Read the parable of the sheep and the goats. Matthew, Chap. xxv, verses 33 to 46.

Learn: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Read: "The Three Cakes," in Forgotten Tales of Long Ago, by E. Lucas (Stokes).

JANUARY: HEROISM

Learn: "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, shall save it."

Read the following selections: "Heroes of the Storm"; "The Life-savers of Lone Hill"; "A Modest Lad"; and "A Quick-witted Mountain Girl," from James Baldwin's An American Book of Golden Deeds.

Tell real stories of heroism in the San Francisco earthquake, April 18, 1907; in the saving of passengers on the steamship Republic, in 1909; or in the Sicilian earthquake of 1909.

THE TWO TRAVELERS 1

Two Friends, Ganem and Salem, were journeying together, when they came to a broad stream at the foot of a hill. The woods were near at hand, and the shade was so welcome after the heat of the desert that they halted here to rest. After they had eaten and slept, they arose to go on, when they discovered near at hand a white stone, upon which was written in curious lettering this inscription:

1 From The Tortoise and the Geese, and other Fables of Bidpai, retold by Maude Barrows Dutton (Houghton Mifflin Co.).

Travelers, we have prepared an excellent banquet for your refreshment; but you must be bold and deserve it before you can obtain it. What you are to do is this: Throw yourselves bravely into the stream and swim to the other side. You will find there a bon carved from marde. This statue you must lift upon your shoulders and, with one rus, carry to the top of youder mountain, never beeding the thorns which prick your feet nor the wild beasts that may be lurking in the busses to devour you. When once you have gained the top of the mountain, you will find yourselves in possession of great happiness.

Ganem was truly delighted when he read these words. "See, Salem," he cried, "here lies the road which will lead us to the end of all our travels and labor. Let us start at once, and see if what the stone says be true.”

Salem, however, was of another mind. “Perhaps,” he made answer, "this writing is but the jest of some idle beggar. Perhaps the current of the stream runs too swiftly for any man to swim it. Perhaps the lion is too heavy to carry, even if it be there. It is almost impossible that any one could reach the top of yonder mountain in one run. Take my word, it is not worth while to attempt any such mad venture. I for one will have no part in it."

Nevertheless, Ganem was not to be discouraged. "My mind is fully made up to try it," he replied, “and if you will not go with me, I must go alone." So the two friends embraced, and Salem rode off on his camel.

He was scarcely out of sight before Ganem had stripped off his clothes and thrown himself into the stream. He soon found that he was in the midst of a whirlpool, but he kept bravely on, and at last reached the other side in safety. When he had rested for a few moments on the beach, he lifted the marble lion with one mighty effort, and with one run reached the top of the mountain. Here he saw to his great surprise that he was standing before the gates of a beautiful city. He was gazing at it in admiration, when strange roars came from the inside of the lion on his shoulder. The

roaring grew louder and louder, until finally the turrets of the city were trembling and the mountain-sides reechoing with the tumult. Then Ganem saw to his astonishment that great crowds of people were pouring out of the city gates. They did not seem afraid of the noise, for they all wore smiling faces. As they came nearer, Ganem saw that they were led by a group of young noblemen, who held by the rein a prancing black charger. Slowly they advanced and knelt before Ganem, saying:

"Brave stranger, we beseech thee to put on these regal robes which we are bringing, and, mounted upon this charger, ride back with thy subjects to the city."

Ganem, who could scarcely believe his ears, begged them to explain to him the meaning of these honors, and the noble youths replied:

"Whenever our king dies, we place upon the stone by the river the inscription which you have read. Then we wait patiently until a traveler passes by who is brave enough to undertake the bold venture. Thus we are always assured that our king is a man who is fearless of heart and dauntless of purpose. We crown you to-day as King over our city.'

Learn: "The Three Bells of Glasgow," by John G. Whittier.

Read the poem carefully to the children until they get its spirit. Its ethical message is that we must take heart and hold on, till our work is accomplished.

FEBRUARY: FORGIVENESS

A SOLDIER'S PARDON

During the Civil War a young fellow named William Scott, who came from Vermont, was sentenced to be shot

because he had fallen asleep at his post when it was his duty to guard the army at night. Lincoln could never bear to have any one shot, and he went himself to Scott's tent and asked to see him. They had a long talk together, and Lincoln asked Scott about his mother. Scott drew out her picture, which he always carried with him, and tears came into his eyes at the thought that he might never see her again.

"Well," said Lincoln at last, "you're not going to be shot. But tell me how can you repay me for setting you free and pardoning you?”

Scott hesitated. “We're very poor,” he said, “but I think we might get $500, if we mortgaged the farm.” "No, that won't do," said Lincoln; "my bill is larger than that. And there's only one man who can pay it, and that's William Scott. If from this day he does just what he ought to be doing for the country, I shall be repaid in full.”

Scott never forgot. He fought for his country, and at last died in her service.

Read: "The Sympathy of Abraham Lincoln" and "A Hero of Valley Forge," from Baldwin's An American Book of Golden Deeds.

Learn: "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew, Chap. v, verses 7 to 9.

Read: Matthew, Chap. v, verses 43 to 48.

Read the story of Queen Philippa pleading for the men of Calais, in the chapter, "Edward the Black Prince," in European Hero Stories, by Eva March Tappan (Houghton Mifflin Co.).

Learn:

As one lamp lights another nor grows less,

So nobleness enkindleth nobleness.

Yussouf- LOWELL.

THE GOOD BISHOP1

BY VICTOR HUGO

Jean Valjean was a wood-chopper's son, who, while very young, was left an orphan. His older sister brought him up, but when he was seventeen years of age, his sister's husband died, and upon Jean came the labor of supporting her seven little children. Although a man of great strength, he found it very difficult to provide food for them at the poor trade he followed.

One winter day he was without work, and the children were crying for bread. They were nearly starved; and, when he could withstand their entreaties no longer, he went out in the night, and, breaking a baker's window with his fist, carried home a loaf of bread for the famishing children. The next morning he was arrested for stealing, his bleeding hand convicting him.

For this crime he was sent to the galleys with an iron collar riveted around his neck, with a chain attached, which bound him to his galley seat. Here he remained four years, then he tried to escape, but was caught, and three years were added to his sentence. Then he made a second attempt, and also failed, the result of which was that he remained nineteen years as a galley slave for stealing a single loaf of bread.

When Jean left the prison, his heart was hardened. He felt like a wolf. His wrongs had embittered him, and he was more like an animal than a man. He came with every man's hand raised against him to the town where the good bishop lived.

1 Adapted from Les Misérables, by Joel H. Metcalf, in World Stories.