p. 15 | Review and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 22. (5/6/1915)

Statement of Twenty-Cent-a-Week Fund for Three Months Ending March 31, 1915

Conferences	Membership	Amt. at $2.60 Per Member	Amount Received	Amount Short	Amount Over
ATLANTIC UNION
Eastern New York	859	$2233.40	$2970.00		$736.60
Greater New York	1255	3263.00	3670.53		407.53
Massachusetts	1312	3411.20	4955.65		1544.45
Maine	427	1110.20	1192.75		82.55
Northern New England	530	1378.00	1622.35		244.35
Southern New England	436	1133.60	1048.08	85.52
Western New York	872	2267.20	2480.03		212.83
Totals	5691	14796.60	17939.39	85.52	3228.31

| CENTRAL UNION | | | | | | | Colorado | 1761 | 4578.60 | 2233.95 | 2344.65 | | | Kansas | 2118 | 5506.80 | 2816.30 | 2690.50 | | | Missouri | 1226 | 3187.60 | 2581.36 | 606.24 | | | Nebraska | 2103 | 5467.80 | 2582.59 | 2885.21 | | | Western Colorado | 470 | 1222.00 | 474.08 | 747.92 | | | Wyoming | 526 | 1367.60 | 745.39 | 622.21 | | | Totals | 8204 | 21330.40 | 11433.67 | 9896.73 | |

| COLUMBIA UNION | | | | | | | Chesapeake | 690 | 1794.00 | 982.80 | 811.20 | | | District of Columbia | 825 | 2145.00 | 1648.24 | 496.76 | | | Eastern Pennsylvania | 1168 | 3036.80 | 1558.84 | 1477.96 | | | New Jersey | 810 | 2106.00 | 1261.63 | 844.37 | | | Ohio | 2007 | 5218.20 | 3011.21 | 2206.99 | | | Virginia | 583 | 1515.80 | 515.21 | 1000.59 | | | West Pennsylvania | 721 | 1874.60 | 1244.82 | 629.78 | | | West Virginia | 200 | 520.00 | 346.72 | 173.28 | | | Totals | 7004 | 18210.40 | 10569.47 | 7640.93 | |

| EASTERN CANADIAN UNION | | | | | | | Maritime | 233 | 605.80 | 348.43 | 257.37 | | | Ontario | 551 | 1432.60 | 904.95 | 527.65 | | | Quebec | 155 | 403.00 | 315.68 | 87.32 | | | Newfoundland | 61 | 158.60 | 71.79 | 86.81 | | | Totals | 1000 | 2600.00 | 1640.85 | 959.15 | |

| LAKE UNION | | | | | | | East Michigan | 1674 | 4352.40 | 3579.52 | 772.88 | | | Indiana | 1611 | 4188.60 | 2039.77 | 2148.83 | | | Northern Illinois | 1460 | 3796.00 | 2832.13 | 963.87 | | | North Michigan | 795 | 2067.00 | 986.25 | 1080.75 | | | Southern Illinois | 696 | 1809.60 | 1141.63 | 667.97 | | | West Michigan | 2485 | 6461.00 | 4353.22 | 2107.78 | | | Wisconsin | 2543 | 6611.80 | 4090.83 | 2520.97 | | | Totals | 11264 | 29286.40 | 19023.35 | 10263.05 | |

| NORTHERN UNION | | | | | | | Iowa | 2382 | 6193.20 | 4297.45 | 1895.75 | | | Minnesota | 1700 | 4420.00 | 7533.58 | | 3113.58 | | North Dakota | 1227 | 3190.20 | 1700.77 | 1481.43 | | | South Dakota | 948 | 2464.80 | 1470.46 | 994.34 | | | Totals | 6257 | 16268.20 | 15010.26 | 4371.52 | 3113.58 |

| NORTH PACIFIC UNION | | | | | | | Montana | 432 | 1123.20 | 2142.72 | | 1019.52 | | Southern Idaho | 693 | 1801.80 | 1199.74 | 602.06 | | | Southern Oregon | 645 | 1677.00 | 642.86 | 1034.14 | | | Upper Columbia | 2181 | 5670.60 | 3256.36 | 2414.24 | | | Western Oregon | 2017 | 5244.20 | 2050.38 | 3193.82 | | | Western Washington | 1705 | 4433.00 | 2566.00 | 1867.00 | | | Alaska | 4 | 10.40 | | 10.40 | | | Totals | 7677 | 19960.20 | 11858.06 | 9121.66 | 1019.52 |

