True stories for little people...

Preface

One of the world's great writers, lying on his death-bed, said to his servant, —

'' Bring me the Book.''

'^ What Book ? " said the servant, thinking of the many beautiful books his master had written.

'' The Bible," said Sir Walter. '' There is but one Book.''

To seek to interest my young friends in the study of this " one Book," is the aim of the writer of the following sketches drawn from its treasury.

MRS. E. J. RICHMOND.

Part I. CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Garden . 1

II. The Brothers 7

III. A Short Story of a Long Life ... 10

ly. The Flood 12

V. The High Tower 18

YL The Doomed Cities 20

YII. The Lamb which was not slain . . 24

YIII. The Story of Joseph 28

IX. Moses 39

X. Samson, the Strong Man 48

XI. The Story of Samuel 52

XII. §AUL, THE King 60

XIII. King David 72

XIY. The Wise King 74

XY. Elljah, the Prophet 78

XYI. Elisha 96

XYII. Athaliah Ill

XYIII. Esther, the Beautiful Queen . . . 114

XIX. The Strange Battle 121

XX. The Story of Daniel 124

XXI. The Temple rebuilt 143

V

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Part II. CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Light of the World 149

II. John the Bapti.^t 158

III. The Sermox on the Mouxt 166

ly. The Tavefae Disciples 174

Y. The Master is betrayed 184

VI. The Resitrrectiox 194

YII. The Day of Pextec ost 199

YIII. Some of the Disciples 203

IX. JoHX 210

X. Saul, or Paul 214

XI. St. Luke 224

XII. Timothy 226

XIII. Mary, the Mother of Jesus .... 228

vi

TRUE STORIES FOR LITTLE PEOPLE.

PART I.

TRUE STORIES FOR LITTLE PEOPLE FROM THE BOOK.

Chapter I. The Garden

There are many lovely gardens in this fair world of ours, but I suppose none was ever so fair and perfect as the garden of Eden. The great and good God, the Creator of all things, fitted it up for the home of the first man and woman — Adam and Eve, and we may believe it was beautiful indeed. God had made the world, and the living creatures which inhabit it, the beasts, the fishes and the birds, and "saw that it was good.*' But He did what was greater than all these. He said "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ; and let them have dominion over all."

"So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him ; male and female created He them.

Z TRUE STORIES FROM THE BOOK.

This was the happy pair whom God placed in the garden of Eden.

Such fruits and flowers, such beauteous foliage and musical streams, so much that "God saw w^as good," and Adam and Eve had only "to dress it, and to keep it." How happy they must have been ; for sin was yet unknown. God gave them leave to eat of the fruit of every tree in the garden, save one. Of this one tree, the "tree of knowledge," He forbade them to taste ; for. He said, "In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

These happy people who lived in the garden of Eden, had one awful power, the same, kind reader which you and I possess to-day, the poioer of choice, I suppose that Satan, the great enemy of God, knew this. He hated God and His creatures as much as God loved them, and he resolved to destroy these innocent people if he could. So he took the form of a serpent and said to Eve as she was enjoying her lovely home :

"Yea hath God said. Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Oh if Eve had only known what a deadly enemy it was who spoke to her ! but she answered :

THE GARDEN. 6

"We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it lest ye die." Then the wicked serpent said " Ye shall not surely die." Why did not the poor woman turn away from the false wicked tempter at once ? But she listened. And the cruel tempter said, "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil."

Even now poor Eve did not turn away. To know! to be so grandly wise, she who knew so little ! This was her first temptation and she fell. She forgot her best Friend. It was all before her, right and wrong, good and evil, to obey or to disobey, and she must choose. Alas ! alas ! She reached out her hand, and plucked and ate the fruit which God had forbidden her to touch or to taste. And thus sin came into the world, and "the wages of sin is death."

"The garden was so sweet and fair Until the tempter entered there, And hapless Eve forgot her Lord And listened to the flattering word

4 THUE STORIES FROM THE BOOK.

Of the great enemy. Alas !

That such a thing should come to pass ; That Eve's fair hand should usher in Cold cruel death, the wage of sin.*'

When Adam knew the great wrong which Eve had done, he too ate of the fruit which she gave to him. And now the punishment began.

