n the old prison at the Palace of Skulls, Madrid.
After thirty-three years in this living tomb, death came to his release,
and the following remarkable researches, taken from the Bible, and
marked with an old nail on the rough walls of his cell, told how the
brain sought employment through the weary years.

The 35th verse, 11th chapter of John, is the shortest.

The 9th verse of the 8th chapter of Esther is the longest.

The 8th verse of the 97th Psalm is the middle verse of the
Bible.

Each verse in Psalm 136 ends alike.

The 37th chapter of Isaiah and 19th chapter of 2d Kings are
alike.

The word "girl" occurs but once in the Bible, and that in
Joel, 3d chapter and 3d verse.

The word "Lord" is found 1853 times, the word "Jehovah" 6855
times, the word "reverend" but once, and that in Psalms 111th
chapter and 9th verse.

The four most inspiring promises are in John, 14th chapter,
2d verse, 6th chapter and 37th verse; Matthew, 11th chapter
and 28th verse, and in Psalms, 37th chapter and 4th verse.

The finest chapter is in Acts, 26th.

--_Christian Observer._

120a

THE BIBLE.

Who, coming to this sacred book, with a sincere desire to know God's
will for the direction of his life, will say that he can not find it?
Who, desiring to be instructed in the way of salvation "through faith
which is in Christ Jesus," will consult its pages, and say it is not
made plain to him? Who, coming to it for equipment of his spiritual
life, will say that there are still needs of that life which are left
unprovided for? Who, seeking direction in the way of the life
everlasting, can doubt that, if he faithfully obeys its teaching, he
will reach that goal? The Scripture fulfils the ends for which it was
given; no higher proof of its inspiration can be demanded. * * * * *
What the closing verse of the 20th chapter of John's Gospel says of that
book: "But these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life through His
name," may with equal truth be applied to the Bible as a whole.

--_James Orr, D. D._,
Glasgow.

121

_A Little Bird Told Me_--The origin of this phrase is doubtless to be
found in Ecclesiastes, x, 20:--For a bird of the air shall carry