The world is in direful need of practical boys and girls, practical young men and young women, who are not afraid to perform faithfully even the smallest duties that lie in the pathway of life, and who are willing to tax their thinking powers in order that their work may be done in the best possible manner. How much more in keeping with Christian manners that the son of the household should share in the burden of keeping the domestic machinery running smoothly, rather than misemploy his time, and grow up unacquainted with the practical duties of life! How much more appropriate that the daughter should a.s.sist the mother in performing the various household duties, rather than occupy a hammock or an easy chair, and spend her time in reading cheap books! Many a weary mother would appreciate such kindness on the part of her children more than words can express, and the children themselves would be the happier because of such thoughtful service.
The boy or girl who grows up in the belief that honorable labor in any direction is a G.o.d-given privilege, will realize that housework is not without its fascinations, and that manual training in the school is an important part of the daily curriculum. Such a child will realize that even an empty water-pail or a vacant wood-box presents a golden opportunity for usefulness which should not be slighted. He will not appropriate for himself the last pint of cold water from the pail, or the last cup of hot water from the teakettle, and complacently leave them for some one else to fill. That child, even though he be grown up who sees nothing in these little opportunities for usefulness, will let greater ones pa.s.s by with the same lack of appreciation.
Laziness is a deadly enemy to success; and the child who is indolent in the home, is likely to bring up the rear in the race of life. Laziness is no kin to true happiness. The lazy child is not the truly happy child. He lies in bed until late in the morning, is often careless about his personal appearance, is late to breakfast, late to school, and his name is entirely wanting when the highest credits are awarded. Such a child may be sometimes recognized by the neglected appearance of his teeth and finger-nails, the "high-water marks" about his neck and wrists, the dust on his clothing and shoes, his untidy hair, etc. In fact, he seems to have adopted as his life motto the paraphrase, "There is no excellence about great labor."
A trite story is told of a man who was to be executed because of his persistent laziness. While being driven to the scaffold, he was given one more chance for his life by a kind-hearted individual who offered him a quant.i.ty of corn with which to make a new start. Upon hearing the suggestion, the condemned man slowly raised himself up, and rather dubiously inquired, "I-s i-t s-h-e-l-l-e-d?" Being informed to the contrary, he slowly settled down again, with the remark, "W-e-l-l, then, drive on."
Now, boys and girls, you will find many occasions in life when it will be necessary for you to put forth an extra effort in order to succeed. But when some golden opportunity presents the corn to you, do not stop to inquire, "Is it sh.e.l.led?" Learn to sh.e.l.l your own corn. Use your muscle as well as your brain, ever bearing in mind that increased strength, both physical and mental, comes as the result of the proper use of that which you now possess. Be workers, be thinkers, in the great world about you. The old saying that it is better to wear out than to rust out is not without forceful meaning.
In accordance with heaven-born manners, "let all things be done decently and in order." All things include even the little ch.o.r.es which may be done by the members of the home kindergarten; it also includes the greatest task of which man is capable. If we would learn how particular Heaven is in regard to neatness and order, we should become familiar with G.o.d"s instructions to ancient Israel. The arrangement of the camp of Israel, and the whole round of tabernacle service, present a systematic demonstration of order and neatness such as Heaven approves. And the sad fate of Uzzah, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, attests to how particular G.o.d is in regard to perfect order.
If systematic order and neatness are to be maintained in the home, the members of the household must be united in putting forth the necessary efforts. And blessed is that family who make of home "a little heaven to go to heaven in."
But let me repeat that "true refinement and gentleness of manners can never be found in a home where selfishness reigns." And how many temptations to selfishness there are in the home life! Every day brings the choice between selfishness and self-sacrifice. Shall I take for myself the choicest apple?
or shall I share in that which is not so agreeable? These may appear to be very insignificant questions. But, boys and girls, do you know that the habitual decisions at which you arrive in childhood, determine largely whether or not you will live by principle later on? "As the twig is bent, so the tree inclines."
But the lesson of always giving cheerfully to others that which the natural heart would selfishly appropriate as its own, can be learned only in the school of Christ. And blessed is that parent or teacher who rightly appreciates the privilege of becoming an a.s.sistant in that school. Blessed is that pupil who realizes what it means to become such a devoted learner that he can find joy in denying self that he may minister to the comfort of others whenever an opportunity is afforded, recognizing that every heaven-appointed task is a part of the great cause of truth--the giving of the "gospel to all the world in this generation." Every kindness shown to others, if done in the right spirit, is counted in the records of heaven as done to Christ himself. Even the cup of cold water given in his name, is never forgotten.
Kind words and loving deeds are as pebbles cast upon the great sea of humanity, the ever-widening circle of whose influence extends beyond the limited vision of him who projects them; and the eternal ages alone will reveal how many souls have been saved, and saved forever, as the grand result. How many girls and boys are watching every opportunity to share in this blessed work?
MRS. M. A. LOPER.
SOMETIME, SOMEWHERE
You lent a hand to a fallen one, A lift in kindness given; It saved a soul when help was none, And won a heart for heaven.
And so for the help you proffered there, You"ll reap a crown, sometime, somewhere.