The heavy load of sin was on their hearts, and when "in the cool of the day," they heard the voice of the Lord walking in the garden, they tried to hide away^ instead of running to meet Him, as they had done. To hide from God, Every child knows that there is no place in the wide world where that can be done. God knew all about it, but He called, "Adam, where art thou?'' Then Adam told Him that he was afraid when he heard the voice of God and went and hid himself. Sin alone makes men afraid of the good God.

The Lord said to him, "Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat ?" Adam was not brave. He said "The woman whom Thou gavest me^ she gave me of the tree and I did eat." And the Lord said to Eve "What is this that thou hast done ?" And she

THE GAEDEF. 5

was not brave. She answered "The serpent beguiled me and I did eat." Then the Lord cursed the serpent which had tempted Eve, and all people hate the serpent up to this day.

Adam and Eve were driven from the beautiful garden and forced to till the ground. And God cursed the ground because of sin, and it brought forth thorns and thistles. And he told Adam that because he had done this great wrong, he should die at last, and be buried in the ground, for he said, "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.^'

This was the beginning of the sorrow which sic brought into the world.

QUESTIONS.

Who prepared the garden of Eden ? For whom was it prepared ?

Was it a pleasant home ?

Of how many of the fruits of the garden might they eat ?

Of how many were they forbidden to taste ? What was the penalty if they should disobey ?

6 TKUE STOKIES FROM THE BOOK.

What awful power did Adam and Eve possess? Who first disobeyed ?

Who tempted her ?

What did Satan tell her ?

Who next disobeyed ?

When they heard the Lord's voice in the garden what did they try to do ?

Could they hide away from Him ?

What excuse did Adam make ?

What was Eve's excuse ?

What sentence was pronounced against them ?

THE BROTHERS.

Chapter II. The Bbothers

"Driven from Eden, and for my sin." This bitter thought must have been in Eve's heart every day that she lived. She saw Adam toiling wearily, the sweat drops on his brow, to keep back the "briars and thorns," and to raise the fruits which had grown in the garden ready for their use. And she no longer heard the voice of her best Friend. But He did not forget her; He sent to the sad home two sons, Cain and Abel, and again they were happy. The love of father, and mother, brother, sister and home, is sweeter than all else in the whole world. It is next to the love of God.

Adam and Eve told thesa dear boys of this great and good Being, who made all things, and taught them to worship Him. He taught them too, to cultivate the soil, and to care for living creatures. Cain chose to be a farmer, but Abel was "a keeper of sheep." Both were honorable callings, but God who kno\^ the hearts of men, saw that Cain was a very wicked man. Abel was pure and true and loved and revered CTod.

The two brothers made offerings to God. Cain laid the fruits of the earth upon the altar which he made, and Abel upon his altar offered a lamb. And God, who knew the hearts of both the brothers, accepted the lamb which Abel gave, but did not have "respect to Cain's gift." Then Cain was very angry. Here we see sin again ; first envy, then anger, then the blackest of sins. For cruel Cain killed his true good brother.

God spake to the wicked man and said, " Where is Abel thy brother?" Now Cain adds falsehood to all his sins, and says, "I know not. Am I my brother's keeper? " Then Cain, the first murderer, was driven forth with a brand upon his brow, " a fugitive and a vagabond ; " and he said, " My punishment is greater than I can bear." To live under such a load of guilt must have been an awful punishment. The curse of God rested upon him till he died, and all over the world to-day he is known as " the murderer Cain," while his brother

The Murder of Abel.

THE BROTHEKS. 9

is remembered as " righteous Abel." Thus men live thousands of years after they are dead and are "only remembered by what they have done."

QUESTIONS.

What was Eve's great sorrow when they had been driven from the garden ?

Did God forget her ?

What were the names of the sons He sent her ?

What is one of the sweetest things in the world ?

What did Adam teach these boys ?

Were the boys alike ?

What were their occupations ?

What offerings did they make to God ?

Which did God accept, and why ?

Why was Cain so angry ?

What evil things came into his heart ?

What did he do ?

