The day is short and the work is great. It is not incumbent upon thee to complete the work: but thou must not therefore cease from it. If thou hast worked much, great shall be thy reward; for the Master who employed thee is faithful in his payment. But know that the true reward is not of this world.”—DEUTSCH. RETURNING THE JEWELS. “Rabbi Meir, the great teacher, was sitting on the Sabbath-day and instructing the people in the Synagogue. In the meantime, his two sons died; they were both fine of growth and enlightened in the law. His wife carried them into the attic, laid them on the bed, and spread a white cloth over their dead bodies. In the evening, Rabbi Meir came home.‘Where are my sons,’ inquired he,‘that I may give them my blessing?’—‘They went to the Synagogue,’ was the reply.—‘I looked round,’ returned he,‘and did not perceive them.’ She reached him a cup; he praised the Lord at the close of the Sabbath, drank, and asked again,‘Where are my sons, that they also may drink of the wine of blessing?’—‘They cannot be far off,’ said she, and set before him something to eat. When he had given thanks after the repast, she said:‘Rabbi, grant me a request.’—‘Speak, my love!’ answered he. ‘A few days ago, a person gave me some jewels to take care of, and now he asks for them again; shall I give them back to him?’—‘This my wife should not need to ask,’ said Rabbi Meir.‘Wouldst thou hesitate to return every one his own?’—‘Oh! no,’ replied she,‘but I would not return them without thy knowledge.’ Soon after she led him to the attic, approached, and took the cloth off the dead bodies.‘Oh! my sons!’ exclaimed the father sorrowfully, ‘My sons!’ She turned away and wept. At length she took his hand, and said:‘Rabbi, hast thou not taught me that we must not refuse to return that which hath been intrusted to our care? Behold, the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; praised be the name of the Lord.’ ‘The name of the Lord be praised!’ rejoined Rabbi Meir.‘It is well said: He who hath a virtuous wife hath a greater treasure than costly pearls. She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.’” THE PAINTED FLOWERS. “The power of Solomon had spread his wisdom to the remotest parts of the known world. Queen Sheba, attracted by the splendor of his reputation, visited this poetical king at his own court. There, one day, to exercise the sagacity of the monarch, Sheba presented herself at the foot of the throne: in each hand she held a wreath; the one was composed of natural, and the other of artificial flowers. Art, in constructing the mimetic wreath, had exquisitely emulated the lively hues of nature; so that, at the distance it was held by the queen for the inspection of the king, it was deemed impossible for him to decide, as her question required, which wreath was the production of nature, and which the work of art.