n the house of his god, there came to him two of his
sons, who killed him.

[Illustration: HEZEKIAH LAYING THE LETTER BEFORE GOD.]

THE BRAVE HEBREW BOYS.

Brave boys and girls! We all wish to be brave, do we not? Then we must
learn to say "No," when tempted to do wrong.

These Hebrew boys were young nobles who had been carried captive from
Jerusalem to Babylon; but though in a strange land, subject to the
mighty king Nebuchadnezzar, they feared not to refuse his food and
wine when they knew that the taking of it would cause them to sin
against God. They were well educated Hebrew youths, and the Babylonish
king had commanded that they should be taught the learning of the
Chaldeans; also, to keep them in health and with beautiful
countenances, he had ordered that the meat and wine from his table
should be given them. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah. Daniel seems to have been their leader. We find "he purposed
in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the
king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank." So he begged the
king's servant the feed him and his three companions on plain food and
pure water; but the servant feared to do so, lest the king should find
them worse looking than those who ate his meat and drank his wine, and
the servant should lose his head in consequence. A trial was made,
however, for ten days, at the end of which time they were found to be
better looking than the boys fed on rich food and wine. Therefore, the
servant let them live plainly according to their request; and at the
end of three years, when they stood before the king, we are told that
for wisdom and understanding none were found like Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah.

[Illustration: THE BRAVE HEBREW BOYS.]

DANIEL AND THE LIONS.

When Darius came to the throne, upon the death of Belshazzar, he set
over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes. Over these he appointed
three presidents, of whom Daniel was first. Now the princes and other
presidents were jealous of Daniel, and sought to find some fault
against him; but could not, as he was a faithful servant of the King.
Then they tried to injure him because of his praying to God. So they
came to the King, and said, "King Darius live for ever: all the great
officers of thy kingdom have consulted together to establish a royal
law, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty
days, save of thee,