SALLY

was very fond of baby Mab, and baby Mab was very fond of Sally. Sally wore a large cap, to make her look older; but she was only a little maid of twelve years old, and her work was to play all day with Mab Mab and amuse her. Sally built houses with bricks that baby Mab knocked down; she hid behind chairs and tables, and even in the great cupboard, for baby Mab to find her. She made carriages of the chairs, and tossed up a soft woollen ball for baby Mab to catch. She carried her into the garden and into the fields, and made crowns of buttercups and chains of daisies, and showed her how to puff away the downy darts from the dandelion heads.

Sally was very proud of Mab, and thought no baby was ever so good, so pretty, or so wonderful.

Baby Mab, though she was two years old, and could walk, was very fond of being carried about. But what she liked better than anything else was to go and see George's dog, Frisk.

"See bow-wow Frit, see bow-wow Frit," said Mab; and then Sally took her through the farmyard to the great barn where Frisk was shut up whilst George was at school.

Frisk was a funny little dog, and as

MAB.

fond of play as baby Mab. George would hide away behind a bush, or a stile, or a bench, and call, "Frisk, Frisk!" and Frisk would come trotting along, peeping about till he found George, and then he would jump about with pleasure.

Frisk was always glad to see baby Mab; he let her stroke him, and pull his ears and his tail, and did not mind it a bit. Once or twice baby Mab had crept out of the house and found her way alone to Frisk, and had given every one a great fright till they found her; and now if she were missing the first thing done was to go and look for her in the great barn.

But one day baby Mab could not be found even with Frisk, and her mother

ANSWERS TO SCRIPTURE HISTORY WANTING WORDS (p. 128).

[The Editor has observed with much pleasure that a considerably larger number of his readers than usual have taken part in the Scripture History Competition, many of the answers sent in being also of more than average merit; and he has, in consequence, been enabled to somewhat extend the List of Honour this month. A few of the Competitors seem, however, to have been mistaken in their reading of the picture of Naaman's visit to Elisha; and among other incidents in the Bible which are described by them as being illustrated by it are the following:-The Visit of the Princes of Moab to Balaam; Saul pursuing David; Abram returning from the slaughter of the Kings; Jehu riding into Jezreel; Hazael's Mission to Elisha; Jehu meeting Jehoshaphat; and One of Joseph's brethren bargaining with the Midianites.]

LIST OF HONOUR.

First Prize, with Officer's Medal of the "Little Folks" Legion of Honour :-GEORGE C. NEECH (15), 5, Church Lane, Church Road, Willesden, N.W. Second Prize, with Officer's Medal:-CLARENCE CROWTHER (9), Pirton, Hitchin, Herts. Honourable Mention, with Member's Medal:CHARLOTTE EMMA WOODS (14). Bank House, Newnham, Gloucestershire; E. MABEL PLUMPTRE (10), 43, Faubourg de la Barre, Dieppe; MARY H. Cox (13), 6, Lansdowne Mansions, Brighton; AMY M. BROOM (10), 28, Cheyne Row, Chelsea, S.W.; CAROLINE MAUDE BATTERSBY (12), Cromlyn, Rathowen, Co. Westmeath, Ireland; WINIFRED SECRETAN PATCH (9), St. Michael's View, Torquay; LAURA BLANCHFORD (15), 4, College Park, Exeter ; LILLIAN SIMPSON SMITH (11), The Educational Institute, Cowes, Isle of Wight; PHILIP D. THOMPSON (8), 65, High Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire; CICELY H. FARMER (10), 6, Porchester Gate, Hyde Park.

FIRST PRIZE ANSWER.

