"First, a little brown seed baby was put into the ground and it grew up to be a plant with flowers on it. Then the flowers dropped off and little green pods came in their places. These pods made a nice little house for the seed babies, but when the little seeds got ripe they burst their house open and it was all full of soft, white cotton. Some little boys and girls picked the cotton out, and then some men put it in a machine and took the seed all out of the soft white stuff, and then it went to another big house and was made into thread, and then into a beautiful piece of cloth, and mother and auntie made your pretty dress out of the seed babies' cotton blanket. Isn't it nice that everybody helps Ruthie girl to have pretty things." --_Written for Dew Drops by Francis McKinnon Morton._ OUR LESSON.--For August 23. * * * * * PREPARED BY MARGUERITE COOK. * * * * * Title.--The Wedding Feast.--Matt. 22:1-14. Golden Text.--O Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her own brood under her wings!--Luke 13:34. _Golden Text for Beginners._--_We love him, because he first loved us._--1 John 4:19. Truth.--The great love of Jesus is for even those who would harm him. 1. Jesus told a parable about the kingdom of heaven. [Illustration] 2. He said it is like a king who made a marriage feast for his son. 3. When the feast was ready he sent messengers to ask his guests to come to the feast. [Illustration] 4. Some did not listen to the invitation, and others went about their work. [Illustration] 5. Still others abused the king's servants, and killed them. [Illustration] 6. The king sent out his army to punish the murderers. 7. The king then sent his servants out into the streets to invite whoever could be found to come to the feast. 8. They brought in the poor and rich, the good and bad. [Illustration] 9. The king went in to the feast to see his guests. 10. He found one man who showed his disrespect for the king by not wearing his wedding garment as he should have done. 11. The king sent him away from the feast. [Illustration] 12. All are asked to come to God's feast, but few accept his invitation. * * * * * QUESTIONS. What is the Golden Text? What is the Truth? 1. About what did Jesus tell a parable? 2. What did he say the kingdom of heaven is like? 3. When the feast was served for whom did the guests send? 4. To what did some of them refuse to listen? 5. What did still others do to the king's servants? 6. What did the king do to these murderers? 7. Whom did the king send his servants out into the streets to invite? 8. Whom did they bring to the feast? 9. Who went in to see his guests? 10. Who was not wearing the wedding garment? 11. What did the king do with him? 12. Who are asked to come to God's feast? * * * * * LESSON HYMN.