all their energy to another mighty struggle. Victory was
theirs--a lost child was saved. Some are contented with anything that
looks like obedience in such instances. The occasion passes. It soon,
however, recurs with no better nor as good prospects. Thus the struggle
is kept up while the child remains under the parental roof.

A father one day gave his little son some books, his knife, and last of
all his watch to amuse him. He was right under his eye. At length he
told him to bring them all to him. He brought the books and knife to him
cheerfully; the watch he wanted to keep--that was his idol. The father
told him to bring that; he refused. The father used the rod. He took up
the watch and brought it part way, and laid it down. The father told him
to put it in his hand, but he would not. He corrected him again. He
brought it a little farther and laid it down. Again he whipped him. At
length he brought it and held it right over his father's hand, but would
not put it in. The father, wearied by the struggle, struck the son's
hand with the stick, and the watch fell into his hand. It was not given
up. There was no submission. That son has been known to be several times
under conviction, but he would never submit to God.

* * * * *

Original.

THE MOTHERS OF THE BIBLE

RIZPAH.

In order fully to understand the subject of our present study, we must
return upon the track, to the days of Joshua, before Israel had wholly
entered upon the possession of the promised land. The tribes were
encamped at Gilgal to keep the passover, and from there, by the
direction of Jehovah, they made incursions upon the surrounding
inhabitants. Jericho and Ai had been taken, and the fear of these
formidable Hebrews and their mighty God had fallen upon the hearts of
the nations and stricken them almost to hopelessness. Feeling that a
last effort to save themselves and their homes must be made, they banded
together and resolved to defend their rights, and to put to proof the
combined power of their deities. One clan, however, despairing of
success by any such means, having heard that the utter extirpation of
the Canaanites was determined upon, resorted to stratagem, and thus
secured their safety in the midst of the general ruin. "They did work
wilily," says the sacred record, "and made as if they had been
ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old,
and rent, and bound up; and old