,,the ,,children',s ,,tabernacle ,,or ,,hand-,,work ,,and ,,heart-,,work4 ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 ,,books4 ,uniform--#ge cents each4 ,claremont ,tales4 ,adopted ,son4 ,young ,pilgrim4 ,giant-,killer1 and ,sequel4 ,flora2 or1 ,self-,deception4 ,the ,needle and the ,rat4 ,eddie ,ellerslie1 etc4 ,precepts and ,practice4 ,christian ,mirror4 ,idols of the ,heart4 ,pride and his ,prisoners4 ,shepherd of ,bethlehem4 ,the ,poacher4 ,the ,chief's ,daughter4 ,lost ,jewel4 ,stories on the ,parables4 ,ned ,manton4 ,war and ,peace4 ,rescued from ,egypt4 ,triumph over ,midian4 ,robber's ,cave4 ,crown of ,success4 ,the ,rebel ,reclaimed4 ,the ,silver ,casket4 ,christian ,conquests4 ,try ,again4 ,cortley ,hall4 ,good for ,evil4 ,christian's ,panoply4 ,exiles in ,babylon4 ,giles ,oldham4 ,nutshell of ,knowledge4 ,sunday ,chaplet4 ,holiday ,chaplet4 ,children's ,treasury4 ,the ,lake of the ,woods4 ,sheer ,off4 ,on the ,way4 ,house ,beautiful4 ,john ,carey4 ,a ,braid of ,cords4 ,guy ,dalesford4 ,cyril ,ashley4 ,claudia4 ,lady of ,provence4 ,children's ,tabernacle4 ,illustration3 ,,frontispiece4 ,children's ,tabernacle4 ,,the ,,children',s ,,tabernacle ,,or ,,hand-,,work ,,and ,,heart-,,work4 ,,by ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 ,,authoress ,,of 8,,the ,,lost ,,jewel10 8,,the ,,giant-,,killer10 8,,the ,,young ,,pilgrim10 ,,etc41 ,,etc4 ,,new-,,york3 ,,robert ,,carter ,,brothers1 #ecj ,,broadway4 #ahge4 ,illustration ,,preface4 ,,while ,i was engaged in writing the following brief work1 again and again the question arose in my mind1 8,can ,i make subjects so deep and difficult really interesting and intelligible to the young8 ,the importance of reading ,old ,testament types in the light thrown on them by the ,gospel cannot1 indeed1 be overrated1 especially in these perilous times2 but can a child be taught thus to read them80 ,the attempt thus to teach is made in the following pages2 and ,i would earnestly request parents and teachers not merely to place the little volume in the hands of children as a prettily-illustrated story-book1 but to read it with them1 prepared to answer questions and to solve difficulties4 ,sunday books should supplement1 not take the place of1 oral instruction4 ,a writer may give earnest thought and labor to the endeavor to make religious subjects interesting to the young2 but what influence has the silent page compared with that of a father expressing his own settled convictions1 or that of a mother who has the power to speak at once to the head and the heart8 ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 ,illustration ,,contents4 ,,page ,i4 ,,wanting ,,work #i ,,ii4 ,,the ,,tabernacle #bg ,,iii4 ,,the ,,curtains #cg ,,iv4 ,,precious ,,things #di ,v4 ,,preparation #ei ,,vi4 ,,types #gf ,,vii4 ,,drawn ,,aside #hi ,,viii4 ,,sacrifices #ajb ,,ix4 ,,concealment #aac ,x4 ,,dead ,,faith ,,and ,,living ,,faith #aba ,,xi4 ,,leprosy #acf ,,xii4 ,,naaman #adi ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,twins #aeh ,,xiv4 ,,work #agc ,,xv4 ,,different ,,motives #ahf ,,xvi4 ,,the ,,high-,,priest #bja ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,birthday ,,gifts #bae ,,xviii4 ,,the ,,arrival #bbe ,,xix4 ,,disappointment #bci ,,xx4 ,,confession #bej ,,xxi4 ,,conclusion #bfj ,,short ,,stories1 ,,by ,,the ,,same ,,author4 ,,the ,,bear #bga ,,the ,,tiger-,,cub #bha ,,not ,,one ,,too ,,many #bib ,,the ,,iron ,,ring #cjc ,,the ,,ill ,,wind #cac ,illustration ,,the ,,children',s ,,tabernacle4 ,i4 ,wanting ,work4 8,,you have no right to spoil my desk1 you tiresome1 mischievous boy60 8,i've not spoilt it1 ,agnes2 ,i've only ornamented it by carving that little pattern all round40 8,i don't call that carving1 nor ornamenting neither60 cried ,agnes1 in an angry voice2 8you've nicked it all round with your knife1 you've spoilt my nice little desk1 and ,i'll0-- ,what threat ,agnes might have added remains unknown1 for her sentence was broken by a violent fit of coughing1 whoop after whoop--a fit partly brought on by her passion4 8,what is all this1 my children80 asked ,mrs4 ,temple1 drawn into the room called the study by the noise of the quarrel between her son and her eldest daughter4 ,lucius1 a boy more than twelve years of age1 and therefore a great deal too old to have made so foolish a use of his knife1 stood with a vexed expression on his face1 looking at his poor sister1 who1 in the violence of her distressing cough1 had to grasp the table to keep herself from falling2 ,amy1 her kind younger sister had run to support her2 while ,dora and little ,elsie1 who had both the same complaint1 though in a milder form than their sister1 coughed with her in chorus4 ,mrs4 ,temple's care was first directed to helping her poor sick daughter4 ,agnes1 as well as her three sisters1 had caught the whooping-cough from their brother ,lucius1 who had brought it from school4 ,it was several minutes before the room was quiet enough for conversation2 but when ,agnes1 flushed and trembling1 with her eyes red and tearful from coughing1 had sunk on an arm-chair relieved for a time1 ,mrs4 ,temple was able to turn her attention to what had been the cause of dispute4 ,a rosewood desk lay on the table1 and round the upper edge of this desk ,lucius had carved a little pattern with the large sharp knife which he held in his hand4 8,i am sure1 mamma1 that ,i did not mean to do mischief10 said ,lucius1 8nor to vex ,agnes neither4 ,i thought that a carved desk would be prettier than a plain one1 and so0-- 8,you might have tried the carving on your own desk10 said ,agnes1 faintly4 ,the tears were rolling down her cheeks1 and she dared not raise her voice lest she should bring on the whooping again4 8,so ,i might1 blockhead that ,i am2 ,i never thought of that60 exclaimed ,lucius4 8,but if you like we will exchange desks now1 and then all will be right4 ,mine is a bigger desk than yours1 and has not many ink-stains upon it40 ,the proposal set ,dora1 ,amy1 and ,elsie laughing1 and a smile rose even to the lips of ,agnes4 ,she saw that ,lucius was anxious to make up for his folly2 but the big school-desk would have been a poor exchange for her own1 which was neat and had red velvet lining2 while hers1 being scarcely larger than a work-box1 would have been of little service to ,lucius at school4 8,o no6 ,i'll keep my own desk2 the carving does not look so very bad1 after all10 murmured ,agnes1 who had an affectionate heart1 though by no means a perfect temper4 8,i took no end of pains with it10 said ,lucius1 8and my knife is so sharp that0-- 8,i would rather that you did not try its edge on my table10 cried his mother1 barely in time to save her mahogany from being 8ornamented0 as well as the desk4 8,stupid that ,i am6 ,i was not thinking of what ,i was about60 exclaimed ,lucius1 shutting up the knife with a sharp click2 8but the truth is ,i'm so horribly sick of having nothing to do that ,i must set about something4 ,i don't like reading1 ,i've enough and too much of that at school2 you won't let me go out1 lest the damp should bring back my coughing and whooping--,i've had enough and too much of that also2 ,i've only the girls to play with1 for none of my own friends must come near the house because of this tiresome infection2 and ,i shall be taking to cutting my own fingers off some day for want of something better to do60 8,it's a case of idleness being the mother of mischief10 cried the bright-eyed ,dora1 who was busy embroidering with many-colored silks an apron for little ,elsie's doll4 8,idleness is indeed very often the mother of mischief10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,i am afraid that my young people often prove the truth of the proverb40 8,perhaps it was partly idleness that made the children of ,israel do so very very wrong when they were wandering about in the desert10 observed ,amy1 glancing up from a book on the subject which she had been reading4 8,ah6 they were shut up in a wilderness month after month1 year after year10 cried ,lucius1 8after they had come forth from ,egypt with their flocks and herds and all kinds of spoil4 ,they had little to do1 ,i suppose1 and may have grown just as tired of the sameness of their lives as ,i have of the dulness of mine40 8,i have often thought10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple1 who had seated herself at the table and taken up her knitting--8,i have often thought how tenderly the ,lord dealt with his people in providing for them pleasant1 interesting occupation when ,he bade them make the ,tabernacle1 and condescended to give them minute directions how it should be made4 ,there were the various employments of carving1 ornamenting1 working in metal1 to engage the attention of the men2 while the women had spinning1 weaving1 sewing1 and embroidering1 with the delightful assurance that the offering of their gold and silver1 their time and their toil1 was made to the ,lord and accepted by ,him40 8,i never before thought of the making of the ,tabernacle being a pleasure to the ,israelites10 observed ,agnes4 8,i always wondered at so many chapters in the ,bible being filled with descriptions of curtains1 silver loops1 and gold ornaments1 which are of no interest at all to us now40 8,my child1 it is our ignorance which makes us think any part of the ,bible of no interest10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,if you remember the readiness with which1 as we know1 the ,israelites brought their precious things for the ,tabernacle1 and if you can realize the eager pleasure with which1 after the long idleness which had ended in grievous sin1 men and women set to work1 you will feel that the order to make a beautiful place for worship must have been the opening of a spring of new delight to the children of ,israel4 ,they had the ,lord's own pattern to work from1 so there was no room for disputes about form or style2 and it was a pattern admirably suited to give pleasant employment to numbers of people1 and to women as well as to men4 ,fancy how listless languor must have been suddenly changed to animation2 the murmurs of discontented idlers to the hum of cheerful workers2 and how vanity and foolish gossip amongst the girls must have been checked while they traced out their rich patterns and plied their needles2 and instead of decking their own persons1 gave their gold and jewels freely to ,god60 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,tabernacle ,,as ,,pitched ,,in ,,the ,,wilderness4 ,children's ,tabernacle4 p4 #ah4 8,i wish that we'd a ,tabernacle to make here10 exclaimed ,lucius1 whose restless fingers again opened his dangerous plaything4 ,mrs4 ,temple raised her hand to her brow3 a thought had just occurred to her mind4 8,we might possibly manage to make a model of the ,tabernacle10 she said1 after a moment's reflection4 8,ah1 yes6 ,i'd do all the carving part--all the hard part10 cried ,lucius1 eagerly4 8,do1 do let us make a model60 exclaimed his sisters4 8,it would be a long work--a difficult work2 ,i am not sure whether we could succeed in accomplishing it10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,and after all our labor1 if we did manage to make a fair model1 to what use could we put it8 ,we had better consider all these matters before we begin what must be a tedious and might prove an unprofitable work40 8,ah1 a model would be of great use1 mamma60 cried ,dora4 8,at ,christmas-time1 when this tiresome infection is over1 and we go to our aunt at ,chester1 we could show it to all her friends40 8,and to her school children--her ,ragged-school children60 interrupted ,lucius with animation4 8,we've let them see our magic-lantern for three ,christmases running1 and if the children are not tired of the slides of lions1 bears1 and peacocks1 ,i'm sure that ,i am2 besides1 ,i smashed half the slides by accident last winter4 ,a model of the ,tabernacle would be something quite new to please the ragged scholars1 and ,aunt ,theodora would draw so many good lessons from it40 8,and could we not do with the model what we did with the magic-lantern10 suggested ,dora1 8make of it a little exhibition1 letting aunt's friends come and see it for sixpenny tickets1 and so collect a little money to help on the ,ragged-school80 8,that would be so nice60 cried ,amy4 8,that would be famous60 exclaimed little blue-eyed ,elsie1 clapping her hands4 8,let's set to work this minute60 said ,lucius1 and he rapped the table with his knife4 ,dora threw the doll's apron into her work-box1 eager to have some employment more worthy of the clever fingers of a young lady of more than eleven years of age4 ,mrs4 ,temple smiled at the impetuosity of her children4 8,i must repeat1 let us consider first10 she observed4 8,possibly not one amongst you has any idea of the amount of labor and patience required to complete a model of the ,tabernacle which was made by the children of ,israel40 8,of course our ,tabernacle would be much smaller than the real one was10 remarked ,dora4 8,supposing that we made it on the scale of one inch to two cubits1 ,i wonder what its length would be80 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,just bring me the ,bible4 ,lucius1 ,i will turn over to the description of the ,tabernacle1 which we will find in the ,book of ,exodus40 8,i do not know what a cubit is10 said ,elsie1 while her brother ran for the ,bible4 8,don't you remember what mamma told us when we were reading about the size of the ,ark80 said ,agnes4 8,a cubit is the length of a man's arm from the elbow to the end of his middle-finger1 just about half of one of our yards40 8,eighteen inches1 or1 as some think twenty10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple1 as she opened the ,bible which ,lucius had just placed on the table before her4 8,let's count a cubit as exactly half a yard1 mamma10 said ,lucius1 8and then one inch's length in the model would go for a yard's length in the real ,tabernacle4 ,if we reckon thus1 how long would our model need to be80 8,the outer court of the ,tabernacle was one hundred cubits long by fifty broad10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple2 8that1 in such a model as we propose making1 would be a length of four feet and two inches1 by a breadth of two feet and one inch40 8,just large enough to stand comfortably on this side table60 cried ,lucius4 8,there will be room enough on this table1 and ,i'll clear it of the books1 work-box1 and flower-jar in a twinkling40 8,stop a minute1 my boy60 laughed his mother1 as ,lucius appeared to be on the point of sweeping everything off1 including the green cloth cover2 8we have not even decided on whether this model should be made at all2 and if we do begin one1 months may pass before we shall need that table on which to set it up40 8,o1 do1 do let us make a model60 again the young ,temples cried out4 8,i'm ready to undertake every bit of the wood-work10 added ,lucius1 impatient to use his sharp knife on better work than that of spoiling a desk4 8,first hear what you will have to undertake10 said his more cautious and practical mother4 8,the mere outer court has sixty pillars40 8,sixty pillars60 re-echoed the five4 8,besides four more pillars for the ,tabernacle itself10 continued the lady1 8and forty-eight boards of wood1 to be covered all over with gold40 8,how large would each board have to be80 asked ,lucius1 more gravely4 8,each five inches long1 and three quarters of an inch broad10 answered his mother4 8,and quite thin1 ,i suppose10 said the young carpenter1 looking thoughtfully at the blade of his knife which was to accomplish such a long1 difficult piece of work4 8,we could get gold-leaf for the gilding1 mamma10 suggested the intelligent ,dora1 8and pasteboard instead of wood2 pasteboard would look quite as neat1 and need not to be cut up into boards40 8,oh1 it's not the gilding1 nor the cutting up the planks neither1 whether they be made of pasteboard or wood1 that puzzles me60 cried her brother2 8but think of sixty-four pillars6 ,how on earth could ,i cut out so many slender little rods with my knife60 8,thick wire might be used for the pillars just as well as pasteboard for the planks10 said ,agnes2 8when covered with gold-leaf they would look just the same as if0-- ,the sentence was interrupted by another fit of coughing2 it was clear that poor ,agnes was at present little fitted to join in the conversation4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,ii4 ,the ,tabernacle4 8,,there is a picture of the ,tabernacle in your ,bible1 mamma2 that will help us in arranging what is to be done2 and you will decide on which of us should do each portion of the work10 said ,dora4 ,mrs4 ,temple turned over the leaves till she came to the picture4 8,here you see a long open court10 she observed1 8enclosed by pillars supporting curtains of fine linen1 fastened to them by loops of silver4 ,i shall supply the linen for these curtains1 and ,i think that my gentle ,amy1 who sews so nicely1 may make them4 ,this work will require only neatness and patience1 and my little dove has both40 8,ah1 mamma6 but the silver loops--how could ,i make them80 suggested ,amy1 who had very little self-confidence4 8,i have a reel of silver thread up-stairs in my box10 said her mother2 8you will make the tiny loops for the curtains of that40 8,and ,i will manage the sixty-four pillars60 cried ,lucius2 8it was no bad notion to make them of wire4 ,but they must be fixed into something hard1 to keep them upright in their places40 8,i was thinking of that10 said his mother2 8we shall need a wooden frame1 rather more than four feet by two1 to support the model2 and into this frame holes must be drilled to receive the sixty-four wires40 8,i must borrow the carpenter's tools10 observed ,lucius2 8,i can't do all that with my knife4 ,i see that ,i have a long1 difficult job before me40 8,do you give it up80 cried little ,elsie1 looking up archly into the face of her brother4 8,not ,i60 said the schoolboy proudly4 8,the harder the work1 the more glorious is success60 8,what are those objects in the court of the ,tabernacle80 asked ,amy1 who had been thoughtfully examining the picture4 8,that large square object with grating on the top1 from which smoke is rising1 is the ,altar of burnt-offering10 said the lady4 8,through the grating the ashes of animals that had been slain as sacrifices fell into a cavity below4 ,the projections which you see at the four corners are called the horns of the altar1 of which you read in various parts of the ,bible40 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,altar ,,of ,,burnt ,,offering4 ,children's ,tabernacle p4 #cj4 8,was it not an ,altar of burnt-offering that ,elijah made on ,mount ,carmel10 asked ,dora1 8when he cut the dead bullock in pieces and prayed to the ,lord till fire was sent down from heaven80 8,yes10 answered her mother1 8but that altar was not like the one in the picture4 ,elijah built his up quickly2 it was merely formed of twelve stones4 ,the altar made by the ,israelites in the desert was framed of wood1 and covered with brass4 ,it was nearly eight feet square1 and was reached1 not by steps1 but by a sloping bank of earth40 8,and what is that very large vase farther on in the picture80 asked ,amy4 8,that is meant for the ,brazen ,laver1 to hold water for the priests to wash in4 ,this laver was made of brass which the women of ,israel offered4 ,do any of my girls remember what articles had been made before of that brass80 ,the party were silent for a few seconds1 and then ,amy said1 with a blush on her cheek1 8,the mirrors of the women1 mamma40 ,the little girl was inclined to be vain of her looks1 and her mother1 who had noticed how much of her ,amy's time was foolishly spent before a glass1 had drawn her attention1 some days before that of which ,i write1 to a fact which has been thought worthy of mention in the ,bible4 ,the women of ,israel had the self-denial to give up the brazen mirrors--which were to them what glass mirrors1 are to us--to form a laver for the use of the priests when engaged in the service of ,god4 ,mrs4 ,temple smiled pleasantly to see that the example of the women in the desert had not been forgotten by her child4 8,is not that kind of large tent which is standing in the court1 the ,tabernacle itself80 inquired ,dora4 8,it is the ,tabernacle10 was the reply4 8,why is all that smoke coming out of it80 asked little ,elsie4 8,that smoke in the picture represents the pillar of cloud which guided the ,israelites in their wanderings10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,for it is written in the book of ,exodus 7xl4 #ch71 #8,the cloud of the ,lord was upon the ,tabernacle by day1 and fire was upon it by night1 in the sight of all the house of ,israel1 throughout all their journeys4'0 8,what a very holy place that ,tabernacle must have been60 said ,amy1 in a low tone of voice4 8,there was not only the pillar of cloud as a visible sign of ,god's presence resting upon it10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple1 8but when ,moses had finished making the ,tabernacle1 a miraculous light1 called by the ,jews1 #8,shekinah1' and1 in the ,bible1 #8the glory of the ,lord1' filled the most holy place40 8,i wish that it were so with holy places now60 exclaimed ,agnes4 8,if a cloud always rested on the roofs of our churches1 and a glorious light shone inside1 people would not be so careless about religion as they are now40 8,i fear that no outward sign of ,god's presence would long prevent carelessness and sin10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,what1 mamma1 not even a shining glory in church60 cried ,amy4 8,remember1 my child1 all the wonders and terrors of ,mount ,sinai--the thunders and lightnings1 the smoke that rose like the smoke of a furnace1 the trembling of the earth1 and the sound of the trumpet exceeding loud6 ,the ,israelites quaked with fear2 they felt how awful is the presence of ,god2 they implored that the ,lord might only address them through ,moses--#8,but let not ,god speak with us lest we die6' cried the terrified people4 ,and yet1 in sight of that very ,mount ,sinai1 in sight of the thick cloud resting above it1 those ,israelites openly broke ,god's commandments1 and fell into grievous sin6 ,oh1 my beloved children1 the only thing to save us from sinning greatly against ,god is for our hearts to be the tabernacle in which ,he vouchsafes to dwell1 and to have his ,holy ,spirit shining as the bright light within6 ,can any one of you repeat that most beautiful verse from ,isaiah 7lvii4 #ae71 which shows us that the ,lord deigns to dwell with the lowly in heart80 ,of all ,mrs4 ,temple's family1 ,agnes had the best memory2 though she had neither the quick intelligence of her twin-sister ,dora1 nor so much of the love of her ,heavenly ,master which made ,amy1 though younger than herself1 more advanced in religious knowledge4 ,dora had often admired the verse mentioned by her mother1 and to the humble-minded little ,amy it had brought a feeling of thankful joy2 but it was ,agnes who remembered it best by heart1 so as to be able now to repeat it without making a single mistake4 8,thus saith the high and lofty ,one that inhabiteth eternity2 ,i dwell in the high and holy place1 with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit1 to revive the spirit of the humble1 and to revive the heart of the contrite ones40 ,illustration ,illustration ,,iii4 ,the ,curtains4 8,,the girls will have plenty to do in making the curtains for the ,tabernacle itself10 observed ,lucius1 who1 while his mother and sisters had been conversing1 had been engaged in looking over the description in the book of ,exodus4 8,why1 there are four distinct sets of curtains6 ,first1 the undermost1 ten curtains of fine-twined linen1 with blue1 and purple1 and scarlet1 and cherubims of cunning--that must mean skilful--work upon them60 8,how splendid that must be60 exclaimed ,elsie4 8,then a covering of goats'-hair curtains above these fine embroidered ones10 continued ,lucius2 8then a third of rams'-skins dyed red2 and then1 to complete the whole1 a covering of badgers'-skin curtains the outermost of all40 ,the four young workwomen were somewhat startled at the difficulties which their brother's words had raised in their minds4 ,dora gave a voice to the thoughts of her sisters when she said1 with a look of disappointment1 8,it will be hard to get rams'-skins dyed red1 but ,i do not know where goats'-hair can be bought in ,england2 and as for the badgers'-skins1 ,i am afraid that it will be quite impossible even for mamma to find such a thing1 unless it be in the ,british ,museum40 8,so we must give up making the ,tabernacle10 said ,amy1 with a sigh4 8,nay1 nay10 cried their smiling mother1 8we must not be so readily discouraged4 ,learned men tell us that the ,hebrew word translated into #8badgers'-skins' in our ,bible is one of uncertain meaning1 which some think denotes a blue color1 and which1 if intended for a skin at all1 is not likely to have been that of a badger4 ,blue merino for the outer covering1 red ,turkey-cloth instead of rams'-skins1 and mohair curtains instead of goats'-hair1 will do1 ,i think1 for our model2 as well as the pasteboard1 wire1 and gold and silver thread1 which must represent metal and wood40 8,yes10 said ,lucius1 quickly1 8they will do a great deal better than the real materials2 for if we could manage to get rams'-skins or badgers'-skins to cut up1 such curtains would be a great deal too thick and heavy for a little model like ours4 ,why1 our ,tabernacle will be only fifteen inches long by five inches in breadth40 ,all the grave little faces brightened up with smiles at this way of getting over what had seemed a very great difficulty4 ,elsie looked especially pleased4 ,pressing close to her mother1 and laying her little hand on ,mrs4 ,temple's arm in a coaxing way1 she cried1 8,oh1 mamma1 don't you think that ,i could make one set of the curtains8 ,you know that ,i can hem and run a seam1 and don't make very large stitches4 ,might ,i not try1 dear mamma8 ,i should like to help to make the ,tabernacle40 ,it would have been difficult to the mother to have resisted that pleading young face1 even had ,elsie made a less reasonable request4 8,i cannot see why these little fingers should not manage the red ,turkey-cloth which will stand for the rams'-skins10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple1 stroking the hand of her child2 8the outermost covering of all will1 of course1 need finer stitching1 and one of the twins will take that and the mohair besides4 ,to make both these sets of curtains will take far less time1 and require less skill1 than must be given to the embroidery on linen in blue1 scarlet1 and purple1 which will adorn the inner walls and ceilings of our little model40 8,do1 do let me have the embroidery1 it is just the work which ,i delight in10 cried ,dora2 and she might have added1 8excel in10 for she was remarkably clever in making things requiring fancy and skill4 ,agnes1 her twin1 flushed very red1 not merely from the straining of the cough which had frequently distressed her1 but from jealous emotion4 ,agnes had not a