OR some years several starlings were in the habit of building their nests in and about the roof of an unused stable belonging to our house; but though we tried all sorts of plans to prevent the boys from getting access to the loft, they always managed to carry the young ones off at the very moment when the little birds were about to fly. Even an extra strong bolt and new hinges to the loft shutter did not keep them out, for when they found it had a padlock as well, they looked about for other means of ingress; till one day a boy was caught in the very act of taking the last, and consequently most cherished, nest, in the most daring manner possible. He had removed several tiles from the roof, and squeezing his body in between the rafters, hung down head foremost till little more than his feet were visible. His triumph was, however, short-lived, for the moment he touched the ground he was pounced upon and forced to give up the nest. In his indignation he tossed it with its living freight on to the ground, when one of the little birds fell out and had its wing hurt. As it was impossible to put the nest back, it was placed in a cage, and hung within the garden wall, where, not long after, we were delighted to see the parent birds had not only found them out, but were feeding them as actively as ever. So well did they thrive, and so satisfied were they with their new quarters, that they "took to it quite kindly," as our old servant said, and when the time for the parents' work to be over had arrived the young birds were able to feed themselves with a very little help.

The one that had got its wing hurt was particularly tame from the first-perhaps because a large amount of sympathy was shown to him, and the best morsels selected for him; or it may have been because he was of a more contented disposition. Be that as it may, when the other birds were given away to friends, Dick was kept in the cage, and appeared to be even happier by himself than with his companions. During the winter, when allowed. to come out of his cage, he would hop about chirping and perching whenever he took a fancy to settle himself, developing all sorts of amusing ways day by day.

When the spring came round, and his cage was hung outside, he would sing his sweetest songs at the top of his voice, his favourite one being a few distinct notes of a popular air he had picked up without much trouble, though I cannot say the same for the others that were attempted. One day the cage door was left open accidentally, and Dick at once took advantage of the mistake, hopped out, and flew up on to the nearest tree, singing and fluttering his wings in the new delight of freedom. How he did enjoy the sweet balmy air, how he fluttered and bathed as it were in the bright sunshine, how deaf he was to our coaxing words to return to his old home, and how blind to the alluring food we placed temptingly near his cage!

'No! Freedom has a thousand charms to show,
That slaves, howe'er contented, never know."

By degrees his still timid flights became longer and longer, till at last he disappeared, and we said good-bye to our pet bird for ever, as we thought. But to our surprise, he returned at night, popped in at the cage door, tucked his head under his wing, and was asleep the next moment. So soundly asleep was he that he never woke up when the cover was put on his cage, and as he had shown such affection for his old quarters, we decided to leave the door open that he might do just as he pleased. When we looked out next morning, Dick had evidently partaken of a hearty breakfast before he once more took his flight into the world at large. Towards the afternoon he returned, and was occasionally seen fluttering and singing about the bushes in rather a strange and excited manner; but on watching him closely we found he had succeeded in finding a mate of his own species. It was no wonder the little hen starling had been attracted by his singing and personal appearance, for Dick scarcely ever had his equal in our hearing, and as for himself he was the glossiest and fattest starling ever seen. The little hen bird was very timid at first about the spot her mate had selected for the nest to be built, namely, inside his winter prison, hanging in a sheltered place under the cottage eave, and at a safe distance from cats and other midnight prowlers; but after a good deal of peering at it and into it, she concluded it was snug and suitable enough, and at once set about to collect her share of the dry grass, leaves, and feathers. We took great care not to disturb the busy builders, even putting ourselves to some trouble to

What should we have seen if we could have watched Bezaleel and his workmen at their happy task?

First, we should have watched them cut down acacia trees, such as grew here and there in groves throughout the desert, and seen how from the trunks of these trees others were set to work to make boards, out of which the ark was to be formed. Yet when it was finished no one could tell that it was made of acacia wood; for everywhere, within and without, it was covered with beaten gold-the gold, perhaps, of those bracelets and rings and ornaments which the Egyptians had given to the Israelites in their haste to send them away. Because the ark had to be carried wherever the people went, golden rings were fastened to its corners, and staves were passed through them, by which the ark could be borne on the shoulders of the priests. But there was yet still more skilful and cunning work to do; for above the ark were fashioned the figures of two beautiful winged angels, who seemed as if worshipping the unseen God of whose presence this ark was to be always a sign.

When all the work was finished, and when the first Tabernacle had been set up in the wilderness, and the daily worship of God begun, then this ark was placed in the most sacred part of that Tabernacle, and within it were placed first the two tables of stone, and then afterwards the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded.

Through all the forty years of wandering, this ark was carried by the Israelites, and it was borne over the river Jordan with them into the Promised Land, and, as you remember, was the centre of the long procession that passed round the walls of Jericho.

The years went on, and now the people were settled in the country which God had given to them; and Joshua had set up the Tabernacle in a settled place, because the long wanderings were over. It was not yet at Jerusalem, but at a spot called Shiloh that the sacred tent was pitched; and round about it were built the chambers of the priests, and here Eli, the chief priest, dwelt, and little Samuel too, who served in his linen ephod.

But now only a few of the people came to worship God in His house; for Joshua had long been dead, and the nation had turned away from God and followed idols. God had told them that if they forsook Him, then their enemies would be too strong for them, and so it was; for the Philistines came against Israel and overcame them, winning the battle so entirely that they slew on the field four thousand men.

In their danger and alarm the leaders of the host remembered God; but instead of confessing their sins and asking for forgiveness, as they ought to have

done, the only thought in their minds was to send for the ark, that it might be carried before their host as it had been before that of Joshua.

