tchison, Esq., of Hamilton,
Canada, and used by his kind permission.

These sheep are feeding just outside Jerusalem. "All the plateaus
east of the Jordan, and the mountains of Palestine and Syria, are
pasture grounds for innumerable flocks and herds. In the spring
there is plenty of grass. Later, when the rain has ceased, the sheep
still nibble the dry herbage and stubble and flourish where, to a
western eye, all is barren desert. They require water but once a
day. The descendants of the same shepherds who tended the flocks in
Bible days still occupy the great sheep walks of Palestine"
[End illustration]

{285}

The shepherd named the sheep, and the sheep all knew him and loved
him. They would follow him, but they would not follow a stranger.
Because the people of the Bible land knew so much about the sheep and
the shepherds, the writers of the Bible said a good deal about them.
Now get the Bible and I will read you some of the things which it says
about sheep."

Margaret brought the Bible, and mamma read first what Jesus said about
himself as the good shepherd:--

"'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door
into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same
is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the
shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear
his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the
sheep follow him, for they know his voice. And a stranger will they
not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of
strangers.'

"'Jesus said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the
door of the sheep. All that came before me are thieves and robbers:
but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter
in, he shall go in and out, and shall find pasture. The thief cometh
not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they
may have life, and may have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the
good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a
hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth
the wolf coming, {286} and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf
snatcheth them, and scattereth them: he fleeth because he is a
hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I
know mine own, and mine own know me