We wonder why the ark was not now carried home to Shiloh ; but it would seem that, as a punishment for the way in which they had forsaken God, the Israelites were not allowed to keep His feasts, and worship in His house.

Eli, too, was dead, and his sons; and little Samuel was not a priest, and was, beside, too young as yet to teach the people. Twenty years went by-sad years for Israel, and yet they were good years too; for in all their troubles and misfortunes the nation was turning more and more to the God whom they had once forgotten, and when at the end of these twenty years Samuel, who had now become known as a prophet of God, spoke to them, and bade them turn from their idols, they were ready to obey, and began once more to worship God only.

But even yet the ark was not brought home, but remained in the keeping, first of one household and then of another of the border villages, all through the time of Samuel, and through the troubled reign of Saul, and was there while David fought Goliath, and grew up to be at last the king of Israel.

And then David longed to bring the ark home; but not now to Shiloh, for David reigned in Jerusalem, and he thought that there should be set up the house of God. A tabernacle could be easily placed, and, when it was ready for the ark, David set out with thirty thousand men to bring it home.

It was a long procession, therefore, that followed the new cart on which once more the ark was carried. Why the Levites did not bear it on their shoulders we are not told. Perhaps the law was forgotten in these long years; but yet it is plain that David wished to do the greatest honour to the ark that he possibly could, for he himself led the songs of rejoicing with which they carried it. Before, however, they had reached Jerusalem, all the musical instruments were suddenly silent, and the songs ceased, and great grief and confusion spread through all the long array that followed. Those who were nearest to the ark could see what had happened; they knew that one of the men who was in

charge of the ark had been slain by the hand of God because he had taken hold carelessly of the sacred thing. It was necessary that all the people should be taught, even by such a terrible warning, how holy everything is that belongs to God.

But David and his servants were so much alarmed that they did not, till some time later, bring the ark into the Tabernacle at Jerusalem.

They left it instead in the house of one of its appointed guardians-a Levite, named Obed-edom -and when David learnt that all the household of Obed-edom were prosperous and happy just because the ark was there, then at last he had courage to set out once more to bring it in triumph to Jerusalem.

This is not all that we are told about the ark: but the rest of its story, and how David longed to build a house in which to place it, belong to another chapter in its history, which we shall tell you about another time; and the last glimpse that we catch of it, as we conclude to-day, is as it was carried in great gladness into Jerusalem.

It was borne now on the shoulders of the Levites, and before it went the priests with cymbals and harps, and all the chief of the singers leading the praise of the people. More than a thousand Levites marched around the ark, and even David, the king, wore, for that day, the white linen ephod, which was the dress of those who ministered before the Lord. There were soldiers too, great captains used to war, now marching in this peaceful array ; and all round about the long procession thronged the crowding, rejoicing people, listening to the chant which went up from a thousand voices

"Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever."

The ark was no light burden, and whenever it had been carried a short distance, and the Levites stopped to rest, then sacrifices of thanksgiving were offered to God.

Thus in thankfulness and gladness the ark was once more borne within the curtains of the Tabernacle.

LXVI.

"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."-ST. JOHN i. 9. Was it foretold that Christ would be a Light to the world?-Is. xlii., xlix., lx.; St. Luke ii; Acts xiii. Did He call Himself the Light of the world?--St. John iii., viii., ix., xii.

Do His people walk in light? - Eph. v. ; I Thess. v.

LXVII.

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”—ST. JOHN i. 29. Give other passages that speak of Jesus as a Lamb?-Is. liii.; Rev. v., vii., xiv., xxii.

Did God command the Jews to sacrifice a lamb -Exod. xii. ; xxix.; Num. xxviii.

Was the lamb sacrificed a type of Christ ?— I Cor. v.; Eph. v.

hardly eight o'clock, and the cold will kill you, child."

"I was watching for you, sir," said Nellie, looking as serious as a little judge. "Do come and tell me what I shall do with this poor dog. He was out in the snow, looking so unhappy, and has now taken up his abode in the shed, and neither Miss Smith nor I can entice him out, or get him to go away. And we are afraid to go near.'

I followed Nellie readily enough, and there, lying on a sack, which he had taken possession of, was the dog in question. To all intents and pùrposes he was of a very common kind. Nobody in his senses would have given sixpence for him, except perhaps his owner, and who that might be was at present a mystery.

"Will you turn him out and send him away?" asked Nellie.

The dog looked in my face, oh, so pleadingly! "Kind sir," he seemed to say, "do speak a word for me; I'm so tired, my feet are sore, I've wandered far from home, and I am full of grief."

"Send him away? I replied to Nellie. "No, dear, you wouldn't, would you, if you thought he was weary, hungry, and in sorrow for his lost mistress. Look how thin he is."

"Oh!" cried Nellie, her eyes filling with tears, "I'll run and bring him part of my own breakfast." "Nellie," I said, as we parted, "be kind to that poor dog; he may bring you good fortune."

I do not know even now why I should have made that remark, but events proved that my words were almost prophetic. It was evident that the dog had travelled a very long way; but under Nellie's tender care he soon recovered health and strength and spirits as well, and from that day for three long years you never would have met the girl unaccompanied by Tray, as we called him.

Now it came to pass that a certain young nobleman came of age, and a great fête was given to his tenantry at P— Park, and people came from quite a long distance to join in it. I saw Nellie the same evening. It had been a day of sorrow for her. Tray had found his long-lost mistress.