They did not understand that when in their hearts they were refusing to have God for their Leader, the ark, which was the outward sign of His presence, could not help them. The two sons of Eli went with the ark to the army, and by the doors of the deserted temple the old priest waited to hear tidings of the next battle. He was too distant to hear the great shout of rejoicing with which all Israel welcomed the ark, as the Levites bore it into the camp, but day and night his thoughts were with the ark that he loved, which was dearer to him even than his two sons were.

Still he waited, always listening for some sound that would tell him that a messenger was coming from the camp; noticing every hurried step-for at ninety-eight years old, Eli could not tell by his eyes alone who they were that passed.

It seemed a long time, and yet it was not many days, before Eli heard such a sorrowful cry from all the town of Shiloh that he was quite sure some terrible news had come.

"What is it?" he asked of the panting, breathless messenger who was running towards him from the gates.

"Thy two sons are dead, and the ark of God is taken," answered the man.

Eli loved his sons very dearly, but even to hear of their death was not so great a grief to him as to know that the ark before which he had ministered all his life was in the hands of the heathen. The old priest died of sorrow and shame, and all Israel mourned that the ark of which, when it was with them, they had thought so little, was now gone from them; but the Philistines rejoiced-for they thought that their idols had proved themselves more mighty than the God of Israel.

They believed that this victory was given them by an idol which they had made, and called Dagon. Therefore they carried the ark in triumph to a great temple of Dagon that stood close by.

If you could have looked into this heathen temple, you would have seen something very different from the holy beauty of God's house in Shiloh. There stood the frightful idol which these poor men worshipped-a figure very large, shaped out of stone, with the head and hands of a man, but the tail of a fish and they thought it was this block of stone that had overcome the army of Israel. In great triumph they set the ark down beside the idol, and then the priests and the people went away; but when the priests of Dagon came next morning early to open the temple, though the ark stood where they had placed it, the figure of the idol had fallen to the

ground. They wondered as they looked, for it had never been so before. "Something has shaken it," they said; and the priests set the figure once more in its place. But though every one said it was only an accident, we may be sure they looked anxiously, when they came on the next morning to open the temple; and they could hardly believe what they saw, for the figure of Dagon was once more stretched on the pavement, and this time both head and hands were broken off, and only the fish tail remained.

Still the Philistines did not like to believe that the God of Israel had done this, and therefore another sign was sent to them; for a plague broke out amongst all the men of Ashdod, and many people died.

At last a great council was held of all the chief men, and it was decided that they would carry the ark to another city, about ten miles off, where there was also a temple to Dagon. It was to Gath, the city in which Goliath the giant dwelt, that they carried the ark. Perhaps they thought that in such a strong place the God of Israel could not have any power against them; but there, too, the plague broke out amongst all the people, and once more the ark was sent away to Ekron, another city of the Philistines. But even as the ark entered the city gates, the same sickness began, and every one entreated that the unwelcome guest might be sent away--sent back to Israel, so that the Philistines might be delivered from this punishment. Therefore, if you could have looked on, you would have seen, about seven months after the capture of the ark, that the Philistines had prepared to send it back.

You would have noticed a cart, quite a new one, that had never been used before; and in this cart the ark was placed. There were no horses to draw it, but, instead, two cows were yoked to it, as was the custom of the country. But these cows had both of them young calves at home, and it was not usual to make such kine draw carts or ploughs, unless, indeed, the young ones were allowed to run by the side of their mothers. Yet there were no calves running beside this cart, the two little animals being closely shut up; and therefore we might be quite sure that it would not be at all easy to drive the mothers, for they would be constantly trying to turn back to the place where they had left their young.

Perhaps there were men to walk by the side of the cows, and to lead or drive them? No; as this cart began to move, you would notice that not one of the Philistines went beside it: they said that if the ark belonged to the God of Israel, and if He were truly the Great God, then He would cause the kine to forget their young ones, and to draw

the cart safely to the place where He would have it go.

Quite unguided went this strange cart, every one, we may be sure, wondering at it as it passed along, but no one stopping or hindering it. The cows bent down their heads and lowed, thinking of their calves at home, but still they went on slowly and steadily, and behind them came the wondering lords and chief men amongst the Philistines, hardly believing what they saw, as the kine still went on by the most straight road towards the place where the land of the Philistines joined that of Israel.

The gold of the ark sparkled and gleamed in the summer sunshine, and as it came down the side of the last hill some of the Israelites caught sight of it in the distance. They stood still, throwing aside their sickles-for they were reaping-but not moving forward to meet it, for they were too full of wonder and of delight.

They saw the five lords who were walking behind turn back into their own land, and the cart came on, and stood still at last in the centre of one of the fields which was already reaped.

The Israelites crowded round the precious ark, which was so wonderfully restored to them; but though they were so glad to have the ark restored, they seem to have forgotten how sacred a thing it was. Some of the men began to say to each other, "It is quite true that the ark is come back, but how do we know that the tables of the law, and Aaron's rod, and the pot of manna are still within it?" Then, as they looked more closely, some one discovered a small box set in the cart beside the ark, and when they examined it they found in it jewels of gold, sent by the Philistines as an offering to God.

At last some one dared to open the ark and look within, but we are not told whether all was safe there; perhaps they were not allowed to see, for at once those who had touched the ark were smitten with a sore disease, and great terror spread through all the country side.

The people well knew why the plague had come; every Israelite had been taught that the ark of God must never be touched by any hands save those of the priests and the Levites in this way they were to learn how sacred everything was that belonged to God.

At once they sent for those Levites who lived nearest, and begged them to lift the ark from the cart. There was no place in which it could be kept, but for the present it was set by the Levites on a mighty stone which was in the centre of the very field to which the cart had come. Then they broke the cart in pieces-for it could never, now it had carried the ark, be used for any other purpose-and made a fire, and offered burnt offerings to God.