What answer did he make to God when He asked for his brother ?

What doom was pronounced against him ?

How are people remembered ?

10 TRUE STOKIES EHOM THE BOOK.

Chapter III. A Short Story Of A Long Life

It is all summed up in twelve words, the story of a man who lived the noblest life it is possible for a man to live in this world. "And Enoch walked with God and was not, for God took him."

This was the whole story, but the life lasted three hundred and sixty-five years. It was a grand thing to walk with God, but Enoch did not do it because others did. The Bible had not been written, and Christ had not yet come. All around him, men who had the same light he had — the voice of God in the soul, chose evil instead of good, wrong instead of right, but Enoch was wise. He "walked with God and was not, for God took him." He was translated. He did not go through the gates of death, as each one of us must do, as Christ himself did.

None of us may follow him in this, but every one may copy his grand life : may walk with God.

A SHORT STORY OF A LONG LIFE. 11

Then we have not only life eternal, but "all things"

in this life.

" Each day to walk and talk with God, Each day to heed His gentle voice, This is the only happy life, Thns may we 'evermore rejoice.' For all of earth and all of heaven He has unto His chosen given."

QUESTIONS.

What was the name of a good man whose long life is summed up in twelve words ? How many years did he live ?

Did Enoch have the Bible ?

Was he surrounded with good people ? What light had Enoch ?

Had the people around him the same light ? What did they choose ?

What is said of Enoch ?

What came to him ?

May we have to follow him in this ? What may we do ?

12 TRUE STOPvIES FPwOM THE BOOK.

CHAPTEE IV.

THE FLOOD.

Water is one of the greatest blessings which God has given to man. Yet God used it to destroy men, because they loved sin. Liberty — the power to choose — is a great blessing, but we may abuse it as Eve did. And men did abuse it. They loved sin, and the world grew wickeder every day.

There was only one man, Koah, who believed God and obeyed Him. And when God had determined to destroy all men for their great sins, He told Xoah, and bade him build an ark. It was a great ship, larger than any ever builded, perhaps. Yet it is said that the ^- Great Eastern,"' which some years ago laid the Atlantic cable, was of about the same length and breadth as the ark. To see a great ship like this going up year after year, and to hear Noah tell that God was about to

The Dove Returning.

THE FLOOD. 13

bring a flood upon the earth, and destroy all flesh, was too much for the faithless people.

The ark stood on dry land, and no doubt they thought it would always be there. But when they saw all the animals, two of a kind, going into the great three-storied ark, ahd knew that Noah had laid up in it food enough of all kinds to last many months, they began to look grave. Then God said to Noah, ''' Come thou and all thy house into the ark.'' And Noah obeyed, and with his wife, his three sons and their wives, went into the ark. ''And the Lord shut him in.^^ Now they are safe, and no doubt the men who had sneered at Noah began to tremble. For the rain came down, and the ark rose on the waters. Men fled to the hills and the mountains.

The rain still poured for forty days and forty nights, and the mountains were covered. And every living thing upon the earth, except what were in the ark, was dead. Then God remembered them, and the rain ceased, and the winds blew, and the tops of the mountains appeared.

The ark rested on the mountains of Ararat, and

Noah opened the window, and sent forth, first a' raven which did not come back, and then a dove which '• found no rest for the sole of her foot," and came back to him in the ark. He waited seven days and sent her forth again, and this time she came back with an olive leaf in her mouth. Then Noah knew that the waters were abated. We may think how glad they all were, after living in the ship one hundred and fifty days with only water, water everywhere, to see the earth again.

God had called him into the ark ; now he says, ^^ Go forth." And Noah went out with every living creature. He stood on the dear old earth again, and the very first thing which he did shows Him to have been a true, good man. ^^Noah builded an altar unto the Lord." He offered sacrifice, and the Lord was pleased. He made to Him this great promise : "I will not curse the ground any more for man's sake ; . . . seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." For ^^ the token of the covenant" He gave the beautiful rainbow, and every time we look upon it, we think of God, and of His great goodness to us.