| PACIFIC UNION | | | | | | | Arizona | 304 | 790.40 | 630.89 | 159.51 | | | California | 2734 | 7108.40 | 5597.59 | 1510.81 | | | Central California | 1224 | 3182.40 | 1437.23 | 1745.17 | | | Northern California | 1522 | 3957.20 | 1233.06 | 2724.14 | | | Southern California | 3579 | 9305.40 | 5740.52 | 3564.88 | | | Utah | 192 | 499.20 | 167.12 | 332.08 | | | Nevada Mission | 158 | 410.80 | 75.83 | 334.97 | | | Totals | 9713 | 25253.80 | 14882.24 | 10371.56 | |

| SOUTHEASTERN UNION | | | | | | | Cumberland | 563 | 1463.80 | 931.88 | 531.92 | | | Florida | 744 | 1934.40 | 3051.93 | | 1117.53 | | Georgia | 557 | 1448.20 | 994.64 | 453.56 | | | North Carolina | 625 | 1625.00 | 612.68 | 1012.32 | | | South Carolina | 353 | 917.80 | 271.41 | 646.39 | | | Totals | 2842 | 7389.20 | 5862.54 | 2644.19 | 1117.53 |

| SOUTHERN UNION | | | | | | | Alabama | 460 | $1196.00 | $591.73 | $604.27 | $ | | Kentucky | 426 | 1107.60 | 1081.58 | 26.02 | | | Louisiana | 387 | 1006.20 | 493.16 | 513.04 | | | Mississippi | 311 | 808.60 | 417.80 | 390.80 | | | Tennessee River | 699 | 1817.40 | 879.24 | 938.16 | | | Totals | 2283 | 5935.80 | 3463.51 | 2472.29 | |

| SOUTHWESTERN UNION | | | | | | | Arkansas | 302 | 785.20 | 466.12 | 319.08 | | | New Mexico | 260 | 676.00 | 404.22 | 271.78 | | | North Texas | 1252 | 3255.20 | 1270.02 | 1985.18 | | | Oklahoma | 1860 | 4836.00 | 2102.44 | 2733.56 | | | South Texas | 388 | 1008.80 | 558.42 | 450.38 | | | West Texas | 247 | 642.20 | 216.33 | 425.87 | | | Totals | 4309 | 11203.40 | 5017.55 | 6185.85 | |

| WESTERN CANADIAN UNION | | | | | | | Alberta | 606 | 1575.60 | 1080.26 | 495.34 | | | British Columbia | 426 | 1107.60 | 1129.80 | | 22.20 | | Manitoba | 228 | 592.80 | 311.97 | 280.83 | | | Saskatchewan | 405 | 1053.00 | 1427.48 | | 374.48 | | Totals | 1665 | 4329.00 | 3949.51 | 776.17 | 396.68 |

Union Summary

	Members	Amt. at $2.60 Per Member	Amount Received	Amount Short	Amount Over
Atlantic	5691	14796.60	17939.39	85.52	3228.31
Central	8204	21330.40	11433.67	9896.73
Columbia	7004	18210.40	10569.47	7640.93
Eastern Canadian	1000	2600.00	1640.85	959.15
Lake	11264	29286.40	19023.35	10263.05
Northern	6257	16268.20	15010.26	4371.52	3113.58
North Pacific	7677	19960.20	11858.06	9121.66	1019.52
Pacific	9713	25253.80	14882.24	10371.56
Southeastern	2842	7389.20	5862.54	2644.19	1117.53
Southern	2283	5935.80	3463.51	2472.29
Southwestern	4309	11203.40	5017.55	6185.85
Western Canadian	1665	4329.00	3949.51	776.17	396.68
Totals	67909	176563.40	120650.40	64788.62	8875.62
Net amount short			55913.00		55913.00
		$176563.40	$176563.40	$64788.62	$64788.62

Mission Offerings

By William T. Knox

HEREWITH is submitted a report of the receipts from North America for foreign missions and relief purposes for the first three months of 1915. As compared with the report for the corresponding time in 1914, this is a very encouraging showing. But notwithstanding this, there is indicated in these figures a shortage of our aim for this period of almost $56,000, $176,563.40 being the amount required to fully attain our purpose, while $120,650.40 is all that has been raised.

