MAMMA. The high places set apart for the worship of Baal, the false god of the Moabites. The word Baal signifies Lord, and was the name of several gods both male and female. In general, the heathen nations had each their favourite divinity whom they worshipped, and the god whom the Moabites preferred was called Chemosh. They all worshipped upon high places, planted with trees and shady groves; and Chemosh, here called by the common name of Baal, having several different places of worship, Balak took Balaam to them all, that from thence he might have a full and advantageous view of the Israelites.

We have now come to the end of this chapter. In the lessons of next Sunday we shall have the continuation of the story of Balaam and Balak, which is replete with interest and instruction,

and I think my little boy will like to go on with it in the same manner that we have done hitherto.

CHARLES. That I certainly shall, Mamma; but if I did not partly know it by what I have read with you before, I should not expect that such a bad man as Balaam could come to any good.

MAMMA. No; though it is not for us to say of any man that he may not repent and amend, there certainly is nothing in what we have so far read of Balaam to give us any hope that he would.

102

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.

CONVERSATION FIFTH.

CHARLES. Mamma, I have done what we talked of last Sunday; that is, I have chosen a verse from the Scripture that has been read in the service of this day. Will you be so kind to write it for me on a card, as you promised?

MAMMA. Most willingly, my dear child.

CHARLES. It is from the Epistle of to-day; part of the twentieth verse of the second chapter of Saint Peter's first Epistle General. "If, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God."

MAMMA. You have not then this time chosen from the Psalms.

.

I am

CHARLES. No, Mamma, for I had a particular reason for selecting this verse; but it is a very long story; shall you mind hearing it? MAMMA. Far from it. always interested in whatever concerns my dear children; and I like particularly to know their reasons for what they do. If they appear to me right, I am pleased; and if wrong, I wish to correct their opinions, if possible.

CHARLES. Well then, Mamma, do you not remember the day that my cousin came to play with me, when he was going away he could not for a long time find his ball? I did not know he was seeking for it, because I was at the door with Papa and my uncle looking at the horses, and

when at last he had found it he said to me very angrily, as he passed from the hall-door to the carriage, that he was sure I had hidden it on purpose to tease him, and get him into disgrace for not being ready. This was very unjust of him, for I had brought his ball in from the garden where he had left it, and put it on the table near which he was standing, leaning on his Mamma's chair; and I told him so, but I suppose he did not hear me. Consequently, I felt very angry with him, and I am afraid I answered him very rudely; but I was very sorry for it afterwards, because I ought to have recollected that most likely he was very much vexed at keeping his Papa and Mamma waiting, and besides, when my sister showed me afterwards that the ball had rolled down on the floor, from