e been
poor.

Often these husbandmen had to wait until the rain made the ground soft
enough for their ploughs to enter it, consequently many had to toil in
cold, stormy, winter weather. To this the proverb alludes which says:
"The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; therefore shall
he beg in harvest, and have nothing." (Prov. xx. 4.)

Perhaps it was just such a plough, drawn by just such oxen as we see
in our picture, that Elisha was using when Elijah passed by and cast
his mantle upon him; thereby calling Elisha to be his servant and
successor. We are told that Elisha "took a yoke of oxen, and slew
them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and
gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after
Elijah, and ministered unto him."

[Illustration: PLOUGHING IN CANAAN.]

THE SHUNAMMITE'S SON.

Many interesting stories are told in the Bible, few of which are more
touching than that of Elisha the prophet, and the Shunammite woman.
This story we find in the fourth chapter of the Second Book of Kings.

We read of the prophet journeying to and fro, and resting in the
little chamber that the kind Shunammite had built for him on the wall
of her house. We see its bed, table, stool, and candlestick; and the
joy beaming upon the good woman's face when a tiny infant son was
given her. How she loved him! And as he grew up how carefully she
watched over him. But a sad time was coming.

The golden corn was in the field ready for reaping, for the harvest
time had come. The hot sun shone overhead, and the little lad was out
with his father in the field, probably running about among the corn.
Suddenly he felt a violent pain, and cried out, "My head, my head!"
Then joy was changed to sorrow. The father saw his son was ill, and
bade a lad carry the little boy to his mother, on whose knees he sat
till noon, and then he died.

Next we see the mother leaving her dead son, and journeying to find
the prophet. Elisha sees her coming, and sends Gehazi to inquire if
all is well. Then she falls down before the prophet and tells him her
trouble; and he sends his servant with his staff to lay it upon the
dead child. The story closes by stating how Elisha follows Gehazi,
goes to the chamber where the dead boy lay, prays to God that the life
may be restored, and finally has the joy of giving the lad, alive and
well again, into the arms of his mother.

[Illustration: THE SHUNAMMITE'S SO