When Darius was king at Babylon he liked Daniel so well that he made him the chief officer in his kingdom. This made the other officers hate Daniel. They got Darius to make a law that every man who prayed to any one except Darius himself should be thrown into the den of lions. Daniel kept on praying to his God three times a day. When Darius heard that Daniel prayed he was very sorry he had made the law. But he could not change it, so Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den. That night Darius could not sleep, he felt so bad. Very early next morning he ran to the den. But Daniel was safe, for God had shut the lions’ mouths. [Illustration: DANIEL AND THE LIONS.] ESTHER BEFORE THE KING. Ahasuerus was king of Persia. Esther, a Jewess, was his queen. Haman was next to the king. He was a cruel man, and hated the Jews because one of them, a servant of the king, would not bow down to him. So he got the king to make a law that all the Jews in his kingdom should be killed. Esther felt very sorry for her people. She made up her mind to save them if she could. But first she spent three days in fasting and prayer. Then she went to the king and begged him to save the Jews. The king loved Esther so much that he did what she asked. So the Jews were saved from the cruel decree of the king Ahasuerus. [Illustration: ESTHER BEFORE THE KING.] DAVID AND JONATHAN. Saul loved David at first. Then he hated him and tried to kill him twice by throwing his spear at him. David escaped and hid himself. Now Saul had a son named Jonathan, who thought a great deal of David. It made him feel very bad to see his father trying to kill him. Jonathan thought that Saul might get over his anger in two or three days and take David back. But when he was sure that Saul really meant to kill David, he went to his hiding place and told him how he might get away. After they had wept and kissed each other and promised always to be friends, David fled and Jonathan went back to his father. [Illustration: DAVID AND JONATHAN.] THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. One night certain shepherds were out in the fields taking care of their sheep. Suddenly they saw a light brighter than the sun, and in the glory of the light, an angel. They felt afraid. But the angel spoke to them; he said: “Fear not. I have good news for you, and for all the people in the world. There was born to-day, in the city of Bethlehem, a little child who is to be a Saviour; his name is Christ the Lord. You will find him lying in a manger.” As he spoke, suddenly there appeared a great company of angels, and they sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, _peace_, good-will toward men.” When the angels were gone back to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another: “Let us go right away to Bethlehem, and find this wonderful baby that the Lord has sent us word about.”