BIBLE LESSONS

FOR

THE LITTLE ONES AT HOME.

JESUS AT BETHLEHEM.

LITTLE Ellen Ross was just five years old. Her brother Harry was a year younger. They were on the whole good and happy children, though they sometimes did wrong, and grieved their papa and mamma, and then felt sad and unhappy themselves. But then they were sorry for it, and asked pardon from God and from their parents, and tried hard not to do the same again.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross were true Christians, they loved and served the Lord, and their great desire for their dear children was to lead them to love and obey him also. Ellen could read now pretty

well, unless when the words were very long, and was often allowed to read an easy verse at morning worship. Harry was learning too, and they both knew a good many Bible stories, and loved to listen to them, and could repeat a number of pretty hymns and short texts.

On Ellen's birthday, her mamma said to her, "Now, my dear, you are five years old, and you will be able for longer lessons. See what a beautiful present your uncle has sent you from London, a great many lovely Bible pictures, and a Bible in two volumes, such large print that you will be able to read it quite easily. Now we shall have a Bible lesson from it every day."

The children were delighted.

"When shall we begin, mamma?" "This is a holiday you know, but to-morrow you shall come to me after breakfast."

So, next morning, Ellen and Harry came to their mamma's room, and sat down beside her on the sofa, and she said, "Now we will speak for a little.

about our dear Saviour, the Lord Jesus 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."

แ 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, manıma." "Yes, Ellen, so wonderful, that neither papa nor mamma, nor even the angels, can quite understand about it. It was