THE LION.

SN’T he a splendid fellow!” said Albert Lee, as he turned
to the picture of a lion. “ What beauty, and majesty, and
strength! No wonder he is called the ‘King of Beasts,’
T’d rather be a lion than any other animal.”

“T’d rather be a lamb, or a dove,” spoke out little sister Helen.

“ Lions are cruel.”

“Oh, but I wouldn’t be a cruel lion,” replied Albert. “One
needn’t be cruel because he is strong.”

The children’s mother, who had been listening, now spoke,—

“No, my son; one need not be cruel because he is strong.
You have said the right thing in the right words. Nor, to
be a lion, must you become a beast; for there is no quality or
character in animals that does not exist in men.”

“TJ don’t know about that, mother,” answered Albert. “A
man can’t fly like a bird, nor live under water like a fish.”

“T said quality or character, my son; meaning what we have
in our minds. Every animal is known by its quality almost as
well as by its form. The lamb is innocent, the tiger cruel, the
fox cunning, and the ox patient. The lion has strength and
courage. He is the mightiest of all the beasts, and can destroy
them if he will. In the souls of men are to be found all the
good or evil qualities that exist in animals. The lion and the
lamb are there; the eagle and the dove; the tiger and the kid.
_ A lion-like man is one with a bold, strong, clear-seeing mind ;
one who, by his great mental strength and knowledge, has
power over other men. But this power may be used for good
as well as evil. Because a man has strength and courage, he
need not be cruel.”

“ God is called a lion in the Bible,” said Albert.

“Yes; in the Revelation of St. John He is called the Lion

of the tribe of Judah. And in one of the Hpistles, the devil
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