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down at Jesus feet and besought Him to come
into his house； to heal his daughter。 And
Jesus said； Yes； he would go with him。 But
there were so many people begging to be
healed； and so many looking to see what
happened； that the crowd thronged them； and
kept them from moving fast。 And before they
reached the house one of the man's servants
came to meet them； and said； 〃Thy daughter
is dead； trouble not the Master to come
farther。〃
But instantly Jesus turned to the father and
said； 〃Fear not； only believe； and she shall be
made whole。〃 And He went on with Jairus； to
the house。
When they came to the house； they heard the
sound of weeping and lamentation； the household
was mourning for the little daughter； who
was dead。 Jesus sent all the strangers away
from the door； and only three of His disciples
and the father and mother of the child went in
with Him。 And when He was within； He said
to the mourning people； 〃Weep not； she is
not dead； she sleepeth。〃
When He had passed； they laughed Him to
scorn； for they knew that she was dead。
Then Jesus left them all； and went alone
into the chamber where the little daughter lay。
And when He was there； alone； He went up to
the bed where she was； and bent over her； and
took her by the hand。 And He said； 〃Maiden；
arise。〃
And her spirit came unto her again！ And
she lived； and grew up in her father's house。
ESPECIALLY FOR CLASSES IV。 AND V。
ARTHUR AND THE SWORD＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Sir Thomas Malory。
Once there was a great king in Britain named
Uther； and when he died the other kings and
princes disputed over the kingdom； each wanting
it for himself。 But King Uther had a son
named Arthur； the rightful heir to the throne；
of whom no one knew； for he had been taken
away secretly while he was still a baby by a
wise old man called Merlin； who had him
brought up in the family of a certain Sir Ector；
for fear of the malice of wicked knights。 Even
the boy himself thought Sir Ector was his
father； and he loved Sir Ector's son； Sir Kay；
with the love of a brother。
When the kings and princes could not be
kept in check any longer； and something had
to be done to determine who was to be king；
Merlin made the Archbishop of Canterbury send
for them all to come to London。 It was
Christmas time； and in the great cathedral a
solemn service was held； and prayer was made
that some sign should be given； to show who
was the rightful king。 When the service was
over； there appeared a strange stone in the
churchyard； against the high altar。 It was a
great white stone； like marble； with something
sunk in it that looked like a steel anvil； and
in the anvil was driven a great glistening sword。
The sword had letters of gold written on it；
which read： 〃Whoso pulleth out this sword of
this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of
all England。〃
All wondered at the strange sword and its
strange writing； and when the archbishop himself
came out and gave permission； many of the
knights tried to pull the sword from the stone；
hoping to be king。 But no one could move it
a hair's breadth。
〃He is not here；〃 said the archbishop； 〃that
shall achieve the sword； but doubt not； God
will make him known。〃
Then they set a guard of ten knights to keep
the stone； and the archbishop appointed a day
when all should come together to try at the
stone；kings from far and near。 In the meantime；
splendid jousts were held； outside London；
and both knights and commons were bidden。
Sir Ector came up to the jousts； with others；
and with him rode Kay and Arthur。 Kay
had been made a knight at Allhallowmas； and
when he found there was to be so fine a joust
he wanted a sword； to join it。 But he had left
his sword behind； where his father and he had
slept the night before。 So he asked young
Arthur to ride for it。
〃I will well；〃 said Arthur； and rode back for
it。 But when he came to the castle； the lady
and all her household were at the jousting； and
there was none to let him in。
Thereat Arthur said to himself； 〃My brother
Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day。〃
And he remembered the sword he had seen in
the churchyard。 〃I will to the churchyard；〃
he said； 〃and take that sword with me。〃 So he
rode into the churchyard； tied his horse to the