A

THE

ROBIN came one winter day, And sang a very plaintive lay;

His coat was brown, his vest was red: 66 Pray Mr. Robin," then I said, "What do you want with me?" He looked at me with eyes so bright, Then at the snow, all lying white Upon the ground, and shook his head.

I threw to him some crumbs of bread;
He ate them heartily.

The next day and the next came he,
And friendlier every day were we ;
For when he to the window flew,
That he was welcome well he knew,
And bolder he became.

Into the room he now would hop,
Awhile
upon the table stop

And peck the crumbs; until at last,
Whilst the cold winter days went past,

My robin grew quite tame.

The winter past, and in the spring,
When all the birds began to sing,
My robin piped for me a tune-
The blithest that I heard in June,

Or through the summer long :
For sang he, "Thanks, my friend, to thee
That I am living full of glee;

Ah, pray, again when winter comes,
Do not forget to give me crumbs

In payment of my song."

So sang he, and his clear bold voice
Went through the woods, "Rejoice, rejoice!
Praise to the kindly heart is due,
Who fed me all the winter through,
And was to me so good."
Now, little children, let me teach
A lesson from the robin's speech :
Be kind to all, nor spare your hand,
And when the snow lies on the land,
Give the poor birds some food.
JULIA GODDARD.

T

HE competition for dressed

dolls has always been a very favourite one with the readers of LITTLE FOLKS since it was first suggested to them; and many of the groups of dolls sent in have been remarkable for their cleverness in manipulation, and for their fidelity in representing the dresses of the period to which they belonged. Our present chat with our industrious little workers is undertaken with a view to suggest something new in this department which will be both instructive and amusing, and which will help them to understand and appreciate with the more ease the works of Shakespeare, that wonderful Englishman who more than any other of our countrymen has left his mark upon ourselves and our language.

Groups of dolls dressed from his various plays would be very interesting studies of history, as well as of literature and geography, and would prove a delightful employment for our little folk. In "Hamlet," for instance, there are several scenes which are suitable for supplying characteristic groups-the mad scenes of Ophelia, and her sorrowful reading about her flowers, and her burial, or the grand pageant of the "Players before the King and Queen." Hamlet's dress is blacka black cloak, black velvet tunic, shoes, and swordbelt, black silk stockings, black hat, and plume of feathers. Ophelia wears two dresses-the first a plain princesse robe, of pale reddish woollen stuff; the second a white cashmere, made also long and plain, with a tunic which can be caught up at the side, so as to form a pouch or lap-bag to hold her flowers, which are poppies, corn, cornflowers, catkins, pansies, forget-me-nots, and daisies; the bodice is low and full, and the whole dress is trimmed with rows of silver braid and fringe. The fair hair hangs down the back, and on her head is a wreath of flowers (mixed with straws in the mad scene) and a flowing veil. The shoes are of white satin. The Danish Queen wears a regal dress, trimmed with ermine, and a crown.

The "Merchant of Venice" is another play full of beautiful scenes, laid in Venice and Padua. Portia wears a gold-coloured dress, which is made of the same length before as behind, and caught up at one side, showing a white satin petticoat. The bodice has a belt, and is cut square at the neck. Shylock wears the brown "gabardine" of

the Jews, the garment they were formerly obliged to wear, to point them out to all who saw them. The costume of the Venetian men and women was the richest and most splendid of any nation, if we may judge of it from the pictures of the great masters of painting. The men wore satin doublets and "trunk hose" of different colours-blue, white, gold, ruby, or green-slashed or embroidered in gold and silver, short velvet cloaks hanging from the shoulder, low-crowned hats with feathers, swords, tight silk stockings, and shoes. The Merry Wives of Windsor" carries us back to England again, and shows us the dress of the middle classes. Anne Page wears a velvet skirt touching the ground, opening in front over a white satin petticoat; a low velvet bodice with tabs all round, high lace ruff from the shoulders, puffed satin sleeves to the wrist, with turn-back cuffs of lace; conical velvet hat, bordered with pearls. Mrs. Ford wears a pink silk skirt, with rows of black velvet over a hoop, and a black velvet train, bunched up at the back; low pointed black bodice, muslin fichu edged with lace, and pink bows in front; black hat and pointed crown, and pink ribbons. Falstaff and Prince Hal must not be forgotten, nor Slender and friend Shallow. If we like costumes of an earlier date, we have them also in "Cymbeline," and in "Julius Cæsar."

There are also many books, which may be called English classics, that are full of interest and costumes, too. "The Vicar of Wakefield" has afforded subjects to the painter and the poet; and Scott's works furnish a treasure-house of the dress of every nation in Europe. It will be found the best and easiest plan to choose an event or a scene to depict where not too many characters are engaged, to make it appear crowded. There is much additional pleasure to be derived from our historical studies when we can fairly realise the dress of the people who bore a part in its great events. We can fancy how they looked, and can try to imagine their high thoughts and the impulse of their good actions, and as well as to enter into and sympathise with their temptations.

Cork will be found a delightful help in arranging the small surroundings of our figures: ruins and rocks are easily manufactured from it, and a little glue keeps it quite firm. The same material is used for seats, thrones, or walls, and the great advantage of it is that pins may be easily run into it. With this little hint we will take our leave of our busy readers, wishing them every success with their groups of heroes. D. DE B.