CHAPTEK II. 



THE DISCOVERY OF BEAUTIFUL GEMS. 



If in the gold mine in the front yard there should 

 also be found a mine of gems what new zest would 

 be given to research. 



Yet it is a fact that we are on the verge of the un- 

 known. Behind a thin veil the good Father has rich 

 treasures in store for us and we can fold the curtains 

 aside and take possession. 



A man finds a precious diamond like the Kohinoor 

 or the ''Mountain of Light'' or ''Star of the South" and 

 his fortune is made. 



Ancient rulers reveled in the possession of precious 

 stones. When Persia was invaded by the Mahometans 

 they captured a splendid carpet which was one of the 

 marvels of the world. It was 450 feet long and 90 

 feet wide, and had a border worked in with precious 

 stones to represent a garden of all kinds of lovely 

 flowers. The leaves were formed of emeralds and 

 other green colored stones, while the buds and blossoms 

 were composed of pearls, rubies, sapphires and other 

 gems of immense value. Along with this was a robe 

 of state thickly embroidered with the most beautiful 

 rubies and pearls. That splendid carpet was an imi- 

 tation of a garden of flowers. True the fabric of 