lowly heart1 and in her heart angry feelings were rising at her sister's asking that the finest and most ornamental portion of the work should be given to her4 8,of course mamma will not let you have the beautiful embroidery to do1 ,dora1 and leave the plain mohair and merino to me1 her eldest daughter60 exclaimed ,agnes1 laying a proud stress on the word eldest1 though1 there was but an hour's difference between the ages of the twins4 8,why1 ,agnes1 what nonsense that is60 cried ,lucius1 bluntly2 8you know1 as well as ,i do1 that your clumsy fingers can't so much as hem a silk handkerchief neatly1 and how would they manage embroidery in purple1 scarlet1 and blue8 ,your bad work would spoil the whole thing40 8,don't you meddle2 you don't know anything about work60 exclaimed ,agnes1 in a loud1 angry tone1 which brought on another severe fit of coughing and whooping4 ,mrs4 ,temple was grieved at the ill-temper shown by her eldest daughter1 and all the more so as ,agnes was in so suffering a state as to make it difficult for a mother to reprove her as she would have done had the girl been in health4 ,the lady had to wait for some time before the cough was quieted enough for her gentle voice to be heard1 though ,amy had quickly brought a glass of water to help in stopping that cough4 ,when ,agnes could breathe freely again1 the mother thus addressed her family circle3-- 8,i should be vexed indeed1 my children1 if what ,i proposed as a pleasant and profitable occupation for you all1 should become a cause of strife1 an occasion for foolish pride and contention4 ,the ,tabernacle was in itself a holy thing1 made so by the special appointment and presence of the ,lord4 ,i would wish the making of its model to be a kind of holy employment1 one never to be marred by jealousy and pride4 ,the profits of your labor1 if there be any1 you mean to devote to helping the poor2 therefore ,i hope that we may consider the work as an offering to the ,lord--a very small offering1 it is true1 but still one which ,he may deign to accept1 if it be made in a lowly1 loving spirit2 but if selfish1 worldly feelings creep in1 then good works themselves become evil4 ,the ,israelites were expressly forbidden to offer any creature in which there was a blemish or fault1 and our offerings are certainly blemished and spoilt if we mix with them jealousy and pride40 ,agnes bit her lip and knitted her brow4 ,she was not without both good sense and good feeling1 but she had not yet obtained the mastery over her jealous temper4 8,i do not see why ,dora should be favored above me10 she murmured4 8,dora is not favored above you10 replied the mother1 gravely4 8,the simple state of the case is this--different talents are given to different persons4 ,you have a good memory1 ,dora a skilful hand4 ,were the work in question to be the repeating of a chapter by heart1 ,dora would never expect to be the one chosen to repeat it4 ,why should pride make you refuse to own that there are some things in which a younger sister may excel you80 ,agnes hesitated1 and glanced at her mother4 ,the girl's brow was a little clouded still1 and yet there were signs that her pride was giving way4 8,i leave the decision to your own good sense and feeling1 my love10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,judge yourself whether1 if your desire be to make a really beautiful model worthy of the good object to which we devote it1 it would be better to place the embroidery part in ,dora's hands or your own40 8,let ,dora do it10 said ,agnes1 with a little effort1 her eyes filling with tears1 for it was hard to her1 as it is to most of us1 to wrestle down struggling pride4 ,mrs4 ,temple smiled kindly upon her daughter4 8,one of the most precious lessons which we can learn10 said the mother1 8is1 in obedience to the command of our ,lord1 to be willing to be last of all1 and servant of all4 ,the sacrifice of our pride and self-will is more pleasing to our ,maker than the most costly gifts can be4 ,it is worthy of notice that it was not the outer covering of the ,tabernacle1 that part which would be seen from every quarter of ,israel's camp1 that was most beauteous and precious4 ,the richest curtains were those seen far less often1 those that had the lowest place in the building4 ,so our ,maker cares far more for what is within than for what is without1 and there is no ornament so fair in ,his eyes as that of a meek and quiet spirit40 ,illustration ,illustration ,,iv4 ,precious ,things4 8,i ,,do not think that the ,tabernacle was a grand building1 after all10 observed ,lucius1 8though there is so much written about it in the ,bible4 ,why1 it was only about forty-five feet by fifteen--not so large as the chapel at the end of the town1 and not for one moment to be compared to the grand cathedral which we all went to see last summer40 8,there is one thing which you perhaps overlook10 said his mother2 8when the ,tabernacle was raised1 the ,israelites were a nation of wanderers1 and had no fixed habitation4 ,their ,tabernacle was a large1 magnificent tent1 made to be carried about from place to place by the ,levites4 ,every portion of it was so contrived as to be readily taken to pieces1 and then put together again4 ,this could not have been done with a building of very great size40 8,nobody could carry about the great cathedral1 or even the little chapel60 cried ,elsie2 8but they were never meant to be moved1 they are fixed quite firm in the ground40 8,the size of the ,tabernacle was indeed not great10 continued ,mrs4 ,temple2 8but1 besides its being filled with a glory which is never beheld now in any building raised by man1 the treasures lavished on it must have given to it a very splendid appearance4 ,it has been calculated that the gold and silver used in making the ,tabernacle must alone have amounted in value to the enormous sum of #ahe1jjj pounds60 ,exclamations of surprise were uttered1 and ,dora remarked--8,why1 that would be enough to pay for the building of forty large churches as handsome as the new one which we all admire so much40 8,and the new church holds ten times as many people as the ,tabernacle could10 observed ,agnes4 8,i cannot think how a large nation like the ,israelites could find space to meet in such a small place1 only about twice the size of this room60 8,the ,tabernacle was never intended to be to the ,israelites what a church is to us10 remarked ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,in the warm climate of ,arabia the people worshipped in the open air1 under the blue canopy of the sky2 no building to shelter them was required1 such as is needful in ,england4 ,the men of ,israel brought their sacrifices to the court of the ,tabernacle1 where1 as you already know1 the ,altar of burnt-offering and the ,laver were placed40 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,golden ,,candlestick4 ,children's ,tabernacle4 p4 #eb4 8,but1 mamma1 what was inside the ,tabernacle itself--what was so very carefully kept under those four sets of curtains80 asked ,dora4 8,the ,tabernacle was divided into two rooms by a most magnificent curtain of rich embroidery called the #8,veil1'0 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,the outer room1 which was double the size of the inner1 was named the #8,holy1' or #8,sanctuary4' ,in this outer room were kept the splendid golden ,candlestick with its seven branches1 each supporting a lamp which burned all through the night1 and the ,table of ,showbread1 on which twelve cakes of unleavened bread were constantly kept--the supply being changed on every ,sabbath40 8,ah6 ,i remember1 it was that show-bread which was given to ,david when he was hungry10 said ,lucius1 8though it was meant to be eaten only by priests40 8,what other things were in the outer part of the ,tabernacle80 asked ,agnes4 8,there was the ,altar of ,incense1 my love1 upon which sweet perfume was daily burned1 so that the room was filled with fragrance40 8,you have told us1 mamma1 what was in the first part of the beautiful ,tabernacle2 but what was in the very innermost part1 the little room beyond the ,veil80 asked ,amy4 8,that little room1 about fifteen feet square1 was called the #8,holy of ,holies1' and contained the most precious object of all--the special symbol of the presence of the ,most ,high4 ,that object was the ,ark1 with its cover of pure gold which was called the #8,mercy-seat1' and on which were figures of cherubim1 wrought also in gold1 with wings outstretched4 ,over this ,mercy-seat1 and between the golden cherubim rested the wondrous glory which showed that ,god was with his people4 ,david1 doubtless1 referred to this when he wrote in the eighteenth ,psalm1 #8,thou that dwellest between the cherubims1 shine forth6'0 8,and were not precious things laid up in the ,ark80 inquired ,agnes4 8,were not the tables of stone on which the ,commandments were written put into it80 8,and the ,pot of ,manna1 kept to remind the people how their fathers were fed in the desert80 said ,dora4 8,and the wonderful rod of ,aaron1 that budded1 and blossomed1 and bore fruit2 was not that also in the ,ark80 asked ,lucius4 8,all these most precious and holy things were laid up in the ,ark 7or as some think in front of the ,ark71 beneath the golden cherubim10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,oh1 ,i should have liked above all things to have seen them60 exclaimed little ,elsie4 8,i should have liked to have lifted up the splendid curtain-veil1 and to have gone into the ,holy of holies--if the light had not been too dazzling bright--and have looked upon all those precious things6 ,most of all1 ,i'd have liked to see that wonderful ,rod of ,aaron1 if it was the very very same rod that had once been turned into a serpent40 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,holy ,,place ,,and ,,the ,,most ,,holy ,,place4 ,children's ,tabernacle4 p4 #ef4 8,ah1 my child1 none of us would have dared to have lifted that ,veil or to have placed a foot within the ,holy of holies60 exclaimed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,no mortal was ever suffered to enter that place1 most sacred of all1 except the ,high ,priest1 and that but on one day of the year--the ,day of ,atonement4 ,aaron himself1 the first ,high ,priest1 with trembling awe must have lifted the ,veil1 and approached the ,mercy-seat over which the cherubims spread their wings of gold60 ,mrs4 ,temple spoke in so solemn a tone that the children felt that the subject was very sacred1 and none of them spoke for several moments4 ,then ,lucius observed--8,there is now no place on earth into which no one dare enter1 like the ,holy of holies in the ,tabernacle of old40 8,no1 my son1 because the ,veil has been rent in twain1 and the ,lord ,christ1 our great ,high ,priest1 has opened a free way for all believers1 even into the ,holy of holies where ,god dwells in glory for ever60 said ,mrs4 ,temple1 with even greater reverence in her manner1 and clasping her hands as she spoke4 8,mamma1 ,i cannot understand you60 cried ,amy4 8,these are the deep things of ,god1 my love1 and it is very difficult to explain their meaning to children4 ,the ,tabernacle and the things within it were types1 or as we may call them1 pictures of heavenly mysteries1 revealed to us by the ,gospel4 ,but we will not enter now upon these difficult subjects4 ,i think that you know a little about the appearance of the ,tabernacle of which you are anxious to make a model1 and also of what was contained within it4 ,to understand the meaning of that holy place1 and of its contents1 will require much earnest thought and attention4 ,we may perhaps converse a little about it to-morrow1 which is ,sunday4 ,you will have abundance of time1 as the fear of giving infection to others obliges me to keep you from going to church40 ,illustration ,v4 ,preparation4 8,i ,,wish that to-morrow were any day but ,sunday60 exclaimed ,lucius4 8,just when one is setting about a long work1 eager to measure and to make1 to cut and to clip1 it is vexatious to have to stop in the middle of business1 to shove away knife1 ruler1 pencil1 pasteboard1 and all1 into a drawer for the next twenty-four hours60 8,perhaps it would be better not to begin the work at all until ,monday10 mildly suggested his mother4 8,o no1 we've all the ,saturday afternoon1 let's set to making our model at once60 exclaimed ,lucius4 8,please1 please1 don't make us put off60 cried ,dora and ,elsie4 ,mrs4 ,temple was a very indulgent mother1 and was inclined to be all the more so as every one of her children was either suffering from whooping-cough or just recovering from its effects4 ,their mother felt sorry at the necessity for shutting out her family from many of their usual occupations and pleasures1 and even from the privilege of going to church4 ,the lady did not1 therefore1 in the least press the subject of delay1 but offered1 as soon as early dinner should be over1 to go and search in her drawers and boxes for such materials as she might think suitable for the model of the ,tabernacle1 which her children were so eager to make4 ,the dinner-bell sounded while ,mrs4 ,temple was speaking1 and the family went together to the room in which they took all their meals1 and gathered round the table which was spread with a plentiful1 though plain repast4 ,while the young ,temples are engaged with their dinner1 let me introduce them a little more individually to my reader4 ,there1 at the bottom of the table1 is ,lucius1 a sunburnt1 pleasant-looking schoolboy1 with a mass of brown1 half-curly locks brushed back from his forehead4 ,he has quick eyes and restless hands1 which are seldom perfectly still1 even if they have no better occupation than that of tying and untying a morsel of string2 but they are now busily plying a large knife and fork1 for ,lucius is a skilful carver1 and the joint of mutton is placed before him1 from which to help all the party4 ,the pale girl seated on the right of ,lucius1 with eyes weak and reddened by the effect of her cough1 is ,agnes1 the elder of the twins4 ,her brow is furrowed1 perhaps from the same cause1 perhaps because she is more irritable in temper than her brother and sisters4 ,but ,agnes is a conscientious girl1 one who thinks much of duty3 and we may hope that 8prayer and pains10 which it has been well said can do anything1 will give her the mastery over faults against which she is trying to struggle4 ,opposite to ,agnes sits ,dora1 who1 though her twin1 is not much like her1 being a good deal taller1 prettier1 and more animated than she4 ,dora is a much greater favorite with ,lucius and the younger girls than the elder twin1 from being gay1 obliging1 and clever4 ,agnes is perfectly aware that such is the case1 and has to pray and strive against the sin of jealousy1 which is too ready to creep into her heart and poison all her enjoyments4 ,on either side of ,mrs4 ,temple are her two younger daughters1 ,amy and ,elsie4 ,the former1 with soft brown eyes and long flaxen hair tied with blue ribbons1 is strikingly like her mother1 who has1 at least so think her children1 the sweetest face in the world4 ,amy has never been known to quarrel or utter an angry word1 and is always ready to give help to any one who needs it4 ,it is no wonder that so gentle a girl is beloved4 ,but ,amy knows herself to be by no means faultless1 and is much1 on her guard against the silly vanity which a mother's watchful eye has found out to be lurking in the mind of her dear little girl4 ,elsie is a merry blue-eyed child1 full of life and intelligence1 forward--rather too forward for her age4 ,she has for six years held the place of baby in the home of her widowed mother1 and her family are rather disposed to indulge her as if she were a baby still4 ,she enters with animation into the amusements of the elder children1 and is by no means disposed to be seen and not heard1 as ,lucius often laughingly tells her that such little people should be4 ,the conversation during dinner was almost entirely on the subject of the model1 and flowed on pleasantly enough1 except when interrupted by coughing2 but all the children were glad when meal-time was over1 and their mother1 with ,amy and ,elsie skipping before her1 went off to hunt over her little stores for such materials as might be found useful4 ,lucius employed the time of their absence in exploring the lumber-room for tops of old boxes or other bits of wood that might1 when fastened together1 do for the ground-frame of the model1 into which the gilded pillars might be fixed4 ,dora1 with pencil and paper1 busied herself in trying to make an embroidery pattern1 introducing the figures of cherubim4 ,agnes1 who was too weak for much exertion1 and who took less keen interest in the work than did her sisters1 lay on the sofa reading a book1 until the return of ,amy and ,elsie1 each of whom carried some little treasure in her hands4 8,look1 ,agnes1 look at these shining reels of gold and silver thread60 exclaimed the youngest child with eager delight4 8,gold thread--ah6 that's just what ,i want60 cried ,dora1 throwing down her pencil4 8,and here is mamma's book of gold leaf2 there is a little gold sheet between every one of the pages10 continued ,elsie4 8,but oh6 it is so thin1 so very thin1 one dare not breathe near1 or the gold would all fly away60 8,i thought that gold was a very heavy metal10 observed ,agnes1 looking up from her book4 8,but it is beaten out into such extreme fineness that a bit of gold no larger than a pea would gild all these10 said ,lucius1 who had just entered the room with his arms full of pieces of wood4 8,see1 ,agnes1 what we have brought for you60 cried ,amy4 8,here is a beautiful piece of blue merino for the outer curtains 7the badgers'-skin cover1 you know71 and blue silk with which to sew it2 and here is another piece of mohair for the goats'-skin cover1 so you are supplied directly with everything that you need2 is not that nice80 ,agnes did not look so much delighted as her sister expected that she would2 perhaps because she was scarcely well enough to take much pleasure in sewing2 perhaps because she had still a lingering feeling of mortification at not having been trusted with the embroidery part of the work4 8,i hope that you have brought me the fine linen for the beautiful inner curtains1 and the veil for the ,holy of holies10 cried ,dora4 8,no1 mamma cannot find any linen fine enough1 unless she were to tear up her handkerchiefs1 and that would be a pity10 said ,amy4 8,but mamma has promised to buy some linen both for your curtains and for mine that are1 you know1 to hang all round the open court of the ,tabernacle40 8,it is very tiresome to have to stop at the beginning for want of fine linen60 exclaimed ,dora4 8,i hope that mamma will go out and buy us plenty at once40 8,ah6 ,dora1 you know that mamma owned this morning that she felt very tired10 said ,amy1 a little reproachfully2 8and the shops are a good way off2 it is not as if we lived in the town40 8,besides1 it is raining10 observed ,elsie1 who was looking out of the window4 8,it is merely a little drizzle1 that would not hurt a fly60 exclaimed ,dora4 8,mamma never minds a few tiny drops when she puts on her waterproof cloak40 8,mamma never minds anything that has only to do with her own comfort10 observed ,amy4 8,so there is more need that we should mind for her10 said ,agnes4 8,i'm sure that ,i wish that ,i could go to the shops myself without troubling1 any one60 exclaimed the impatient ,dora4 8,if it were not for this stupid1 tiresome infection1 ,i'd get ,lucius to go with me this minute1 and would we not return laden with linen1 pasteboard1 and all sorts of things6 ,but mamma's fear of setting other people coughing and whooping makes her keep us shut up here in prison40 8,mamma is quite right60 exclaimed ,lucius4 8,i say so1 though ,i hate more than you do being boxed up here in the house40 8,mamma is quite right10 re-echoed poor ,agnes1 as soon as she recovered voice after another violent fit of coughing1 which almost choked her4 8,i should not like to give any one else such a dreadful complaint as this40 ,mrs4 ,temple now entered the room1 with several things in her hand4 8,i have found a nice bit of red ,turkey cloth10 said she1 8so my little ,elsie will be able to set to work on her curtains at once40 ,the child clapped her hands with pleasure1 and then scampered off for her little ,tunbridge-ware work-box4 8,i hope that you have found the linen too1 mamma10 cried ,dora2 8,i am in a hurry for it1 a very great hurry10 she added1 regardless of an indignant look from ,agnes1 and a pleading one from ,amy4 8,i am sorry that ,i have no suitable linen10 replied the lady1 8but ,i intend to go out and buy some40 8,not to-day1 not now1 it is raining2 you are tired10 cried several voices2 that of ,dora was1 however1 not heard amongst them4 8,i have here some pasteboard1 though not sufficient for our model1 and a bottle of strong gum which will be most useful10 said the lady1 placing on the table what she had brought2 8but gilt paper will be needed as well as gold leaf1 and of it ,i have none2 ,i must procure that1 and some more pasteboard for my dear boy40 8,and plenty of wire1 cut into five-inch lengths for the pillars10 added ,lucius4 8,and linen for ,amy and me10 joined in ,dora4 8,but please buy nothing till ,monday10 said ,agnes2 8the work can wait quite well for a couple of days40 8,yes1 yes1 do wait till ,monday10 cried the other children2 ,dora again being the only exception4 ,dora's selfishness was marring her offering1 as ,agnes's pride had blemished hers4 ,how difficult it is even in the most innocent pleasure1 even in the most holy occupation1 to keep away every stain of sin6 ,ever since the sad time when evil entered the beautiful garden of ,eden1 and ,adam and ,eve ate of the fruit which ,god had forbidden them to taste1 pride1 selfishness1 and unholiness have been natural to the human heart4 ,even when we most earnestly try to do what we think good works1 how much we need to be on our guard lest sin creep in to spoil all6 ,dora1 though silent1 showed so plainly by her looks her extreme impatience to be supplied at once with the materials for which she could have so easily waited that her gentle mother made up her mind to gratify the wish of her daughter4 ,mrs4 ,temple put on her waterproof cloak1 and1 tired as she was1 went forth on a shopping expedition4 ,it vexed the children to see that the clouds grew darker and the shower fell more heavily not long after their mother had quitted the house4 8,if mamma catches cold or has pain in her face it is all ,dora's fault60 exclaimed ,lucius4 8,it was so selfish--so silly not to wait10 observed ,agnes2 8just see how the rain is pouring60 8,i love mamma as much as any of you do60 cried ,dora1 her heart swelling with vexation1 so that she could hardly refrain from tears4 8,you love yourself better1 that's all10 remarked ,lucius2 and his words were more true than polite4 ,mrs4 ,temple returned home very much tired and rather wet1 notwithstanding her umbrella and waterproof cloak4 ,and ,dora was1 after all1 disappointed of her wish to have the linen and begin her embroidery work directly4 ,mrs4 ,temple had found it difficult to carry home parcels when she had an umbrella to hold up on a windy day1 and had also feared that goods might get damp if taken through driving rain4 ,the wire1 pasteboard1 gold-paper1 and linen were to be sent home in the evening1 and the longed-for parcel did not appear until it was time for the twins to follow their younger sisters to bed4 ,illustration ,,vi4 ,types4 8,this is the day when ,christ arose1 ,so early from the dead2 ,and shall ,i still my eyelids close ,and waste my hours in bed6 8,this is the day when ,jesus broke ,the chains of death and hell2 ,and shall ,i still wear ,satan's yoke ,and love my sins so well60 ,,this well-known hymn was on ,amy's mind when she awoke on the following day1 and it rose from her heart like the sweet incense burnt every morning in the ,tabernacle of ,israel4 ,but ,dora's thoughts on waking1 and for some time afterwards1 might be summed up in the words--8,oh1 ,i wish that this day were not ,sunday6 ,how tiresome it is1 when my beautiful pattern is all ready1 not to be able to try it60 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,altar ,,of ,,incense4 ,children's ,tabernacle4 chap4 #f4 ,mrs4 ,temple did not appear to be much the worse for her shopping in the rain4 ,her children knew nothing of the aching in her limbs and the pain in her face which she felt1 as she bore both quietly and went about her duties as usual4 ,dora did not trouble herself even to ask if her mother were well4 ,it was not that ,dora did not love her kind parent1 but at that time the mind of the little girl was completely taken up by her embroidery in scarlet1 purple1 and blue4 ,as the children might not go to church1 ,mrs4 ,temple read and prayed with them at home1 suffering none but ,lucius to help her1 and letting him read but little1 for fear of bringing back his cough4 ,all through the time of prayers1 though ,dora knelt like the rest of the children1 and was as quiet and looked almost as attentive as any1 her needlework was running in her mind4 ,if she thought of the happy cherubim1 it was not of their crying 8,holy1 holy1 holy60 in heaven1 but of the forms of their faces and wings1 and how she could best imitate such with her needle4 ,i will not say that the other children thought about the ,tabernacle only as a holy thing described in the ,bible1 from which religious lessons could be learnt1--little plans for sewing1 measuring1 or making the model would sometimes intrude1 even at prayer-time2 but ,lucius had resolutely locked up his knife1 and he and three of his sisters at least tried to give full attention to what their mother was speaking when she read and explained the ,word of ,god4 ,mrs4 ,temple purposely chose the ninth chapter of the ,epistle to the ,hebrews1 a very difficult chapter to the young1 but one likely specially to interest her family at a time when the subject of the ,tabernacle in the wilderness was uppermost in the minds of all4 ,it will be noticed that ,dora did not join at all in the conversation which followed the reading4 8,mamma1 that chapter comes nearly at the end of the ,bible1 and is about our ,lord and his death10 observed ,lucius2 8and yet it tells us about the ,tabernacle1 and its ark1 and the high priest going into the ,holy of holies4 ,now1 what could the ,tabernacle in the desert have do with our ,lord and ,his dying1--that ,tabernacle which was made nearly fifteen hundred years before the birth of ,christ1 and which was no longer of any use after ,solomon's temple was built80 8,the ,tabernacle1 the ark1 the high priest1 the sacrifices were all ,,types or figures of greater things to come10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,there was a secret meaning in them all1 referring to our ,lord1 ,his work1 and ,his death1 and the glorious heaven which ,he was to open to all believers40 8,i don't know what a type is10 said ,elsie4 8,it is not clear to me either10 observed ,amy4 8,unless we quite understand what a type