was going to stay behind, or to have asked her permission to do so. The answer of Jesus to his mother was perfectly respectful. It was intended to remind her of what his true character was, and of the important work he had come into the world to do. If Jesus had been only like other boys, His mother might well have felt anxious about him when he was missed. But knowing all that she did know about him, she ought to have felt perfectly sure that he could not be lost; that no harm could happen to him; and that, wherever he might be, he would certainly "be about his Father's business." But when he said this, we are told that, they understood not the saying that he spoke unto them." How strange this was! How very dull they must have been!

The fact is, it seems as if the parents of our Lord were beginning to lose faith in what the angels had said about their wonderful chi1 It may have been that this scene in the temple took place, and the words there spoken were addressed to them, ca purpose to remind them how entirely different from all other boys was this thoughtill boy of theirs. And though we know so little about the early life of Jesus, yet this story of His visit to the temple shows very clearly that even when he was only twelve years old he was thinking, and feeling, and praying about that great and

wonderful work which he came into the world to do.

And so we may well say of Jesus that he was a—thoughtful boy.
The next thing to notice about Jerus is. Dat de 238 DK—GREDIENT—

Afer the talk with his parents, when they found tim in the temple. we read that he went down mud them and them and came to Nasaresh and au suffect unto them" Luke : gt. This means that he obeyed them storms us that he was an obedient boy. This visit This riisit costumed

melve years of He remained at Nasarett practising obellence to bla

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parents til he was a full-gre mad-e by yas of age Andame see that he spent all those years in lanty at example of defense for young people to follom

Joseph, the supposed father of Jesus was a carpenter. Among the Jews every boy was obliged learn a trade faslamet Eis fathers zie diworked as a carpenter The would not have Been sumpsing it Bere else before

"Truthful and Obedient."

A company of boys were playing ball. One of them, named Charley, heard his name called. "That's mother," he cried, instantly throwing down his bat, and picking up his cap and jacket. "Don't go yet, Charley," said one of the boys. "Let's finish the

game."

"I must go right off, this minute-I told mother I'd come whenever she called."

Make believe you didn't hear!" the boys exclaimed. "But I did hear."

"She'll never know you did."

"But I'd know, and I'm not going to act a lie.”

"Let him go,” said another of the boys; "you can't do anything with him. He's tied to his mother's apron-strings."

"Yes," said Charley, "and there's where every boy ought to be tied, and in a good hard knot, too.”

"I wouldn't be such a baby as to run the minute I was called," said another of the boys.

"I don't call it babyish to keep one's word," said this obedient boy, with a beautiful light glowing in his eyes. "I call it manly for a fellow to keep his word with his mother; and if he doesn't keep his word to her, you see if he keeps it to anyone else."

This was noble in Charley. He was following the example of Jesus -the obedient boy. And what Charley said was true. The only one of the Ten Commandments to which God has added a special blessing is the fifth, which requires us to obey our parents.

Here is an illustration of the way in which that blessing is sometimes given. We may call it "The Secret of Success."

A Christian merchant, who, from being a poor boy, had risen to wealth and honor, was once asked, by an intimate friend, to what, under God, he owed his great success in life. His immediate reply was:-"To prompt and steady obedience to my parents. In the midst of many bad examples, of boys of my own age, who would not mind their parents, I was always able, by God's help, cheerfully to obey my father and mother, and I firmly believe that a blessing has, in consequence, followed me all through my life."

Now let us take an opposite example.

"Why Didn't I Mind My Mother?" A gentleman was going to New

York, once, by rail, from a neighboring town. As the train stopped at one of the stations, he noticed the passengers crowding to the windows of the On looking out he saw a large boy lying on a wheel-barrow. His

car.

as a Jesus working

Carpenter.

limbs were crushed and bleeding, and his face bore marks of the greatest agony.

It seemed that he, and several of his companions, had undertaken to steal a ride on the railroad, by hiding themselves underneath the cars. This poor lad had lost his hold, had fallen under the wheels, and his limbs had been crushed beneath them.

As he was borne along on the wheel-barrow, to be placed in the baggage-car and taken home, he was heard repeating these words, in a most sorrowful tone:

“Why didn't I mind my mother? Why didn't I mind my mother?”

It seemed that his mother had warned him against this dangerous and foolish practice. But he refused to mind his mother. He had not learned the lesson of obedience. The consequence was-his limbs were crushed and mangled, and he was left a cripple for life.

I am sure the little girl, whose good resolutions are expressed in the following lines, was trying to imitate the example that Jesus set for all young persons, when he lived at Nazareth as the-obedient boy:—

"O yes, I will try for the whole of to-day,

To do what they bid me, and mind what they say;

And even before they say what they want,

I'll be careful to do it, and not say 'I can't.'

"If any one teases, I will not be cross,

Nor for something to do need I be at a loss;

I can work in my garden, and play with my brother,
And go little errands to help my dear mother.

"I will not be idle at lessons or work,

Nor disturb busy people with questions or talk;
To be earnest in business, and merry at play,
Is the way to go happily through the whole day.

"Now, if I can keep resolutions like these,

It will make me more happy and good; and will please

Not my parents alone, but my Father above,

Who delighteth in goodness, and kindness, and love.”

And so, when we think of Jesus as a boy, let us always remember that he was an obedient boy.