want, and I will give it to you, even if it
is the half of my possessions." We know that Eastern princes often said
such things when their fancy or their gratitude was deeply stirred; they
gave full course to all their feelings, good and bad. Perhaps she had
become fond of Naaman's wife, and would like to stay with her. Perhaps
they told her they would adopt her, and clothe her with rich damask and
jewels of gold and silver. But I doubt if she was a child who cared more
for such things than for her parents and her home. And as she heard the
story of Naaman's cure, and of Elisha and the Jordan, her mind went back
to her native land and to her home, and a great longing filled her
heart to see it again, and to live the old life with her parents and
brothers and sisters. The Jews do not easily forget their country nor
their families; and this little maid was a true Jewess. It might be a
fine thing to live in a palace and wear jewels, but she would rather go
home, and tend the sheep and goats, and pick the grapes, and go to the
fountain for water. Perhaps she had lived on the slope of Hermon, where
the dew fell heavily every night, and the brooks ran full all summer;
for Naaman's march home led near it.

We found her in Damascus a slave; but we will leave her at home among
the vines and flowers and kids, with father and mother and mates, for
sh'e was a child who lived in her affections rather than in her
ambitions.

The chief thing she teaches us is the beauty and blessedness of
returning good for evil. Long before Christ's day she was Christ's own
child; for she loved her enemies, and prayed for those who had
persecuted her.

HERE FOLLOWETH THE HISTORY OF JOB

_Read on the first Sunday of September_

There was a man in the land of Uz named Job, and this man was simple,
rightful and dreading God, and going from all evil. He had seven sons
and three daughters, and his possession was seven thousand sheep, three
thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred asses, and his
family and household passing much and great. He was a great man and rich
among all the men of the orient. And his sons went daily each to other
house making great feasts, ever each one as his day came, and they sent
for their three sisters for to eat and drink with them. When they had
thus feasted each other, Job sent to them and blessed and sanctified
them, and rising every day early, he offered sacrifices for them all,
saying: Lest