means1 we shall lose much of the lesson conveyed by the wanderings of the children of ,israel1 and the long account of the ,tabernacle1 what was in it1 and what was done there1 which we find in the books of ,moses10 remarked ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,it always seemed to me as if that ,tabernacle were quite a thing of the past10 said ,agnes1 8and that it belonged only to the ,israelites of old4 ,i never could make out why ,christian people in ,england1 thousands of years after the ,tabernacle had quite disappeared1 should care to know anything about it1 the ark1 or the altar40 8,but you say that all these things were types10 observed ,amy4 8,now1 what is a type1 dear mamma80 8,a kind of shadow or picture of something usually greater than itself10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,i don't understand10 said ,elsie1 raising her blue eyes gravely to the face of her mother4 8,you know1 my love1 that before you came to live in this house1 when none of the family but myself had seen it1 you still had some little knowledge of what it was like40 8,yes1 mamma1 for you brought us little pictures of the house1 both of the back and the front10 said ,agnes4 8,we knew that it was a pretty white house1 and had a little tower on one side1 and that trees were growing in front1 and creepers all up it60 cried ,elsie4 8,now1 ,i might have described the place to you in writing1 but you would not have known its appearance as well as you did from the pictures10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,no1 from a mere description ,i should not have been able to find out the house directly as ,i did when ,i walked alone from the station10 cried ,lucius4 8,there are several white houses near this1 but the remembrance of the pictures made me know in a moment which was the right one40 8,now1 my children1 just what a picture is to the object which it represents1 so is a type to its antitype2 that word means the real thing of which it is a likeness10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,i am afraid that ,i am very stupid in not making out what you mean at once1 dear mamma10 said ,amy2 8but if you would explain just one type in the ,bible1 ,i think that ,i might understand better40 8,let us take1 then1 the innermost part of the ,tabernacle1 the ,holy of holies10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,it was a very beautiful place1 full of the glory of ,god1 into which no objects were allowed to be but such as were precious and pure2 there was the mercy-seat like a throne1 and there were the bright cherubim spreading their golden wings4 ,now1 my children1 if we compare small things to great things1 cannot you of yourselves find out of what this ,holy of holies was a picture or a type80 8,a type of heaven60 exclaimed several voices at once2 but ,amy looked distressed1 and murmured softly1 8,i hope not a type of heaven40 8,and why not80 asked ,lucius1 quickly4 8,because no one was ever allowed to go into the ,holy of holies save one man1 and he only once in the year10 replied ,amy1 sadly4 8,and that not without blood10 said ,lucius1 pointing to the seventh verse of the chapter which his mother had just been reading4 8,go on reading1 ,lucius10 said his parent1 and ,lucius1 as desired1 went on4 8,not without blood1 which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people1 the ,holy ,ghost thus signifying that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest40 8,or1 in simpler words10 said ,mrs4 ,temple1 8that the way into heaven was not yet made plain4 ,when ,christ1 our great ,high ,priest1 had gone into heaven1 neither by the blood1 of goats and calves1 but by ,his own blood ,he entered once into the holy place1 having obtained eternal redemption for us40 8,then1 mother1 the high priest must have been a ,,type of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ60 exclaimed ,lucius4 8,no10 interrupted ,agnes1 8the sacrifice was the type1 the sacrifice whose blood had been shed40 8,both high priest and sacrifice were types of our blessed ,saviour10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,the ,lord was the victim offered1 and ,he was also the high priest who made the offering1 for ,he laid down ,his life of ,himself1 since no man had power to take it from the ,almighty ,son of the ,most ,high40 8,was there any particular meaning in the veil of the ,temple being rent in twain from the top to the bottom1 as soon as our ,lord died on the cross80 inquired ,agnes1 who had been listening with serious attention4 8,we cannot doubt it10 answered her mother4 8,the ,temple was the far larger1 more substantial building which took the place,a of the ,tabernacle of the wandering children of ,israel2 it1 too1 had its veil of rich work to shut out from mortal view the ,holy of holies4 ,but as soon as the ,one great ,sacrifice had been offered on the cross1 when the dying ,lord could cry out #8,,it ,,is ,,finished1' then followed the rending asunder of the hiding veil1 as a sign and type that all the ,lord's people1 through ,his precious blood1 might freely enter heaven1 the real ,holy of holies1 and appear without dread of meeting ,his wrath in the presence of ,god the ,father40 ,,footnote3 ,a ,the ,temple standing at the time of our ,lord's death was not ,solomon's1 which had been burnt more than six hundred years before4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,vii4 ,drawn ,aside4 ,,the subject of the preceding conversation had been so exceedingly solemn that even little ,elsie had a grave look of awe on her round rosy face1 though she could understand but little of the great mysteries of which her mother had been speaking4 ,elsie could only gather that a type was like a picture of something much greater and more wondrous than itself1 and said in her simple1 childish way1 8,is not a type like your very tiny photo1 mamma1 so little that we could not make out that there was any picture at all till we held it up to the light1 and then we could see the ,queen's great palace quite plain80 8,elsie has given us a type of a type60 cried ,lucius1 clapping his little sister on the shoulder4 8,what do you mean by that80 asked ,agnes4 ,lucius was puzzled to explain his own meaning1 which was perhaps not very clear to himself1 so his mother came to his help4 8,elsie's very minute photograph is not a bad illustration of what ,bible types are10 remarked ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,they look small1 and might almost escape notice1 until the eye of faith sees them in the clear light of ,god's ,word1 and then what seemed little more than a speck1 may be found to be a likeness of something grander far than a royal palace40 8,it would be interesting to find out some other ,bible types10 observed ,agnes4 8,i was just going to propose that while ,i attend afternoon service1 you should all occupy the time of my absence in each finding a type1 which we can talk over in the evening10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,i should like that60 cried ,lucius2 8,i am glad of anything to make the afternoon less dull2 for ,i know that as it is damp to-day we shall all have to keep within bounds10 he added1 ,agnes having just begun a fit of coughing4 8,i should like to find a ,bible type if ,i could1 but ,i'm afraid that ,i am too stupid10 said ,amy4 8,you and me1 we'll try together10 cried ,elsie1 laying her plump dimpled hand on that of her sister4 8,ah6 you think that union is strength1 ,pussie60 cried ,lucius2 8and that you two youngest of the party will together be a match for any one of the rest40 ,little ,elsie's brain had now been quite long enough on the stretch1 and after jumping upon her mother's knee to give her 8a good tight kiss10 the child ran off to play with her ,noah's ,ark4 ,the family then dispersed to various parts of the house1 soon to reassemble at the cheerful sound of the dinner-bell4 ,after ,mrs4 ,temple had started for church1 ,lucius1 ,agnes and ,amy took up their ,bibles to search in them for types1 while little ,elsie amused herself with a book of ,scripture pictures4 ,dora went to the room called the study1 in which the children usually learned their lessons in the morning1 and amused themselves in the evening1 and in which they kept their workboxes and desks1 and most of their books4 ,dora found no one in the study1 and sauntered up to the side table1 covered with green cloth1 on which stood her neat little workbox4 8,of course ,i am not going to do one stitch of my embroidery to-day1 because this is ,sunday10 said ,dora to herself4 8,but there can be no harm in just looking at my pretty pattern1 and seeing whether it is likely to do for the inner curtains and veil40 ,dora opened the box1 and took out the pattern which lay on the neatly-folded piece of linen which her mother had given to her just before the twins had gone up-stairs to bed4 ,dora admired her own pattern1 which was realty drawn out with some skill1 but she saw that it was not quite perfect4 ,her pencil lay close at hand2 ,dora could not1 or did not1 resist the temptation to put in a few touches to this and that part of the drawing4 8,i wonder how ,i should arrange the colors10 thought ,dora2 8,i wish that ,i had more scarlet in my reel1 and ,i think that my blue skein is too dark2 ,agnes has some sky-blue sewing silk1 ,i know4 ,perhaps that would be better1 or both shades might have a pretty effect1 mixed with the scarlet and purple40 ,dora took out her reels and skeins1 and placed them beside her pattern1 and tried to imagine the effect of the different combination of color4 ,would it be well for the cherubim to be worked in purple or blue1 or entirely in thread of gold1 like their wings8 ,dora was inclined to think the last plan best1 only gold thread is so stiff1 and difficult to manage4 8,i shall never go to rest till ,i have made up my mind about this10 muttered ,dora to herself1 8and how can ,i decide what will be best till ,i try8 ,and why should ,i not try80 ,dora1 with her colored silks before her1 was1 like ,eve1 looking at the forbidden fruit1 and listening to the voice of the ,tempter1 who would persuade her that evil was good4 8,there are some things which even mamma says are quite lawful to be done on ,sundays1 such as charitable works4 ,mamma herself dressed the cook's scalded arm upon a ,sunday1 and put in a stitch or two to keep the bandages firm4 ,that was surely sewing on a ,sunday1 but then that was a work of charity4 ,well1 but mine is a work of charity1 too40 ,thus ,dora went on1 while the dangerous current of inclination was gradually drifting her on towards breaking in act the ,fourth ,commandment1 which she had all day long been breaking in thought4 8,our ,tabernacle is to be the model of a holy--a very holy thing1 just the kind of a thing which it is right to think about on ,sunday4 ,then it is to be made for a very charitable purpose4 ,i am sure that bandaging the cook's arm is no better work than helping a ragged school2 ,i don't think that it is really as good1 for aunt's poor little pupils are taught to love ,god and read the ,bible4 ,no1 it surely cannot be wrong to assist such an excellent work on any day in the seven40 ,dora unrolled a length of blue silk1 took out a needle and threaded it4 ,she had almost succeeded in silencing conscience1 at least for a time2 she had almost persuaded herself that in amusing herself she was helping a holy cause2 and that ,god would not be displeased at her breaking ,his commandment1 because she was going to work for the poor4 ,there is1 perhaps1 no more dangerous error than to think that the end justifies the means--that it is lawful to a ,christian to do evil that good may come4 ,oh1 dear young reader6 if you ever find yourself trying to quiet conscience by the thought that to do a great good you may do a little harm1 start back as if you caught sight of the tail of a snake in your path6 ,yes1 for the serpent who deceived ,eve is trying to deceive you also4 ,if ,dora had been honest and candid with herself1 she would have seen1 as her fingers busily plied the needle1 that she was really working for her own pleasure2 that her embroidering a piece of linen was an utterly different thing from her mother's bandaging a badly-scalded arm1 and relieving a sufferer's pain4 ,to cases of necessity such as that1 the ,saviour's words truly applied--8,it is lawful to do good on the ,sabbath-day20 but there was nothing to justify ,dora in following her own inclination1 and working on the day appointed for holy worship and rest4 ,if there was really no harm in what she was doing1 why was it that ,dora started so when she heard her mother's voice at the door of the study1 and why did she so hurriedly thrust linen1 pattern1 and silks back into the workbox as her gentle parent entered the room8 ,dora's back was turned towards the door1 so that1 from her being between it and the table1 ,mrs4 ,temple could not see the cause of the little bustling movement which she noticed on coming into the study4 8,what are you doing1 my love80 asked the lady4 8,nothing10 answered ,dora quickly1 as she succeeded in shutting down the lid of her workbox4 ,the word was uttered in haste1 without reflection2 but the instant after it had passed her lips a pang shot through the young girl's heart1 for she was aware that1 perhaps for the first time in her life1 she had uttered a downright falsehood4 ,conscience could be silenced no longer2 the second sin into which ,dora had been drawn by her fear showed her in a strong light the nature of the first1 into which she had been drawn by her love of amusement4 ,if she had not been doing what was wrong1 she would not have been afraid lest her occupation should be found out by her tender1 indulgent mother4 ,mrs4 ,temple never doubted the word of one of her children1 but she could not help thinking that the manner of ,dora was strange1 and she would probably have inquired further into its cause1 had she not just then been followed into the study by ,lucius4 ,the boy had his ,bible in his hand1 and a thoughtful1 perplexed look on his face1 which at once fixed the attention of ,mrs4 ,temple4 ,dora was glad that her mother's attention should be drawn by anything from herself1 for otherwise she could not have hidden her confusion4 ,she seated herself on a stool by the window1 with her face turned away from her parent1 and there remained a silent listener to the following conversation between ,mrs4 ,temple and her son4 ,whether that conversation was likely to make ,dora's conscience easier or not1 ,i leave the reader to judge4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,viii4 ,sacrifices4 8,i ,,have been looking out for a type1 mamma1 as you wished us to do10 said ,lucius1 seating himself on the sofa on which his parent had taken her place1 and resting his ,bible upon her knee4 8,i am not sure whether ,i may not have heard already from you that ,abraham's sacrificing his dear son is a kind of shadow of ,god's sacrificing ,his only ,son2 at any rate1 ,i thought of this as the type which ,i should choose to speak of in the evening40 8,you could hardly have chosen a more remarkable type1 my boy4 ,i believe that ,abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son not only to try the fond father's faith and obedience1 but also that ,isaac ascending ,mount ,moriah with the wood for the burnt-offering on his shoulder1 might be to the end of time a type of the blessed ,saviour bearing the cross on which ,he was to suffer on ,calvary40 8,ah6 mother1 it is all that suffering and sacrificing that is such a difficulty to me60 exclaimed ,lucius4 8,why is so much suffering needed at all80 ,the boy looked earnestly into his mother's face as he spoke4 8,it is a sad mystery1 ,lucius2 we do not fully understand it2 but one thing is certain1 not only from what we read in the ,bible1 but from what we see in the world around us1 and that thing is that sin and suffering are bound together1 we cannot separate them2 suffering is the shadow of sin and must follow it2 ,,the ,,wages ,,of ,,sin ,,is ,,death 7,rom4 vi4 #bc74 8,but you have taught us that ,,god ,,is ,,love10 said ,lucius1 thoughtfully4 8,surely ,god is love10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple2 8,god loves man1 but ,god hates sin1 which is the greatest enemy of man4 ,it is ,god's merciful will that man should be saved both from sin here1 and from its most terrible punishment hereafter40 8,the ,holy of holies is a difficulty to me10 observed ,lucius2 8why should no man1 save the high priest1 be suffered to go in1 or draw near the mercy-seat of ,god80 8,ask yourself what lesson this would have taught you had you been one of the children of ,israel10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,when you beheld the ,tabernacle with the wondrous cloud resting upon it1 and gazed through the opening in front on the veil which hid from your eyes the more dazzling glory within--that glory which was a sign of the immediate presence of ,god1 into which on pain of death you dared not enter--what would have been the thought uppermost in your mind80 8,the thought that ,god was terribly holy1 and that no human being was fit to come near ,him10 replied ,lucius1 gravely4 8,but one man was allowed to draw near10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,only the high priest1 and that with the blood of a sacrifice10 said her son4 8,and so mankind were taught that there is a way to approach a holy ,god1 but only one way2 they were taught that sacrifice was needful1 that ,,without ,,shedding ,,of ,,blood ,,there ,,is ,,no ,,remission 7forgiveness of sin71 ,heb4 ix4 #bb4 8,but1 mother1 surely ,god does not require the blood of bulls and goats60 cried ,lucius4 ,mrs4 ,temple in reply turned over the leaves of the ,bible1 till she found the fortieth ,psalm1 and then read aloud1 8,burnt-offering and sacrifice hast ,thou not required4 ,then said ,i1 ,lo6 ,i come2 in the volume of the book it is written of ,me1 ,i delight to do ,thy will1 ,o my ,god40 ,it is the ,lord ,jesus ,christ who says this by the mouth of ,david4 ,the blood of lambs and other creatures was worthless1 save as signs and pledges of the precious blood of ,christ which cleanseth from all sin1 7,john i4 #g17 the blood of ,him who is indeed ,,the ,,lamb ,,of ,,god ,,that ,,taketh ,,away ,,the ,,sin ,,of ,,the ,,world 7,john i4 #bi74 8,it seems so sad that the ,lord1 who had done no sin1 should have to bear all that agony on the cross10 murmured ,lucius4 8,christ bore it in our ,,stead10 said ,mrs4 ,temple2 8,he suffered the punishment for sin1 that sinners1 repenting and believing1 might be saved1 forgiven1 and made happy forever40 8,i still cannot clearly make out the use of sacrifices--,i mean of animals10 said ,lucius4 8,they taught that one being may suffer instead of another10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple1 speaking slowly1 that her son might weigh well every word4 8,when an ,israelite brought a lamb for sacrifice it was just as if he had said1 #8,o holy ,god1 ,i know that ,i am a sinner1 and that ,i deserve to suffer for my sin2 but in mercy accept the life of this lamb instead of mine4' ,it was to teach this same lesson that ,aaron the high priest was commanded to lay his hands on the head of a living goat1 and confess over him the sins of all the children of ,israel4 ,the scape-goat 7as it was called71 was then sent away into the desert1 bearing away with him all the sins which had been solemnly confessed over him by the high priest of ,god4 ,with a thankful heart and lightened conscience must every faithful ,israelite have seen the scape-goat led away from the camp4 #8,my sins are taken from me1 far as the east is from the west1' he might say1 #8,i shall never1 never have to bear that terrible burden myself4'0 8,but why have we no scape-goats and no sacrifices now80 asked ,lucius2 while ,dora silently thought1 8,what a comfort it would be to see all one's sins carried far away from us forever60 8,we need no more such sacrifices now10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple1 8because the ,one great ,sacrifice which ,christ made of ,himself on the cross is so infinitely precious1 that it is enough to save a world that was lost from sin4 ,we need no scape-goat now1 for when ,christ went forth to die1 ,he carried away with ,him the burden of the guilt of all ,his people40 8,but then1 mother1 is every one's sin taken away1 is every one sure to enter heaven1 the real ,holy of holies80 asked ,lucius4 ,the question was a very important one1 and poor ,dora's heart beat fast as she listened to hear what answer her parent would give to the boy4 8,no1 my son10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple1 8for not every one has true faith in the ,lord and ,his ,sacrifice1 that faith which makes us repent of sin1 be sorry for sin1 confess it and try to forsake it4 ,we know that 7two only excepted7 all the ,israelites above a certain age never reached the good land of ,canaan1 but all died in the desert4 ,and why was this8 ,it was because they had sinned against ,god4 ,they might have sacrifices but they had not true faith2 they might give up lambs1 but they gave not up sin2 they might have ,god's presence in the tabernacle to guide them1 but they did not let their conduct be guided by the light of ,his holy ,word40 8,it almost seems to me10 observed ,lucius1 8as if the ,israelites wandering about in the desert were types of us--of all who are now called ,christian people40 ,mrs4 ,temple smiled with pleasure to see that her son was beginning really to understand a little of ,old ,testament teaching by types4 8,yes1 dear boy10 she replied1 8the history of the ,israelites is just like a picture or type of what is now happening to ourselves in our journey through life towards heaven1 our promised ,canaan4 ,they were first in bondage to cruel ,pharaoh2 we are born into the world in bondage to sin4 ,the ,israelites at the beginning of their journey passed through the ,red ,sea2 ,st4 ,paul shows us that this was a type of ,christian baptism 7#a ,cor4 x4 #b74 ,i could go on to show you how the history of ,israel is full of many other interesting types of our own1 but you have heard enough for the present4 ,there are just a few most important lessons which ,i would wish to impress on your mind4 ,they are3 8,first1 that we all are sinners4 8,secondly1 that we can only be forgiven and enter heaven through the ,sacrifice of our ,lord on the cross4 8,thirdly1 that ,his ,sacrifice takes away all sin from those who have true faith in their hearts2 that faith whose reality is shown by its making us repent of and try1 by ,god's help1 to give up our sins40 ,illustration ,,ix4 ,concealment4 ,,dora felt very unhappy4 ,she had broken the holy rest of the ,lord's day2 she had repeated prayers without praying1 heard ,god's ,word read without attending1 had made a vain show of religion2 and at last had worked and worked hard at her needle1 as she might have done on any other day of the week4 ,dora had disobeyed what she knew to be the wishes of her mother1 and then to hide such disobedience had uttered a lie to deceive her6 ,the girl could not conceal from herself that she had done what was wrong--exceedingly wrong2 that she had displeased a holy ,god1 whose eyes are in every place beholding the evil and the good4 8,oh1 what can ,i--what ought ,i to do now60 thought ,dora1 as slowly and sadly she went up to her own little room4 ,conscience gave an instant reply1 8,retrace your steps as quickly as you can1 own your fault to your mother1 and ask forgiveness from ,god40 ,but ,dora was very unwilling to do this2 she was inclined to take a kind of half-way course4 8,i need not say anything to mamma about what ,i have done10 thought ,dora4 8,i will not touch my pretty work any more on ,sunday2 and to-morrow1 as soon as ,i get up1 ,i will unpick every stitch of what ,i have been sewing to-day4 ,that will be a good punishment for me2 yes1 that will be the right kind of punishment for breaking the ,fourth ,commandment40 ,dora half satisfied her conscience by making this resolution to undo what ought not to have been done2 but the little girl made a grievous mistake in supposing that any self-inflicted punishment can take away sin4 ,we must go straight to the ,lord for forgiveness1 and ask it only for the sake of the ,lamb of ,god1 who suffered to take away guilt2 and when we have sinned against our fellow-creatures1 as well as against our ,heavenly ,father1 we must honestly and openly confess to them what we have done1 and ask their forgiveness4 ,dora shrank from doing this2 she was extremely unwilling to own to her mother that she had been sewing on ,sunday4 8,perhaps mamma would take away from me the making of the embroidered curtains altogether10 thought ,dora1 8and give it to ,agnes instead2 and then all the family would know the reason1 and ,i should be lowered in the opinion even of little ,elsie6 ,oh1 how dreadfully ashamed ,i should feel1 and what a bitter disappointment it would be to see the work in the hands of another1 after ,i have taken such pains to draw out that beautiful pattern6 ,worst of all1 ,aunt ,theodora would hear of my fault when we go to be with her at ,christmas4 ,she would be sure to ask why ,i had not embroidered the veil and the curtains1 for she thinks that ,i embroider so well4 ,oh1 ,i could not bear that the aunt whom ,i love so much--who loves me so much--should know what ,i have done6 ,no1 no1 there is no use in speaking about the matter at all2 ,i will punish myself by the tiresome unpicking1 and then all will be right40 ,would all be right8 ,were ,dora to punish herself ever so severely1 would all be right8 ,no1 dear reader1 no6 self-punishment cannot wash away sin4 8,could my zeal no respite know1 ,could my tears forever flow1 ,all for sin could not atone1 ,thou must save1 and ,thou alone40 ,dora was only deceiving herself now1 as she had an hour before deceived her indulgent mother4 ,in the evening1 after tea-time1 the family assembled again in the study4 ,their usual employment on ,sunday evenings had been to sing hymns with their mother1 each in succession choosing a favorite hymn2 but the whooping-cough had for weeks past put a stop to all singing1 and it had cost ,mrs4 ,temple some thought to find a way of making the evening ,sabbath hour as pleasant to her family as it had usually been4 ,the searching in the ,bible for types had been a new kind of occupation1 and had made the afternoon seem less long to the young prisoners at home than it might otherwise have appeared during the absence of their mother at church4 ,the family circle looked a very happy one by the light of the fire round which they gathered2 for autumn was beginning1 the weather1 though not very cold1 was damp2 and the illness from which the children were recovering made warmth and dryness so desirable1 that the fire was always lighted at sunset4 8,i like when we sit so cosy together before the blazing fire60 exclaimed little blue-eyed ,elsie1 cuddling close to her mother4 8,i hope that ,eliza won't bring in the candles2 no one wants candles to talk by4 ,agnes1 you