Some conferences, like the Atlantic Union, the Northern Union, and the Western Canadian, have made excellent records. The secret of their success is found in the fact that definite plans in an active campaign for missions were inaugurated in the very early days of the year. We trust that the next quarterly report will show that all the union conferences have made decided gains.

W. T. KNOX.

The Review and Herald in South Africa

SENDING a report of the work in the Cape Conference (South Africa), of which he is president, Elder H. J. Edmed says of the visits of our church paper to that far-off land: “I will take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the good word the REVIEW AND HERALD brings me from week to week. Its columns are always full of profitable matter showing that the work is onward in all parts of the world. The names of the writers are often familiar to me, and help to keep up the chain of fellowship so sweet to us all.”

May We Know When Matt. 24:14 Is Fulfilled?

By T. E. BOWEN

T. E. BOWEN

A CORRESPONDENT writes: “Will you please tell us, through the REVIEW, how many countries having organized governments have not been entered by the living preacher of the third angel’s message?”

While the main countries have been entered, there are great unentered portions in almost every organized government in which the message has obtained a foothold. There are a few smaller fields in which practically nothing has been done. For example, Tibet has no living representative of the message so far as we know; also the provinces of Siam, east and southeast of Burma. The great island of Madagascar, east of South Africa, is yet unentered; also Greenland, in North America, and the United States of Colombia, in South America. Then there are groups of islands in the South Pacific still waiting. It is also true that in countries which have for a longer or shorter period been counted entered mission fields, like China and Africa and India and Australasia, there are large sections in which practically little or nothing has been done. In Africa, the great Kongo section of Central Africa, the German Southwest, and long stretches on the west coast are without representatives; while in one of the most populous regions of all Africa, — Nigeria — only two families have but recently entered. Populous provinces in China, with millions of souls, are only touched as it were with the tips of our fingers. In northern Brazil great territories, populated by tribes of Indians and by Brazilians, have not been touched, unless a colporteur or two have just recently gone there.

The writer has often pondered upon the text, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come,” and wondered just how it should be interpreted, just what would be its fulfillment.

The apostle Paul was able to write unto the believers at Colossæ, “We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also.” Col. 1: 3-6.

Paul had not gone through all Asia, nor had he visited Spain, yet here is this record that the word of truth had been heard, had sounded out, into “all the world.”

The word today may have traveled farther than we are aware. The gospel is not always preached by friendly lips, as this text makes clear: “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: the one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel; but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds. What then? only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” Phil. 1: 15-18.

This same experience very likely will be repeated in the finishing of the gospel. Some will endure bonds and imprisonment and other trials for the truth’s sake, while others will resist the special gospel truths due this generation, and the sound thereof will go out into all the world, even as the preaching of the gospel of a risen Christ in Paul’s day caused the sound, the news, of that event to travel from lip to lip, by disciple and by doubting foe, until it was said that it had gone into “all the world.”

By living preachers and by printed page the earth is being lighted up today with the knowledge of the soon return of Jesus. This blessed news is going into all the world for a testimony, a witness, unto the people.

While some in enlightened lands are rejecting the glad news of Jesus’ return, whole tribes are welcoming it in China and India. Whole villages are taking hold of the truth by beginning to keep the Sabbath and studying the light they have, and pleading for further help. It may be that while the people of God see much to be accomplished and are laying plans for further extension of the message, and while great prosperity is attending it in its onward world-wide march, the Father will proclaim it finished in all the world, and the end will come.

One other point. God may use other forces as a part of this world-wide warning included in this text. Think of the great Bible societies that place hundreds of thousands of copies of the Word of God in the homes of the people. Other uplifting agencies are preparing minds for the reception of the last phase of the gospel message that is to complete the preparation of hearts to receive the coming King. Elijah at one time thought he was the only loyal representative of

Jehovah left in apostate Israel. But God revealed to him that there were yet seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal.

Whether we shall ever be able from our human viewpoint to know when Matt. 24:14 is fulfilled is a question. One thing is sure, the exact time for the finishing of the work of God in all the world, the close of earth’s probation, and thus the end of the world, Jesus said the Father had kept in his own power, and that neither the world nor yet the people of God should know the exact time of his appearing. See Acts 1:6-8; Mark 13:30-37.

The last event among nations, as noted in Dan. 11:44, 45, is perhaps the last recorded event to take place by which we are to know that the time is at hand when Matt. 24:14 is fulfilled. Our part is to work while it is day.

The Master has left us this word: “Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch. . . . And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”

Japan

By F. H. DE VINNEY

F. H. DE VINNEY

FROM the beginning of the third angel's message in Japan the work has been carried on in rented quarters. For the first few years Elder Granger held a Bible school in his own home, first in Azabu and afterwards in Shiba, both sections of the city of Tokio.

When Brethren Wade and Burden came to Japan, they opened a school in Uyeno, another division of the city, where they continued until forced to move by the sale of the rented building. Brother Wade then leased land at Hongo, and built a small one-story house for his own use, using the front room for a school and for Sabbath meetings. This work continued for a time under Elder Field, who bought the house when Brother Wade returned to the United States.

In 1904 Elder Burden moved to Sendagaya, another suburb of Tokio, made convenient by a new electric car line, and leased land and built a good-sized foreign dwelling house, with an upper and a lower flat. In the previous year the mission began the publication of the little paper, the Owari No Fukuin (Gospel of the Last Days), the mechanical work being done by different printing houses of the city.

In 1906 the lower floor of Brother Burden's house was rented, a small press, type, and other fixtures were bought, and by the help of a Korean and two Japanese brethren, who had had some experience in printing, a beginning was made on the work of printing our own literature.

From the results of the Bible schools and other work, some young men were in the field as Bible workers and canvassers; but the need of better training for successful work was apparent, and they were called in for institute work for three months during the winter.

The press was moved into the cellar, lighted by two small windows on a level with the ground outside, and entered by a trapdoor in the floor, under which a ladder-like staircase had been provided.

The institute work occupied the sitting and dining rooms.

The type cases were set up in a bedroom, and the printers lived in the kitchen.

The editorial work, folding, etc., were done in the rooms where the institute was held, when it was not in session.

It being the only suitable place which could be procured, the meetings of the Tokio church were held in the same rooms on the Sabbath and in the evening during the week.

The institute developed into the training school, and from a session of three months into one of six months, which increased the difficulties of carrying on the work of three institutions in the same rooms of an ordinary dwelling house. But the Lord blessed, and the work prospered and developed, as every one connected with it kept sweet under the trials and did his best. The first relief from this situation came in the autumn of 1913, when a large Japanese house was secured for the school, with other buildings within convenient distance which served as dormitories for the students. The next year, the sale of the Burden house being imminent, a building which had been used as a dye-house was rented, and the printing plant moved into it. This served very well until the new quarters were ready in November of the following year. The sale of the former quarters not being consummated, for its next session the school—this year as an institute for all workers—was moved back into its old quarters.

In March, 1910, a small piece of land was secured by the mission, in Yotsua, another division of Tokio, and held by contract by one of the Japanese mission laborers, as the law of Japan does not permit foreigners to hold property under deed. But this plan of holding property was not considered best, and changing conditions made it impracticable to build upon it, though the money to do so was available through the Three-hundred-thousand-dollar Fund, and the generous apportionment made for the needs of Japan.

Some years ago an attempt was made to secure from the Japanese government a shadon, or the right to hold land by deed for charitable and benevolent purposes, by an appointed committee of the mission. This is in harmony with the Japanese law and with the treaty with

the United States, and nearly all the other missions have been given this privilege; but our shadon not being strictly made out in proper form, the authorities took the truly Oriental form of disposing of the matter by not doing anything with it. So it was decided to attend strictly to our evangelistic work as best we could under the conditions, until the government was satisfied that we were not connected with anything but purely Christian work, and had no part in politics of any description.

Two years later the matter of the shadon was placed in the hands of a lawyer, himself a Christian and an ex-judge, and application made in due form. At the request of the authorities, this was amended and changed until they expressed themselves as satisfied with the application; but all this consumed nearly two years, and no answer was made. Learning that we could hold land under 999 years' lease, we finally decided to secure land in this way, and not wait longer for the decision of the government.

