A striking contrast is presented in Mary Magdalene's attitude and that of the two disciples who accompanied her to the sepulcher on that memorable resurrection morning. Ignorant though she was, her affection for the Lord brought her first to the garden where she had seen her every hope buried, and to her surprise she found the stone rolled away.

Carrying the news to Peter and John, they verified her statement, and they became satisfied that the Lord was not there. To their homes they returned, to find solace in human relationships.

'' But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping" (John 20 :n). Here was a widowed heart; the light of life for her had gone out. She could say:'·''Without Him whom my soul loveth, the world is a barren wilderness to me ; " and her flowing tears bore eloquent testimony to the depth of her sorrow. What a striking illustration of the Lord's own words:"The day will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days" (Luke 5 :35).

I was interested in reading, a few days ago, an incident which may serve to stir and touch our hearts.

At one of the large cantonments in this country, a young French officer was stationed as instructor in the use of gas-masks. In the mess-hall, one day, the officers were laughing and joking, in which the French instructor did not join. Noticing this, one of the officers said, " There is a dance down at the Club tonight; will you join us ? " To the surprise of all, the Frenchman pushed his chair from the table, arose with tears swelling up in his eyes. "I, dance ! " he said, slowly, " I, dance, when the feet of the enemy are on my native land. NO, gentlemen, no true Frenchman can make merry while the enemy is on French soil; I beg to be excused; I cannot eat."

The American officer, deeply moved, arose and apologized, which was gracefully accepted, but the Frenchman left the room with tears falling from his cheeks. Who can read such an incident without being moved by the true-hearted loyalty of this French patriot ? For him mirth was out of place while France lay bleeding.

Fellow-Christian, what of ourselves ? The One to whom we owe our everlasting blessing, is not here. Oh, let us never forget that the world gave Him only a gibbet, and for His grave a borrowed tomb. He has been refused, disowned, cast out, and we . . . can we find joy where He had none ? or link ourselves with a world which stands charged with the murder of our Saviour ? Can we be content to settle down in this scene, where He is rejected ? Oh, for a heart like Mary's! Ignorant though she was, her all was in the Person of the Lord Jesus. She counted everything else loss compared to Him.

His company fills the soul of His loved ones with heavenly joy. This is feasting; so that -while fasting as to the things of this world, the heart knows what it is to feast with Him. What a royal feast was that which Mary enjoyed when His own familiar voice uttered her name! In communion with Himself she learned the true meaning of His death and resurrection, and left that garden freighted with heavenly knowledge to comfort the hearts of those more intelligent but less ardent in their love, with the most wonderful message human lips had ever borne. (See John 20:17).
J. W. H. N.