Once, while Jesus was journeying about, He passed near a town where a man named Jairus lived.  This man was a ruler in the synagogue, and he had just one little daughter about twelve years of age.  At the time that Jesus was there the little daughter was very sick, and at last she lay a-dying.

Her father heard that there was a wonderful man near the town, who was healing sick people whom no one else could help, and in his despair he ran out into the streets to search for Him.  He found Jesus walking in the midst of a crowd of people, and when he saw Him he fell down at Jesus feet and besought Him to come into his house, to heal his daughter.  And Jesus said, Yes, he would go with him.  But there were so many people begging to be healed, and so many looking to see what happened, that the crowd thronged them, and kept them from moving fast.  And before they reached the house one of the man’s servants came to meet them, and said, “Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master to come farther.”

But instantly Jesus turned to the father and said, “Fear not; only believe, and she shall be made whole.”  And He went on with Jairus, to the house.

When they came to the house, they heard the sound of weeping and lamentation; the household was mourning for the little daughter, who was dead.  Jesus sent all the strangers away from the door, and only three of His disciples and the father and mother of the child went in with Him.  And when He was within, He said to the mourning people, “Weep not; she is not dead; she sleepeth.”

When He had passed, they laughed Him to scorn, for they knew that she was dead.

Then Jesus left them all, and went alone into the chamber where the little daughter lay.  And when He was there, alone, He went up to the bed where she was, and bent over her, and took her by the hand.  And He said, “Maiden, arise.”

And her spirit came unto her again!  And she lived, and grew up in her father’s house.

ESPECIALLY FOR CLASSES IV.  AND V.

ARTHUR AND THE SWORD[1]

[Footnote 1:  Adapted from Sir Thomas Malory.]

Once there was a great king in Britain named Uther, and when he died the other kings and princes disputed over the kingdom, each wanting it for himself.  But King Uther had a son named Arthur, the rightful heir to the throne, of whom no one knew, for he had been taken away secretly while he was still a baby by a wise old man called Merlin, who had him brought up in the family of a certain Sir Ector, for fear of the malice of wicked knights.  Even the boy himself thought Sir Ector was his father, and he loved Sir Ector’s son, Sir Kay, with the love of a brother.