stile； and went up to the stone。 The guards
were away to the tourney； and the sword was
there； alone。
Going up to the stone； young Arthur took the
great sword by the hilt； and lightly and fiercely
he drew it out of the anvil。
Then he rode straight to Sir Kay； and gave it
to him。
Sir Kay knew instantly that it was the sword
of the stone； and he rode off at once to his father
and said； 〃Sir； lo； here is the sword of the
stone； I must be king of the land。〃 But Sir
Ector asked him where he got the sword。 And
when Sir Kay said； 〃From my brother；〃 he
asked Arthur how he got it。 When Arthur
told him； Sir Ector bowed his head before him。
〃Now I understand ye must be king of this
land；〃 he said to Arthur。
〃Wherefore I？〃 said Arthur。
〃For God will have it so；〃 said Ector；
〃never man should have drawn out this sword
but he that shall be rightwise king of this land。
Now let me see whether ye can put the sword
as it was in the stone； and pull it out again。〃
Straightway Arthur put the sword back。
Then Sir Ector tried to pull it out； and after
him Sir Kay； but neither could stir it。 Then
Arthur pulled it out。 Thereupon； Sir Ector
and Sir Kay kneeled upon the ground before him。
〃Alas；〃 said Arthur； 〃mine own dear father
and brother； why kneel ye to me？〃
Sir Ector told him； then； all about his royal
birth； and how he had been taken privily away
by Merlin。 But when Arthur found Sir Ector
was not truly his father； he was so sad at heart
that he cared not greatly to be king。 And he
begged his father and brother to love him still。
Sir Ector asked that Sir Kay might be seneschal
when Arthur was king。 Arthur promised with
all his heart。
Then they went to the archbishop and told
him that the sword had found its master。 The
archbishop appointed a day for the trial to be
made in the sight of all men； and on that day
the princes and knights came together； and each
tried to draw out the sword； as before。 But as
before； none could so much as stir it。
Then came Arthur； and pulled it easily from
its place。
The knights and kings were terribly angry
that a boy from nowhere in particular had beaten
them； and they refused to acknowledge him king。
They appointed another day； for another great
trial。
Three times they did this； and every time the
same thing happened。
At last； at the feast of Pentecost； Arthur
again pulled out the sword before all the knights
and the commons。 And then the commons
rose up and cried that he should be king； and
that they would slay any who denied him。
So Arthur became king of Britain； and all
gave him allegiance。
TARPEIA
There was once a girl named Tarpeia； whose
father was guard of the outer gate of the citadel
of Rome。 It was a time of war；the Sabines
were besieging the city。 Their camp was close
outside the city wall。
Tarpeia used to see the Sabine soldiers when
she went to draw water from the public well；
for that was outside the gate。 And sometimes
she stayed about and let the strange men talk
with her； because she liked to look at their
bright silver ornaments。 The Sabine soldiers
wore heavy silver rings and bracelets on their
left arms；some wore as many as four or five。
The soldiers knew she was the daughter of the
keeper of the citadel； and they saw that she had
greedy eyes for their ornaments。 So day by
day they talked with her； and showed her their
silver rings； and tempted her。 And at last Tarpeia
made a bargain； to betray her city to them。
She said she would unlock the great gate and
let them in； IF THEY WOULD GIVE HER WHAT THEY WORE
ON THEIR LEFT ARMS。
The night came。 When it was perfectly dark
and still； Tarpeia stole from her bed； took the
great key from its place； and silently unlocked
the gate which protected the city。 Outside； in
the dark； stood the soldiers of the enemy； waiting。
As she opened the gate； the long shadowy files
pressed forward silently； and the Sabines
entered the citadel。
As the first man came inside； Tarpeia stretched
forth her hand for her price。 The soldier lifted
high his left arm。 〃Take thy reward！〃 he said；
and as he spoke he hurled upon her that which
he wore upon it。 Down upon her head crashed
not the silver rings of the soldier； but the
great brass shield he carried in battle！
She sank beneath it； to the ground。
〃Take thy reward；〃 said the next； and his
shield rang ag