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JAIRUS' DAUGHTER.

AIRUS was one of the rulers of the Jewish church, or synagogue, and he had a daughter who had been very ill and was now at the point of death. Hearing that Jesus was near, he came to Him and implored Him to come and see her.

And Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. Soon there came running to them a messenger from the ruler's house, who said to Jairus, "Thy daughter is already dead; do not trouble the master." But when Jesus heard it He turned to Jairus and said, Fear not. Only believe, and she shall be restored to life."

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When they came to the ruler's house they saw the minstrels and many people who were making much noise and lamentation for the dead girl, as was the custom. Jesus said unto them, " Make way; weep not, for the maid shall rise again as one that sleepeth;" but they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And He put them all out of the room, all but Peter and James and John, and the mother and father of the maiden. Then He took her by the hand, and called to her, saying, "Maid, arise." And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway; and He commanded her parents to give her food.

Her parents were astonished, and He charged them that they should tell no man what He had done; but the fame thereof went abroad unto all that land.

THE UNJUST STEWARD.

SEE where the steward, worldly wise, The children of this world, alas !

With wicked cunning in his eyes, Shows his lord's debtors how to cheat His master of his oil and wheat.

"A hundred measures dost thou owe
Of oil? My friend, 'tis scarcely so:
Here, take thy bill and quick indite
Fifty that puts the matter right."

"A hundred measures is thy debt
Of corn? My friend, thou dost forget:
Here, take thy bill, and write fourscore;
Surely thou owest nothing more."

Thus wickedly he would provide
Houses in which he might abide,
When for his former acts unjust
He from his stewardship was thrust.

And when his master heard, he smiled,
Though of his goods he was beguiled:
Nor did he e'en forbear to praise
The crafty foresight of his ways.

The children of the light surpass,
In planning methods to provide
For ills from which they cannot hide.

And so our Master bids us take
The money which He gives, and make
Friends with our riches for the day
When earthly treasures flee away.

That when we leave our house below,
And into unknown regions go,
Through Jesus, we may find above
An everlasting home of love.

Do I my little store expend
For such a wise and prudent end;
Or only think of my own gain,
And not of others' want and pain.

Lord, by Thy Spirit, make me wise
Above my selfishness to rise,
And something daily give away
To find again in Thy great day!

RICHARD WILTON, M.A.

THE TOWER OF BABEL.

NTIL after the great flood all the people that dwelt upon the earth spoke the same language. It came to pass as they became more in number, they journeyed eastward, and came to a plain called Shinar, and dwelt there. And they said one to another, "Let us make bricks and build us a city and a tower whose top may reach unto heaven." And they had brick for stone, and mud for mortar, and they commenced to build the great tower.

And the Lord came down to earth to see the city and the tower which the children of men builded, and He was displeased with them for that which they had done. And He said, "Behold, they have all one language. Let us go down and confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence over all the earth and confused their language, so that they knew not each what the others were saying. Therefore is the place called Babel, that is, Confusion, because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth, and from thence scattered them abroad upon the face of all the earth.