The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, thought he should like to have them to wait on him. So he desired the steward of his place to have them taken into his care, to be taught both to wait on the king, and to know all the learning of Babylon. Slaves instead of princes. That was sad enough, but what grieved these boys most of all was that the dinners that were sent to them all came from the king's own table, and they knew that all the meat there came from creatures that had been offered up to idols. Now there was one boy, whose name was Daniel, who knew that it was very wrong for any Jew to eat meats that had been offered to idols. Some of the boys said they did not care, and some said they were very sorry, but they could not help it. Yes, Daniel said, they could help it if they would leave off eating meat and drinking wine, and only have beans and water. LOYAL TO DANIEL. Then three more of the boys said they would stand by Daniel, and have only the beans and water rather than break God's holy Law. Their proper names were Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, but the king had changed all the boys' names, and he called them Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. So Daniel asked their master, Melzar, to give them none of the rich wine and fine dainties, but only water and pulse--that is, beans. But Melzar said they would grow thin and weak on such poor food, and then the king would be angry with him. "Only try us for just ten days," Daniel said. And God so blessed the food, that at the end of ten days, Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, were fairer and fatter than all their cousins and friends who had been eating the king's dainties. And Melzar had found that none were so true and honest and obedient and painstaking, so he trusted them very much; and they grew wise and learned, and still loved and feared their God, though they were slaves so far away from home. Now remember how they began. It was by giving up the things they liked when they found it was wrong to have them. When you are tempted to be greedy, would it not be a good thing to recollect Daniel and the other boys eating beans and drinking water? QUESTIONS. 1. Who were the boys carried to Babylon? 2. What were their proper names? 3. What did the king call them? 4. What was the name of the king of Babylon? 5. How did he desire these boys to be brought up? 6. What had they been at home? 7. What were they to eat? 8. Why did they not like to eat these meats? 9. What did Daniel beg for? 10. Who joined with him? 11. Who was their master? 12. What did Melzar say? 13. How long was it to be tried? 14. How did Daniel and his friends look? 15. Why was this? 16. Why did God bless them? 17. How did they behave? 18. What was the beginning of all their holiness? 19. What ought we to keep in order? [Illustration] Thirty-seventh Sunday. _DANIEL AT BABYLON._ FIRST READING. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace."--_Daniel 3:17._