ch man should
die, and the lamb taken away should be restored fourfold. Then Nathan,
looking at the King, said: "Thou art the man!" He showed David how
greatly he had sinned, and told him that trouble and sorrow would come
upon him for what he had done. God had given him riches and honour,
and all that he could wish for; yet he had taken the one precious
thing of Uriah's, even his wife, and had caused him to be slain. David
was sorely grieved when he saw how wickedly he had acted. He confessed
his sin to God, and God forgave it; but great trouble came upon the
King afterwards through this crime.

[Illustration: "THOU ART THE MAN."]

DAVID AND ARAUNAH.

After David had reigned may years, he numbered the people of Israel.
This was wrong; and God sent a pestilence which destroyed seventy
thousand men. David was grieved, and prayed that God would punish him
and spare the people. God stayed the hand of the destroying angel; who
stood by the threshing-floor of Araunah, whither David was told to go
and offer sacrifice. David went. He purchased the threshing-floor of
Araunah, also oxen and wood and offered a burnt sacrifice to God. The
following verses describe the scene:--

Beside Araunah's threshing-place
The awful angel took his stand,
When from high heaven came words of grace--
"It is enough; stay now thine hand."

For David's penitential prayer
Had enter'd God's compassionate ear;
And where the angel stood, even there
God bade the King and altar rear.

Araunah offered ground, and wood,
And oxen for the sacrifice:
David stood noble wish withstood,
And bought them all at full price.

His answer has a royal ring;
Its lesson high shall not be lost:
"Burnt offerings I will never bring
Unto Jehovah without cost."

The altar rose, the victims died,
The plague was stayed, and lo, there fell--
Token that Heaven was satisfied--
A fire from God, and all was well.

'Twas like a finger from the skies--
That falling fire--to show God's will,
That here the Temple should arise
And crown Moriah's sacred hill.

And still God marks the faithful prayer,
The careful work, the costly pains;
The Spirit's fire descendeth there,
And there, as in a shrine, remains.

RICHARD WILTON, M.A.

[Illustration: DAVID AND ARAUNAH.]

ELIJAH FED BY RAVENS.

God was displeased with King Ahab, and sen