HE rumbling of chariot wheels and the clank of horses' hoofs are heard upon the stony road. Pause awhile, and gaze on the gorgeous procession as it wends its way towards King Joram's palace. First, then, surrounded by his guards, and riding in his gorgeous chariot, drawn by two powerful war-horses, comes the noted general of the Syrian forces of Benhadad. His glittering helmet is of the same style as those of his followers, but is surmounted with a "rosette" or "crown" suitable to an officer of the time. Round his neck hangs a necklace of gold-the special mark of distinction in the Syrian court. His body is covered with a coat of mail, and round his waist is a girdle with two daggers. He is standing up, and a look of half doubt, contempt, and hope, is upon his countenance. But oh! how white his face! he is evidently stricken with that deadly disease known as the leprosy. It was the "white leprosy that had taken possession of him. It had defied cure; and when he, the great general, the favourite of the king of a great nation-one of the greatest in the world-had given

up all hopes of recovery, he was calmed from the fear of dying by a "still small voice" speaking through the Hebrew maid-"Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy." This was told the king. Benhadad gave him a letter to the king of Israel; and he is on his way to that prince when he first comes under our notice.

Still gaze! and as that chariot containing Naaman, followed by camels bearing burdens of gold-"six thousand pieces" in fact-silver, ten talents, and ten changes of raiment, moves on, it reaches the town and proceeds to the palace.

Presently Naaman approaches the king with the letter Benhadad has written; and after Joram has read it, he rends his clothes and says, Am I God, to kill and to make alive? . . he seeketh a quarrel against me." As Naaman is expounding the object of his visit, there enters a man in hot haste. Falling down before the king, he says, "Thus, O king, saith Elisha the prophet. Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come unto me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel."

Off starts Naaman again with his train, and soon reaches the hill, or rather "tower," in the back-ground of our illustration. A little way down the side of this hill was the house of Elisha. Down comes the chariot with Naaman, and halts just before the door of the house.

64

Forth from the house comes a man dressed as a common servant-most probably Elisha's servant Gehazi. The renowned captain looks inquiringly down at the new comer. Then the latter quietly but firmly speaks. My master saith to thee, O Naaman, Go wash in Jordan seven times, and thou shalt be clean." Quickly, then, passed a haughty, indignant look of contempt over the warrior's face, and like a peal of thunder rang out the wrathful champion's voice as he bade his driver turn again.

"Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean?" And casting another look of wrathful indignation at the astonished Gehazi, he sighed, and said to his driver, "Haste thee to Damascus !" But after putting a little distance between himself and the prophet, he began to grow calmer, and at last a great favourite of his ventured to mention and persuade him to do what Elisha had said. So the great captain's chariot was turned towards Jordan, and there he, dismounting, washed seven times.

No sooner had this been accomplished than, wonderful to behold, his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child."

Up toward Elisha went the now joyful Naaman, "he and all his company," and thus addressed the prophet: "Behold, now I know there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant."

"As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none," replied the faithful Elisha. Again Naaman spoke, after some time: "Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy

servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the Lord. In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing."

Then the calm voice of the prophet sounded in the silent air three simple words-namely, "Go in peace."

As the rumbling grows less and less, we note not the wicked man who follows-we shall not blurr our story with the recital of so disgraceful an act-we leave Naaman, the great general, the slayer of Ahab, disappearing in the distance, and conclude, GEORGE C. NEECH. (Aged 15.)

5, Church Lane, Church Road,

Willesden, London, N.W.

Certified by JOHN C. NEECH, Schoolmaster.

SECOND PRIZE ANSWER.

HERE was once a very great warrior named Naaman, who was afflicted with a dreadful and incurable disease called leprosy. In this great captain's house lived a little Israelitish girl, who was waiting-maid to Naaman's wife. Although she was living among heathen and idolaters she did not forget the true God, nor the wonderful miracles He had performed by the prophet Elisha. Being much grieved to see her master so unhappy, she one day ventured to remark to her mistress that if Naaman would go to the prophet Elisha in her country, she was sure he would cure him. This was repeated to Naaman, and glad to try any remedy, he at once determined to undertake the long journey. The king, too, being most anxious for his recovery, gave him a letter of recommendation and many costly presents. So Naaman set out in a fine chariot, with horses and camels and a great num