won't cough so badly if you put your feet here on the fender2 please1 ,lucius1 give the fire a good stir1 and make the red flames leap up and dance4 ,are we not a happy party60 she added1 squeezing tightly her mother's hand in both of her own4 ,smiling faces gave the reply4 ,there was but one face that wore no smile4 ,dora sat on the other side of her mother1 but the girl had drawn her chair a little back from the half-circle before the fire1 and held a hand-screen before her face1 not really to protect it from the scorching blaze1 but that it might not be seen by the fire-light4 ,dora was glad1 though not for the same reason as ,elsie1 that ,eliza did not bring in the candles4 ,illustration ,illustration ,x4 ,dead ,faith and ,living ,faith4 8,,mamma1 ,i've been trying to find a type2 ,i've been looking all through my ,bible pictures10 said blue-eyed ,elsie4 8,and did you succeed in finding a type1 my darling80 asked ,mrs4 ,temple1 smiling at the gravity of the child1 whom she thought scarcely likely to be able to discover the meaning of the most simple ,scripture figure4 8,i don't know--,i'm not sure10 said little ,elsie2 8but ,i've found two pictures--one in the ,old ,testament and one in the ,new ,testament--and they are rather like each other2 so1 you know1 dear mamma1 it seemed as if one might be a sort of a type40 8,and what were your pictures about1 ,elsie1 pet80 asked ,lucius1 stroking the hair of his youngest sister1 of whom the schoolboy was very fond4 8,one picture was of ,elijah raising the poor widow's son1 and the other was of the ,lord's raising a widow's son4 ,these were two things like each other10 said ,elsie2 8but10 she added1 shaking her curly head thoughtfully1 8,i can't tell if there was any type40 8,i daresay that little ,elsie is right1 and that ,elijah was a type of the ,lord60 cried ,lucius1 8for did they not both fast forty days in the wilderness80 8,i thought that ,elijah was rather a type of ,john the ,baptist10 observed ,agnes4 8,yes1 he was so10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,our ,lord's own words show that ,john1 #8the ,voice crying in the wilderness1' came in the spirit and power of the prophet ,elijah1 though ,john worked no miracle4 ,yet in the two instances which your brother and ,elsie have noticed1 the raising of the dead and the forty days' fast in the desert1 ,elijah's history shadows forth that of ,one far greater than himself4 ,has my dove ,amy thought of any ,scripture type80 said the mother1 turning towards her young daughter4 ,amy hesitated a little2 she was always distrustful of herself1 and in this was a great contrast to ,elsie4 ,mrs4 ,temple smiled encouragingly upon her little girl4 8,i see that there is something in your head10 said the mother2 8tell us1 my love1 what you have thought of4 ,if you have made a mistake1 ,i will try to set you right2 we are at least likely to gain some increase of ,scriptural knowledge by talking over such subjects as these40 8,i thought at first that ,i should never find out anything10 said ,amy2 8though you explained to us so much about types this morning1 dear mamma1 ,i felt quite puzzled when ,i tried to make out one for myself4 ,at last a verse from the third chapter of ,john came into my mind1 and ,i wondered whether our ,lord ,himself taught ,nicodemus in it something about a type4 ,perhaps ,nicodemus understood the ,lord's meaning1 but ,i could not understand it--that is to say1 not clearly--so ,i thought that ,i had better ask you about it1 mamma40 8,what is the verse80 asked several voices at once4 ,amy folded her hands reverentially as she repeated the sacred words once spoken by our blessed ,redeemer4 ,mrs4 ,temple would never allow her children to gabble over carelessly any verse of ,scripture4--8#8,as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 so must the ,son of ,man be lifted up1 that whosoever believeth ,him should not perish1 but have eternal life1'0 7,john iii4 #ad1 #ae47 8,most certainly1 our ,lord spoke then of a most remarkable type10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,to what coming event in his own life did our ,saviour refer in the expression #8be lifted up'80 8,to ,his being lifted up on the cross10 said ,amy1 in a low tone of voice4 8,and why was the ,son of ,god lifted up on the dreadful cross80 asked her mother4 8,that we--that all who believe in ,him shall have eternal life10 replied ,amy ,temple4 8,it was indeed as a type of this great salvation from eternal death that the brazen serpent was lifted up by ,moses10 said the lady4 8,do you remember what had happened to the ,israelites to make the raising of the brass serpent needful to save them from destruction brought on by sin80 ,as ,amy did not immediately reply to the question1 ,elsie eagerly put in her word4 8,you told us all about it last ,sunday1 mamma2 ,i remember the story quite well4 ,the people had been wicked1 very wicked1 and so fiery serpents came amongst them and bit them2 and many--,i don't know how many--,israelites died1 because no doctor knew how to cure them40 8,were those deadly bites a type of sin whose wages are death80 asked ,lucius4 8,they were so1 my son10 said his mother4 8,man had no way of saving those who had received the deadly wound1 so ,god himself showed ,moses a way4 ,the ,lord bade him lift up on high a serpent of brass1 and promised that whoso looked upon it should live40 8,i cannot imagine how mere looking could do the least good to a person dying of the poison of a snake-bite10 observed ,agnes4 8,the ,almighty willed that it should be so10 said ,mrs4 ,temple2 8,he willed that the look of faith should bring healing to a sick body1 as the look of faith at a crucified ,saviour still brings healing to the sin-wounded soul4 ,when ,i read how my ,lord says1 through the prophet ,isaiah1 #8,look unto ,me1 and be ye saved1 all the ends of the earth' 7,isaiah xlv4 #bb71 ,i think of the brazen serpent1 and know that ,i have but to believe in ,christ and be saved40 8,what do you mean by the look of faith80 inquired ,agnes4 8,faith is simply believing10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,to look to ,christ is to believe that ,he is able and willing to save us1 and that none can save us but ,he40 ,dora1 who had chosen1 as we know1 to sit a little drawn back from the circle1 and with a screen in her hand1 now dropped the screen on her lap1 and leant forward1 so that the red flickering gleam of the fire-light shone on her face as she anxiously asked1 8,then are we quite1 quite safe1 sure never to be punished for anything evil that we have done1 if only we have faith that the ,lord will save us80 8,yes1 if the faith be real1 living faith10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,are there then two kinds of faith80 inquired ,lucius4 8,yes10 answered his mother2 8we read in the ,bible of two kinds of faith or belief--one dead and one living40 8,i cannot understand that at all10 said ,amy4 8,i will try to explain10 said the lady 8and ,i ask you1 my children1 to give me your full attention1 for this is a matter of the greatest importance4 ,you all believe1 do you not1 that there is an ,emperor of ,germany80 8,yes1 yes10 replied the children3 and ,elsie added with a little nod1 8,i believe there is such a man1 though ,i never have seen him40 8,now does your belief in the existence of the ,emperor--that is1 your faith in it--does it make the smallest difference in your actions1 or words1 or feelings80 inquired ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,no1 why should it80 cried ,lucius4 8,the ,emperor does not care for us2 he knows nothing about us10 said ,elsie4 8,then your faith in the ,emperor is a dead faith1 it has no effect on your hearts10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,and this is the kind of faith which many persons1 alas6 have in the ,lord4 ,they believe in a careless sort of way that ,christ once lived in the world1 and died on the cross1 but they believe only with the head1 not with the heart4 ,and this is dead faith1 a kind of faith which never can save us40 8,but what is living faith1 then80 asked ,amy4 8,when our belief makes us really love ,him who first loved us1--when the thought of ,christ's dying for sin makes us hate sin1 that cost ,him so dear1 then our faith must be living faith2 and thus looking to the ,lord we are saved40 ,dora sighed and drew her head back again into the shadow4 ,hers was not a faith that had kept her from sin--hers was not a faith that made her now obey the whisper of conscience1 confess her fault to her mother1 and make what amends she could for what she had done4 8,depend upon it1 that when an ,israelite had been cured of his wound by looking at the brazen serpent1 he did not go and stroke and play with the fiery reptile that had bitten him10 observed ,lucius1 who had the clearest head amongst the party1 and best entered into the meaning of types4 8,no1 he would run away from the horrid creatures1 or try to kill them2 he would put his foot upon the fiery serpents and crush them--crush them10 cried ,elsie1 stamping her little foot on the hearthrug1 to add force to her words4 8,so every one who has living faith dreads and hates sin1 and tries to destroy it10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,we will not carelessly trifle with it if we believe from our hearts that our blessed ,redeemer suffered because of our sins40 8,what a very holy thing was that brazen serpent which ,moses set up on a pole60 exclaimed ,amy4 8,did he not afterwards put it into the ark1 that the ,israelites might carry it about with them wherever they went1 and treasure it as they did the tables of stone on which the ,commandments were written80 8,we do not read of ,moses putting the brazen serpent into the ark10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple2 8but the ,israelites must have carried it with them in their wanderings through the desert1 and have taken it into the ,promised ,land1 for we read of the brazen serpent being greatly honored by the people more than seven hundred years after it was lifted up40 7#a ,kings xviii4 #d47 8,it was quite right that the ,israelites should honor it very1 very much10 cried ,elsie1 8because the brazen serpent had saved so many people from dying40 8,you mistake1 my child10 said her mother4 8,the brass image had no power in itself to save a single creature from death2 it was of no use at all but as a means appointed by ,god4 ,the brazen serpent was a type of salvation2 and when the ,jews took to burning incense to the mere type1 that is1 when they paid to it the honor which is due to ,god alone1 they fell into sin40 ,the younger children looked surprised2 and ,amy murmured1 8,then can even a holy thing lead men to do what is wrong80 8,men do wrong1 exceedingly wrong1 when they put anything1 however holy it may seem in their eyes1 in the place of ,god10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,when good king ,hezekiah saw that his people were honoring the brazen serpent too much1 what do you think that he did80 8,perhaps he locked it up1 so that no one could get at it10 cried little ,elsie4 8,hezekiah took a much stronger measure than locking up the image10 said her mother4 8,the good king broke the brazen serpent into pieces1 and called it ,nehustan1 or a piece of brass1 to show both by word and deed that the most holy and interesting relic may lead to the sin of idolatry1 if it draw away our thoughts and our hearts from the ,lord who alone can give us salvation40 ,illustration ,,xi4 ,leprosy4 8,,as we seem to be giving in our types youngest by youngest1 it is ,dora's turn now to tell us which she has chosen10 said ,lucius4 8,ah6 ,dora will have found out the most interesting type of all1 ,dora is so clever60 cried ,elsie1 who had great faith in the intelligence of the brighter of the twins4 ,all eyes were turned towards ,dora as she sat in the shadow1 but ,dora's own eyes were bent on the hearthrug4 ,she had been so much taken up on that ,sunday1 first with her embroidery1 then with the conversation between her mother and ,lucius1 and the painful struggle in her own mind with an upbraiding conscience1 that ,dora had not even thought of looking out for a type in ,scripture4 8,what have you chosen1 ,dora80 asked ,lucius4 8,i have not chosen any type yet1 ,i have not had time10 stammered out ,dora1 confused and mortified to find herself behind even little ,elsie1 who looked astonished at the words of her sister4 8,not time6 why1 you have had as much time as any of us10 said ,agnes4 8,what were you doing all the afternoon while mamma was at church80 8,nothing particular10 said ,dora1 with a little confusion4 ,again a pang shot through the heart of the conscious girl for she knew that she was again staining her lips with untruth4 8,you don't mean to say that you were sitting from two o'clock till five1 with your hands before you1 and thinking about nothing at all10 said ,lucius4 8,perhaps ,dora was reading that interesting book about the poor ,french ,protestants10 suggested ,amy4 ,dora did not speak4 ,she was too well pleased1 alas6 that her family should believe that she had been thus engaged1 though she knew that she had not so much as opened the volume in question4 8,it would have been better1 my love1 for you to have entered into the occupation which interests your brothers and sisters10 said ,mrs4 ,temple1 in a tone of gentle reproof4 8,even reading a nice ,sunday book like the one ,amy mentioned may become a selfish amusement1 if it keeps us from adding a little to the general pleasure40 8,i never knew ,dora take such a reading fit before10 muttered ,lucius2 8she generally likes to use her fingers more than her head40 ,the remark was a very commonplace one1 yet it added to ,dora's confusion4 ,mrs4 ,temple1 noticing her daughter's look of annoyance1 though she attributed it to a different cause than the true one1 turned the conversation by asking ,agnes whether she had thought of a ,scriptural type4 8,yes1 mamma10 replied ,agnes4 8,i believe that leprosy is a type of sin1 and the cure of lepers a type of the cure of sin just as the looking up at the brazen serpent was a cure for the deadly bites40 8,you are perfectly right1 my dear girl10 said her mother4 8,what is leprosy80 asked little ,elsie 8,a dreadful kind of illness10 replied ,agnes2 and as she seemed disinclined to say more1 perhaps from fear of bringing on her cough by speaking1 her mother continued the description of this terrible type of sin4 8,this frightful malady is still well-known in the ,east10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,your uncle1 who came lately from ,india1 has told me that he has seen many poor lepers there4 ,the leprosy makes them loathsome to the eye2 it creeps over their bodies2 it wastes their flesh2 when it fastens on their hands1 it will make the very fingers drop off60 8,oh1 how dreadful60 exclaimed all the children4 8,dreadful indeed1 but not so dreadful as the sin which it represents10 said their mother sadly2 8for the soul's sickness is more dangerous1 its effects infinitely more lasting40 8,i don't quite see how leprosy is a type of sin10 observed ,amy4 8,i think that we are led to believe it to be such by the very particular commands regarding it which we find in the law of ,moses10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,did poor people with leprosy never get well again80 asked ,elsie1 with pity expressed on her round little face4 8,yes1 they did sometimes recover10 said her mother1 8but not by such means as are used in cases of other sickness4 ,not a doctor1 but a priest1 was to judge whether the leper were really cured1 or1 as it was called1 clean2 and he had to bring a special offering to be sacrificed to the ,lord40 8,i suppose the offering was that sheep which we see in the picture80 said ,elsie1 for the illustrated ,bible had again been brought and placed upon ,mrs4 ,temple's knee1 and the firelight was sufficiently bright to show a picture representing a cured leper coming to the high-priest1 to find which illustration ,mrs4 ,temple had turned over the pages4 8,that picture shows but a part of the offering10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,when the candles come in1 ,i will read to you from the #8,pictorial ,history of ,palestine1' written by the famous ,dr4 ,kitto1 a description of a very peculiar ceremony which took place before the sheep and two rams were slain as a sin-offering40 8,ah6 here come the candles--just when we want them60 cried ,elsie1 as ,eliza made her appearance4 8,i'll get ,dr4 ,kitto's big book60 exclaimed ,lucius1 jumping up from his seat by the fire4 ,the candles were placed on the table near enough to ,mrs4 ,temple to enable her to read without quitting her warm seat1 but merely turning her chair round to the table4 ,she then read aloud the following extract from the work of the learned doctor3 8#8,when a person was reported to be free of his leprosy1 a priest went out of the camp and subjected him to a very strict examination4 ,if no signs of the disorder appeared upon him1 the priest sent a person to bring two living birds 7doves or young pigeons71 cedar wood1 scarlet wool1 and hyssop1 with which he performed the ceremonies of purification1 to admit the party to the privileges of the ,hebrew ,church and communion4'0 8,what does that mean1 mother80 ashed ,lucius4 8,that the man was no longer to be cut off1 as were lepers in ,israel1 from worshipping the ,lord within the camp1 or mixing with the rest of the people10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,oh1 mamma1 might not a poor leper do that60 exclaimed ,amy4 8,to be shut out from praying with one's friends and relations would be almost the worst trial of all60 8,remember1 my child1 that the dreadful disease was infectious2 there was need of the greatest care lest it should spread in their camp4 ,lepers had to wear a particular dress1 and to live apart from all who were yet in health4 ,if any one drew near to a leper unawares1 the afflicted one had to cry out #8,unclean6 unclean6'0 8,i don't think that ,i will ever again complain of being shut up from friends and playmates because of this whooping-cough10 cried ,lucius4 8,it is disagreeable enough to be kept as we are even from going to church1 but fancy what it would be to have to cry out #8,unclean6 unclean6' if any one chanced to come near us60 8,please1 mamma1 go on with the account of what the priest had to do with the two birds which he sent for when he found that the leper was quite well again10 said ,amy4 ,mrs4 ,temple continued her reading3 8#8,he slew one of the birds1 and received its blood in an earthen vessel4 ,into this he dipped the cedar wood1 the scarlet wool1 and the hyssop1 and therewith sprinkled seven times the once leprous person4 ,the other bird was then permitted to escape1 as a symbol that the man was now free of his leprosy4'0 8,oh1 how joyful the bird must have been when allowed to fly free up--up high into the air60 exclaimed ,elsie4 8,not more glad than the poor cleansed leper1 of whom that bird was a type10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,think of his joy at being free to return to his family--his wife and his children2 and his thankful delight when worshipping once more with his former companions in the court of the ,tabernacle of his ,god60 8,it seems to me that there is a verse in one of the ,psalms which shows that ,david had the cleansing of a leper in his mind when he prayed to the ,lord to forgive him his sin10 remarked ,lucius4 8,i was just thinking of the same when mamma read about the hyssop10 said ,amy4 8,it made me feel sure that ,agnes was right when she chose leprosy as a type of sin40 8,what is the verse to which you allude80 asked the mother4 ,lucius was the one to reply1 but the lips of ,amy silently moved1 as she repeated the same verse to herself from the fifty-first ,psalm--8#8,purge me with hyssop1 and ,i shall be clean2 wash me1 and ,i shall be whiter than snow6'0 8,oh1 mamma6 ,i remember the story of the poor leper who came to the ,lord ,jesus10 said ,elsie1 8and how he cried1 #8,lord if thou wilt1 thou canst make me clean6'0 8,how much more deeply interesting is the ,saviour's reply1 #8,i will1 be thou clean1' if we look upon leprosy as a type of sin10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,the ,lord was able and willing to heal1 not the poor man's body alone1 but also his soul2 and make him free from all stain of sin as well as from all taint of disease40 ,illustration ,,xii4 ,naaman4 8,,the leper story which has always interested me most is that of ,naaman the ,syrian10 said ,lucius1 when he had put back ,dr4 ,kitto's large volume in its place in the bookcase4 8,o yes1 yes10 interrupted little ,elsie2 8,i know that story too1 quite well4 ,i know that ,naaman was a great man1 and rich1 and a famous general besides1 but he had the dreadful sickness which no doctor could cure4 ,i remember how ,naaman came in a grand chariot with prancing horses to the house of the good prophet ,elisha1 and how angry he was when only a servant came out and told him to wash seven times in the river ,jordan40 ,elsie stopped almost out of breath from the rapidity with which she had spoken4 ,all the young ,temples were familiar with the account of the cure of the ,syrian1 which was one of their favorite ,scripture stories4 8,was the leprosy of ,naaman also a type of sin80 inquired ,lucius4 8,i believe that it was10 answered ,mrs4 ,temple1 8and ,i am strengthened in this belief by ,naaman's leprosy coming upon ,gehazi1 as a direct punishment for his sin40 8,ah6 that wicked ,gehazi60 exclaimed ,elsie2 8he told a lie1 a dreadful lie6 ,it was right that he should be punished1 was it not80 ,the question was asked of ,dora1 ,elsie's favorite sister4 ,the child wondered at the unwonted silence which had come over ,dora1 and wanted to draw her into conversing like the rest of the party4 ,dora winced at the question1 and only replied by a slight movement of her head4 ,but little ,elsie was not satisfied by this4 8,why don't you speak80 she said bluntly4 8,when people are so very naughty as to tell lies1 and say that they are doing nothing when they are doing something bad1 don't you think that they ought to be well punished for it80 ,forced to reply1 for ,elsie's question had drawn every one's attention towards her1 ,dora answered1 8,of course they should be punished20 and having thus pronounced sentence upon herself1 she relapsed into silence1 feeling much inclined1 however1 to start up and escape from the room4 8,are you not well1 my love80 asked her mother1 who could not help noticing that ,dora's manner was different from usual4 8,quite well1 mamma2 only a little tired10 was the evasive reply4 8,tired of doing nothing10 said ,lucius4 ,the conversation on the subject of ,naaman was then resumed by ,agnes4 8,when ,naaman was cleansed of his leprosy1 mamma1 how was it that ,elisha did not tell him to go and show himself to the priest1 and that we hear nothing about a sin-offering1 nor of a bird being set free80 asked the elder twin4 8,you must remember10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple1 8that ,naaman was not an ,israelite but a ,syrian1 a ,gentile1 and that he was therefore not bound to observe the ceremonial law of the ,jews4 ,i think that ,naaman was a type of the ,gentile church1 to which belong all ,christians who are not descended from ,abraham and ,isaac40 8,to which we then belong10 observed ,lucius4 8,notice1 my children10 continued the lady1 8how we see1 as if in a series of pictures1 the history of a converted soul in the story of ,naaman's cure4 ,first there is the man possessing all that earth can give him1 but afflicted with a deadly disease40 8,like the people who were bitten by the fiery serpents10 interrupted ,lucius4 8,here in the leprous ,naaman we behold a type or picture of a soul with unforgiven sin staining and corrupting it10 said his mother4 8,next we find the leper at the door of the prophet4 ,can any one of you tell me of what ,naaman now is a type80 8,a seeking soul10 replied ,agnes1 after a little pause for reflection4 8,ah6 but the next picture is of the leper turning away quite angry because he was told just to wash and be clean10 cried ,elsie4 8,then ,naaman is a type of a proud soul1 not content with ,god's simple but wonderful plan of salvation10 continued the lady4 8,there are some persons now who think that they can earn heaven by doing some great thing1 who believe that because of their own goodness they can be clean in the sight of ,god4 ,such persons1 like ,naaman1 are offended and hurt when they are told that all their good works cannot take away sin2 that the leper can only be saved by living faith in ,him whose blood is the fountain opened for all uncleanness40 8,but ,naaman did go and dip down seven times in ,jordan as he was bidden10 cried ,elsie2 8and then he was made quite well1 his flesh all soft and clean1 just like a little child's40 8,this is a picture or type of a believing1 forgiven soul10 said ,mrs4 ,temple1 8the picture of one who has become a child of ,god1 and who is resolved1 by the help of ,his ,spirit1 to lead from henceforth a new life40 8,these types are really beginning to be quite plain to me now1 mother10 said ,lucius1 8and they make the ,old ,testament seem to me to be very much more beautiful than it ever seemed before4 ,i remember how puzzled ,i have been by some words in one of the ,epistles about the rock which ,moses smote in the desert1 and from which the waters gushed out4 ,st4 ,paul wrote #8that ,rock was ,christ1' and ,i never could make out what he meant1 for how could the rock be the ,lord8 ,but now ,i understand1 at least ,i think that ,i do1 that the ,apostle meant #8that smitten rock was a ,,type of ,christ1' and so everything becomes plain40 8,some of our ,lord's own expressions require to be explained in the same kind of way10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,when our ,saviour declared that ,he was the ,vine1 and his disciples the branches1 it was as if ,he had said1 #8,a vine is a ,,type of ,me1 and its branches a type of ,my servants4 ,as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself1 except it abide in the vine1 no more can ye 7bear the fruits of holiness71 except ye abide in ,me4'0 8,and when the ,lord said of the bread at the last supper1 ,this is ,my body1 ,his words must have meant that the bread was a ,,type of ,his body10 said ,amy with thoughtful reverence4 ,she was a lowly-hearted girl1 and she felt1 as we all should feel1 that when so very sacred a subject as the ,lord's sufferings or death is spoken of by us1 it is as if1 through the opening in the ,tabernacle ,veil1 we were entering into the ,holy of holies4 ,illustration ,,xiii4 ,the ,twins4 8,,can one object be a type of more than one thing1 mamma80 asked ,lucius1 8for there is something which we have just spoken of as being a type of what heals our souls--,i mean by that1 true living faith in the ,lord2 and ,i have thought of something quite different1 of which it seems also a type40 8,are you speaking of the river ,jordan80 asked ,agnes1 through