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"Not patrician, but Cæsar himself. ' What is the charm then?."

Betty's friend looked perplexed. "I do not know," he hesitated, "unless it is that she never thinks of herself. "

This is a true story. The charm of this woman was an absolute absence of all self-consciousness. She was neither vain nor modest. She simply forgot that there was such a person as Betty Gordon, and with her warm heart and quick sympathies threw herself into the lives of others. It was a peculiar, powerful attraction, and brought the little world about her to her feet.

This unconsciousness of self is recognized in our best classes as the finest development of good breeding. Among the English nobility, the man of highest rank is likely to be the most unassuming, direct and simple in his manners. He assumes the virtue of modesty, if he has it not.

American young people are not apt to be selfish, but are usually generous and considerate. But they are often intensely self-conscious. They are themselves so engrossed with that monster 1, that they imagine the world is equally interested. In this self-consciousness they continually speak, move, and even think, like actors before an audience.-Exchange.

CARING FOR FLOWERS.

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A florist was so absorbed in his "cuttings," that he did not notice the proach of a customer, nor hear his "Good morning " till it was twice spoken, Then he apologized, saying: "You see one must put his whole mind on these things, if he would have them do well; and I cannot bear that one should die on my hands, for I should feel almost as

if I had murdered it by neglect." It is a pity that more Sunday-school teachers do not have the same loving anxiety in regard to their scholars that the florist exhibited over his cuttings. They ought to see that, if they would have them do well, they must put their whole mind and heart upon their teaching and training. As it is and it is a fearful thoughttoo many die on their hands-" murdered by neglect. "-S. S. Times.

A LITTLE CHILD'S HYMN.

Thou that once, on mother's knee,
Wert a little one like me,
When I wake or go to bed
Lay Thy hands about my head;
Let me feel Thee very near,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear.

Be beside me in the light,
Close by me through all the night;
Make me gentle, kind, and true,
Do what mother bids me do;
Help and cheer me when I fret,
And forgive when I forget.

Once wert Thou in cradle laid,
Baby bright in manger shade,
With the oxen and the cows,
And the lambs outside the house;
Now Thou art above the sky:
Canst Thou hear a baby cry?

Thou art nearer when we pray,
Since Thou art so far away;
Thou my little hymn will hear,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear,
Thou that once, on mother's knee,
Wert a little one like me.

-Francis Turner Palgrave.

SLEEPING WITH GOD.

duties called him away from home nearly three-fourths of the time. It was his habit, whenever he was about to start for home, to telegraph his wife, apprising her of the fact. In these telegrams he never failed to mention the name of the little four-year-old, and the dispatches usually ran as follows: "Tell Arthur I shall sleep with him to night." The baby boy was very proud of these telegrams which his mother would read over to him, and he considered the "teledraf" a great institution.

The father was a railroad man whose

The other night, when the fever had done its work and the mother was sobbing out her anguish, the little one turned calmly in his bed, and said: "Don't ky, mamma; Is'all s'eep wiv Dod'oo know. Send Dod a teledraf, and tell him I s'all s'eep wiv him to-night." sage went straight up there without the clicking of wires or the rustle of wings.— Detroit Chaff.

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THE flower of youth never looks so lovely as when it bends to the Sun of Righteousness.

LESSON I.

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

October 1, 1882.

THE ANOINTING AT BETHANY. MARK 14: 1-11.

Commit to memory verses 6-9.

1. After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

2. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

3. And being in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

4. And there were some that had indignation with in themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

5. For it might have been sold for more than three

hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her."

6. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why

trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

7. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

8. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.

9. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

10. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelv, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.

promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

11. And when they heard it, they were glad, and

OUTLINE:

1. THE COUNSEL OF THE MURDERERS. Vs. 1-2.
2. THE LOVE OF MARY. Vs. 3-9.

3. THE TREACHERY OF JUDAS. Vs. 10-11.

GOLDEN TEXT: "She hath done what she could." Ver. 8.

INSTRUCTION.

Verses 1-2. The Passover was the great feast of the Jews, keeping in memory their deliverance, when the destroying angel passed over their houses. By craft, secretly and cunningly. Not on the feast, because many people were present who were Jesus' friends, and who might defend Him. 3. Being in Bethany, the town of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Simon the leper, whom Jesus healed of his disease. A woman-Mary. Alabaster box--a white marble vase, like a bottle. Spikenard-a fragrant oil. Brake the box-the seal on it, or perhaps the neck. 4. Some had indignation-the disciples, especially Judas, (John 12:4). 5. 300 pence-$45. Given to the poor (See John 12: 6). 8. Burying: the Jews anointed dead bodies with costly spices. 9. A memorial, a monument to her memory. 11. Money; 30 pieces of silver: about $15 or $18.

CATECHISM.

Ques. 40. Why was it necessary for Christ | truth of God, satisfaction for our sins could be to humble Himself even unto death? made no otherwise than by the death of the Ans. Because with respect to the justice and Son of God.

