Christ. Here is the first of uncle's pictures. What is this, my dears?"

Harry spoke before Ellen could say anything" It is Jesus in the manger.' "Yes, that lovely infant is the Lord Jesus. But who is Jesus?"

Ellen spoke now.

God."

"He is the Son of

"Where was he before he lay there

in the manger?”

"In heaven."

"And why did he come down from heaven ?"

"To save us."

"Yes, all men had sinned against God, and none of them could have gone up to heaven when they died, unless Jesus had come down. And so he loved us so much, that he left the heavens, and became a little baby first, and then a man, for our sakes."

"That was very wonderful, manima.” "Yes, Ellen, so wonderful, that neither papa nor mamma, nor even the angels, can quite understand about it. It was

what only God could do. Who will this be, Harry, sitting beside the manger "It will be Jesus' mother." "What was her name?" "The Virgin Mary."

Right. She was a Jewess, of the family of King David, whom you know a good deal about. God had told before by the prophets, that the Saviour was to come from that family. God sent the angel Gabriel from heaven to tell her that she was to be the mother of the Lord, and though it was such a wonderful thing, you shall hear how meekly and quietly she takes the honour. Ellen, read this verse."

"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."-Luke i. 38.

"Did you ever see a baby in a manger, Ellen ?"

"Oh no, mamma! Our baby has the bassinet with pretty pink curtains." "Then read this verse about how the Saviour came to be there."