fables are. Though the god Apollo
never existed, and never lived among men as a servant, yet the old tale
reminds us of Him who was truly the Son of God; who came to this world
and lived a human life like our own--a life of lowly service; who did
this not because of any crime He had committed, since He was perfectly
holy; and not because any one forced Him to do it, but of His own free
and loving choice. And further, the story shows us how sorrow and
death came to these old Greeks, and awakened in their hearts great
dreams and longings. These desires seemed vain enough then, because
there was no one who could fulfil them. But they were the very desires
which Jesus Christ came to fulfil in due time. The Greeks thought of a
love which was strong enough to make one lay down one's life for a
friend, and they put that idea into the sacrifice of Alcestis. They
thought, too, of a power which was strong enough to conquer Death, and
to bring lost ones back to life, and they put that idea into the
victory of Hercules.

In Jesus Christ you actually find both such a love and such a power.
He laid down His life for His friends--yes, and for His enemies. He
loved us, and gave Himself for us. And, though He died, yet He
conquered Death. He rose again in victory and glory. He gives eternal
life to all His disciples. He has abolished death, and has brought
life and immortality to light. Must not this picture, and this
old-world story, make us think reverently and lovingly of Him, and of
the verse which tells how He came _that through death He might bring to
nought him that had the power of death_?

[1] 1871.

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE

BY G. F. WATTS, R.A.

[Illustration: ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE By permission from a photograph by
Mr. Frederick Hollyer]

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE

_He that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more_.--Job vii. 9.

Our last picture showed us a struggle in which Death was conquered.
This one illustrates another old Greek story--the story of a fight with
Death that failed. It is by Mr. G. F. Watts, one of the most famous of
living painters, and it is called "Orpheus and Eurydice."

According to the old fable Orpheus was a great musician, so skilful
that he could tame wild beasts, and even make the trees and rocks move
by the sweet melodies which he played. Eurydice was his wife, and one
day she trod on a snake, which bit her, so that she died, and went down
into the world of