ber of servants. Besides being rich and great, Naaman was very proud, and he expected Elisha would pay him a great deal of honour. When he arrived at the prophet's house, Elisha-wishing to teach this captain that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble, and that He is no respecter of persons-merely sent out a servant with a message to go and wash seven times in the River Jordan, and he would be whole. Naaman was so angry at this, as well as at being told to wash in a small river like the Jordan when there were such fine large rivers in his own country, that he turned away in a great passion, and would have gone home without washing had not his servants, who loved their master and much wished to see him cured, persuaded him to obey the prophet's simple command. Naaman acted upon the good advice of his servants, and went and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh became as soft and smooth as the flesh of a little child. His pride was now humbled, and he was full of joy and gratitude as he returned to Elisha's house. As a reward for this miraculous cure, Naaman greatly urged the prophet to accept the money and many beautiful presents he had brought. But Elisha would take nothing; he wanted Naaman to give the praise and glory to God. After expressing his belief in God, and promising to serve Him in the future, he started back home in his chariot; but he had not gone far before Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, overtook him, and by telling a lie obtained some of the presents and money he had seen and coveted. Gehazi thought his master would never know of his wickedness; but God told Elisha, and on his return to the house-as a punishment for breaking the tenth commandment, and for the sin of lying, which God particularly forbids -the leprosy of Naaman fell upon him and his descendants for ever. CLARENCE CROWTHER. Pirton, Hitchin, Herts. (Aged 9.) Certified by R. LINDSAY LOUGHBOROUGH, Vicar of Pirton.

LIST OF

Competition for a Description of Indoor Games and

Amusements.

First Prize (One Guinea Book), with Officer's Medal of the "Little Folks" Legion of Honour: -LAURA M. ROBERTS (15), Maitland House, Beckenham. Second Prize (Half-Guinea Book), with Officer's Medal.-AMY A. KEELING (13), 72, Caroline Street, Peas Hill Road, Nottingham, Honourable Mention, with Member's Medal:JAMES G. MCNAUGHT (15), 31, Moray Place, Queen's Park, Glasgow; MAY LAWRENCE (15), 20, Kensington Park Gardens, Notting Hill; FLorrie Oreton (15), Walford Hall, Solihull.

I

HONOUR.

Competition for Sets of Six Puzzles. First Prize (One Guinea Book), with Officer's Medal of the "Little Folks" Legion of Honour :—EVA B. BRACKENBURY (15). Thorpe Hall Farm, Downham, Norfolk. Second Prize (Half-Guinea Book), with Officer's Medal:-UNA MURIEL HAIGH (8), Ivy Lodge, Walmer Hill, near Deal. Honourable Mention, with Member's Medal :-LUCY FIELD (14), Battledown Gates, Cheltenham; MARGARET W. HUNTER (15), Paragon House, Heathfield Road, South Croydon; HENRY M. PARTRIDGE (14), Thicket Lodge, Thicket Road, Anerley, S. E.; HELEN L'ESTRANGE BURGES (143), St. Paul's Vicarage, Handsworth.

N accordance with the rules for one of the many competitions which our kind friend, the Editor of LITTLE FOLKS, gives us, I am going to try to describe a few games which are favourites with us, and which I do not think are generally known. I am afraid none of them are very active, though why I cannot tell, unless it be that no new games can come up to "Post," "Blind Man's Buff," and the like old

favourites. I will begin with three games which require writing.

1. The Geography Game.-A letter is chosen, and each player being provided with a pencil and paper, must write as many countries, towns, rivers, mountains, &c., beginning with that letter as he can remember. At the end of a time previously fixed-say three minutes-every one must read

ANSWERS TO SCRIPTURE HISTORY WANTING WORDS (p. 128).

[The Editor has observed with much pleasure that a considerably larger number of his readers than usual have taken part in the Scripture History Competition, many of the answers sent in being also of more than average merit; and he has, in consequence, been enabled to somewhat extend the List of Honour this month. A few of the Competitors seem, however, to have been mistaken in their reading of the picture of Naaman's visit to Elisha; and among other incidents in the Bible which are described by them as being illustrated by it are the following:-The Visit of the Princes of Moab to Balaam; Saul pursuing David; Abram returning from the slaughter of the Kings; Jehu riding into Jezreel; Hazael's Mission to Elisha; Jehu meeting Jehoshaphat; and One of Joseph's brethren bargaining with the Midianites.]

LIST OF HONOUR.