THE FLOOD. 15

It is very sad to know that Noah was the first man to learn that '^ wine is a mocker." He planted a vineyard. The juice of the grape is very sweet and nourishing before it begins to spoil. Then, when fermentation begins, alcohol, like the serpent in the garden, makes it what the w^ise man speaks of : " Who hath woe ? Who hath sorrow ? Who hath contentions ? Who hath babbling ? . . . Who hath redness of eyes ? They that tarry long at the wine. ... At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.'' AYe may believe that when Noah drank so freely of the wine, he did not know that it was spoiled. But it bit him all the same. All the world knows his shame. The Book tells all the sins and mistakes of good men just as faithfully as it does their virtues. And so other poor men who have fallen into sin do not despair. They remember how patient and long-suffering God is, and that men have only to confess and turn away from sin, to find mercy.

QUESTIONS.

What is one of the greatest blessings God has given to man ?

Why did He turn this blessing to a curse ?

What did the people choose ?

HoAv many men believed and obeyed God ?

What was that man's name ?

What did God tell Xoah to do ?

What great ship of modern times bore the same proportions ?

Did Xoah warn the people ?

Did they heed his warnings ?

What caused them to look grave ?

What did God say to Xoah ?

What did He then do ?

How long did the rain come doAvn ?

What happened to every living thing outside the ark ?

When the rain ceased, where did the ark rest ?

What did Xoah do ?

How long was he in the ark ?

What did God now say to Xoah ?

THE FLOOD. 17

When Noah and his family went forth from the arkj what was his first act ?

What beautiful token did God appoint of His promise not again to drown the earth ?

After this what great mistake did Noah make ?

Does the Bible tell us of the faults as well as the virtues of men ?

Chapter V. The High To Web

As the earth became peopled again, and all the people spoke one language, the}^ forgot the Lord, who had preserved their fathers in the great flood. They said they would build a great city, and a tower, the top of which should reach heaven. They would make them a name, and not go wandering over the ea.rth. And they builded well. The brick which they used was burned thoroughly ; and there were so many of them speaking one language, the way seemed clear to do all they planned.

But God who made them planned otherwise. In the midst of their busy work. He said that He would confound their language, so that no one could understand what the other said. This He did, and the men who had made such great plans without asking God were in sore trouble.

THE HIGH TOWER. 19

They left off building the city, and the high tower, and were scattered throughout the earth, as God had planned.

And they called the city which was not builded, Babel, because that the Lord did there confound the language of all the people, and scatter them abroad over the earth.

QUESTIONS.

As the earth became peopled again, did men remember God ?

What did they plan to do ?

Why?

Did they build well ?

Why 'did they succeed so well?

What was God's plan ?

What did He do ?

What happened then ?

What name did they give the city ?

Chapter VI. The Boomed Cities

Amoxg the few righteous men of which the Bible speaks is Abraham, who is called '^ the friend of God.'' He sent angels to this good man, to tell him what He Avas about to do.

Among all the wicked cities in the world, none were so utterly bad as Sodom and Gomorrah. They were situated in the midst of a beautiful plain, which Lot, the nephew of Abraham, had chosen as his home. He was a good man ; but he lived in Sodom, and a good man cannot live in a vile place without being harmed.

God sent His angels to tell Abraham that He was about to destroy the wicked cities. Abraham thought of Lot, and prayed that if fifty righteous men could be found in Sodom, it might be spared. And God said that if He found fifty good men there, He would spare the city.

THE DOOMED CITIES. 21

Then Abraham pleaded for mercy if forty should be found. And God said that He would not destroy the city for forty's sake. Abraham now asked for mercy if thirty were found ; and God said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there.'^ Still Abraham pleaded for mercy for the doomed city ; " if twenty were found there.'' And God said, '' I will not destroy it for twenty's sake."

Again, the last time, he prayed that if ten were found there, it should be spared. And the merciful One said, " I will not destroy it for ten's sake."

But, alas ! In all that great, wicked city, not ten righteous men were found. Even the angels who went to warn Lot that God was about to destroy the city were so shamefully treated, that they smote the men with blindness, that they might escape out of their hands. Then the angels told Lot to take his wife, and his daughters, and their husbands, and flee to the mountains, for the city should surely be destroyed for ics great wickedness.

