much explanation or apologiy, beyond those which the candour of indulgent readers might suggest on behalf of any author attempting to carry such object into effect. That in the simple, touching, and beautiful narratives, recorded in Holy Writ, are many scenes and incidents calculated most powerfully to appeal to the best and purest feelings of a child's heart, is a position which every pious and affectionate parent, as well as every judicious and experienced preceptor, will readily admit; in truth, the repeated recurrence to them, as themes of interest and instruction, is the best proof which could be adduced of the estimation in which they are held for such purposes. The humblest effort, therefore, to give them, by novelty of form or manner, any probability of additional attraction to a child, may at least be pardoned. Such being the plan and object of this unpretending little volume, it is respectfully submitted to the appreciation of those most deeply concerned in the welfare of that large and interesting class of readers for whose use it was designed, with the distrust natural to a first attempt in so important a field of labour, on the part of its author; and on that of her father, with an equally natural feeling of solicitude for its indulgent reception; but with a still more earnest wish that its tendency and influence may, through the Divine blessing, prove that indulgence not to have been misplaced. Woodbridge. BERNARD BARTON." Preface ....... page v ............. ix cript on Ruth .................... xviii of Adam and Eve from Paradise ........ II.' Promise of the Atonement of Christ .. IV. Noah—The Flood—The Rainbow.... V. Abraham and his Son Isaac-On Sub- mission to the Will of God ........... 14 VI. Descendants of Abraham-Jacob and his Sons —Joseph ruler of Egypt ...... VII. History of Joseph, continued ...... VIII. Death of Joseph-Moses—The Pass- over-Departure of the Israelites from Egypt 27 IX. On Miracles—Wanderings of the Israel- ites in the Wilderness ....... ........ 33 X. Delivery of the Ten Commandments- Death of Moses and Aaron ............. XI. Joshua-Entry of the Israelites into Canaan ............................ XII. The Judges—History of Ruth ...... XVI. Friendship of David and Jonathan, page 66 XVII. On Jealousy-Death of Saul and Jonathan ........................... 70 XVIII. Death of David-Solomon builds a Temple to the Lord ................ 75 XIX. Rehoboam-Division of the Twelve Tribes into the kingdoms of Israel and XX. Elijah the Prophet-The Widow of XXI. Elijah overthrows the idolatrous XXII. Elijah taken up into Heaven-Elisha and the Widow's Pot of Oil-The dead Child restored to Life ................ 95 XXIII. Naaman's Leprosy cured ........ 101 XXIV. Other Miracles of Elisha—his Death 109 XXV. Jonah—God's Mercy to Nineveh .. 115 XXVI. Idolatry of Judah and Israel-carried Captive into Babylon ................ 1-22 XXVII. Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon- The Prophet Daniel-Shadrach, Meshach, XXVIII. Belshazzar's Feast—Daniel in the XXIX. Return from the Captivity-Build- ing of the second Temple —Queen Esther quered by the Romans ................ 142 BIBLE DAYS. "And learn with wonder how this world began, COWTER. “ Those Bible days! those Bible days!" I hear some reader say; “What themes for wonder, love, and praise, Their Chronicles display! When angels talk'd with men; Had been allotted then? 11. “ For then, in Eden's garden fair Our earliest parents dwelt, At night and morning knelt: In gentleness and glee; Their guests were said to be. III. “But Disobedience, like a blight, Came o'er those golden hours, Of Eden's blissful bowers; Their sorrows to assuage, The PATRIARCHAL AGE! “Then PATRIARCHS led within their tent, And SHEPHERDS on the plain, A life so glad and innocent, When will such come again? For Isaac far away; To meditate and pray. “ Then Jacob for the blessing strove Through darksome hours of night; That ladder's steps of light To Egypt for a slave, And good for evil gave. |