First Prize, with Officer's Medal of the "Little Folks" Legion of Honour :-GEORGE C. NEECH (15), 5, Church Lane, Church Road, Willesden, N.W. Second Prize, with Officer's Medal:-CLARENCE CROWTHER (9), Pirton, Hitchin, Herts. Honourable Mention, with Member's Medal:CHARLOTTE EMMA WOODS (14). Bank House, Newnham, Gloucestershire; E. MABEL PLUMPTRE (10), 43, Faubourg de la Barre, Dieppe; MARY H. Cox (13), 6, Lansdowne Mansions, Brighton; AMY M. BROOM (10), 28, Cheyne Row, Chelsea, S.W.; CAROLINE MAUDE BATTERSBY (12), Cromlyn, Rathowen, Co. Westmeath, Ireland; WINIFRED SECRETAN PATCH (91), St. Michael's View, Torquay; LAURA BLANCHFORD (15), 4, College Park, Exeter ; LILLIAN SIMPSON SMITH (11), The Educational Institute, Cowes, Isle of Wight; PHILIP D. THOMPSON (83), 65, High Street, Maidenhead, Berkshire; CICELY H. FARMER (10), 6, Porchester Gate, Hyde Park.

FIRST PRIZE ANSWER.

HE rumbling of chariot wheels and the clank of horses' hoofs are heard upon the stony road. Pause awhile, and gaze on the gorgeous procession as it wends its way towards King Joram's palace. First, then, surrounded by his guards, and riding in his gorgeous chariot, drawn by two powerful war-horses, comes the noted general of the Syrian forces of Benhadad. His glittering helmet is of the same style as those of his followers, but is surmounted with a "rosette" or 44 crown suitable to an officer of the time. Round his neck hangs a necklace of gold-the special mark of distinction in the Syrian court. His body is covered with a coat of mail, and round his waist is a girdle with two daggers. He is standing up, and a look of half doubt, contempt, and hope, is upon his countenance. But oh! how white his face! he is evidently stricken with that deadly disease known as the leprosy. It was the "white leprosy that had taken possession of him. It had defied cure; and when he, the great general, the favourite of the king of a great nation-one of the greatest in the world-had given

"

up all hopes of recovery, he was calmed from the fear of dying by a 'still small voice" speaking through the Hebrew maid-"Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy." This was told the king. Benhadad gave him a letter to the king of Israel; and he is on his way to that prince when he first comes under our notice.

Still gaze! and as that chariot containing Naaman, followed by camels bearing burdens of gold-"six thousand pieces" in fact-silver, ten talents, and ten changes of raiment, moves on, it reaches the town and proceeds to the palace.

Presently Naaman approaches the king with the letter Benhadad has written; and after Joram has read it, he rends his clothes and says, Am I God, to kill and to make alive? he seeketh a quarrel against me." As Naaman is expounding the object of his visit, there enters a man in hot haste. Falling down before the king, he says, "Thus, O king, saith Elisha the prophet. Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come unto me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel."

Off starts Naaman again with his train, and soon reaches the hill, or rather tower," in the back-ground of our illustration. A little way down the side of this hill was the house of Elisha. Down comes the chariot with Naaman, and halts just before the door of the house.

Forth from the house comes a man dressed as a common servant-most probably Elisha's servant Gehazi. The renowned captain looks inquiringly down at the new comer. Then the latter quietly but firmly speaks. My master saith to thee, O Naaman, Go wash in Jordan seven times, and thou shalt be clean." Quickly, then, passed a haughty, indignant look of contempt over the warrior's face, and like a peal of thunder rang out the wrathful champion's voice as he bade his driver turn again.

"Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean?" And casting another look of wrathful indignation at the astonished Gehazi, he sighed, and said to his driver, "Haste thee to Damascus !" But after putting a little distance between himself and the prophet, he began to grow calmer, and at last a great favourite of his ventured to mention and persuade him to do what Elisha had said. So the great captain's chariot was turned towards Jordan, and there he, dismounting, washed seven times.

No sooner had this been accomplished than, wonderful to behold, "his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child."

Up toward Elisha went the now joyful Naaman, "he and all his company," and thus addressed the prophet: "Behold, now I know there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy

servant."

"As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none," replied the faithful Elisha. Again Naaman spoke, after some time: "Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy