GIDEON AND THE FLEECE.
: Old Testament StoriesAfter the death of Joshua, the Israelites turned away from God, and
served idols. Therefore the evils came upon them of which they had
been warned by Moses and Joshua. But at different times God, seeing
their distress, raised up "judges" to deliver them from their enemies,
and to judge over them. The first of these judges was named Othniel.
He was Caleb's nephew. The last was Samuel. One that lived about one
hundred ye
The Israelites were at this time in great trouble. They were hiding in
dens and caves because of the Midianites, who had conquered them and
overrun their country. When their corn was ripe these enemies came and
destroyed it, so altogether they were in sad plight. One day Gideon
was threshing wheat in a secluded place, so as to escape the notice of
the Midianites, when an angel from God appeared to him, bidding him to
go and save the Israelites from their foes. Gideon obeyed the command:
but before commencing the battle he much desired a sign from God
showing that He would give the Israelites the victory. The sign Gideon
asked for was, that when he laid a fleece of wool on the ground, if
the victory were to be his, then the fleece should be wet and the
ground dry. He placed the wool on the ground, and taking it up the
next morning found it wet, although the ground was dry. So he knew God
had answered him as he desired. But he was not quite satisfied. He
begged God for a second sign. This time the ground was to be wet and
the fleece of wool dry. God gave him this sign also: and then Gideon
felt sure that the Israelites would be victorious over the
Midianites.
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And old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a little crooked sixpence. "What," said she, "shall I do with this little sixpence? I will go to market and buy a little pig." As she was coming home she came to a stile; the piggy would not go over ... FIRE! FIRE!! FIRE!!!
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One day little Fred's motber, who bad been sick a long time, told him she was going out with a friend to take a drive. Fred wanted to go, too, but his mother said there would not be room in the buggy. Fred felt very cross and unhappy, and sat down o... GIDEON AND THE FLEECE.
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites turned away from God, and served idols. Therefore the evils came upon them of which they had been warned by Moses and Joshua. But at different times God, seeing their distress, raised up "judges" to delive... GOING TO SCHOOL
Did you see them pass to-day, Billy, Kate and Robin, All astride upon the back of old grey Dobbin? Jigging, jogging off to school, down the dusty track-- What must Dobbin think of it--three upon his back? Robin at the bridle-rein, in the middle Kat... GOLDEN-ROD AND ASTERS
Do you know that flowers, as well as people, live in families? Come into the garden, and I will show you how. Here is a red rose: the beautiful bright-colored petals are the walls of the house,--built in a circle, you see. Next come the yellow sta... GOOD ENOUGH
I do not think there ever was, Or ever will, or ever could be, A little girl or little boy As good as she or as he should be. But still, I think, you will agree, Though perfect very, very few are, They're not so bad when "pretty good"-... GOOD NIGHT
And so, Good Night. I'm rather tired. I hardly thought I'd be required To draw a lot of pictures, too, When I arranged to write for you. I found it hard, but did my best; And now I need a little rest. If you are pleased, why, that's all r... GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
Grandma Burns sat knitting busily in the sun one bright morning the week before Christmas. The snow lay deep, and the hard crust glistened like silver. All at once she heard little sighs of grief outside her door. When she opened it there sat Pete... GRAPPLING A QUEER FISH.
At nearly the same moment both Bruno and Waldo caught a glimpse of water, shining clear and distinct amidst that sombre setting; but as yet a tree-crested elevation interfered with the prospect, and it was not until after the course of the air-ship ... GROWING UP
Little Tommy Tadpole began to weep and wail, For little Tommy Tadpole had lost his little tail; And his mother didn't know him as he wept upon a log, For he wasn't Tommy Tadpole, but Mr. Thomas Frog. ... GUY AND THE BEE
One day a jolly bumble-bee, In coat of black and yellow, Got caught inside a window-pane; The silly little fellow. He buzzed and buzzed against the glass, To Guy's great enjoyment, Who thought to watch this funny thing Was just the best emplo... HANNAH PRAYING BEFORE THE LORD.
The Tabernacle, which had been set up by the Israelites in the wilderness, was after the conquest of Canaan erected at Shiloh, a city about ten miles south of Shechem. There it remained for more than three hundred years. No Temple was at Jerusalem... HANS IN LUCK
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm Hans had served his master seven years, and at last said to him, "Master, my time is up; I should like to go home and see my mother; so give me my wages." And the master said, "You have been a faithful and good servant, ... HEALING THE CENTURION'S SERVANT.
Jesus entered into Capernaum, a city by the Sea of Galilee, and while He was there a certain Centurion, or captain in the Roman army, had a favourite servant who was sick of the palsy and in great pain. When this Roman heard of Jesus, he sought th... HELHEIM
When at last the ship Ringhorn had floated out so far to sea that it looked like a dull red lamp on the horizon, Frigga turned round and said, "Does any one of you, my children, wish to perform a noble action and win my love forever?" "I do," c... HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB.
Sennacherib, the King of Assyria, invaded the land of Judah, and threatened to lay siege to Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah took counsel with his princes and mighty men, and repaired the broken walls, and made them higher. He made many other preparations... HOW BROTHER RABBIT FOOLED THE WHALE AND THE ELEPHANT
One day little Brother Rabbit was running along on the sand, lippety, lippety, when he saw the Whale and the Elephant talking together. Little Brother Rabbit crouched down and listened to what they were saying. This was what they were saying:-- ... HOW HIRAM SPENT HIS SHRIMP MONEY.
"I wish my mother had a ring like those the ladies wear at the hotel," said Hiram Green to himself one day. "There isn't one of those ladies as pretty as my mother; she ought to wear rings too." Hiram was the son of a fisherman, but the fisherman... HOW JASON LOST HIS SANDAL IN ANAUROS
And ten years came and went, and Jason was grown to be a mighty man. Some of his fellows were gone, and some were growing up by his side. Asclepius was gone into Peloponnese to work his wondrous cures on men; and some say he used to raise the ... HOW JERICHO WAS CAPTURED.
When men in olden times attacked a city, they tried to batter down the walls with heavy beams of wood, having heads of iron, called battering rams; but God did not instruct the Israelites thus to capture Jericho. They were to remember that it was ... HOW LITTLE GLUCK SET OFF ON AN EXPEDITION TO THE GOLDEN RIVER
When Gluck found that Schwartz did not come back, he was very sorry, and did not know what to do. He had no money, and he was obliged to go and hire himself again to the goldsmith, who worked him very hard, and gave him very little money. So, af... HOW MOSES WAS SAVED
Thousands of years ago, many years before David lived, there was a very wise and good man of his people who was a friend and adviser of the king of Egypt. And for love of this friend, the king of Egypt had let numbers of the Israelites settle in h... HOW MR. HANS SET OFF ON AN EXPEDITION TO THE GOLDEN RIVER
The King of the Golden River had hardly made the extraordinary exit related in the last chapter before Hans and Schwartz came roaring into the house very savagely drunk. The discovery of the total loss of their last piece of plate had the effect... HOW MR. SCHWARTZ SET OFF ON AN EXPEDITION TO THE GOLDEN RIVER
Poor little Gluck waited very anxiously alone in the house for Hans' return. Finding he did not come back, he was terribly frightened, and went and told Schwartz in the prison all that had happened. Then Schwartz was very much pleased, and said ... HOW PERSEUS AND HIS MOTHER CAME TO SERIPHOS
Once upon a time there were two princes who were twins. Their names were Acrisius and Proetus, and they lived in the pleasant vale of Argos, far away in Hellas. They had fruitful meadows and vineyards, sheep and oxen, great herds of horses fee... HOW PERSEUS CAME HOME AGAIN
And when a year was ended Perseus hired Phoenicians from Tyre, and cut down cedars, and built himself a noble galley; and painted its cheeks with vermilion, and pitched its sides with pitch; and in it he put Andromeda, and all her dowry of jewel... HOW PERSEUS CAME TO THE AETHIOPS
So Perseus flitted onward to the north-east, over many a league of sea, till he came to the rolling sand-hills and the dreary Lybian shore. And he flitted on across the desert: over rock-ledges, and banks of shingle, and level wastes of sand... HOW PERSEUS SLEW THE GORGON
So Perseus started on his journey, going dry-shod over land and sea; and his heart was high and joyful, for the winged sandals bore him each day a seven days' journey. And he went by Cythnus, and by Ceos, and the pleasant Cyclades to Attica; ... HOW PERSEUS VOWED A RASH VOW
Fifteen years were past and gone, and the babe was now grown to be a tall lad and a sailor, and went many voyages after merchandise to the islands round. His mother called him Perseus; but all the people in Seriphos said that he was not the son...