(To be continued)

Trusting God at Home

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE

WE read with deep emotion of the sublime faith of the martyrs who lived in times which tried men's souls. We marvel at that faith which is able to keep the feet from slipping on the way to the scaffold or the stake. But, beloved, you and I, in fact every individual member of God's church, must learn the lesson of implicit faith in our Father. We must learn to trust him every hour of every day, and to look to him for help in every perplexity. If we cannot learn to trust God in times of comparative security and quiet, how can we bring ourselves to trust him when, like Abraham, we are called to endure the “horror of great darkness”?

We wonder that Paul and Silas, with their bleeding backs pressed to the cold, damp floor of the Macedonian dungeon, could so far forget their sufferings as to raise their voices in songs of prayer and praise. To all appearances there was no hope for their deliverance, but they did not murmur nor complain; they did not wait for Satan to tempt them to bemoan their fortune; they did not wait until the Lord sent them help from heaven; but then and there they sang, dispensing good cheer throughout the prison. And then, wonder of wonders, the solid earth was shaken and rent, and more astonishing still was the fact that not only were the bonds of the singers loosed, but every chain throughout the prison was broken. What was there in an earthquake to cause so remarkable a result?—Nothing at all. It was due to the great power of him to whom two friendless and persecuted men were singing praises. But if Paul and Silas had not learned the lesson of perfect trust, this wonderful story could never have been written.

God is a “friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” He will straighten out all those little difficulties which so often harass and annoy us at home. O, let us sing songs instead of grumbling! The Almighty Framer of the universe is not far distant when his creatures sing his praises, even when they are sorely troubled. The Word says, “Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness.” Do we believe it? Then why is there so little rejoicing?

“Well,” says one, “God does not work miracles any more, and my life is so dull and commonplace. I am right at home and in the kitchen most of the time. So many things go wrong! It seems harder to keep patient and trust God right at home than almost anywhere else.” I agree with you. I believe it is harder, but I do know that it can be done, and it must be done if we stand before him at last without spot or wrinkle. But I do not agree with you when you say that God does not work miracles today. Why, my friend, there are as many miracles wrought in this twentieth century as there were in the days of the apostles. Do you realize that if God's tender care for us should cease for a moment, we should be unable to live? “Why!” exclaims one, “I never remember of anything very wonderful happening to me in my life.” That is the point. Something surely would have happened had it not been for the kind care of your Heavenly Father. How quickly Satan brought misery and distress to Job after God removed the “hedge” from round about him. Probably in a single day that faithful man was overwhelmed with sorrow—children dead, flocks burned, houses destroyed, servants slain. Was this a miracle?—O, no; the miracle had been performed before, while peace and plenty reigned; while the hedge had encompassed him and his. I believe that hedge was a company of angels, for “the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” O, this wonderful hedge which the Almighty places around his trusting children is a constant miracle!

“But,” you say, “I hardly see it that way. I cannot believe that God performs miracles just for me every day, right here at home.” Ah, my friend, do you remember that yesterday, as you were hurrying down the stairs, you caught your foot in the carpet, stumbled, and came near falling? How your heart jumped and throbbed, for you were almost at the top of the long flight! Death waited for you at the bottom, or at best the surgeon's table or an invalid's chair. Whose hand upheld you in that moment of helplessness? And yet you forgot to thank God for the miracle. Today, when John and Susie were at play, the lash of a whip struck your little girl's cheek and hurt her till she cried out. You remarked that it “was a miracle that the eye was not injured,” and still you dismissed the matter from your mind by

giving Johnnie a scolding. It never occurred to you that you should thank God for the “miracle.”

O, the loving Father cares for us all individually! He numbers the very hairs of our heads, and no detail connected with our welfare, however small, escapes his notice. Surely it must grieve his infinite heart of love when we distrust him. Let us do so no longer.

Lansing, Mich.

Progress of the Work in Waterloo

From Waterloo, West Africa, where Brother R. S. Greaves has been at work, he is able to send us this encouraging word: “There are a few upcountry ready for baptism, but at present I cannot go to them. I shall be glad when we can open our Mendi station, even though it be but a native house. Things are going on about as usual at Waterloo. The factory had quite a run for a short time, but now we are not so busy. We are out of iron boxings for the wheels. We had plenty on order, from both England and America, but one order had to be canceled; the other one got through, and we received everything but the boxings, which unfortunately were omitted. So far we have not lost much.”