whose mind the same thought had been passing4 8,yes1 the river in which ,naaman dipped seven times and was cleansed10 replied ,lucius4 8,when the ,israelites1 after their long wanderings in the desert1 came to that same river ,jordan1 there was nothing but its waters between them and the ,promised ,land1 which mother told me to-day is a type of heaven40 8,and the waters were divided to let the people pass over quite easily and safely10 interrupted little ,elsie1 who never missed an opportunity of bringing out any knowledge which she had gleaned4 8,hush1 ,elsie6 you distract my thoughts10 said her brother1 8and make me forget with your prattle what ,i was going to say4 ,oh1 it is this6 ,when ,christians have almost got over their long life-journey1 there is only one thing at last that divides them from heaven1 their ,promised ,land2 and that thing is death4 ,mother1 is not ,jordan a type of death80 8,i believe that it is10 said his mother and ,amy silently thought of those beautiful verses which allude to this type3-- 8,oh6 could we bid our doubts remove1 ,those gloomy doubts that rise1 ,and view the ,canaan that we love ,with ,faith's unclouded eyes2 8,could we but stand where ,moses stood1 ,and view the landscape o'er1 ,nor ,jordan's stream1 nor death's cold flood1 ,could fright us from the shore40 8,i also believe10 continued the lady1 8that the dividing of the waters1 which enabled the ,israelites to pass over without so much as wetting their feet1 is a type of the terrors of death being taken away from the ,christian4 ,safe through the atoning sacrifice and happy in the love of his ,lord1 the believer can peacefully pass on to his promised land--heaven--with as little cause for fear as the ,israelites had in crossing the dry bed of the ,jordan40 8,ah6 the ,israelites were a happy people10 said ,amy1 softly4 8,think of their having ,god always to guide them by the pillar of fire and cloud1 and holy ,moses always to pray for them2 and the beautiful promised land ,canaan before them1 and so many wonderful miracles worked for their good6 ,i almost wish10 she added1 8that ,i had lived in those days40 8,happier are ,christians in these days1 my child10 said her mother1 8for they know more1 far more1 of the ,saviour's love than was ever made known to the people of ,israel4 ,we have ,god's sure ,word to guide us in our wanderings through the desert of life1 and we have beyond that desert a far brighter land than ,canaan1 even heaven1 promised and purchased by ,him who prepares good things for those who love ,him2 and we have ,one far greater than ,moses--,one who ever liveth to plead for us at the right hand of ,god while we fight our battles against sin4 ,moses was a being of flesh and blood as we are2 his arms grew tired1 he needed to have them held up by ,aaron and ,hur2 but the ,lord ,jesus in praying for ,his people never grows weary1 and ,his love never grows cold4 ,my children1 when life was most like a desert to me1 when your father had crossed the ,jordan and left me behind1 ,i cannot tell you what comfort and support ,i found in the knowledge of that prayer and the thought of that love60 ,mrs4 ,temple's voice faltered1 and ,amy felt the hand which she was clasping tremble4 ,the lady now very seldom gave way to any outward burst of sorrow in the presence of her children2 her manner was usually cheerful and bright2 but the elder ones could well remember how great had been her grief in the first sad days of her widowhood1 when their father's useful life had been closed by a peaceful death4 ,the young ,temples all respected their mother's sorrow1 and when she paused from emotion the room was so still that the crackling of the fire and the tick of the clock were the only sounds to be heard4 ,but ,mrs4 ,temple was not willing to throw even a brief shadow over the cheerfulness of her little family circle1 and would not now have given way to her feelings had not bodily weariness and pain made her less able to control them4 ,mrs4 ,temple very quickly recovered her usual tone1 and said in her wonted cheerful manner1 8,my little ,elsie's eyes are growing sleepy1 she can hardly manage to keep them open6 ,my birdie had better fly up to her snug warm nest1 and prepare by a good long rest for a busy to-morrow40 8,oh1 yes1 to-morrow will indeed be a busy day60 exclaimed ,lucius2 8,i mean to be up with the lark4 ,i hope1 mother10 he added1 8that you won't mind the noise of my hammer80 ,mrs4 ,temple with a smile assured her boy that she would not mind anything2 she had not been a mother so long without becoming accustomed to noise1 and she would be just as much interested in the progress of the work of her children as they themselves could be4 8,you will like me to get on with my little red curtains80 said ,elsie1 in rather a drowsy tone4 ,a fond kiss was the mother's reply2 and then ,mrs4 ,temple herself took her youngest child up to her bed-room1 for the lady always liked to hear ,elsie repeat her evening prayer4 ,about an hour afterwards all the other young ,temples had wished their mother good-night1 and retired to the several apartments in which they slept4 ,the twins shared the same room4 ,it was a very pretty one1 adorned with framed pictures painted by their ,aunt ,theodora1 and lighted by candles in elegant green glass candlesticks1 which had been a birthday present to them from their mother4 ,both the girls were1 on the night in question1 more silent than usual1 but from different causes4 ,as ,agnes sat slowly brushing out her long plaits of brown hair1 stopped every now and then by her cough1 her thoughts dwelt much on the subject of the ,israelites and their journey through the wilderness1 which she was now taught to regard1 not only as a historical fact1 but also as a type of the life-journey of ,christians4 ,agnes was not by natural disposition so merry and light-hearted as her brother and sisters1 and this difference between her and the rest of the family was all the more marked at the time of which ,i am writing1 from the health of the elder twin being a good deal shaken by her illness4 ,agnes had naturally a peevish1 passionate temper1 which greatly marred her own peace of mind1 and which prevented her from winning much love from her young companions4 ,agnes had many faults1 and she knew that she had them2 they were to her a trouble and burden4 ,the young girl honestly wished to get rid of and conquer these faults1 but she wanted energy and spirit to make a really good battle against her besetting sins4 ,agnes was too much disposed to conclude that because she was ill-tempered she must always continue ill-tempered1 that there was no use in striving to subdue her evil nature4 ,mrs4 ,temple's elder twin was wont to feel vexed and to look sullen because ,lucius never cared to sit and chat with her as he would with ,dora2 and because ,elsie never threw her arms round her neck as she would round ,amy's4 ,it grieved ,agnes to notice that no one ever called her 8pet10 or seemed to take delight in having her near4 8,i know that it is partly my own fault10 ,agnes would often say to herself1 in bitterness of soul2 8but ,i don't think that if ,i were to leave home for months1 there is any one but mamma who would miss me or want me back40 ,such thoughts had only the effect of making the poor girl's temper more cross1 and her manner more peevish2 it is so hard for the face to look bright and sweet when gloom is within the heart4 ,but better thoughts were in the mind of ,agnes on that ,sunday night1 as she sat silently brushing her hair4 ,sweet and comforting was the reflection that she was not left to fight her battle alone1 that there was ,one who would not only hear her prayer1 but who would ,himself pray for ,his feeble child--who would both watch her struggle against sin1 and give her strength in that struggle4 ,it was sweet to poor ,agnes1 when she afterwards knelt down to pray by the side of her bed1 to feel that if she was1 like an ,israelite1 bitten by the serpent of sin1 she knew where to look for a cure2 that if she was like ,naaman the leper1 there was the ,fountain open to her1 in which she could wash and be clean4 ,hope had sprung up in the young girl's heart1 and with hope came increase of courage4 ,agnes remembered that the ,lord who had supplied all the need of the ,israelites could supply hers also2 and when temptations assailed her1 as the enemy assailed that people1 make her also more than conqueror through the power of ,his ,holy ,spirit4 ,very1 very different were the thoughts passing through the mind of ,dora1 though outwardly she was doing exactly the same things as were done by her twin sister4 ,dora was not making a brave battle against inward sin1 but was1 like a coward and traitor1 going over to the enemy's side4 ,it is true that she still intended to unpick on the ,monday morning all that she had sewn on the ,sunday afternoon2 but this resolve was made on the false principle of punishing herself for the sin she would not honestly confess1 and of which she had never truly repented4 ,this idea of self-inflicted punishment was merely ,dora's contrivance for quieting conscience1 that conscience which had been very uneasy during the conversation on the subject of leprosy1 the terrible type of sin4 ,but ,dora was trying1 and with tolerable success1 to banish from her mind all thought of that conversation4 ,it was far more pleasant to think of the pattern of the ,tabernacle curtains than of the holy things of which that ,tabernacle should remind us4 ,a great many persons--even grown-up persons--act1 alas6 like ,dora4 ,they so fix their attention on outward things in religion that they quite overlook the inward meaning4 ,such self-deceivers are ready enough to work at what pleases the eye and amuses the fancy1 and believe that they are making an offering to ,god2 but the cleansing of the heart1 the giving up sin--these are duties which they shrink from1 and which they willingly put off to 8a more convenient season40 ,illustration ,illustration ,,xiv4 ,work4 ,,almost every inmate of ,cedar ,lodge was up very early on ,monday morning1 ,agnes being the only member of the family who did not rise till her usual hour4 ,the first crow of the cock1 strutting about in the yard behind the house1 roused little ,elsie from sleep4 ,the child was restless and impatient in her white-curtained cot1 until she was suffered to rise1 dress1 and set about her ,turkey-red work for the model4 ,amy was bending over her strip of white linen almost before there was sufficient light for her to see how to thread her fine needle1 for the morning was dark and rainy2 indeed the sun never showed his face during the whole of that cheerless day4 ,drip1 drip6 fell the rain1 but none of the children regretted that they were not likely to go out of the house4 8,i don't mind the rain one bit60 cried ,elsie4 8,i'm glad that it rains2 we'll get on so famously with our work60 ,drip1 drip6 fell the rain2 clink1 clink6 fell the hammer of ,lucius2 and blithe sounded his whistle1 as he labored in the midst of his squares of pasteboard1 strips of wood1 and lengths of wire4 ,the schoolboy set to his work with a will2 and how pleasant is work when we have strength and spirit to do it1 and feel that we have a worthy object before us6 ,no one was up earlier than ,dora4 ,she sprang from her bed before twilight had given place to day-light1 so impatient was she to get to her embroidery pattern again4 ,the noise of ,dora's rising awoke ,agnes1 who had not passed so good a night as her more vigorous twin had done1 the sickly girl having been several times disturbed by her cough4 8,what are you about1 ,dora80 murmured ,agnes1 in a drowsy and rather complaining tone2 8,i'm sure that it can't be nearly time to get up40 8,oh1 ,i like to set about my new work quickly1 and get a good piece of it done before breakfast10 was ,dora's reply4 8,there will be plenty of time for work between this and ,christmas2 ,i wish that you would keep quiet and let me rest10 yawned ,agnes4 8,you can rest if you wish it2 ,i won't make a noise10 replied ,dora4 8,but for my part ,i like to be up and doing4 ,you know that3 #8,early to bed1 and early to rise1 ,is the way to be healthy1 wealthy1 and wise4'0 ,agnes said nothing in contradiction of the old proverb which her sister had quoted1 but turned round on her pillow1 and with a weary yawn composed herself again to sleep4 ,she thought that it would be time enough to get up when ,susan should call her at a quarter to seven1 and she only wished that ,dora had thought so also1 for it fidgeted ,agnes to hear her moving about in the room4 ,but ,dora had cared as little about disturbing the sleep of a sickly sister as she had about letting her mother go out in the rain4 ,dora admired her own energy1 and looked upon ,agnes almost with scorn1 as being lazy1 cold1 and dull1 with not a bit of enthusiasm in her nature4 8,we should not have had a model worth looking at had the embroidery been left to her10 said ,dora to herself1 not without a feeling of self-complacence1 as she glanced at her twin who had again sunk into slumber4 ,it will be remembered that ,dora had resolved to unpick all the work that she had sewn upon the preceding ,sunday4 ,as soon as the little girl had hastily finished her toilet1 so hastily that she forgot to button her sleeves or put on her collar1 she opened her workbox1 took out her work1 and seated herself as close to the window as possible1 in order to catch as much as she could of the dim light of dawn4 ,it might have been expected that ,dora would also have forgotten to say her prayers1 but such was not the case4 ,she remembered to kneel down by her bedside and hurry through a mere form of words1 without paying the slightest attention to their meaning1 thinking of her embroidery all the time4 ,it was a satisfaction to the conscience of ,dora that she had repeated a prayer1 and she never stopped to ask herself whether that prayer were not in itself a sin4 ,dora with needle and scissors set first to her work of unpicking4 ,but every one who has tried such an occupation must know it to be one of the most tedious and disagreeable of tasks4 ,it was doubly so to ,dora1 because she greatly admired the embroidery work which she was thus beginning to spoil4 8,it is a great pity to undo this10 ,dora said to herself before she had been for two minutes plying the scissors4 8,i won't go on with this foolish unpicking4 ,after all1 my undoing every stitch of my pretty work would not undo the fault of my having put it in on ,sunday40 ,this was indeed true4 ,a fault once committed1 no human being has power to undo2 but while looking to the ,lord alone for forgiveness1 we are bound to prove the sincerity of our regret for a fault by making what amends lie in our power4 ,dora took the easier1 but far more dangerous way1 of trying to forget the fault altogether1 or to make up for it by what she considered to be her zeal in charity work4 ,she certainly sewed very diligently on that dull morning1 scarcely lifting her eyes from the pattern which she had neatly traced on the linen4 ,she was filling up the pencilled outlines with chain-stitch1 satin-stitch1 and other stitches1 in bright-colored silks and a brilliant thread of gold4 8,oh1 look6--just look how famously ,dora has been getting on with her work60 exclaimed the admiring ,elsie1 when1 summoned by the bell at half-past eight1 the children had assembled in the breakfast-room1 awaiting their mother's coming down to prayers4 8,why1 you don't mean to say that you have worked all that this morning80 said ,lucius to ,dora4 ,the question was rather an awkward one for ,dora to answer--it took the girl by surprise4 ,dora replied to it by an evasion1 which was another act of deceit4 8,i couldn't begin my embroidery on ,saturday night10 she said1 actually congratulating herself that she had this time spoken the exact truth1 as if it were not the very essence of falsehood to deceive1 even though the lips may utter no lie4 ,as ,dora had not sewn on ,saturday1 she knew that ,lucius would take it for granted that she had been so clever and industrious as to do all the work which he saw on the ,monday morning1 for he would certainly never suspect her of having put in one stitch upon ,sunday4 8,don't you admire ,dora's curtain1 is it not lovely80 said ,amy to ,agnes1 who was examining the work of her twin4 8,rather10 was the reply1 uttered in a hesitating tone4 ,agnes could not truthfully have expressed warmer admiration1 for she did not think that the figures of the cherubim were at all gracefully drawn1 nor did she consider that the colors were perfectly blended1 there being too little scarlet in proportion to the purple and blue4 ,but the cold praise of the twin was not unnaturally set down by her family as coming from a mean1 unworthy motive4 8,she is as jealous as a cat60 exclaimed ,lucius2 8,agnes can't forgive poor ,dora for having been trusted with the most difficult part of the work40 ,the irritable temper of ,agnes fired up in a moment at an observation which she felt to be unjust as well as unkind4 ,but ,agnes on that ,monday morning had not merely said her prayers1 she had really prayed for grace to conquer besetting sin1 and now1 though she could not help her cheeks flushing scarlet at the taunt of her brother1 she pressed her lips closely together1 and kept down the passionate reply which it was so hard1 so very hard1 not to utter4 8,how much of your work have you done this morning1 ,agnes80 asked ,elsie1 rather proudly1 showing her own three inches of seam in the ,turkey-red cloth4 8,i have cut out my mohair curtains10 said ,agnes1 who had also1 though she did not choose to say so1 been mending her gloves1 in obedience to the known wish of her mother4 8,cut out--only cut out80 laughed ,lucius1 who had been doing great things in the nailing and hammering line2 8if you take the matter so easily1 ,agnes1 every one will cut you out1 though you may not be made into curtains60 ,agnes was provoked at the joke1 and all the more so because ,dora and ,elsie laughed1 and ,amy could not help smiling4 ,few persons like to be laughed at1 and the peevish-tempered ,agnes was certainly not one of the few4 ,but the girl had made a resolve1 not in vain trust in her own power of carrying it out1 but in a spirit of humble prayer1 to set a watch before her lips2 and if she could not speak kindly1 not to utter a single word4 ,agnes could not1 indeed1 yet manage to take a disagreeable joke with smiling good humor1 but she bore it in resolute silence1 she did not utter any retort4 ,no one admired ,agnes ,temple1 no one praised her self-command3 she was thought lazy because she had not eagerly rushed into an occupation in which she took no particular pleasure1 and for which she knew that she would find plenty of time without neglecting more homely duties2 she was thought jealous because she had simply spoken the truth2 and yet on that day ,agnes had begun a nobler work than that of embroidering in purple and gold1 and her offering was a far more acceptable one than that of which ,dora was proud4 ,illustration ,,xv4 ,different ,motives4 8,,what a busy1 cheerful little party60 exclaimed ,mrs4 ,temple1 as she entered the study on the afternoon of that same day1 and found all her children sitting together1 sewing1 cutting1 gilding1 and chatting merrily as they worked4 8,you remind me of the busy1 happy scene outside ,jerusalem1 beheld every year when the ,feast of ,tabernacles was kept40 8,what was the ,feast of ,tabernacles1 mamma80 inquired ,amy4 ,lucius would have asked the same question1 but he dared not speak at that moment lest his breath should blow away the sheet of gold-leaf with which he was trying to cover his wires4 8,the ,feast of ,tabernacles was a yearly festival held by the ,israelites in remembrance of the time spent by their fathers in tabernacles or tents in the desert10 replied the lady4 8,this was the most cheerful of all the feasts1 and was kept in a remarkable manner4 ,the people made booths for themselves of the branches of palm1 willow1 and other trees1 and for seven days lived in these booths4 ,there were processions1 glad hosannas1 and sounds of singing and mirth4 ,the people enjoyed their out-of-door life1 and blessed the ,lord for ,his goodness in guiding the ,israelites through the wilderness to the good land in which their children now dwelt40 8,one could hardly keep such a feast in ,england10 observed ,agnes1 glancing out of the window at the gray sky and the dripping trees1 which were dimly reflected in the pools left by the morning's rain4 8,i think that living in green leafy booths would be delightful in summer1 even in ,england60 exclaimed ,lucius1 who had managed to fix his gold-leaf4 8,i should have liked1 had ,i been a ,jew1 to have kept the ,feast of ,tabernacles--better perhaps than to have helped to make this model ,tabernacle10 added the boy1 who1 after several hours of steady work1 was beginning to feel rather tired4 8,i should much prefer hewing down branches1 and doing the rough carpentering part of the business1 to gilding these tiresome1 fidgety wires1 which ,i am sure to ungild again as soon as ,i attempt to fix them into their frame40 8,what1 you are weary of your work already60 exclaimed ,dora1 as she paused in her sewing to thread her needle4 8,not exactly weary of it now10 answered ,lucius1 8but ,i guess that ,i shall be so long before this model is finished4 ,it is all very well10 he continued1 taking up his knife to hack away at some stubborn pasteboard--8it is all very well to make pillars and curtains while the sky is cloudy1 and the rain falls fast1 and ,i am kept prisoner at home2 but suppose that the rain should stop1 and the sun shine out1 and the weather become settled at last1 wouldn't every one of us like running about in the fields all day1 playing at cricket1 or croquet1 or rounders1 better than measuring and cutting and----there6 snap goes my knife1 my new knife60 and with a gesture of impatience the boy flung the unmanageable pasteboard down on the table4 ,there was much to justify the suspicion expressed by ,lucius that the work so eagerly begun by the ,temples would1 before it could be finished1 become a burden and a tax upon the patience of all4 ,on the very next day began a season of warmth and sunshine1 which did more to drive away coughs and restore vigor to late invalids than could all the skill of the doctor4 ,even ,agnes was able to spend hours in the open air2 and1 except at mealtimes1 ,lucius liked to be out all the day4 ,his fidgety work1 as he called it1 could scarcely be done but indoors1 and the boy found it a grievous task4 8,but it would be a shame not to go on with the model now1 after putting mamma to so much trouble and expense10 observed ,lucius one morning to ,dora4 8,besides1 ,i engaged to do it1 and no ,english boy must flinch back from keeping his word4 ,the new knife which ,i bought yesterday is not to be compared to that which ,i so unluckily snapped over the pasteboard2 but ,i must hack away steadily1 and show a good example to that lazy puss ,elsie1 who since the fine weather began has not put another stitch into her ,turkey-red curtains40 8,she has stowed them away in her doll's cradle10 observed ,dora1 laughing4 ,mrs4 ,temple was not surprised to find that the making of the model now progressed more slowly2 she was rather pleased to see the amount of perseverance shown by her children after the charm of novelty had worn off4 ,even the 8lazy puss0 drew her work from its hiding-place1 and would sew--for five minutes at a time--8just to please dear mamma40 ,all the five ,temples continued to work1 when work had ceased to be an amusement2 but they worked from different motives4 ,those which influenced ,lucius--a manly1 honorable boy--have been mentioned already1 as well as the simple wish to please mother which made ,elsie prick her plump little finger under her ,turkey-red cloth4 ,but if you could glance into the hearts of the three other girls as they sit together industriously plying their needles1 we should find an example of how the very same effect may be produced by different causes4 ,amy had from the very first considered her humble work as something to be done for her ,heavenly ,master1 and this sweet thought made her take pleasure in labor1 which without it would have been wearisome indeed4 ,it was this thought which made ,amy put fine hemming and stitching into the long strips of white lawn which represented the linen curtains surrounding the court of the ,tabernacle1 and even unpick any portion which did not seem to her to be sewn neatly enough4 ,amy tried to give her best1 her very best work1 because she was giving it to the ,lord1 and some of the happiest hours which the little girl ever had known were spent over her tedious curtains4 8,i cannot think1 ,amy1 how you can go on so patiently with what is so tiresome1 with no variety in it1 and a kind of work which will not look striking when all is done10 exclaimed ,dora one day1 as she unrolled some glittering gold thread from her reel4 ,amy smiled as she glanced up at her sister's far more amusing occupation4 8,if ,i could have worked anything so pretty as the veil which you are making1 ,i daresay that ,i should have liked it much better10 she observed4 8,but ,i am pleased to do the plain work as well as ,i can1 as the embroidery would have been far too difficult for me40 ,amy's curtains might seem plain to the eyes of most people1 but her mother looked upon them with special pleasure2 for1 as she said to herself1 8they are embroided all over with faith and love40 ,agnes also made steady progress with her not very inviting work1 though she took in it no great pleasure4 ,agnes regarded the sewing as a matter of duty1 and therefore plied her needle in the same spirit as that in which she struggled to subdue her temper1 and tried to put a bridle on her tongue4 ,it was the work which had been given to her1 and she would do it1 without asking herself whether she liked it or not4 8,this material1 neither smooth nor pretty1 is something like a type of me10 thought ,agnes1 as she put the finishing stitch into one of her mohair curtains2 8but the goats'-hair had just as much its appointed place in the ,tabernacle as loops of silver and sockets of gold4 ,i shall never be as much liked and admired as ,dora is--,i may as well make up my mind to that2 but if ,god help me by ,his grace1 ,i too may lead a useful life1 and be dear--at least to my mother40 ,and more and more dear was ,agnes becoming to her mother1 who watched with the keen eye of affection the struggle made by her eldest daughter against her besetting sins4 ,mrs4 ,temple guessed what it cost ,agnes to bear a rough joke in silence1 to lend pretty things which she feared that the borrower might spoil1 to give up her own way1 and to show no jealous anger when another was preferred before her4 8,my girl's character is becoming stronger and nobler every day10 thought ,mrs4 ,temple2 8,i thank the ,lord for my ,agnes1 for ,i am sure that it is ,his grace that is working in her heart4 ,agnes promises to grow up into a really valuable woman1 one whom her mother can