230 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

Tur next day was wet. We could not sit in the gar-
den as we always had done before when grandfather was
telling of the Bible battles. We all sat in the cottage ;
grandfather on his big chair, on one side of the window,
George on a very high three-legged stool, and J ohnnie
and I on little stools within the recess of the window.
I still remember the soft sound of the rain among the
leaves, and its continual drop dropping into the tub
which Peggy had put out to catch it. Never to this
day do I read the dark stories of Zimri, Ahab, or any
of that unbroken list of vicious kings by which the
land of Israel was cursed—I can never read of these
without fancying I see a dull grey sky and an abun-
dance of fresh green foliage, all that met my outward
gaze as I sat on the stool and looked to the window ;
and the sound that is in my ears when I read of those
evil rulers, is that of rain softly falling—a pleasing
sound, which teaches me to look with pity on the vices
and follies of others; for does not the great Father of
all, whom all have so greatly offended, does not He send
rain upon the unjust as well as upon the just.

George began, when we were all well seated, by say-
ing to grandfather that Solomon’s was the next reign
he must tell us about, for he was David’s successor.

Grandfather. He was David’s successor; but we
have nothing to do with his reign. ‘There was no war
in it.