The husbands of Lot's daughters would not believe this, and stayed in the doomed city. Even

Lot's wife had become so fond of the wicked city that she " looked back/*' which the angels had told her not to do. She was turned at once into " a pillar of salt." And Lot, instead of hastening to the mountains, as he was commanded to do, begged to be permitted to go to a little city called Zoar, which was not so far away. The angels kindly consented ; but when Lot saw the awful smoke of the burning cities, he did not sta}^ in Zoar, but hid away in the mountains.

It is not safe to live among vile, wicked people. Even Lot and his family were harmed by living in Sodom. He had chosen it for his home because the valley of Jordan was '^ well watered everywhere," even '' as the garden of the Lord." But the beauty of the land did not make the people good and thankful to God.

The Book says, " The men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners before the Lord exceedingly."

Those who visit the site of these cities tell us that the rocks above the valley are full of bitumen. It does not concern us what materials He used in destroying the cities which He had

THE DOOMED CITIES. 23

doomed. All the forces of the world which He made are at His command ; and we know that He utterly destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their great wickedness.

QUESTIONS.

What was Abraham called ?

Who were sent to him ?

What did the angels tell him ?

Why would God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah ? What friend of Abraham lived in Sodom ? For what did Abraham plead ?

Did God hear his prayer ?

Were ten righteous men found in Sodom ? How did the men of Sodom treat the angels who went to warn Lot ?

What did the angels do ?

What did they then do ?

Did all of Lot's family escape with him ? What came to Lot's wife ?

Why had Lot chosen Sodom for his home ? Is it safe to choose wicked associates ?

24 TKUE STORIES FBOM THE BOOK.

Chapter VII. The Lamb Which Was Not Slain

Ax old man, bowed with the burden of grief and care ; his only son, a beautiful boy ; two servants, an ass, and wood for a sacrihce.

This picture was seen in the land of Judea, nearly four thousand years ago. Millions have looked upon it since with wonder and awe. The soul of the picture, that which we cannot see, was the burden which the old man bore. He had heard the voice of God calling, —

" Abraham ! Abraham ! ''

And he had answered, as was his wont, —

" Here am I."^ .

Then he heard, —

"Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of jVIoriah ; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will

Isaac Rescued by the Angel.

THE LAMB AVHICH WAS NOT SLAIN. 2o

tell thee of.^^ And, without a word^ the old man had prepared for his journey, which had now lasted three days.

God had given to him this son, and had given him great promises for him. How noiv can they he fulfilled? The old man did not ask this question. He simply obeyed God. He said to his servants, —

'^ Abide you here with the ass ; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.''

Then he gave the wood to his son, and took the fire and a knife, and they went on together. And Isaac said to his father, —

" Behold the fire and the wood ; but where is the lamb ? ''

" God will provide Himself a lamb,'' the old man said ; and he knew that the innocent boy was the lamb which God had commanded him to sacrifice.

When they had come to the place, the old man built an altar, and ^^ laid the wood in order." Then he bound his son, and laid him

2(3 TRUE STORIES FKOM THE BOOK.

upon the wood. And lie lifted his hand to strike ; but then he heard the voice of God again call, —

'' Abraham ! Abraham ! '^

And again he answered, —

^^Here am 1.''

Then he heard, —

'^Lay not thine hand upon the lad; . . . for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.*'

The happy father turned and saw a ram caught by the horns in a thicket close by. This he killed and laid upon the altar, and he named the place " Jehovah-jireh. The Lord will provide."

This is the Christian's watchword to-day.

QUESTIONS.

Whose voice did Abraham hear ?

What answer did he make ?

Had God made promises for this son Isaac ?

Did Abraham obey God ?

THE LAMB WHICH WAS NOT SLAIK. 27

What did Isaac ask his father ?

What answer did Abraham make ?

When he had come to the place where God commanded him to go^ what did he do ?

When he lifted up his hand to strike the ladj what did he hear ?

Was the father glad ?

What did he see caught by his horns in a thicket ?

What name did he give the place ?

What was the meaning of the word ?

28 TKUE STOKIES FEOM THE BOOK.