trust40 ,mrs4 ,temple could not have said as much for her dearly loved ,dora4 ,the lady was perplexed and pained to feel that something--she knew not what it could be--seemed to have come between her and her bright1 clever1 affectionate child4 ,dora1 indeed1 gave ,mrs4 ,temple no cause to find fault with her conduct2 her lessons were well learned1 her temper was good1 she was a favorite still with her brother and sisters2 and yet her mother felt that there was a change in her ,dora for which she could not account4 ,mrs4 ,temple was wont to have little quiet conversations separately with each of her children at night3 in these meetings they were able to open their hearts more freely to their mother than they could have done had a third person been present1 and their parent could speak upon religious subjects in the way best suited to the character and age of each4 ,these quiet moments spent alone with mamma had been greatly prized by all the children2 but ,dora could take pleasure in them no more1 and her parent was conscious that such was the case4 ,the girl generally managed1 only too easily1 to forget all about her unrepented sin when the remembrance of it was not forced upon her now half-deadened conscience1 but when her mother sat by her bedside and softly talked to her about heaven1 ,dora grew uneasy in spirit4 ,she did not like to be reminded of the holy ,god whose law she had broken--what pleasure could the knowledge of ,his truth bring to one who was conscious of unrepented falsehood6 ,the returns of ,sundays1 nay1 even the hour for family prayer1 were never welcome to ,dora4 ,when she repeated texts or hymns1 as the rest of the family did1 she had the wretched consciousness that she was acting a hypocrite's part1 and taking ,god's name in vain4 ,dora's life was becoming one long act of deceit4 ,she was secretly ashamed of herself for appearing so much better than she in reality was4 8,but my work--my beautiful work--my work for the poor--,i'll make up for what ,i've done wrong by taking extra pains with that60 thought ,dora4 ,and so the poor girl usually succeeded in winning much praise from others1 and in deceiving her own sinful heart1 only too willing to be thus deceived4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,xvi4 ,the ,high-,priest4 8,,there is one thing which we can't do1 it is too hard for even ,dora10 observed ,elsie one morning at breakfast1 when1 as was often the case1 the ,children's ,tabernacle had formed a topic of conversation4 8,we can't make models of the ,ark1 or the ,altar1 or the ,table of ,showbread2 our pretty curtains won't cover anything1 the ,tabernacle will be quite empty60 8,i really could not undertake to do more than ,i am doing1 even if my fingers could manage to make such tiny models10 said ,lucius1 who1 as we have seen1 already found that he had engaged in a difficult task4 ,agnes1 ,dora1 and ,amy were silent2 they all felt that there would certainly be a great want in their ,tabernacle1 but they did not see how that want could possibly be supplied4 ,the young ,temples little guessed that while their mother was in her own room1 engaged1 as they supposed1 in reading or writing1 or making up her household accounts1 she was preparing for them a pleasant surprise4 ,mrs4 ,temple was not less with her family than usual1 she did not neglect her house affairs1 she never forgot either to order the dinner or to pay the butcher and baker1 but she stole time for her novel employment from her sleep1 and from her favorite amusement of reading library books4 ,on the day when the model was completed1 when the last silver socket had been fastened1 and the last little curtain hemmed1 the children had the pleasure of setting up the ,tabernacle in the study1 to see how it looked4 ,there was great satisfaction in surveying the finished work2 every one felt glad that the long labor was over1 and that he had had a share in the work4 8,how pleased auntie will be60 cried ,elsie4 8,and the ragged children1 too10 joined in ,amy4 8,and now go out for your walk1 my dear ones10 said their mother2 8the morning is so frosty and bright that you may make your walk a long one2 ,i should not be surprised should you wander as far as ,burnley woods4 ,i shall not expect you back for a couple of hours40 8,mother1 you will go with us10 said ,lucius4 8,i will be particularly engaged this morning10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple1 as she shook her head with a smile4 ,elsie remarked afterwards that it had been 8a knowing kind of smile10 as if there had been some very particular reason indeed for her mamma's stopping at home4 ,the reason was clear enough to all the party when they returned from their walk1 and with their cheeks rosy from the fresh air and exercise re-entered the study4 ,the children found their mother standing beside the model4 ,elsie1 who was the first to run up to it1 gave almost a scream of delight4 8,oh6 see--see what mamma has been making6 ,clever mamma60 she cried1 clapping her hands1 and jumping for joy4 8,what lovely little models60 exclaimed ,lucius4 8,mother1 it is you who have cut us all out40 8,you have done what none of us could have done10 said ,agnes4 8,and so quietly too10 observed ,dora4 8,there is nothing wanting now60 cried ,amy1 putting her arm fondly around the parent who had so kindly entered into the little pleasures of her children4 8,i thought that one thing more was wanting10 said ,mrs4 ,temple4 ,the lady seated herself beside the table1 and took off the cover of a little pasteboard box which she held in her hand4 ,the children looked on with mingled curiosity and pleasure as their mother carefully drew out from it a beautiful little figure about two inches long1 exquisitely dressed in miniature garments1 representing those which were worn by the high-priest of ,israel4 ,to imitate these garments in a size so small1 had taxed the utmost skill of the ingenious and neat-fingered lady4 ,i need not set down all the exclamations of wonder and pleasure which were uttered by the younger ,temples4 ,if their mother's great object had been to gratify her children1 that object was certainly attained4 8,the dress which ,i have tried to imitate10 said the lady1 8is that in which the high-priest appeared on solemn occasions4 ,the ,day of ,atonement was1 however1 an exception2 on that most solemn day in the year1 when the high-priest ventured into the ,holy of holies1 he did so in simple garments of pure white linen40 ,the mother then showed and explained to her family the different articles of dress on her curious model4 ,the under-tunic1 or shirt1 of linen1 and above it the mantle of sky-blue color1 having at the bottom an ornamental border or fringe4 8,this fringe1 which1 as you see1 ,i have cut out in the form of tiny pomegranates1 ought to be interspersed with bells of gold10 said ,mrs4 ,temple2 8but my fingers could not succeed in making anything so very minute40 8,and unless we had looked through a microscope1 we could not have distinguished bells no bigger than needles' eyes10 observed ,lucius4 8,and what is this fine uppermost garment1 reaching to the knees80 inquired ,dora1 looking admiringly on the delicate embroidery in gold and colors similar to that which she had herself worked for the ,veil1 only a great deal finer4 8,this is the ,ephod10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,on the front of it ,i have1 as you see1 worked in very small beads of various colors an imitation of the high-priest's breastplate1 which was formed of twelve precious stones40 ,the minute breastplate excited more attention than any other part of the high-priest's dress1 and had1 perhaps1 given the skilful worker more trouble than all the rest4 ,every one of the little beads was of a different tint4 ,they were closely set together in rows1 so as to form a square ornament1 and were fastened to the shoulder parts of the ,ephod by little threads of gold4 8,how very splendid the real breastplate must have been60 exclaimed ,dora ,temple4 8,had it also some typical meaning80 asked ,lucius4 8,i suppose so10 he added1 8as everything about the ,tabernacle and the high-priest seems to have been a type of something greater40 8,on each of the precious stones in the splendid breastplate was inscribed the names of one of the twelve tribes of ,israel10 replied ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,i believe that the breastplate was worn by the high-priest1 who was to pray in the ,tabernacle for the people1 and then to come forward and bless them1 as a token that he bore their names on his heart40 8,oh1 that is a beautiful meaning60 cried ,amy2 8especially when we think10 she continued1 more softly1 8that the high-priest was a type of our blessed ,saviour ,himself40 8,who bears all ,his people's names on his heart10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple2 8both when ,he pleads for them in heaven1 and when ,he blesses them upon earth40 8,the high-priest must have looked very noble and grand in his rich garments10 observed ,lucius2 8and yet it seems too much honor for any mere man to be called a type of the ,son of ,god40 8,ah1 my boy6 poor and mean indeed must any earthly type appear when compared to the heavenly ,antitype60 exclaimed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,that thought came strongly to my mind as ,i was sewing together these little worthless glass beads to form the model of the glorious breastplate4 #8,can these wretched little atoms of colored glass1' ,i said to myself1 #8give any idea of magnificent jewels1 sparkling in light1 set in gold1 and each engraved with a name8' ,but even so mean1 and small1 and insignificant was ,aaron1 in all his splendor1 compared to the sacred ,being who deigns to call ,himself our ,high-,priest1 and to make intercession for us above60 ,all the party were silent for several moments1 looking down at the little model1 and thinking over the words of their mother4 ,elsie then pointed to the curious head-dress which appeared on the figure4 ,it was not exactly a turban1 though it was formed of tight rolls of linen4 ,it had the representation of a plate of gold in front1 fastened on to it by a blue thread4 8,that head-dress is called the high-priest's bonnet or mitre10 observed ,mrs4 ,temple4 8,there are rather different opinions regarding its exact shape4 ,it cost me a good deal of thought to contrive it1 and here again ,i felt how impossible it is to give anything like a just idea of the real object in a model so small as this4 ,you see that ,i have not neglected to put a little gold plate on the front of the mitre2 but ,i had no power to form letters so minute as to represent on it what was engraved on that which the high-priest wore4 ,this was #8,,holiness ,,to ,,the ,,lord4'0 8,then the high-priest had the ,lord's ,name written over his brow10 observed ,agnes4 8,it makes one think of the promise in the ,bible1 that saints in heaven shall have ,his ,name written on their foreheads40 7,rev4 xxii4 #d47 8,all will be #8,holiness to the ,lord' in that happy place60 observed ,amy4 ,it was pleasanter to ,dora to examine the little model before her1 and to admire and praise her mother's skill1 than to think of what was inscribed on the mitre worn by ,aaron and his successors4 ,it is the sad1 sad effect of sin concealed in the heart1 that it keeps those who indulge it from daring even to wish to be holy4 ,the ,tabernacle was now carefully taken down1 piece by piece1 to be packed in a box1 ready to be carried along with the rest of their luggage when the family should quit their home for awhile4 ,every curtain was neatly folded1 and all the pillars carefully wrapped up in paper4 ,the figure representing the high-priest was gently put back into its own little box1 and all the other little objects were packed in cotton1 so as to bear without injury a little jolting on the journey before them4 ,with additional pleasure the young ,temples now looked forward to the coming ,christmas season1 and the long-expected visit which they were to pay to their ,aunt ,theodora4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,xvii4 ,the ,birthday ,gifts4 ,,several months have passed away since the ,temples began making their model of the ,tabernacle of ,israel4 ,the leaves which were then green on the trees1 have become yellow1 have faded and fallen2 save those on the evergreens1 which wear a silver crusting of frost4 ,but it is not to ,cedar ,lodge that ,i shall take my young readers1 but to a large and rather plain brick house in the city of ,chester4 ,it is a house by no means beautiful to the eye1 and its only look-out is into a narrow paved street2 but still that house has a charm of its own1 it is dear to many a heart1 for its owner1 ,miss ,theodora ,clare1 is the friend and benefactress of the poor around4 ,many have entered sadly through the dark green door of that red-brick house1 who have left it cheerfully1 blessing the kind heart and liberal hand of its lady4 ,it is just two days before ,christmas3 on the morrow ,miss ,clare's ,ragged ,school is to have its annual treat4 ,a feast and gifts of warm socks or mittens knitted for each child by the lady's own hands1 are not to form the only1 or perhaps the chief attractions of the treat2 the little scholars have been promised a sight of the model ,tabernacle1 which its young makers are to bring from their country home1 about ten miles away4 ,christmas ,eve has been fixed upon by ,miss ,clare as the time for her ,ragged ,school ,fte1 because it is the birthday of her twin nieces1 the younger of whom is her namesake4 ,the arrival of the ,temple family is expected almost every minute1 and ,miss ,clare sits by the window1 with the red glow of a ,december sun upon her1 glancing up with a look of pleasant expectation whenever she hears the rattle of wheels along the narrow paved street4 ,you might guess at once by the likeness between them that ,miss ,clare is the sister of ,mrs4 ,temple1 though her figure is a little taller1 and her locks a little whiter than those of the widow lady4 ,miss ,clare is evidently thinking2 she looks a little perplexed and doubtful as she examines the contents of a large old-fashioned ebony box which holds her little treasures4 ,not treasures of silver or gold2 there are but few indeed of such things in the possession of ,theodora ,clare3 her silver spoons have fed the hungry2 her gold chain has paid for the benches on which her ragged scholars sit1 and her bracelets for the books which they learn from1 and the big blackboard on the wall4 ,a good many pairs of stout little shoes have come out of ,miss ,clare's silver tea-pot6 ,but there is one article of jewellery which the lady still possesses1 and this is to her the most precious of all4 ,it is the likeness of her sister1 ,mrs4 ,temple1 in a brooch1 set round with pearls4 ,this was the gift of ,mr4 ,temple on his wedding-day to the bridesmaid1 ,theodora2 it is very beautiful as an ornament1 and as a likeness almost perfect4 ,but not even this jewel does the generous lady intend to keep for herself2 it is to be her birthday present on the following day to ,dora4 ,miss ,clare has for years settled in her own mind that her god-daughter should receive the precious brooch on completing the twelfth year of her age2 it is no doubt upon this subject that perplexes her now2 7for the lady does look a little perplexed as she searches her old-fashioned box for something which she seems to have some difficulty in finding74 ,she opens this little packet1 then that little packet1 then silently shakes her head1 or murmurs 8,no1 that will not do10 as she replaces it in the large box4 ,the reader knows that ,dora has a twin sister1 and that the birthday of the one is also the birthday of the other4 ,miss ,clare does not like to give to ,dora without also giving to ,agnes1 and as her hospitality and her charities leave her very little money for buying presents1 she wishes to find some suitable article already in her possession of which to make a birthday remembrance4 ,but what should that article be8 ,almost everything that would please a young girl had already been given away4 8,i have nothing--nothing that can be compared in value or in beauty with the brooch10 said ,miss ,clare to herself1 as she locked the box where she had been vainly searching amongst locks of hair neatly wrapped in separate papers1 old letters1 and little pictures faded and yellow with time4 8,i hope that ,agnes is too sensible a girl to expect that my precious brooch should be given to herself instead of to my namesake1 who is to me almost as a daughter2 but still ,agnes is the elder of the twins2 she is1 ,i fear1 of rather a jealous temper2 her character has not--or had not a year ago--the generosity and sweetness of that of my ,dora4 ,i should be grieved to hurt the feelings of either of the dear girls2 what can ,i find that will really please ,agnes80 ,miss ,clare had really given the subject a good deal of consideration1 though apparently to little purpose1 when a thought occurred to her mind which brought a smile of satisfaction to her kind pleasant face4 ,miss ,clare rose from her seat by the window1 and went to a table which had in it a drawer1 hidden by the neat brown cloth that hung over the sides4 ,the lady lifted the cloth1 drew open the drawer1 and then took from it a flat parcel wrapped in a peculiar kind of yellowish paper1 with that scent about it which usually pervades articles which have come from ,india4 8,here is the delicate little embroidered neck-scarf which was sent to me years ago1 and which ,i have always thought much too fine for my wear10 said the lady1 as she opened the parcel4 8,this will of course be a gift not to be compared to the brooch2 but still it is pretty1 very pretty2 ,i think that ,agnes is sure to admire it40 ,it was indeed impossible not to admire the exquisite embroidery in gold and colors on the small ,india-muslin scarf4 ,the natives of ,india excel in this kind of work1 and the little scarf was a gem of beauty for richness of pattern and brightness of hue4 ,miss ,clare's only doubt was whether such an article of dress were not too gay to be given to her young niece4 ,miss ,clare had little time to think over this matter1 for hardly had she put back the pretty piece of embroidery into its paper wrapping1 and then replaced it in the drawer1 when the rattle of wheels was heard on the stones1 and a large carriage1 well filled within1 and with plenty of luggage without1 was driven up to the door4 ,well ,miss ,clare knew the smiling eager faces which crowded the carriage window1 and the merry young voices which sounded through the clear cold winter air4 ,the lady ran hurriedly to meet and welcome the party1 and was at the open door1 notwithstanding the cold of frosty ,december1 before ,mrs4 ,temple and her five children could manage to get out of the carriage in which they had been too closely packed for comfort1 but in which they had been very noisy and merry4 ,all trace of whooping cough had long since departed1 and the sounds which had been heard in the carriage had been only those of talking1 laughing1 and singing6 ,illustration ,illustration ,,xviii4 ,the ,arrival4 8,,mind1 coachman1 mind6 ,you must hand down that box very carefully60 shouted out ,lucius to the driver1 who was now engaged in taking down the luggage4 ,the boy had been the first of the party to spring out of the carriage1 but he was the last to enter the house1 for all his thoughts seemed to be taken up by the long1 flat deal box which had been put under the special care of the coachman1 with many a charge to see that no harm should come to it on the journey4 ,had the box been a cradle containing a baby1 it could hardly have been more gently and carefully received from the coachman's hands1 and then carried up the door-steps and into the red-brick house by ,lucius4 ,did it not hold the result of the labor of many weeks6--was there not in it the work completed by the family's united efforts1 the beautiful model of the ,tabernacle made by the children of ,israel6 8,oh1 auntie1 here is our great work--our model6 ,where shall we set it up8 ,have you a table ready8 ,it is all finished--every loop6 ,oh1 you must see it6 you must see it60 ,such were the exclamations which burst from the children as ,lucius appeared in the hall1 laden with the long1 flat deal box4 ,miss ,clare had not yet seen the model1 though she had heard a great deal about it1 and had given notice to many friends and neighbors of the little exhibition of it1,b to be held in her house through the following week1 for the benefit of her school4 ,she was amused at the eager impatience shown by the youthful workers4 ,except ,agnes1 who took the matter more quietly1 none of the ,temples cared even to warm themselves by the blazing fire after their wintry journey until the model ,tabernacle had been unpacked from its box4 8,please1 auntie1 please don't look at it till it's all set up60 exclaimed ,elsie1 in a tone of entreaty4 8,you can talk to mamma1 you know1 while we are unrolling the little curtains 7,i did the ,turkey-red curtains7--and fastening them up on the gilded pillars by the wee wee loops which are made of silver thread60 ,miss ,clare was quite willing to indulge the humor of her young guests1 so that she did not even remain in the room while the ,tabernacle was being put up on the table set apart for the purpose4 ,she took her sister1 ,mrs4 ,temple1 up-stairs1 and helped her to take off her cloak and furs1 and talked over many subjects with her1 while the young people below were busily engaged with their model4 ,it was not until nearly two hours had elapsed1 and after the party had all partaken of a dinner of roast beef and plum-pudding1 that ,miss ,clare re-entered her own sitting-room to have her first sight of the wonderful work4 ,for wonderful it was in the eyes of its youthful contrivers1 who knew the trouble which it had cost them to finish and fix those numerous pillars and curtains1 with sockets and loops4 ,the ,temples regarded their model as a triumph of art and patience1 much as the builder of one of the ,pyramids may have regarded his own gigantic work4 ,miss ,clare was expected to look and feel a good deal more astonished than she could in sincerity do2 but if she was not astonished1 at least she was pleased1 and showed that she was so4 8,it's a pity1 auntie1 that you can't see more of my ,turkey-red curtains2 ,i wish they'd been the top ones10 cried ,elsie1 lifting up a corner of the merino covering to show her own work beneath4 8,these linen curtains round the court of the ,tabernacle are neatly1 very neatly made10 observed ,miss ,clare2 8with so many silver loops they must have required a great deal of patience in the worker40 ,amy colored with pleasure at the praise2 she had not expected her own share of the work to attract much notice4 ,she now silently drew her aunt's attention to the pretty little gilded pillars upon which her curtains were hung4 8,but the beauty part--the real beauty part--is the 'broidery1 the inner curtains1 and the veil60 exclaimed ,elsie4 8,oh1 auntie1 you will be astonished at them4 ,just stoop down and look in--just look in6 ,we've managed to leave the front open1 and the veil is half-drawn aside1 so that you can see the inner part quite well4 ,no one could see the inner part of the real ,tabernacle1 you know2 but then ours is only a model40 ,the lady stooped1 as requested1 and looked through the space between the front pillars1 not only into the outer ,tabernacle1 but beyond the veil into what1 in the model1 represented the ,holy of holies4 ,dora1 who had for months been looking forward to this moment1 listened eagerly to hear what her darling aunt would say of her work4 ,miss ,clare1 it will be remembered1 had that day been examining a lovely specimen of some of the most finished embroidery to be found in any part of the world4 ,dora's work was clever1 regarded as that of a girl not twelve years of age1 who had had to contrive her own pattern2 but it was1 of course1 very poor compared to that on the ,indian scarf4 8,is it not splendid 'broidery80 persisted ,elsie1 who wished others to share her own unbounded admiration for the work of a favorite sister4 8,it is nice10 said ,aunt ,theodora1 quietly1 8but wants a little more scarlet1 ,i think40 ,and was this all that could be said of that which had cost ,dora hours of thought1 and many hours of patient labor--these few words of qualified praise6 ,dora was bitterly disappointed1 far more disappointed than ,agnes1 whose curtains1 whether mohair or merino1 seemed to win no notice at all4 ,there was good reason why ,dora should feel pain which ,agnes was spared4 ,it was not time and labor only which the younger twin had given to gain success2 she had made a sacrifice of conscience1 she had forfeited her own self-respect1 she had lost the blessing of confidential intercourse with her mother1 and all pleasure and comfort in prayer6 ,dora had given up all this1 and for what8 ,to hear the observation1 by no means unkindly uttered1 8,it is nice1 but wants a little more scarlet40 ,if ,dora had ever believed that in working her embroidery she had really been laboring for anything higher than earthly pleasure or human praise1 the extreme vexation which she now experienced must surely have undeceived her4 ,why should she care so much for what was said of her performance if her real object was but to please her ,heavenly ,master8 ,agnes and ,amy1 who had worked from motives of duty and love1 were safe from any such keen disappointment4 ,they both looked with pleasure on the completed model1 in forming which they had taken inferior parts2 while ,dora had to walk to the window to hide from the eyes of her family the mortification which she felt4 ,that day was a very happy one to all the members of the ,temple family1 ,dora alone excepted4 ,she felt a kind of dread of the evening conversation which she knew that she would have with her aunt4 ,the eve of her last birthday ,dora remembered as1 perhaps1 the happiest time of her life4 ,aunt ,theodora had come to sit with her1 and talk to her of her coming birthday--a new milestone1 as she called it1 on the pilgrim's path towards heaven4 ,dora had on that evening opened her heart to her aunt1 and the two had loved each other more fondly than they ever had loved before1 and their parting embrace had been so sweet that ,dora had felt that she could never forget it4 ,miss ,clare was certain to come again this evening into her room--in this house ,dora had a little room to herself--and must the niece act the hypocrite's part to an aunt so loving and true2 must the girl so trusted and loved make a show of openness while concealing a secret from her aunt1 which1 if confessed1 must lower her in the eyes of that tender relative and friend8 ,miss ,clare did indeed come that night1 as ,dora had expected that she would come4 ,the girl soon found herself sitting on a stool with her arms resting on her aunt's knee1 as they had rested twelve months before2 and she heard the same dear voice speaking to her of holy things1 as she had heard on that well-remembered night4 ,the room