D. G. BICKERS
GIANTS AND GRa.s.sHOPPERS
"What is the matter?" asked Mrs. Hamlin. "What is hindering the work?"
Mr. Hamlin glanced up from his paper. "The work?" he said. "O, the old story; there are "giants" in the land, and the committee feel like "gra.s.shoppers"!"
It was Earle"s turn to look up. Earle was reading, but he generally had one ear for any conversation that was going on about him. His eyes went back to his book, but he kept wondering just what his father meant. Of course there were no giants in these days! He waited until his father was turning the paper to another page, then put in his question:--
"Father, what do you mean about "giants" and "gra.s.shoppers"?"
Mr. Hamlin laughed. "Your ears heard that, did they? Why, I meant what the ten spies did when they whined about giants, and called themselves "gra.s.shoppers," instead of seizing their chance, as the other two wanted them to do. Don"t you remember the story? I fear you are not so well posted on Old Testament history as you are in your school history. The report of the spies makes very interesting reading; you would better look it up."
"I remember about it now," said Earle, "and I guess what you mean about the committee. There lots of giants around nowadays, aren"t there?"
"Plenty of them!" said his father. "Look out that none of them scare you away from an opportunity."
Earle laughed, and went back to his book. He knew he was the sort of boy of whom the other boys said that he did not "scare worth a cent."
It was nearly twenty-four hours afterward that he was in the dining-room, which was his evening study, bent over his slate, his pencil moving rapidly. His friend and cla.s.smate, Howard Eastman, sat on the arm of the large rocker, tearing bits from a newspaper wrapper and chewing them, while he waited for Earle.
"I do wish you would come on!" he said, between the bites of paper. "The boys will be waiting for us; I told them I would bring you right along, and the fun will all be over before we get there."
"Bother!" said Earle, consulting his book. "That is not anywhere near right."
"Of course it is not. I knew it would not be. There is not a fellow in the cla.s.s, nor a girl, either, for that matter, who has got that example. Why, I know, because I heard them talking about that very one; and haven"t I done that seventy-five times myself? My brother d.i.c.k tried to do it for me, and he did not get it either; he said there was some catch about it."
"I would like to find the catch," said Earle, wistfully.
"Well, you can"t. I tell you there is not one of them who can. You need not think you are smarter than anybody else. We won"t get marked on that example; they do not expect us to have it. I heard Professor Bowen tell Miss Andrews that there would not be a pupil in the room who could conquer it."
"Is that so?" said Earle, running his fingers through his hair, and looking wearily at the long rows of figures on his slate.
"I have not got it, that is certain; and I have tried it in every way I can think of. I do not know as there is any use of my going over it again."
"Of course there is not! It is just one of those mean old catch problems that n.o.body is expected to get So just put up your tools, and come on. I know the boys are out of all patience with us for being so late."
It happened that Cousin Carrol was in the library, which opened from the dining-room. Cousin Carrol was seventeen, and her thirteen-year-old cousin admired her extremely. He had known her but three weeks, and already they were the best of friends; he valued her good opinion next to his father"s and mother"s. At that moment her face appeared in the doorway, and she said in the sweetest and gentlest of tones:--
"And there we saw the giants."
Howard Eastman made haste to take the wads of paper out of his mouth, and to get off the arm of the chair; but Miss Carrol"s face vanished, and they heard her open the hall door and pa.s.s out. Earle"s face, meantime, had reddened to his hair.
"What did she say?" inquired Howard, his eyes big with wonder.
"O, never mind what she said! She was talking to me. Look here, Howard Eastman, you may as well cut down to Timmy"s, and tell them I cannot come; they need not wait for me any longer. There is no use in talking; I am going to conquer that example if I have to sit up all night to do it. I am no gra.s.shopper, and it has got to be done!"
"O, say now! I think that is mean!" growled Howard. "There won"t be half so much fun without you; and, besides--why, you almost got started. You began to put up your books."
"I know I did; but I am not starting now, and there is no hope of me. Skip along, and tell the boys I am sorry, but it is not my fault; it is this old giant of a problem that is trying to beat me; and he can"t. I do not feel a bit like a gra.s.shopper."
"Say," said Howard, "what have giants to do with that example? _She_ said something about them."
"They have not a thing to do with it," said Earle with energy, "and I will prove that they have not. Now you skip, Howard, that"s a good fellow, and let me alone. I have a battle to fight."
Howard groaned, and growled, and "skipped." Next morning, just as the hour for recitation arrived, and the arithmetic cla.s.s were filing in, company was announced.
"Just our luck!" muttered Howard Eastman. "Any other morning this term I should have been ready for them. Did you know they were coming, Earle?"
No, Earle did not. He looked up in surprise. There were not only his father and Cousin Carrol, but a stranger, a fine-looking man, who, it was presently telegraphed through the cla.s.s, was Judge Dennison, of Buffalo, who used to attend this school when he was a boy. And then, behold, came Princ.i.p.al Bowen, who stood talking with his guests a moment, after which they all took seats and stayed through the entire hour.
Work went on well until that fatal thirty-ninth example was reached, and Howard Eastman was called upon to go to the board and perform it.