reproach from Israel? for who is this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

"And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle. And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

"And he turned from him towards another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner. And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.

"And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

"And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he those against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

"Thy servant slew both the lion and the

bear: and this Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee."

"And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand : and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine came on, and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

"And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? and the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

"And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

This day will the Lord deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite thee, and take thy head from thee; and I will give the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the

ain and to the wild beasts of the earth: that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran towards the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk in his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

"So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

"And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem."

EXPLANATIONS.

David became Saul's armour bearer.-Before the invention of gunpowder and fire-arms, men who went into battle wore plates of steel,

or brass over their bodies; and these metal vestments were called coats of mail, and armour. A king, or any great officer, when he was not clothed in his armour, appointed a person to carry it for him, and to take care of it, that the armour might be at hand and in order, when the officer should choose to put it on. The place of an armour-bearer was honourable, and kings bestowed it upon those they loved.

A champion.-One who goes out to fight in behalf of others--Goliath offered to fight for the whole Philistine army.

A cubit-eighteen inches, or a foot and a

half.

Helmet-a metal cap.

Spear-a long stick made of light and strong wood, having at the top a long iron point. The spear was sometimes called a lance or javelin.

A sling is a piece of leather which may be swung backwards and forwards by a string. The sling will contain stones which may be thrown to a great distance, and kill a person they may thus forcibly strike. In ancient warfare, some of the soldiers were slingers and archers. The slingers threw stones; the archers carried bows and arrows. The instruments of death which were thrown, as the lance, and the stones from the sling; were called missiles. Saul's spear-head weighed twentytwo pounds; and his coat of mail, one hundred and eighty-eight pounds.

Our Saviour was descended from David. The prophet Isaiah said, "a branch shall arise from the root of Jesse." This is a figurative

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expression, meaning, one of the descendants of Jesse shall come into the world.

What has been related of the history of David, is only a small portion of his life. He was a man of great virtues, and great faults; but his contrition for his sins-his generous treatment of his implacable enemy, Saul-and his ardent piety, are truly worthy of veneration and imitation to all posterity.

HOUSES.

A GREAT deal of work must be done to build a house. Many men must labour, many things must be used, many trades be employed.

The labourer digs the cellar, he lays a floor

of stone to it, and he makes walls of stone.

The walls of the house, and the chimneys, are made next; they are made of bricks and stone; if the house is very fine the stone is marble. The bricks and stone are cemented or fastened together with mortar.

The house is divided into stories, and into rooms; large beams are laid under the floors, and posts of wood divide the rooms. The floors are made of boards; the walls and the ceiling are covered with plaster; the windows are made of glass; the doors are sometimes made of wood called mahogany; sometimes the doors are made of white wood, and painted. When the house is quite finished, the walls are