was the same1 the furniture1 the pictures were all the same1 but ,dora felt in her own heart a miserable change4 ,half a dozen times was the poor girl on the point of laying her head on her aunt's knee1 and sobbing forth a full confession to relieve her burdened heart4 ,but to own repeated falsehood and long deceit to one herself so truthful1 to lose the good opinion of one whose regard she so greatly valued1 oh6 ,dora could not muster up courage sufficient for this6 8,and now that you are making a new start in life's journey1 my child10 such were the aunt's concluding words as she rose to depart1 8give yourself anew to the best of ,masters1 the most tender of ,friends4 ,ask ,his blessing upon all that you do3 without that blessing our best works are but like building on sand1 or writing on water--all end in vanity and vexation of spirit4 ,the great lesson taught us by the history of ancient ,israel is this3 the path of obedience is the path of safety and happiness also4 ,when ,god's people followed where ,he led1 and did what ,he commanded1 then were their hearts filled with joy1 and their harps tuned to glad songs of triumph2 but when the ,israelites turned aside to paths of disobedience1 sorrow followed close upon sin2 they hung their harps on the willows1 and1 exiles from their beautiful land1 they wept when they remembered the blessings which would still have been theirs1 had they not forsaken their ,god60 ,,footnote3 ,b ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 remembers attending1 many years ago1 exactly such an exhibition at the house of a friend1 a model of the ,tabernacle made by a lady and her children for some charitable purpose4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,xix4 ,disappointment4 ,the birthday of the twins had arrived2 but the sun rises late on the twenty-fourth of ,december1 and ,dora was up1 dressing by candlelight1 long before his first beams shone on the sheet of pure white snow which had fallen during the night4 ,it might be supposed that ,dora's thoughts would be on the words of advice which she had heard on the previous night2 but though these words had made some impression at the time1 it was by no means upon them that the girl's mind was running when she awoke in the morning4 ,dora was thinking of her embroidery work--that work of which she had been so proud1 that work which had cost her so dear4 ,nothing that ,miss ,clare had said dwelt so much on the memory of her niece as the simple observation1 8,it wants a little more scarlet1 ,i think40 ,for on the mantelpiece of the room now occupied by ,dora1 there chanced to stand a glass bottle1 corked and labelled2 and by the light of her candle ,dora had noticed that 8,,scarlet ,,ink0 was printed upon the label4 ,the sight of that little bottle had roused in the mind of the girl new hopes1 and again turned her energies into the channel of work4 8,my supply of scarlet silk ran short1 and ,i was not able to get another skein at the shop10 thought ,dora4 8,aunt is quite right1 there is not enough of scarlet mixed with the purple and blue2 it is that which spoils the effect of my curtains4 ,i wonder that no one noticed that before6 ,but ,i have a skein of white silk with me1 and why should ,i not dye it myself with that beautiful scarlet ink8 ,this is a capital idea6 ,the school children do not come till the afternoon2 ,i should have time to dye my silk before breakfast1 and after breakfast to work enough scarlet into my pattern to give a brilliant effect to all that part which is most easily seen4 ,how pleased ,aunt ,theodora will be to find that ,i have taken her hint1 and that ,i grudge no extra trouble to make my work complete6 ,how very lucky it is that she put that ink into my room60 ,dora actually forgot both her prayers and her ,scripture reading on that birthday morning1 in her impatience to get down-stairs and quietly remove her inner veil and curtains from the model1 before any other member of the family should enter the room where it was kept4 ,with rough hair1 and dress only half-buttoned1 ,dora noiselessly opened her door1 and then crept down the staircase1 and into the sitting-room in which the ,tabernacle stood1 covered from the dust by large sheets of silver paper4 ,there was no one in the room except the housemaid1 who was employed in opening the shutters to let in the light of morning4 ,the model1 as we know1 was made to be taken to pieces at will2 but as ,dora's set of curtains was the innermost of all1 it cost her some time and trouble to remove them4 ,she pursued her occupation1 while the housemaid went on with that of lighting the fire and dusting the room1 and was at last able to disengage the whole of the embroidered portion of the drapery of the little ,tabernacle4 ,with this ,dora returned to her own apartment1 and she laid her work on the pretty little table which her aunt had placed for her convenience4 8,i must be quick about the dyeing10 said ,dora to herself1 8for ,i can hear ,lucius whistling up-stairs in the passage1 and little ,elsie running about in the room just over my head4 ,the family is now all astir1 and in a quarter of an hour the prayer-bell will ring4 ,if ,i don't dye my silk scarlet at once ,i shall be sadly delayed in my work1 for ,i cannot1 of course1 use it for sewing until it is perfectly dry40 ,so ,dora took the bottle of ink down from its place on the mantelpiece1 and in a great hurry set about removing the sealing-wax which covered the cork1 for the bottle had not yet been opened4 ,it was a tolerably easy matter to break off the edges of the red wax1 but ,dora did not find it easy at all to pull out the cork1 which was low in the narrow neck of the bottle1 and happened to be a very tight fit4 8,dear6 dear6 how troublesome this is60 exclaimed ,dora1 hunting about for her stout pair of nail scissors to help her in forcing out the obstinate cork4 8,good morning1 ,dora dear1 many happy returns of the day to you60 cried the merry voice of ,elsie1 as she tapped at the door of her sister4 8,thank you1 darling1 don't come in now2 ,i'll soon be down-stairs--,i'm not quite ready60 called out ,dora1 who had just succeeded in finding the scissors4 ,she heard the little feet patter down the stairs4 8,happy birthday to you1 ,dora6 ,mind you're not late1 ,miss ,twelve-years-old60 ,this time it was the voice of ,lucius at the door4 8,no1 no1 ,i'll not be late2 ,i'll be down in ten minutes60 cried ,dora1 digging her scissors vigorously into the cork4 ,the clatter of ,lucius's boots showed that he had followed little ,elsie4 8,oh1 this cork1 this tiresome cork60 exclaimed ,dora2 8there1 it's out at last20 and setting the opened bottle on the table1 she turned round in a great flurry to get from her box the skein of silk which was to be changed from white to scarlet4 8,more haste1 less speed40 ,dora was not the first who has proved the truth of that proverb4 ,she whisked round so rapidly that her dress struck the top of the bottle which she had carelessly set down in a place that was not very safe4 ,the bottle was knocked over1 but it fell upon something soft which lay on the table1 so that it was neither broken1 nor did it make enough noise in falling to attract the attention of ,dora4 ,it was not till she had found the skein 7which she had some trouble in doing71 that on turning back to the table she perceived the mischief caused by her hasty movement4 ,what a start and exclamation of distress were given by poor ,dora when she saw on the table her embroidery lying actually under the overturned bottle1 and soaked through and through with the scarlet ink which had flowed in abundance from it6 ,dora stood for a moment as if rooted to the spot1 scarcely able to believe her own eyes4 ,she then darted forward1 caught up the half-emptied bottle in one hand1 and the stained1 dripping linen in the other4 ,the first glance at the embroidery showed the poor girl that the mischief done was utterly beyond repairing2 in one minute the fruit of all her long toil had been completely destroyed6 8,oh1 it is all my own fault--all my own fault--it could not have prospered60 cried out ,dora1 in a loud tone of anguish1 as she put down first the bottle1 then the embroidery1 and then1 hiding her face with her scarlet-stained fingers1 she burst into a passion of weeping4 ,that cry1 that weeping1 reached the ears of her aunt1 who had just approached her door1 carrying with her the destined gifts for the twins--the ,indian scarf1 and the brooch with the miniature set in pearls4 8,my darling girl1 what is the matter80 exclaimed ,miss ,clare1 opening the door in alarm4 ,there was no need to repeat the unanswered question2 the bottle1 the little heap of embroidered linen dripping with scarlet ink1 told their own story plainly enough4 ,miss ,clare saw the nature of the accident which had happened1 and1 with kind sympathy for her niece's great disappointment1 folded her affectionately in her arms4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,xx4 ,confession4 8,,it is vexatious1 my ,dora1 very vexatious10 said ,miss ,clare1 in a tone of condolence2 8it is trying to you1 after all the pains which you have bestowed on your work1 to see that work suddenly spoiled4 ,but still take comfort1 dear child1 in the thought that no labor undertaken for our ,master can really be lost40 ,dora sobbed more bitterly than before1 for she knew that hers had not been labor undertaken for the ,master1 and she felt that her time and toil had been worse than lost4 ,miss ,clare did all that she could to comfort her favorite niece4 ,she showed ,dora the beautiful brooch which she herself valued so greatly2 she told her that she had brought it as a birthday remembrance2 but1 much to the lady's surprise1 ,dora only shook her head sadly1 and sobbed forth1 8,not for me--not for me6 ,oh1 that model1 ,i wish that ,i never had touched it--,i wish that ,i had never set a stitch in one of those curtains60 8,i see that you are distressed1 very naturally distressed1 by the mishap which has befallen your curtains1 fearing that thereby the whole model may be spoilt10 observed ,theodora4 8,you are thinking of the disappointment of your brother and sisters1 of the ,ragged-school children who are coming to-day1 of my friends who are invited to see the model4 ,you think that there is no time to repair the effects of the spilling the scarlet ink2 but ,i think that ,i see a way to remedy the mischief20 and ,miss ,clare1 as she spoke1 placed before the weeping girl her beautiful embroidered scarf4 8,i had intended to give this to ,agnes when ,i gave you the miniature brooch1 but ,i will now alter my plan4 ,i will try to find out1 or purchase1 some other remembrance for ,agnes2 and1 with a little alteration1 do you not think1 my sweet girl1 that this work will do nicely for the inner curtains and veil80 8,a thousand times better than mine could have done60 exclaimed ,dora1 darting a glance of almost fierce dislike at the embroidery1 now stained and marred1 which she had once surveyed with such proud admiration4 8,no1 indeed10 said ,miss ,clare1 very kindly2 8for though the ,indian scarf may be--certainly is in itself more beautiful than your curtains1 we cannot see in it the same token of patient perseverance in making what was intended to be a humble offering of love to the ,lord40 8,oh1 ,aunt ,theodora1 ,i can stand this no longer60 exclaimed ,dora1 almost choking with the violence of her emotion2 8you must know all1 ,i can hide it no more2 you must hear what a naughty1 naughty girl ,i have been60 ,then1 as well as she could through her tears and her sobs1 ,dora relieved herself of the burden of concealment which had become at last intolerable4 ,she told everything to her aunt--the first fault1 the breaking of the fourth commandment2 then the falsehood1 the deceit which had followed1 for when did an unrepented sin ever stand alone6 ,dora concluded by passionately exclaiming1 8,you cannot1 you must not1 give me the brooch--,agnes has deserved it much better2 she has been conquering her temper and doing all that she can to please mamma1 while ,i have been only a hypocrite6 ,please give the brooch to ,agnes1 and the scarf for the model2 ,i could not bear now to take either--,i who have only deserved to be punished60 ,miss ,clare was surprised1 pained1 disappointed by what she now heard2 yet there was comfort to her in seeing that now at least her poor niece was heartily repenting4 8,i cannot tell you1 my child1 how thankful ,i am that this accident has happened to your work1 and that you have been led to speak out bravely at last10 said her aunt1 putting her arm round ,dora1 and drawing her tenderly towards her1 so that the poor girl could weep on her bosom4 8,then you don't despise me--you won't give me up80 murmured ,dora1 crying still1 but much more softly4 8,give you up--never60 cried the aunt1 and she pressed a kiss upon ,dora's brow4 8,it may be a question1 indeed1 whether ,i had not better reserve the brooch till next birthday40 8,oh1 ,i never could take it1 never60 cried ,dora1 excitedly2 8let it be given to ,agnes40 8,do you think1 ,dora1 that by giving up the brooch you are winning a claim to forgiveness--that by this sacrifice you are atoning for what you have done wrong80 asked ,miss ,clare4 8,if so1 ,i am bound to tell you that you are mistaken40 8,no1 aunt10 replied ,dora1 for the first time raising her eyes1 heavy with weeping1 and looking her godmother full in the face2 8,i know that nothing that ,i can do can atone for my sin--that there is but one ,atonement2 but ,i feel as if ,i could not take the brooch which you meant to give to a good girl1 and which ,i have so little0-- ,dora could not finish the sentence1 tears came again1 and she hid her face on the bosom of her aunt4 ,miss ,clare hesitated no longer4 ,she felt that it would deeply impress on the mind of ,dora the painful lesson which she was learning1 if she saw the brooch in the possession of her elder twin4 ,what ,theodora had heard from ,mrs4 ,temple of the marked improvement in the character of ,agnes1 convinced her that she was the sister who best deserved to receive the miniature of her mother4 ,miss ,clare made a sacrifice of her own inclination in thus deciding to follow her judgment1 but she was in the habit of doing what she thought right1 instead of what she thought pleasant4 8,i will confess all to mamma1 now1 just as ,i have done to you--,i won't be a hypocrite any longer10 murmured ,dora1 as soon as she had recovered power to speak4 8,and there is ,another to whom my child must also confess10 said ,miss ,clare1 still with her arm round her niece1 still with ,dora's head on her breast2 8there is ,one who is ready freely to forgive every penitent who approaches the ,mercy-seat pleading the merits of ,christ4 ,we have no power to remove one spot from our souls20 the eyes of ,miss ,clare chanced to rest1 as she spoke1 on the embroidery1 stained and destroyed2 8but there is the ,lord's promise to comfort the broken and contrite heart1 #8,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be white as snow--though they be red as crimson1 they shall be as wool4'0 ,dora and her aunt knelt down together and together prayed1 but in silence4 ,when ,dora rose from her knees1 though she was still very sad and subdued1 there was a peace in her heart1 a sense of sin forgiven1 which she had not experienced for months4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,xxi4 ,conclusion4 8,,dora is late--shockingly late--on her birthday too6 ,i am surprised60 exclaimed ,elsie1 who was in a fidget of impatience to present her sister with a marker which she had made4 8,and ,aunt has kept us twenty--more than twenty minutes waiting for prayers60 cried ,amy2 8,i am surprised1 for she always is so punctual40 8,and ,agnes has employed the time mending my gloves1 the most surprising thing of all10 laughed ,lucius4 8,why so surprising80 asked ,elsie4 8,because a few months ago ,agnes was much more given to picking holes than to sewing them up10 answered the boy4 8,i liked to plague her and she to tease me1 and ,i thought that we should always live a kind of cat-and-dog life together4 ,but now we're going to be grand allies10 added the merry boy1 clapping ,agnes upon the shoulder2 8by your example you'll help to mend my manners as well as my gloves60 ,lucius spoke in his saucy playful way1 but 8there's many a true word spoken in jest10 and he was but expressing what all the family had observed1 that there was gradual but steady improvement in the outer conduct of the once peevish and selfish girl4 ,but the sharpest conflict of ,agnes upon her twelfth birthday had been against a jealous spirit within4 ,from a few words dropped by her aunt on the previous evening1 ,agnes felt sure that her mother's likeness would be given as a birthday present to one of the twins1 and she had not a doubt that the younger would be the one thus favored4 8,it was just the same last birthday10 thought ,agnes with bitterness3 8,i am given some makeshift1 ,dora has what is really of value4 ,it is rather hard that she should always be preferred before her elder sister because she is called after my aunt1 whilst ,i am named after my mother4 ,but oh6 how wicked is this feeling of jealousy1 how sinful these unkind and covetous thoughts6 ,lord6 help me to overcome this secret temptation1 and to feel pleasure1 real pleasure1 when ,i see ,dora wearing that which is so precious to us both60 ,as the thought1 or rather the prayer1 passed through the mind of ,agnes1 the door opened and ,miss ,clare entered1 followed by ,dora4 ,the lady held the beautiful brooch in her hand1 and going up to the elder twin whom she had not met before on that morning1 with a kiss and a whispered blessing1 fastened the precious jewel on her breast4 99 99 99 99 99 ,that twenty-fourth day of ,december was a day long remembered with delight by many a poor child in ,chester1 for large was the number of scholars 7it would be scarcely just to call them ragged7 who enjoyed the feast and the varied amusements provided for them in the large red house by their benefactress1 ,miss ,clare4 ,specially was the beautiful1 the wonderful model which the young gentlefolk had made1 the theme of many a conversation in the low courts and lanes from which the guests had been gathered4 ,worn1 weary mothers1 at their sewing or washing1 paused1 needle in hand1 or with arms whitened with soap-suds1 to hear of the golden pillars1 and silver loops1 and above all of the splendid embroidery that adorned the inner part of the model1 that part which1 as ,miss ,clare had told them1 was called the ,holy of holies4 8,and the young ladies looked just as pleased and happy as we10 a bare-footed little urchin observed at the end of a lively narration of all the wonders that he had seen2 8all but one1 and her eyes were red as if she'd been a-crying1--what could she have had to make her cry8 ,but she smiled1 too1 when we clapped our hands and shouted for joy as we saw the beautiful tent60 ,what delighted their eyes1 and pleased their fancy1 was what naturally made the greatest impression on the ragged scholars who had stared in wondering admiration on the model of the ,tabernacle of ,israel4 ,but the concluding words of a little address made by ,miss ,clare to the children were what sank deepest into the memories and hearts of her twin nieces4 8,i have described to you1 my dear young pupils1 the various parts of this model10 she said3 8let me now briefly point out a few lessons which we should all carry away4 ,in ,israel's ,tabernacle we see a ,,type of every ,christian1 in whose body1 as ,st4 ,paul tells us1 ,god's ,holy ,spirit deigns to dwell 7#a ,cor4 iii4 #af74 ,in that living ,tabernacle1 the lowly heart is the ,holy of holies1 because it is cleansed by the blood of sprinkling1 in it the ,commandments of ,god are treasured1 and the light of ,his love shines within4 ,but as the ,tabernacle was not intended to last forever1 but to give place to a far more splendid building1 so is it with these bodies of ours4 ,as ,solomon's magnificent temple1 glorious and fair1 and firm on its deep foundation1 far surpassed the ,tabernacle made to be moved from place to place2 so will the glorified bodies of saints1 when they are raised from their graves1 surpass these weak1 mortal bodies in which they served their ,lord upon earth4 ,for what saith the ,apostle ,st4 ,paul3--#8,,we ,,know ,,that ,,if ,,our ,,earthly ,,house ,,of ,,this ,,tabernacle ,,were ,,dissolved1 ,,we ,,have ,a ,,building ,,of ,,god1 ,a ,,house ,,not ,,made ,,with ,,hands1 ,,eternal ,,in ,,the ,,heavens4'0 7#b ,cor4 v4 #a47 ,illustration ,,short ,,stories ,,by ,,the ,,same ,,author4 ,illustration ,,the ,,bear4 8,,he is just like a bear60 that is a very common expression when we talk of some ill-tempered man or boy1 who takes a pleasure in saying rude things1 and who seems bent upon making every one near him as uncomfortable as he can4 ,but we may be unjust even to bears4 ,could you have gone to wintry ,greenland1 and seen ,mrs4 ,bruin amidst her family of little white cubs1 each scarcely bigger than a rabbit1 you would have agreed that a bear can be a kind and tender mother1 and provide for her four-footed babies a snug and comfortable home4 ,you would1 indeed1 have had some difficulty in finding ,bear ,hall1 or ,bear ,hole1 as we rather should call it4 ,perhaps in wandering over the dreary snow-covered plains of ,greenland1 you might have come upon a little hole in the snow1 edged with hoar-frost1 without ever guessing that the hole was formed by the warm breath of an ,arctic bear1 or that ,mrs4 ,bruin and her promising family were living in a burrow beneath you4,c ,how wonderfully does ,instinct teach this rough1 strange-looking creature to provide for her cubs6 ,the mother-bear scrapes and burrows under the snow1 till she has formed a small but snug home1 where she dwells with her baby-bears during the sharpest cold of an ,arctic winter4 ,so wonderfully has ,providence cared for the comfort even of wild beasts1 that the mother needs no food for three months6 ,she is so fat when she settles down in her under-snow home1 that her own plumpness serves her instead of breakfast1 dinner1 and supper2 so that when at last she comes out to break her long fast1 she is not starved1 but has merely grown thin4 ,i need hardly remind my reader that the ,arctic bear is provided by ,nature with a thick1 warm1 close-fitting coat of white fur2 and the snow itself1 strange as it seems to say so1 serves as a blanket to keep the piercing air from her narrow den4 ,yes1 ,mrs4 ,bruin was a happy mother though her cell was small to hold her and her children1 and the cold above was so terrible that water froze in the dwellings of men even in a room with a fire4 ,mrs ,bruin found enough of amusement in licking her cubs1 which was her fashion of washing1 combing1 and dressing1 and making them look like respectable bears4 ,she let them know that she loved them dearly in that kind of language which little ones1 whether they be babies or bear-cubs1 so soon understand4 ,but when ,march came1 ,mrs4 ,bruin began to grow hungry1 and think that it was full time to scramble out of her under-snow den1 and look out for some fish1 or a fat young seal1 to eat for her breakfast4 ,the weather was still most fearfully cold1 and the red sun seemed to have no power at all1 save to light up an endless waste of snow1 in which not a tree was to be seen save here and there a stunted fir1 half crusted over with ice4 ,safe1 however1 and pretty warm in their shaggy furs1 over the dreary wilds walked ,mrs4 ,bruin1 and the young bears trotted at her heels4 ,they went along for some time1 when they came to a round swelling in the snow2 at least so a little hut appeared to the eyes of a bear4 ,indeed1 had our own eyes looked on that snow-covered hillock1 we should scarcely at first have guessed that it was a human dwelling4 ,perhaps some scent of food came up from the chimney-hole1 which made ,mrs4 ,bruin think about breakfast1 for she went close up to the hut1 then trotted around it--her rough white nose in the air4 ,she then uttered a low short growl1 which made her cubs scramble up to her side4 ,oh1 with what terror the sound of that growl filled the heart of poor ,aneekah1 the ,esquimaux woman1 who was with her little children crouching together for warmth in that hut6 8,did you hear that noise80 exclaimed ,aleekan1 the eldest boy1 stopping suddenly in the midst of a tale which he had been telling4 8,there's a bear outside60 cried all the younger children at once4 ,aneekah rose1 and hastily strengthened the fastenings of her rude door with a thick piece of rope1 while her children breathlessly listened to catch again the sound which had filled them with fear4 8,the bear is climbing up outside60 cried little ,vraga1 clinging in terror to her mother4 8,i can hear the scraping of its claws60 ,there was an anxious pause for several minutes1 all listening too intently to break the silence by even a word4 ,then1 to the great alarm of the ,esquimaux1 the white head of an ,arctic bear could be plainly seen1 looking down upon them from above4 ,the animal had1 after clambering up to the top of the hut1 enlarged the hole which had been left in the roof to let out the smoke4 8,we're lost60 exclaimed ,aneekah4 8,o mother let us pray6 ,will not ,god help us80 cried one of the children4,d ,the prayer could have been but a very short one1 but the presence of mind which the mother showed may have been given as the instant answer to it4 ,aneekah caught up a piece of moss1 stuck it on a stick1 set it on fire1 and held the blazing mass as close as she could to the nose of the bear4 ,now fire was a new thing to ,mrs4 ,bruin1 and so was smoke2 and if the bear had frightened the ,esquimaux1 the ,esquimaux now frightened the bear4 ,with a snort and a shake of her shaggy fur1 the animal drew back her head1 and1 to the surprise and delight of the trembling family1 they soon heard their unwelcome visitor scrambling down faster than she had clambered up4 ,mrs4 ,bruin trotted off to seek her breakfast elsewhere2 let us hope that she and her cubs found a fine supply of fish frozen in a cleft in some iceberg floating away in the sea4 ,at any rate they never again were seen near the ,esquimaux home4 ,do you wonder how the poor ,esquimaux child had learned the value of prayer8 ,would any one go to the dreary wilds of ,greenland to carry the blessed gospel to the natives of that desolate shore8 ,yes1 even to 8,greenland's icy mountains0 have missionaries gone from brighter1 happier lands4 ,there are pastors now laboring amongst the poor ,esquimaux1 for they know that the soul of each savage is precious4 ,the light of the gospel is shining now in ,esquimaux homes1 and1 amidst all their hardships1 sufferings1 and dangers1 ,esquimaux have learned to show pious trust when in peril1 and thankfulness after deliverance4 ,it is from the pen of a missionary that we have learned the story which ,i have just related of the ,esquimaux woman and the white bear4 ,,footnotes3 ,c ,see 8,homes without ,hands40 ,d ,this incident of the intrusion of the bear1 and the exclamation of