QUESTIONS.

Verse 1. What did the Passover keep in memory? Who were the enemies of Jesus? What did they seek? What did they wish to do to Jesus? Of what crime were they guilty?

2. Why not arrest Him during the feast? Did "the people" favor Jesus?

3. What friends of Jesus lived in Bethany? At whose house was He guest? Who anointed Him? Do you know of any other woman who anointed Him? (See Luke 7: 36-50). Tell about Mary's devotion?

4. What did "some" say of her act? Was it a waste? Is anything which is done for Christ and His body, the Church, a waste?

5. How much was the ointment worth? 6-7. How did Jesus regard Mary's act? Who are always with us? What are we to do to them?

8. What did Mary's act really mean? How did the Jews prepare a corpse for burial?

9. Have these words been fulfilled? Is any woman's name more widely known than Mary's?

10. Who was Judas? What was "the root of all evil" with him? Did this seeming waste of ointment turn him against Jesus?

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(Matt. 26: 15). Read Zechariah ‍11; 12.
11. How much money did they give him?

HYMN FOR THE LESSON: "Jesus, the very thought of thee."

LESSON I.

Oct. 1, 1882. the poor. Do such objectors really care for the poor? Do they give anything for their support?

Jesus came to Mary's defense, and declared her devotion good. She hath done a good work. Her motive was good; and she did according to her

not behindhand, or too late. Many think
they will do good with their substance,
came aforehand, vs. 8.
but put it off until it is too late. Mary

Seventeenth Suuday after Trinity. The time of this anointing was on the Saturday before the Crucifixion, though Matthew and Mark seem to place it on the Tuesday following. JOHN says it was six days before the Passover-that ability-what she could. And she was is, on Saturday. Notice, 1. "Matthew and Mark often neglect the exact order of the events that they record; 2. They do not affirm at what time this was They leave it indefinite, saying that while Jesus was in Bethany He was anointed by Mary; 3. Mark introduced it here for the purpose of giving a connected account of the conduct of Judas, who murmured at the waste of ointment, and one of the effects of his indignation was to betray his Lord "-Barnes.

Notice the everlasting honor which belongs to Mary (vs. 9). Her name and act are known over the world. No her fame. She has stimulated others to marble monument could so proclaim give millions in every age to Christ's poor.

Jesus also gives us to understand that Whensoever ye will ye may do them we are to take good care of the poor. good. All depends upon our willingness.

10-11. What a contrast between Mary

and Judas! She is forever held in

I. THE COUNSEL OF THE MURDER. ERS, VS. 1-2. Notice the conduct of III. THE TREACHERY OF JUDAS. Jesus' enemies, the priests and scribes. They sought to arrest him, but lacked courage to do it openly. Craft, cun. ning, always characterizes the wicked. To" put Him to death" was their sole desire. But not during the feast; for there were multitudes in attendance who believed in Jesus, having seen His works. Especially might the Galilean friends rise in His defense.

II. THE LOVE OF MARY, 3-9. Her love was free and bountiful. There was no law or command for her to do as she did. Love prompted her to give the best she had; and that love is an aroma that has filled the whole Christian world, as the aroma of the ointment "filled all the house." Her act was also a noble confession of her Lord, whom she deemed worthy of everything.

She was sharply criticized for her gift. Some thought it was only a waste. So such persons think when much money is given for the support of the gospel of

honor, he in disgrace and contempt.
The enemies of Jesus found him a will-
ing tool in their hands. He was willing
to sell his Master; and that, too, for the
price of a common slave-30 shekels
of silver, about $15 or $18 of our
money.
Luke says:
Then entered
Satan into Judas (Luke 22:3). "What
will ye give me ?" (Matt. 26: 15). This
is the question we so often ask, and are
then in great danger. Many professed
disciples sell Christ for earthly gain, as
when they are dishonest, and cheat, or
do not pay what they owe. The love of
money is a root of all kinds of evil. "We
need to be warned against the love of
gain, lest we betray our Master,and be con-
signed to the companionship of Judas."

PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. Secret plot-
tings are dangerous to good principles.
the light.
What is good may be done openly, in

2. Love to Christ will show itself in gifts, or in labors for His Church.

3. It is better to do all we can, than to withhold our substance. "Not

grudgingly.

4. It is better to be in the company Christ. Then they pretend that it of the liberal Mary, than in that of the might have been used for the benefit of covetous Judas.

LESSON II.

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

October 8, 1882,

THE PASSOVER. MARK 14: 12-21.

Commit to memory verse 21.

12. And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his discipled said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

13. And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: followhim. 14. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

15. And he will show you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

16. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

17. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. 18. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. 19. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? 20. And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. 21. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

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GOLDEN TEXT.-" It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover." Ex. 12: 27.

INSTRUCTION.

