running away. One day he

was walking along a street in great sorrow wondering what to do, when

suddenly he heard singing, which sounded like that which he used to

hear at his master’s house. This made him more homesick than ever. He

listened to the singing, wondering what it could be. Some one came out

and said pleasantly, “You are welcome to come in.” He went in and saw

a strange-looking little old man chained to a soldier and talking to a

large group of people, who were listening eagerly as the speaker said:

“I was a great sinner once. I did many things that were wrong. But

Jesus saved me and made a new man of me. He can save you too.” Onesimus

said to himself, “He means me. He says Jesus will save any one who is

poor and lonely and miserable. That means me.”

He looked again at the preacher and heard some one call his name. Then

he knew that this was Paul, the missionary, who was the friend of his

master, and whose name he had so often heard Philemon mention. As soon

as the sermon was ended and many of the people had gone home, Onesimus

went to Paul and, full of sorrow for what he had done, told him how

he had stolen money from his master and had run away. He asked Paul

to pray that the runaway slave might become a Christian. Paul did so,

and Onesimus became a new man too--a Christian like Paul and Philemon.

Then he was very happy and said he would stay with Paul always and help

him. But Paul said, “No, my son, you must go back to your master.” “Oh,

no,” said Onesimus; “if I do he has a right to kill me for stealing and

running away.” “Yes,” said Paul, “I know that, but you must go back.”

“But what shall I say?” asked the slave. “You need not say anything. I

will write a letter to Philemon and tell him to forgive you and receive

you back as a Christian brother.”

Paul asked one of his friends for pen and ink and paper, and this is

what he wrote:

DEAR PHILEMON, APPHIA, AND ARCHIPPUS: I often think of you and

remember you in my prayers here in my prison in Rome. I want to

ask a favor of you for my son Onesimus, who ran away from you as a

slave, but now returns to you as a Christian brother. He has told

me his story and is sorry. If you think of me as a friend, receive

him back as you would receive me. If he has stolen anything, I will

pay it for him. Love to all.

Your friend,

PAUL.