the child1 has been given as a fact4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,the ,,tiger-,,cub4 8,,really1 ,captain ,guise1 you need trouble yourself no more in the matter2 ,i am quite able to take care of myself60 cried young ,cornet ,stanley1 with a little impatience in his tone4 ,the speaker was a blue-eyed lad1 whose fresh complexion showed that he had not been long in the burning climate of ,india4 ,cornet ,stanley had indeed but lately left an ,english home1 for he was little more than sixteen years of age4 ,with very anxious feelings1 and many tears1 had ,mrs4 ,stanley parted with her rosy-cheeked ,norman4 8,he is so very young10 as she said1 8to meet all the trials and temptations of an officer's life in ,india60 ,mrs4 ,stanley's great comfort was that her ,norman would have a tried and steady friend in her cousin1 ,captain ,guise1 who would1 she felt sure1 act a father's part to her light-hearted boy4 ,young ,stanley was appointed to the same regiment as that of the captain2 and almost as soon as the cornet had landed in ,india1 he proceeded up country to join it4 ,the season of the year was that which is in ,india called the cold weather1 when many ,europeans live in tents1 moving from place to place1 that they may amuse themselves with hunting and shooting4 ,norman ,stanley1 who had never before chased anything larger than a rabbit1 was delighted to make one of a party with two of his brother officers1 and enjoy with them for a while a wild1 free life in the jungle4 ,there would have been no harm at all in this1 had ,norman's new companions been sober and steady young men2 but ,dugsley and ,danes were noted as the two wildest officers in the regiment4 ,captain ,guise was also out in camp1 and his tent was pitched not very far from that of his young friend ,norman4 ,the captain took a warm interest in young ,stanley1 not only for the sake of his parents1 but also for his own2 for the bright rosy face and frank manner of the lad inclined all who met him to feel kindly towards him4 ,it was with no small regret that ,captain ,guise1 on the very first evening when the officers all dined together1 saw that young face flushed not with health1 but with wine1 and that frank manner become more boisterous than it had been earlier in the day4 ,not that ,norman ,stanley could have been called drunk1 but he had taken a little more wine than was good for him to take2 and his friend knew but too well in what such a beginning of life in ,india was likely to end4 ,the captain was a good and sensible man1 and he could not see his young relative led into folly and sin without warning him of the danger into which he was heedlessly running4 ,captain ,guise1 on the following day1 therefore1 visited ,norman in his tent1 and tried to put him on his guard against too close a friendship with ,dugsley and ,danes1 and to show him the peril of being drawn by little and little into intemperate habits4 ,norman ,stanley1 who thought himself quite a man because he could wear a uniform and give commands to gray-bearded soldiers1 was a little hurt at any one's thinking of troubling him with advice4 ,captain ,guise had1 however1 spoken so kindly that the lad could not take real offence at his words1 but only tried to show his friend that his warning was not at all needed4 8,i shall never disgrace myself by becoming a drunkard1 you may be certain of that10 said the youth2 8no one despises a sot more than ,i do1 and ,i shall never be one4 ,as for taking an extra glass of champagne after a long day's shooting1 that is quite a different thing1 and nobody can object to it40 8,but the extra glass1 ,norman1 is often like the thin point of the wedge10 said the captain2 8it is followed by another and another1 till a ruinous habit may be formed40 8,i tell you that ,i shall never get into habits of drinking10 interrupted young ,stanley4 ,then1 as he took up his gun to go out shooting1 the cornet uttered the words with which this little story commences4 ,captain ,guise did not feel satisfied4 ,he saw that his young friend was relying on the strength of his own resolutions1 and in so doing was leaning on a reed4 ,he could not1 however1 say anything more just then1 and ,norman ,stanley started a new subject to give a turn to the conversation4 8,by-the-by1 ,captain ,guise1 ,i've not shown you the prize which ,i captured yesterday4 ,as ,dugsley and ,i were beating about in the jungle1 what should we light upon but a tiger-cub--a real little beauty1 pretty and playful as a young kitten40 8,what did you make of it80 asked the captain4 8,oh1 ,i've tethered it to the tree yonder10 said ,norman1 pointing to one not a hundred yards distant4 8,by good luck ,i had a dog's chain and collar which fitted the little creature exactly4 ,i mean to try if ,i can't rear it1 and keep a tiger-cub as a pet40 8,a tiger-cub is rather a dangerous pet1 ,i should say10 observed ,captain ,guise1 with a smile4 8,oh1 not a bit of it60 cried ,norman1 lightly2 8the little brute has no fangs to bite with1 and if it had1 the chain is quite strong enough to0-- ,the sentence was never finished1 for while the last word was yet on the smiling lips of the youth1 the sudden sound of a savage roar from a neighboring thicket made him start1 turn pale1 and grasp his gun more firmly4 ,forth from the shade of the bushes sprang a large tigress4 ,in a minute1 with a few bounds1 she had cleared the space between herself and her cub6 ,snap went the chain1 as the strong wild beast caught up her little one in her mouth2 and before either ,norman or the captain 7who had snatched up a second gun7 had time to take aim1 the tigress was off again1 bearing away her rescued cub to the jungle6 8,that was a sight worth seeing60 exclaimed ,captain ,guise2 8,i never beheld a more splendid creature in all my life60 ,norman1 who was very young1 and quite unaccustomed to having a tiger so near him with no iron cage between them1 looked as though he had not enjoyed the sight at all4 8,i should not care to meet that splendid creature alone in the jungle10 he observed4 8,did you not notice how the iron chain snapped like a thread at the jerk which she gave it80 8,yes10 replied ,captain ,guise1 as he turned back into the tent2 8what will hold in the cub1 is as a spider's web to the full-grown wild beast4 ,you had1 as ,i told you1 a dangerous pet1 ,norman ,stanley4 ,you might play for a while with the young creature1 but claws will lengthen and fangs will grow4 ,and10 the captain added more gravely1 8this is like some other things which are at first but a source of amusement1 but which are too likely to become at last a source of destruction40 ,norman ,stanley's cheek reddened1 for he felt that it was not merely of a tiger's cub that his friend was speaking4 ,evil habits1 which at first seem so weak that we believe that we can hold them in by a mere effort of will1 grow fearfully strong by indulgence4 ,many a wretched drunkard has begun by what he called merely a little harmless mirth1 but has found at last that he had been fostering something more dangerous still then a tiger's cub4 ,his good resolutions have snapped2 he has been carried away by a terrible force with which he has not had the strength to grapple2 and so has proved the truth of the captain's words1 that what is at first but a source of amusement may be at last a source of destruction4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,not ,,one ,,too ,,many4 8,,no1 neighbor1 you've not one too many10 observed ,bridget ,macbride1 as she stood in the doorway of the cottage of ,janet ,maclean1 knitting coarse gray socks as fast as her fingers could go4 8,it's easy enough for you to say so10 replied ,janet1 who was engaged in ironing out a shirt1 and who seemed to be too busy even to look up as she spoke--8it's easy enough for you to say so1 ,bridget ,macbride4 ,you've never had but three bairns children in your life1 and your husband he gets good wages4 ,you'd sing to a different tune1 ,i take it1 if you'd nine bairns1 as ,i ha'e1 the oldest not twelve years old--nine to feed1 to clothe1 and to house1 and to toil and moil for1 and your goodman getting but seven shillings a-week1 though he's after the sheep from morning till night60 ,mrs4 ,maclean had been getting quite red in the face as she spoke1 but that might have been from stooping over her ironing work4 8,still children are blessings1--at least1 ,i always thought mine so10 observed ,bridget ,macbride4 8,blessings2 yes1 to be sure60 cried ,janet2 8,i thought so too till there were so many of them that we had to pack in the cottage like herrings in a barrel40 ,janet was now ironing out a sleeve1 and required to go rather more gently on with her work4 8,i'm sure nae folk welcomed little ones more than ,tam and ,i did the four first wee bairns1 though many a broken night's rest we had wi' poor ,jeanie1--and ,i shall never forget the time when the measles was in our cottage1 and every ane o' the four had it6 ,yes10 the mother went on1 8four we could manage pretty well1 with a wee bit o' pinching and scraping2 but then came twins2 and then little ,davie2 and afore he could toddle alane1 twins again60 and ,janet banged down her iron on its stand1 as if two sets of twins were too much for the patience of any parent to endure4 8,you must have a struggle to keep them all10 observed ,bridget ,macbride4 8,struggle6 ,i should say so60 cried ,janet1 looking more flushed and angry than ever4 8,we never could have got on at all1 had ,i not taken in washing and ironing2 and it's no such easy matter1 ,i can tell you1 to wash and iron fine things for the gentry with twin-babies a-wanting you to look after them every hour in the twenty-four60 ,it seemed as if the babies had heard themselves mentioned1 for from the rude cradle by the fire came a squall1 first from one child1 and then from both1 and poor ,janet was several minutes before she could get either of them quiet again4 8,you've a busy life of it indeed10 observed ,bridget1 as soon as the weary mother was able once more to take up her iron4 8',deed you may say so10 replied ,janet sharply1 plying her iron faster1 as if to make up for lost time4 8,and for all my working1 and ,tam's1 we can scarce get enough of bread or porridge to fill nine hungry mouths2 and as for meat1 we don't see it for weeks and weeks--not so much as a slice of bacon6 ,then there's the schooling of the twa eldest bairns to be paid for1 as ,tam and ,i won't ha'e them grow up like heathen savages2 and we'll hae them gae decent too1 not in rags and barefooted1 like beggars4 ,and ,i should like to know0--,janet was ironing fast1 but talking faster--8,i should like to know how shoon shoes and sarks shirts1 and a plaidie for this ane1 and a bonnet for anither1 and breakfasts o' bannocks1 and porridge for supper1 are a' to come out of that wash-tub80 8,and yet10 observed ,bridget ,macbride1 8hard as you have to work for your children1 ,i don't believe that you would willingly part with one of them1 neighbor40 ,even as she spoke1 there was a distressful cry of 8,mither6 mither60 as ,janet's two eldest children burst suddenly into the cottage1 looking unhappy and frightened4 8,what ails the bairns80 asked ,janet anxiously1 turning round at the cry4 8,o mither1 we've lost wee ,davie2 we can't find him nowhere in the wood1 and we be afeard as he may have fallen over the cliff40 8,davie6 my bairn6 my darling60 exclaimed poor ,janet1 forgetting in a moment all her toils and troubles in one terrible fear4 ,down went the iron on the table1 and without waiting to put on bonnet or shawl1 the fond mother rushed out of the cottage1 to go and search for her child4 ,bridget had spoken the truth2 ,janet might complain of the trouble brought by a large family1 but she could not bear to part with one out of her flock4 ,if ,davie had been the only child of a rich mother1 instead of the seventh child of a poor one1 he could not have been sought with more eager anxiety1 more tender1 self-forgetting love4 ,followed by several of her children1 but outstripping them all in her haste1 ,janet was soon at the edge of the wood4 8,davie6 ,davie6 my bairn6 my bairn60 resounded through the forest4 ,the mother's cry was answered by a distant whoop and halloo2--,janet knew the voice of her husband1 and her heart took courage from the sound4 ,but her hope was changed into delight1 when she caught a glimpse between the trees of the shepherd coming towards her1 with her little yellow-haired laddie ,davie perched on his broad shoulders1 grasping with one hand his father's rough locks1 and with the other a bannock1 which he was nibbling at as he rode4 8,the ,lord be praised60 cried poor ,janet1 and rushing forward she caught the child from her husband1 pressed ,davie closely to her heart1 and burst into a flood of grateful tears4 8,you must look a bit better after your stray lamb1 ,janet10 said ,tam with a good-humored smile4 8,i was just crossing the wood when ,trusty set up a barking which made me go out o' my way just to see if he had found a rabbit1 or started a blackcock4 ,there was our wean child sitting much at his ease1 munching a bannock1 as contented and happy as if he'd been a duke eating venison out of a golden dish4 ,but you mustna let the wee bairn wander about by himsel'1 for if he'd gaen over the cliff1 we'd never hae heard the voice o' our lammie again40 ,very joyful and very thankful was ,janet ,maclean1 as1 with her boy in her arms1 she returned to her cottage4 ,bridget had remained there to take care of the twins during the absence of their mother4 ,mrs4 ,macbride received her neighbor with a smile1 and the words1 8,didna ,i say1 ,janet1 that ye'd not one too many1 nor would willingly part wi' a single bairn out o' your nine80 8,the ,lord forgie my thankless heart60 said poor ,janet1 and she fondly kissed her boy4 8,we ne'er are grateful enough for our blessings until we are like to lose them40 ,then putting the little child down on the brick floor1 with fresh courage and industry the mother returned to her ironing again4 ,may we not hope that all ,janet's toil and hard work for her children had one day a rich reward8 ,may we not hope that not one out of the nine1 when old enough and strong enough to labor for her who had labored so hard for them1 but did his best to repay her care and her love8 ,how large is a parent's heart1 that opens wide and wider to take in all the children of her family1 however numerous those children may be6 ,though each new babe adds to poor parents' toils1 and takes from their comforts1 still the kind father and the fond mother1 as they look round their home circle of rosy faces1 can not only say but feel1 8,there is not one too many40 ,illustration ,illustration ,,the ,,iron ,,ring4 ,,chang ,,wang was a ,chinaman1 and was reputed to be one of the shrewdest dealers in the ,flowery ,land4 ,if making money fast be the test of cleverness1 there was not a merchant in the province of ,kwang ,tung who had earned a better right to be called clever4 ,who owned so many fields of the tea-plant1 who shipped so many bales of its leaves to the little island in the west1 as did ,chang ,wang8 ,it was whispered1 indeed1 that many of the bales contained green tea made by chopping up spoilt black tea-leaves1 and coloring them with copper--a process likely to turn them into a mild kind of poison2 but if the unwholesome trash found purchasers1 ,chang ,wang never troubled himself with the thought whether any one might suffer in health from drinking his tea4 ,so long as the dealer made money1 he was content2 and plenty of money he made4 ,but knowing how to make money is quite a different thing from knowing how to enjoy it4 ,with all his ill-gotten gains1 ,chang ,wang was a miserable man1 for he had no heart to spend his silver pieces1 even on his own comfort4 ,the rich dealer lived in a hut which one of his own laborers might have despised2 he dressed as a poor ,tartar shepherd might have dressed when driving his flock4 ,chang ,wang grudged himself even a hat to keep off the rays of the sun4 ,men laughed1 and said that he would have cut off his own pigtail of plaited hair1 if he could have sold it for the price of a dinner6 ,chang ,wang was1 in fact1 a miser1 and was rather proud than ashamed of the hateful vice of avarice4 ,chang ,wang had to make a journey to ,macao1 down the great river ,yang-se-kiang1 for purposes of trade4 ,the question with the ,chinaman now was in what way he should travel4 8,shall ,i hire a palanquin80 thought ,chang ,wang1 stroking his thin moustaches2 8no1 a palanquin would cost too much money4 ,shall ,i take my passage in a trading vessel80 ,the rich trader shook his head1 and the pigtail behind it1--such a passage would have to be paid for4 8,i know what ,i'll do10 said the miser to himself2 8,i'll ask my uncle ,fing ,fang to take me in his fishing-boat down the great river4 ,it is true that it will make my journey a long one1 but then ,i shall make it for nothing4 ,i'll go to the fisherman ,fing ,fang1 and settle the matter at once40 ,the business was soon arranged1 for ,fing ,fang would not refuse his rich nephew a seat in his boat4 ,but he1 like every one else1 was disgusted at ,chang ,wang's meanness2 and as soon as the dealer had left his hovel1 thus spoke ,fing ,fang to his sons1 ,ko and ,jung3 8,here's a fellow who has scraped up money enough to build a second porcelain tower1 and he comes here to beg a free passage in a fishing-boat from an uncle whom he has never so much as asked to share a dish of his birds'-nests soup40,e 8,birds'-nests soup1 indeed60 exclaimed ,ko2 8why1 ,chang ,wang never indulges in luxuries such as that4 ,if dogs' flesh,e were not so cheap1 he'd grudge himself the paw of a roasted puppy40 8,and what will ,chang ,wang make of all his money at last80 said ,fing ,fang more gravely2 8he cannot carry it away with him when he dies40 8,oh1 he's gathering it up for some one who will know how to spend it10 laughed ,jung4 8,chang ,wang is merely fishing for others2 what he gathers1 they will enjoy40 ,it was a bright1 pleasant day when ,chang ,wang stepped into the boat of his uncle1 to drop slowly down the great ,yang-se-kiang4 ,many a civil word he said to ,fing ,fang and his sons1 for civil words cost nothing4 ,chang ,wang sat in the boat twisting the ends of his long moustaches1 and thinking how much money each row of plants in his tea-fields might bring him4 ,presently1 having finished his calculations1 the miser turned to watch his relations1 who were pursuing their fishing occupation in the way peculiar to ,china4 ,instead of rods1 lines1 or nets1 the ,fing ,fang family was provided with trained cormorants1 which are a kind of bird with a long neck1 large appetite1 and a particular fancy for fish4 ,it was curious to watch a bird diving down in the sunny water1 and then suddenly come up again with a struggling fish in his bill4 ,the fish was1 however1 always taken away from the cormorant1 and thrown by one of the ,fing ,fangs into a well at the bottom of the boat4 8,cousin ,ko10 said the miser1 leaning forward to speak1 8how is it that your clever cormorants never devour the fish they catch80 8,cousin ,chang ,wang10 replied the young man1 8dost thou not see that each bird has an iron ring round his neck1 so that he cannot swallow8 ,he only fishes for others40 8,methinks the cormorant has a hard life of it10 observed the miser1 smiling4 8,he must wish his iron ring at the bottom of the ,yang-se-kiang40 ,fing ,fang1 who had just let loose two young cormorants from the boat1 turned round1 and from his narrow slits of ,chinese eyes looked keenly upon his nephew4 8,didst thou ever hear of a creature10 said he1 8that puts an iron ring around his own neck80 8,there is no such creature in all the land that the ,great ,wall borders10 replied ,chang ,wang4 ,fing ,fang solemnly shook the pigtail which hung down his back4 ,like many of the ,chinese1 he had read a great deal1 and was a kind of philosopher in his way4 8,nephew ,chang ,wang10 he observed1 8,i know of a creature 7and he is not far off at this moment7 who is always fishing for gain--constantly catching1 but never enjoying4 ,avarice--the love of hoarding--is the iron ring round his neck2 and so long as it stays there he is much like one of our trained cormorants--he may be clever1 active1 successful1 but he is only fishing for others40 ,i leave my readers to guess whether the sharp dealer understood his uncle's meaning1 or whether ,chang ,wang resolved in future not only to catch1 but to enjoy4 ,fing ,fang's moral might be good enough for a ,chinese heathen1 but it does not go nearly far enough for an ,english ,christian4 ,if a miser is like a cormorant with an iron ring round his neck1 the man or the child who lives for his own pleasure only1 what is he but a greedy cormorant without the iron ring8 ,who would wish to resemble a cormorant at all8 ,the bird knows the enjoyment of getting2 let us prize the richer enjoyment of giving4 ,let me close with an ,english proverb1 which ,i prefer to the ,chinaman's parable1--8,charity is the truest epicure2 for she eats with many mouths40 ,,footnote3 ,e ,noted ,chinese dishes4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,the ,,ill ,,wind4 8,,it',s an ill wind that blaws naebody good1 ,master ,harry--we maun say that10 observed old ,ailsie1 ,mrs4 ,delmar's ,scotch nurse1 as she went to close the window1 through which rushed in the furious blast2 8but ,i hae a dear laddie at sea1 and when ,i hear the wind howl like that1 ,i think0-- 8,oh1 shut the window1 nurse6 ,quick1 quick6 or we'll have the casement blown in60 cried ,nina4 8,did you ever hear such a gust60 ,ailsie shut the window1 but not in time to prevent some pictures1 which the little lady had been sorting1 from being scattered in every direction over the room4 8,our fine larch has been blown down on the lawn10 cried ,harry1 who had sauntered up to the window4 8,oh1 what a pity60 exclaimed his sister1 as she went down on her knees to pick up the pictures4 8,our beauty larch1 that was planted only this spring1 and that looked so lovely with its tassels of green6 ,to think of the dreadful wind rooting up that6 ,i'm sure that this at least is an ill wind1 that blows nobody good40 8,you should see the mischief it has done in the wood10 observed ,harry2 8snapping off great branches as if they were twigs4 ,the whole path through the wood is strewn with the boughs and the leaves40 8,i can't bear the fierce wind10 exclaimed ,nina4 8,when ,i was out half an hour ago ,i thought it would have blown me away4 ,i really could scarcely keep my feet40 8,i could not keep my cap10 laughed ,harry4 8,off it scudded1 whirling round and round right into the river1 where ,i could watch it floating for ever so long4 ,i shall never get it again40 8,mischievous1 horrid wind60 cried ,nina1 who had just picked up the last of her pictures4 8,oh1 missie1 ye maunna speak against the wind--for ye ken who sends it10 observed the old nurse4 8,it has its work to do as we hae ours4 ,depend on't1 the proverb is true1 #8,it's an ill wind that blaws naebody good4'0 8,there's no sense in that proverb10 said ,harry1 bluntly4 8,this wind does nothing but harm4 ,it has snapped off the head of mamma's beautiful favorite flower0-- 8,and smashed panes in her greenhouse10 added ,nina4 ,it was indeed a furious wind that was blowing that evening1 and as the night came on it seemed to increase4 ,it rattled the shutters1 it shrieked in the chimneys1 it tore off some of the slates1 and kept the children awake with its howling4 ,the storm lulled1 however1 before the morning broke2 and when the sun had risen1 all was bright1 calm1 and serene4 8,what a lovely morning after such a stormy night60 cried ,nina1 as with her brother ,harry she rambled in the green wood1 while old ,ailsie followed behind them4 8,i never felt the air more sweet and fresh1 and it seemed so heavy yesterday morning40 8,ay1 ay1 the wind cleared the air10 observed ,ailsie4 8,it's an ill wind that blaws naebody good40 8,but think of your poor son at sea10 observed ,harry4 8,i was just thinking o' him when ,i spake1 ,master ,harry4 ,i was thinking that maybe that verra wind was filling the sails o' his ship1 and blawing him hame all the faster1 to cheer the eyes o' his mither4 ,it is sure to be in the right quarter for some one1 let it blaw from north1 south1 east1 or west40 8,why1 there's little ,ruth ,laurie just before us10 cried ,harry1 as he turned a bend in the woodland path4 8,what a great bundle of fagots she is bravely carrying60 8,let's ask after her sick mother10 said ,nina1 running up to the orphan child1 who was well known to the ,delmars4 ,ruth dwelt with her mother in a very small cottage near the wood2 and the children were allowed to visit the widow in her poor but respectful home4 8,blessings on the wee barefooted lassie60 exclaimed ,ailsie2 8,i'll be bound she's been up with the lark1 to gather up the broken branches which the wind has stripped from the trees40 8,that's a heavy bundle for you to carry1 ,ruth60 said ,harry2 8it is almost as big as yourself40 8,i shouldn't mind carrying it were it twice as heavy and big10 cried the peasant child1 looking up with a bright1 happy smile4 8,coals be terrible dear1 and we've not a stick of wood left in the shed2 and mother1 she gets so chilly of an evening4 ,there's nothing she likes so well as a hot cup of tea and a good warm fire2 your dear mamma gives us the tea1 and you see ,i've the wood for boiling the water4 ,won't mother be glad when she sees my big fagots2 and wasn't ,i pleased when ,i heard the wind blowing last night1 for ,i knew ,i should find branches strewn about in the morning60 8,ah10 cried ,harry1 8that reminds me of the proverb1 #8',tis an ill wind that blows nobody good4'0 8,harry10 whispered ,nina to her brother1 8don't you think that you and ,i might help ,ruth to fill her poor mother's little wood-shed80 8,what6 pick up sticks1 and carry them in fagots on our backs8 ,how funny that would look60 exclaimed ,harry4 8,we should be doing some good10 replied ,nina4 8,don't you remember that nurse said that the wind has its work to do1 as we have ours8 ,if it's an ill wind that does nobody good1 it must be an ill child that does good to no one40 ,merrily and heartily ,harry and ,nina set about their labor of kindness4 ,and cheerfully1 as the children tripped along with their burdens to the poor woman's cottage1 ,nina repeated her old nurse's proverb1 8',tis an ill wind that blows nobody good40 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,obvious punctuation errors repaired4 ,page #aii1 8grow0 changed to 8grew0 7,dora grew uneasy7 ,page #bbg1 originally1 footnote1 right side of text missing1 original read3 ,b ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 remembers attending1 many y ago1 exactly snch an exhibition at the house friend1 of a model of the ,tabernacle made by a and her children for some charitable purpose4 ,this has been changed to3 ,b ,a4 ,l4 ,o4 ,e4 remembers attending1 many years ago1 exactly such an exhibition at the house of a friend1 a model of the ,tabernacle made by a lady and her children for some charitable purpose4