They had heard the Saviour speaking about His Father, and about heavenly things; and as they listened to His kind words, and saw all His kind deeds, they thought how much they should like their dear little ones to receive a blessing from such a holy Prophet.

So they brought them to Jesus.

But the disciples did not like them to come; they did not like their Master to be troubled by a lot of little children; and they found fault with the mothers, and blamed them, and wanted to send them away. But when Jesus saw it, He was much displeased. He thought His disciples would have known Him better; and He hoped they would have had more of His own spirit of love. So Jesus called them to Him, and said to His disciples,

6 Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'

And He took them up in His arms, put His hands gently on their heads, and blessed them.

CHAPTER XLVI.

MARTHA AND MARY.

VERY near to Jerusalem there was a village called Bethany, and in that village was a house which belonged to a woman called Martha. She was a good woman, and she loved the Lord Jesus; and whenever He came to Bethany she used to receive Him very gladly into her home.

Now Martha had a sister called Mary, and a brother called Lazarus; and they also loved Jesus very much. And He loved them: the Bible tells us that Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.'

When He went to their house, Martha used always to be very busy, preparing the best of everything for Him.

One day Jesus came, and Martha, as usual, was bustling about to get ready some nice food for her holy Guest. While she was doing this, Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words. She did not care to move while He was

speaking; she thought she would like to learn at His feet for ever.

But in a short time Martha began to get a little cross, as she was making her preparations. She was fretting and fussing too much about what she was doing; and when she saw Mary sitting so quietly at the Saviour's feet, she complained about it to Jesus, and said,

'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?'

I do not think she really wanted Mary to help her, or she would have asked her to do it before ; and Mary would never have refused to help. But she was just a little worried and cross, and that made her speak in this way to Jesus.

The Lord knew all that was passing in her poor troubled heart; He knew all the real love she felt, and the earnest wish she had to give Him of her best; and He knew too, that she was now a little bit out of temper.

He answered her so kindly; but He did not tell Mary to go and help her!

He said, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken from her.'

He meant to say, that it was better to listen to