The man is absolute master in his own house, and unless his wife has powerful relations he may do what he likes to her and her children, and no one will take any notice. I knew one woman whose husband treated her like a slave. He forced her not only to do all the work of the house, but the work of the stable too, for he was well enough off to keep a horse. He killed one child in her arms, and twice stole another away from her, sending it once to a town a week’s journey off, and once to another part of the town. Finally he divorced her, without giving any reason, and left her ill and destitute. And she had at no time any redress.... Little Bagum, the child-wife, was deliberately and cruelly burnt by her husband, and was brought to the mission hospital. There was no hope of recovery, but all was done that was possible to relieve her pain and brighten her last days. She had heard something of the Gospel story from a missionary who had paid a visit to her native village, and she had been so interested that she asked two Persian children to teach her more. When she was brought to the hospital even the terrible pain she was suffering did not make her forget the wonderful story, and she begged to be told more and more. And, resting in the love of Christ and trusting wholly in Him and His salvation, she loved to sing of the joy to which He was going to take her, and kept begging for “Here we suffer grief and pain,” until even the Mohammedan women would sit beside her and sing the hymn that comforted her so much.... “I have a foolish husband,” said one little girl, “He says he will beat Jesus Christ out of me, but he can only beat my body, and Jesus Christ is in my heart, so he cannot beat Him out.” (Mrs. Malcolm, “Children of Persia,” Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier.) BIBLE READING THE IDEAL HOME Psalm 128 v. 2. The busy father working with joy for the maintenance of the home. v. 3. The happy, willing, successful mother, striking the keynote of the home. v. 3. The vigorous young children growing up in the home. v. 4, 5. All this is the token of God’s rich blessing to him who puts God first, and who is interested in the growth of God’s kingdom as well as in his own home. v. 6. Not only as parents but as grandparents God’s blessing will be enjoyed. PRAYER We thank Thee, O Lord, For the sweet and silent years of the Holy Childhood. For the light and gladness brought into the world by little children. For Thy servants who, by word and good example, are protecting and guiding Thy lambs in the dark and waste places. For the Christian nurture, Christian homes, and Christian parents, which are the gifts of the Christ-Child to our nation; the strength of its life and the hope of its future. For Thine assurance that inasmuch as we have done it unto the least of Thy little ones, we have done it unto Thee. For the growing interest and co-operation of the children of the Church in the up-building of the world-wide Kingdom. May it please Thee--