98 THE LAW ON COVETING.

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babies were so young and looked so much alike that her
neighbor would not know the difference. But you cannot
deceive a mother very well; she saw that this cruel woman
had her baby, and all she could do she would not give
it up.

She went to King Solomon and told him all about it.
The king was a very wise man, and he thought at once .
how he could tell the true mother. He called one of his
captains, and told him to take a sword and divide the babe,
and give half to each of them. As he drew the sword
the mother said, “O, my lord, give her the living child,
and in no way slay it.” Then Solomon knew that she
~was the real mother.

The king did not intend to kill the child, but was try-
ing to prove to whom it really belonged. So he ordered
the babe given to its own mother. O, how selfish this
woman was to covet her neighbor's child. This spirit of
selfishness allowed in our hearts will lead us to lie, steal,
and commit almost any kind of sin.

Sometimes little boys and girls are led to covet what
their playmates have—their doll, or sled, or drum—and
will seem very unhappy because others have what they
have not. This is a mean, selfish spirit, and should not
have place in our hearts.