shepherd never heard these sounds without hastening to the side from whence they came; and he often returned to his little flock bearing in his arms a poor, weak, sorrowing sheep; and he would comfort it, and cheer it, and give it of the clear water to drink, and call it by a name; and it soon forgot its sorrows, and loved the good shepherd who had gone to seek for it, and had taken it to his bosom when it was a stranger to him, and sought not his protection. Among this happy little flock, there was one that had been born in the fold, and knew not, as those did who had been carried into it by the shepherd, what was passing on either side, and what caused the grief and the sorrow amongst the sheep in the surrounding fields; and so she stole one fine morning to the hedge to look at what was going on abroad. The sun had just risen, and everything looked bright, and fresh, and cheerful. The lark was high up in the sky, warbling his sweet matin song, the bees were humming amongst the flowers, and the numerous insects were buzzing in the air: there was a voice of joy on every side, and the little sheep, whose name was Janet, felt very, very happy. In a little time the sheep began to appear on the field into which Janet was looking, and she was surprised to find that they had not been in a fold. Some of them came from under the shelter of the hedge, and others had slept in arbours formed of rose-trees. A few had no covering but the canopy of heaven; yet all now met as if they felt no inconvenience from either the night-air or the dew, and bleated their salutations in tones of self-satisfaction. "Ah," said Janet, "they feel no want of a pen: what a prison a fold is! Now I think I shall sleep to-night under a weeping-birch; and I will lie down and rise up when it pleases me, and will look at the beautiful sky studded with stars, and I will listen to the song of the nightingale. O, how happy I shall be! How I wish it was night now! The foolish Janet knew not that there were many before her sick, and weary, and cold, but were too proud to acknowledge it, because none could relieve them but the shepherd to whom Janet belonged, and they did not wish to come to him. In a short time, however, they began to be very merry: some skipped about on the borders of rapid currents; others climbed high hills and frisked on the edges of precipices, or chased each other along the margins of frightful chasms. The greatest pleasure seemed to exist where there was greatest danger. Janet, however, saw many pay the forfeit of their temerity, and fall to rise no more; and though some few of their companions would wail for awhile, and look down after them, they in general attributed their misfortunes to a false step, which they determined to avoid, and would again soon pursue their amuse ments. (To be continued.) LIFE OF DAVID. (Continued from page 241.) AFTER Saul's death, David, in obedience to the expressed will of God, went up to Hebron, the metropolis of the tribe of Judah, one of the richest regions in Judea. The mountains of Hebron were famed for fruits, herbage, and honey; and many parts were well adapted for vines, and different kinds of grain, abounding in springs of excellent water. And the men of Judah, following him thither, there anointed him King over them. Others, in different parts of the kingdom, still professed attachment to the family of Saul, and proclaimed his son, Ishbosheth, King of Israel. As a necessary consequence of these proceedings, long wars desolated the land. But we learn that the house of David "waxed stronger and stronger," whilst that of Saul declined in power and influence. More than seven years having passed away, and Ishbosheth being dead, all the elders of Israel anointed David ruler over the whole kingdom. And thus, led onwards, step by step, by an unerring Guide, the chain of providential circumstances conducted him from the sheepcote to the attainment of a station the highest earth can give. Musing, perchance, on the special blessings which had marked his path, he burst forth into expres sions of adoring wonder. "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I take the even the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." And now, being acknowledged King over all Israel, joined by the mighty men of the land, David and his army advanced towards Jerusalem, then in possession of the Jebusites. Having taken it, he dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David, increasing it by many buildings round about from Millo and inward. Strong in the strength of the Lord of hosts, all the undertakings of David prospered, and his glory was established. The "King of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and masons, and they built David an house." His former enemies, the Philistines, warred against him, but were delivered into his hand. David, gaining a complete victory, 66 smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gaza." (To be continued.) THE DROMEDARY WAS formed by nature so as to require only the most scanty nourishment, and that of the coarsest kind, to support existence. |
