When he came to the house, he only allowed three of his friends to come in with him. Their names were Peter, James, and John. There was a great noise and bustle in the house; there were men playing music, and people weeping and crying out with loud voices because the girl was dead. When Jesus came into the room where she was lying, he said to these people, "Why do you make this noise? The girl is not dead, she only sleeps." Then they began to laugh at him, for they knew the child was dead. Why did Jesus say she slept? Because she was soon to be made alive. Her death was like sleep. Jesus would not let the people who mocked, stay in the room, but he let the girl's father and mother be there, and his own three friends. There were just these five in the room with him when he went to the bed and took hold of the girl's hand and said, "Girl, I say unto thee, arise." Immediately her spirit (or her soul) came again into her body. Then she was alive. She was now quite well; she was not weak now, as she had been; she got up out of her bed and walked about. Then Jesus desired that something might be given her to eat. Her parents were very much surprised. They had been afraid that Jesus would not be able to make her alive. They did not know he could do everything. He made all our bodies and gave us souls, and one day he will call all the dead people out of their graves. I wonder whether that young girl loved Jesus. She was old enough to understand what he said. At twelve years old children can understand almost as well as men and women can; they learn more quickly, and remember better. Though they love play still, they have a great deal of sense. Some children at twelve years old begin to take great pains with their learning; then they get on very fast. Some begin to be very useful; they can do more now than take care of the baby or run upon errands, and often they get places as servants. If they are steady, and tell no lies, they are trusted and get on well in the world. Some children at twelve years old begin to think about their souls and to say, "What would become of me if I were to die?" They go and hear sermons, and they can understand them. They look in the Bible, and they can understand a great deal which they read. Then some begin to pray and to say, "Merciful God, give me thy Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ." But there are some who at twelve years old will mind their parents no longer. They say, "We are not little babies now, we will do as we please." They forget all the kindness their parents have shown them for twelve years, and they forget the words that God has spoken, "Honour thy father and thy mother." You can read the history of the daughter of Jairus in your Bible in Mark v. verses 23, 24, and 35 to end; Luke viii. 41, 42, and 49 to end. THE DYING CHILD.