the foxes," and they came.
One was an ancient sage.
"Now place the young folk back to back,
And simply state their age."

The dames obey'd, the infants laugh'd;
Spoke he, Reynard so wise,
"'Tis useless; size and beauty lie
In love's fond, partial eyes."

OUR SUNDAY AFTERNOONS.

SAVED BY A DREAM.

The sun shone brightly down upon the pretty village of Bethlehem, as,
from the top of the hill on which it stood, it overlooked the smiling
fields below. And how peaceful all looked, carrying one's thoughts back
to the old times, when the loving and gentle Ruth, who had come with her
bereaved mother-in-law, to cast in her lot with the people of God, went
after the gleaners in the fields of Boaz, and humbly picked up the ears
of corn, that were so considerately dropped for her! How greatly she was
afterwards blessed, and what an abundant reward was hers!

There in that very neighbourhood her great-grandson David quietly tended
his sheep, and, in sweetest strains, lifted up his voice, in love and
gratitude, to the Great Shepherd in the heavens. What a peaceful life he
led amongst his beloved flock! And how his careful tending of his sheep
prepared him for that higher care which he was to take of God's chosen
people! And how, ages afterwards, when some other peaceful shepherds
were watching over their flocks by night, a wondrous light shone round
about them, and a bright angel told them the good tidings of great joy
which should be to all people! How to their astonished gaze, there
suddenly appeared a whole host of beauteous beings, praising God for His
love and mercy to mankind, and filling the whole expanse of heaven with
melody sweeter than the sweetest ever before heard upon earth!

How, too, only one mile from where the shepherds lay, a happy mother
gazed long and tenderly on the face of her newly-born child, who was to
be called "The Son of the Highest," who was to take away the sins of the
world, and have given to Him the throne of His father David! And those
Wise Men, too, that had come from the far East--how they rejoiced when
they saw the bright star that had guided them to the land of the Jews
re-appear and twinkle over the lowly place where the heavenly Babe lay!
What praise and thanksgiving went up from their grateful hearts, as they
looked upon the child-face that they had travelled day and night to see!

Truly, it seemed as if, since the days of the fair and virtuous Ruth,
the