came into the Temple, just as Joseph and Mary brought Jesus in. Then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." He meant, let me die, now that I have seen my Saviour. Joseph and Mary were astonished at all he said. Simeon blessed them also, and told them that this child was born to do wonderful things. There was a good old woman too, named Anna, who came into the Temple at that moment. She too knew that this infant was the promised Saviour. So she So she gave God thanks, and spoke of Jesus to all who were looking for his coming. When Joseph and Mary had done all that was commanded in the law, they went back to their own city, Nazareth.

And now you have had a very long Chapter, I think I must not tell you anything more at present.

CHAPTER II.

JESUS A CHILD.

I AM sure, dear children, you would like to know all about Jesus when He was a child. I am sorry I have so little to tell you; but that little is quite enough to teach you what you ought to be. Do you think Jesus was like you, sometimes naughty, then trying to be good, and again and again doing something wrong? Oh, no; you know this could not be, for He was perfectly pure and holy; no sinful thought, no angry passion, no naughty temper, was ever seen in the blessed Jesus. But, perhaps, you think that He had no temptation to sin. You say, there are so many things which make you naughty; you are so often tired in your little bodies, and vexed by what your

brothers and sisters do. Well, dear children, Jesus was like you in all these things. He was tempted and tried in every way, as we are. (Heb. iv. 15.) His body was often weary, like yours, and He had no comforts such as you have, for Joseph was poor, and worked as a carpenter. But in one thing Jesus was altogether unlike you. What was that? He was without sin. (Heb. iv. 15.) But, perhaps, you say, "It is so difficult to be obedient;" and as Jesus was the Lord of glory, you think He never had to obey his parents. Listen, "He went down with them, and was subject unto them." (Luke ii. 51.) No wonder we read that He increased in favour with God and

man.

Learn, dear children, from the example of the blessed Jesus, to " obey your parents in all things." (Colossians iii. 20.) Never let your will rise up against their will. When you feel disposed to try and get your own way remember Jesus, and submit.

When Jesus was twelve years old He went a long journey with his parents. I think you have read in the book of Exodus how God ordered the Jews to keep the feast of the Passover. Every year, all who could go went up to Jerusalem to keep it, and Jesus went with his parents. When the feast was over, they set out to return home. All at once Mary and Joseph missed Jesus. There were many of their friends travelling on the same road, and they thought He was most likely among them. They went back and looked for Him among all the company, but found Him not. For three days they looked for Him in vain, and at last they went back to Jerusalem in great distress. And where was Jesus? Going into the temple his parents found Him, sitting there among the wise and learned men, hearing them and asking them questions. Everybody who heard Him, was surprised at the wonderful manner in which He talked with these clever men. His poor mother loved

Him very dearly; she had suffered much while she was seeking Him, and when she saw Him, she asked Him how it was that He had dealt thus with them. Jesus seemed surprised that she should be anxious about Him. "Do you not know," said He, "that I must be about my Father's business?" Do you think Mary understood what He meant? No, she did not; but she kept these sayings in her heart, and thought much over them. But you know what Jesus meant; you know that God was his Father, and that even when He was so young, He loved nothing so well as to be doing his work. Pray, dear children, that you may learn to be like Jesus in this, too. Do you want to know how you can do any work for God? I will only tell you one way now. Learn, then, while you are young to store up lessons of heavenly wisdom in your heart. Thus you will, by God's grace, be getting ready to work for Him when you are older. If it can be said of you,