JESUS AND THE CHILDREN.



 You know this story by heart, about mothers bring-
ing their children to Jesus. That was the time he spoke
these words that so many lisping tongues have learned
to say. Perhaps the first Bible verse you ever tried to
learn, perhaps the first one your mamma taught you
when you could not speak plain, was this: Suffer little
children to come unto me."
 Do you know whom Jesus said it to? Some of the
grown men were not glad to have them come; they
did n't see any good in taking his time, and they found
fault with the mothers for troubling him. Very likely
they said, What is the use of all these noisy children
crowding and worrying the Master?" That was one of
the few times when "Jesus was much displeased;" and
he turned and said to his disciples this verse, "Forbid
them not."
 What did their mothers want Jesus to do? They
knew of the wonderful cures from the touch of his hands;
could not that same touch also keep evil away? Some
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