The Peacock

Solomon did not pray that God would make him rich, or that he would give him health, or lethim live a great many years on the earth; but he said, "I am a little child, I know not how to goout or come in. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart." Then God was pleased withwhat he asked, and besides giving him great wisdom, he gave him also riches and honor. He hadforty thousand horses, and silver and gold in abundance. All the vessels used in his house wereof gold, because silver was not good enough; it was "as stones" for plenty, and was "nothingaccounted of in the days of Solomon." In the second chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon himselfspeaks of his riches, and after telling us of some of his treasures, he says: "Whatsoever my eyesdesired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy." Perhaps you think he musthave been perfectly happy, if any man in this world ever was; but what does he say? "All isvanity and vexation of spirit." This does not sound much like being contented. No, dear child,these are not the things that make us happy; nothing but the true love of God in the heart can dothis.

There are many peacocks in India, and large flocks of them are sometimes seen around thetemples; they also live among the bushes near the banks of rivers. They sometimes rest on hightrees, but always make their nests on the ground, under the shrubs.

There was once a foolish and wicked emperor who cared little for any thing excepting "what heshould eat, and what he should drink, and wherewithal he should be clothed." He took greatpride in telling how much his dinners cost, and how much trouble it gave people to preparethem. One of the dishes that pleased him, because it cost money enough, and time and troubleenough, was made up of the tongues of flamingoes, (a kind of bird,) and the brains ofpeacocks-do you envy such a king as that?

The peacock is a very splendid bird; its colors are most rich and beautiful. The feathers of thetail are often more than a yard long, and when they are spread out in the sunlight, like a greatfan, nothing can be more elegant. Yet with all its beauty I do not believe you could ever love apeacock, as you love a lamb or a dove. It seems selfish and vain, and there is nothing lovelyabout it-its voice is very harsh and disagreeable. There are some people who, like the peacock,are called handsome or beautiful, but whose hearts are not pure and lovely in the sight of God. "Beauty," in itself, "is vain;" but "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of Godof great price."

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