Verse 12. First day, &c., Thursday evening. The day ended with sunset. The lamb was not eaten until evening, that is Friday the 15th of Nisan; our Good Friday. 13. TwoPeter and John. 14. Goodman, the owner of the house. The Master, that is Jesus. It would seem that the man was a secret disciple. 15. Upper room; shows that Jesus could see into the future, and foretell what would take place. Make ready, purchase a lamb, and let the priest slay it; get bitter herbs and bread, &c.

17. Evening, the time to eat the passover. (Read also Matt. 26: 17-25. And John 13: 130). They sat, reclined on couches. 20. One of the twelve, Judas.

Read Exodus 12: 21-36. The Passover was instituted in Egypt, and was kept annually ever afterwards. It was "the birthday feast of the chosen people" It was a religious and a patriotic festival, separating the Jews from other nations, and binding them together as one people-the elect of God.

CATECHISM.

Ques. 41. Why was He also buried?
Ans. Thereby to prove that He was really dead,

QUESTIONS.

Verse 12. What is unleavened bread? How does it differ from common bread? What is meant by the passover? What did it commemorate? Did Jesus keep the rites and ceremonies of the Church? What did His disciples ask him?

13. What two did Jesus send? What city is meant? How did Jesus know about the man bearing a pitcher? Is He only Man?

14. What message were they to communicate to the man? Would he know who was meant by "the Master?" Does Christ know what is going on in people's houses?

15. What preparations were the two to make? 16. How did the disciples find it? Did they walk by faith, or by sight, at first!

17. What took place in the evening? Who leaned on Jesus' bosom? What work of a servant did Jesus perform after supper? (John 13: 4-20). What did He teach by this act?

18-19. What crime did Jesus foretell ? Had He intimated this before? (John 6: 70). How was Jesus affected at the feast? (John 13: 21). How did the disciples feel when they heard that one should betray the Master? What did they ask?

20. What was His answer? Was this foretold? (See Psalm 41: 9). What doom did He pronounce upon Judas? the end of Christ's betrayer? danger of betraying Christ?

LESSON HYMN: "Paschal Lamb, by God appointed.”

What was Who are in

LESSON II.

Oct. 8, 1882. Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity.

I. PREPARING THE PASSOVER. Vs. 12-16.

We have seen in the last lesson that Judas had his interview with the foes of Jesus on Tuesday evening. Wednesday our Lord spent in retirement. Nothing whatever is told us of the day. No doubt it was passed in Bethany in silent preparation for the last great conflict. On Thursday His disciples desired to make ready the passover; and Jesus sent Peter and John into Jerusalem to prepare for the feast. They must first find a suitable place. The Master gives them instructions how to proceed, and they found all things just as He had foretold. They thus learned to trust more and more in His knowledge of all things.

They next went to the temple, purchased a lamb and had it slain by a priest; then bought bitter herbs, unleavened bread and wine, and took them to the guest-chamber. II. CELEBRATING THE PASSOVER. Vs

17-18.

The passover was of Divine appointment, and kept in remembrance of the deliverance of the Jews when destruction was visited upon the firstborn of the Egyptians. It was the birthday feast of a nation-a religious and patriotic Independence Day, which was kept in a religious manner.

Our Saviour kept the Jewish feasts, never ignoring religious ceremonies, and has thus set us an example that we should follow in His steps. "The disciple is not above his Master; but every one that will be perfect, shall be as his Master." Jesus fulfilled all righteous

ness.

III. THE BETRAYAL OF CHRIST FORETOLD. Vs. 18-21.

records must be studied together, in order that we may get a complete view of what occurred. MATT. 26:17-25. LUKE 22:1-18. JOHN 13:1-30.

Gathering all together the following facts appear:

1. Our Saviour's deep feeling and emotion. "With desire, I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer."

2. There was a struggle among them in regard to precedence-" who should. be greatest." Who should sit nearest Him at the table? Who should be the chief Apostle?

3. Jesus washed the disciples' feet, and thus taught that in humble service there was exaltation and honor.

4. The traitor's presence caused our Saviour deeper sorrow, and He foretold: "One of you shall betray Me." 'Judas had already agreed to do this very thing; and Jesus knew his conduct.

5. The disciples were affrighted and troubled by our Lord's declaration, and said, Is it I? The reply was indefinire: One of you. Judas then asked, Is it I?" He said unto him, Thou hast said" (Matt. 26: 25). "And after the Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto Him, That thou doest, do quickly." Judas then "went

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out: and it was night." 6. Jesus uttered an awful woe: "it were better for that man, &c."

"Judas was not a traitor because God foresaw it; but God foresaw it because Judas would be so." (Chrysostom). "The fulfilment of God's purpose does for it is will and motive for which we ar not interfere with human responsibility responsible, not results."

Practical Lessons: 1. We ought to have the same desire Christ had to eat the Passover, "Christ is our Passover." (See 1 Corinthians 5: 7).

2. We must examine ourselves, lest we betray our Lord, as Judas did. "Lord is it I," is a question for selfexamination.

3. Let us always see that the guestchamber of our hearts is rightly fur

The accounts of the four Gospels nished.

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