Of course, you have guessed my riddle, or else you will want to know what these missionaries cost and why we do not employ more of them; and who sent them out, and to what Board they are responsible; and who buys them new clothes of leather and cloth; and what happens to them when their backs are bent with age and their faces furrowed with care, and when only they themselves can read their title clear?

I think no one will have to help you guess my riddle or tell you that the four missionaries who go about the most are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and that the two ladies are Esther and Ruth.  Now you have guessed that the Little Missionaries are the Books of the Bible.  Do you know how many there are?  How many in the Old Testament?  How many in the New Testament?  Perhaps some of you know the names of all the sixty-six!  But it is not enough to know the names of these Books that we have called Little Missionaries.  We must know what is in them, we must know the message they bear to this sinful and troubled world.  And we must all do our part to send out this blessed message of peace, comfort, and eternal life.  It may not be your work to go to Arabia, but yet you have a work to do of one kind or another for Arabia.  The Bible must be sent there.  And now may I ask all the boys and girls who read this to pray for the Little Missionaries?  Pray that they may go ahead and prepare the way of the Lord all over this dark peninsula, from the palm groves of Busrah to the harbour of Aden, and from the sea of Oman to the unholy cities,—­Mecca and Medina.

    “Jesus, tender Shepherd
      Thou hast other sheep
    Far away from shelter
      Where dark shadows creep. 
    Seeking Saviour, bring them home
    That they may no longer roam.

    “Jesus, tender Shepherd
      While Thou leadest me,
    As Thy little helper
      Faithful may I be. 
    Seeking others far and wide
    Drawing lost ones to Thy side.”

XIX

TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

About eighteen hundred and fifty years ago two missionaries came to a town in Greece, called Thessalonica, and began to preach.  They did nobody any harm and only talked about the love of Jesus Christ for sinners.  A great number of people believed and attended their meetings.  Some of the noble and wealthy women of the town also became Christians and for about three weeks the preaching went on unhindered.  However, as soon as the enemies of the gospel saw that Paul and Silas were meeting with success they did their best to stir up trouble.  A mob collected and with a great deal of noise and shouting pulled some of the new believers through the streets, crying:  "They that have turned the world upside down are come hither also!" Just as it was in Thessalonica so it has been in every place where the gospel has been preached.  The word of God does turn the world upside down.  The gospel is powerful and its effect is often at first to stir up the envy and hatred of men who love not God.  When the heathen are worshipping idols and enjoying sinful pleasures they like to be let alone.  A thief does not like the policeman’s lantern.  Those who do dark things hate the light.  The Moslem’s idea of right and wrong is so crooked that he does not like to have it exposed.