them."

She set before him a cup; he praised the Lord for the close of the
Sabbath, drank, and then asked again, "Where are my sons, that they may
also drink of the wine of blessing?"

"They cannot be far off," said his wife, as she placed food before him
and begged him to eat.

When he had given thanks after the meal, she said, "Rabbi, allow me a
question."

"Speak, my beloved," answered he.

"Some time ago," said she, "a certain one gave me jewels to keep for
him, and now he asks them back. Shall I give him them?"

"My wife should not need to ask such a question," said Rabbi Meir.
"Would you hesitate to give anyone back his own?"

"Oh, no," replied she, "but I did not like to give them back without
your knowing beforehand." Then she led him to the upper chamber,
stepped in, and took the covering off the bodies.

"Oh, my sons," sobbed the father, "my sons, my sons!" The mother
turned herself away and wept.

Soon, however, his wife took him by the hand and said: "Rabbi, have you
not taught me that we must not refuse to give back what was intrusted
to us to keep? See, the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: the
name of the Lord be blessed."

And Rabbi Meir repeated the words, and said from the depths of his
heart, "Amen."

LESSON VII

STATUE OF LIBERTY IN NEW YORK HARBOR

"Liberty," or Bartholdi's statue, was presented to the United States by
the French people in 1885. It is the largest statue ever built. The
great French sculptor Bartholdi made it after the likeness of his
mother. Eight years were consumed in the construction of this gigantic
image. Its size is really enormous. The height of the figure alone is
fully one hundred and fifty feet. Forty persons can find standing room
within the mighty head, which is fifteen feet in diameter. A six-foot
man, standing upon the lower lip, can hardly reach the eyes of the
colossal head. The index finger is eight feet long, and the nose is
over three feet long. Yet the proportion of all the parts of the
figure is so well preserved that the whole statue is in perfect harmony.

The materials of which the statue is composed are copper and steel.
The immense torch which is held in the hand of the giantess is three
hundred feet above tidewater.

The Colossus of Rhodes was a pigmy compared with this huge wonder.

LESSON VIII

INDEPENDENCE

Scholars, who are enjoying the priceless blessings of that liberty
which cost our forefathe