"If one of you has a hundred sheep, and loses one of them, does he not leave the ninety and nine sheep in the sheepfold out in the fields, and go after the lost one until he finds it. When he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders with great joy and carries it home. And when he comes to his house, he calls together his neighbors and his friends, saying to them, 'Come and be glad with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.' "So I tell you, there is more joy in heaven over one outcast sinner who turns away from his sin to God, than over ninety-nine religious men who are good already and do not need to turn from sin." A lady has written this parable in verses that have been set to music and sung many times. These are her verses: THE NINETY AND NINE There were ninety and nine that safely lay In the shelter of the fold, But one was out on the hills away, Far off from the gates of gold-- Away on the mountains wild and bare, Away from the tender Shepherd's care. "Lord, thou hast here thy ninety and nine; Are they not enough for thee?" But the Shepherd made answer, "'Tis of mine Has wandered away from me; And although the road be rough and steep I go to the desert to find my sheep." But none of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed; Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through Ere he found his sheep that was lost. Out in the desert he heard its cry, Sick and helpless, and ready to die. "Lord, whence are those blood drops all the way That mark out the mountain's track?" "They were shed for one who had gone astray Ere the Shepherd could bring him back." "Lord, whence are thy hands so rent and torn?" "They are pierced tonight by many a thorn." But all through the mountains, thunder-riven, And up from the rocky steep, There arose a cry to the gate of heaven: "Rejoice! I have found my sheep!" And the angels echoed around the throne, "Rejoice! for the Lord brings back his own!" MRS. ELIZABETH C. CLEPHANE. Jesus also gave to the people another parable, "The Lost Silver-piece." He said: "Or, if there is a woman who has ten silver coins, and loses one of them, what will she do? She will light her lamp, and sweep her house, and search carefully for her money, until she finds it. And when she finds it, she goes out and calls together her women-friends and neighbors, and says, 'Come and rejoice with me, for I have found the silver-piece which I had lost.' "Even so, I tell you there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner that turns to God."