War and Peace in German East Africa

FROM German East Africa, Brother L. E. A. Lane recently wrote Brother Dail, at The Hague: “We are all well here so far. We pray for our brethren in Germany and France, and the countries likewise affected. It makes us sick at heart to read of the awful sacrifice of human life in this horrible carnage. Whoever may be conqueror or conquered will suffer irreparable loss. Each week in our African paper, we hope to see some trace of peace offers, but instead, other nations join, which seemingly must prolong the struggle.”

Tent Meetings in Kingston

BROTHER E. C. BOGER, of Jamaica, says that in a recent letter that during the week of prayer he was able to meet with ten churches by using his motor cycle. He adds further: “We are just starting a series of tent meetings here in Kingston, in which Elder Haysmer will assist. The first service will be tonight [March 8]. We hope to see some souls gathered into the church as the result. This effort is in the very best section of the city, and is our first among this class of people; we are quite anxious as to the result.”

Conducted by Mrs. C. C. Lewis, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C

By Mrs. C. C. Lewis; Miss Lora E. Clement

Assisted by Miss Lora E. Clement

Through the columns of this department, hints will be given on all matters pertaining to the home life. Short articles and letters are solicited from home makers, telling of their everyday experiences,—their joys and sorrows, their failures and successes.

Nature’s Music

By MRS. VINA SHERWOOD-ADAMS

MRS. VINA SHERWOOD-ADAMS

The child should be taught to listen for nature’s music while it is yet a babe. As soon as a child begins to distinguish sounds aside from his mother’s voice, we call his attention to the loud blowing of the whistle, the roar of the train, the noise of a trolley car, or the rumbling of a wagon. It sometimes seems as if we are bent on calling his attention to every discordant, artificial noise we can find. Perhaps this is because these are near at hand, and it does not take much effort to bring them to his notice. Baby’s ears, though small, are very acute. Did you ever observe that the little one hears some small sounds before you have noticed them? You all know how a child will outrun your observation of objects during a walk. Just so he will lead you in keenness of hearing. Why not take advantage of this and cultivate in baby the habit of listening for nature’s music? Take him down by the rippling water, and as it gurgles over the rocks call his attention to the sound. Does the music of the water appeal to you? Perhaps you, as well as baby, may have to learn to listen for the music in the ripple. I can truly say this music has a calming, softening influence on me which I keenly enjoy.

The difficulty with the most of us in teaching children nature in her simplicity is that we ourselves have learned to enjoy the artificial too well. We prefer to listen to a piano solo rather than to the sweet, clear treble of the brown thrush or the flooding melody of the little wren. Did you ever watch the wren while he is rendering his solo? His whole being is vibrant with the music swelling from his little throat. He tilts his pretty head half heavenward in his song of adoration to his Creator, and I believe the Master listens. Give baby the opportunity to hear some of this bird music. Take him often to the orchard or the wood lot.

It has been my privilege (and you will please pardon my referring to personal experiences, for I know more about these subjects than any others) to study the birds with different groups of young children. Quite early each spring morning we wended our way to the old orchard or the woods. A variety of excellent singers formed our choir,—the wren, brown thrush, oriole,—and with notebook and pencil we made observations. The birds are very shy about singing before an audience at first, but we observed that the more accustomed they became to our visits the less embarrassed they were. This called for much self-control on the part of the children. The stealth with which one must study these little songsters pleases a child. There were two boys, six and nine years of age, in our group. They were hard, cruel little fellows. Their faces showed their ancestry. As they studied the birds, their natures softened; a kind of refinement came to them, and they seemed to lose the desire to stone or kill every innocent little creature in sight. The younger boy seemed especially influenced. One day he was out in the field with a farmer who was mowing. In front of his machine up flew a mother bird. “Stop! Stop!” cried the little boy. The farmer, thinking something was wrong with his machine, hastily checked his horses. “See,” said the little fellow, “a nest of baby birds is in front of your sickle.” “O, is that all?” and the farmer was about to drive on when he saw tears start in the little fellow’s eyes. “Why do you want me to save those birds?” he queried. “Why,” replied the little boy, “their mother may have sung me a song this morning, and,” half hanging his head, “I love her, and I know she loves her little birds.” The farmer in relating this incident said: “I was thoroughly surprised, for I had set that little chap and his brother down as two of the meanest boys in town when it came to the treatment of living creatures.”

These boys lived in the outskirts of a small village. They were literally surrounded by the beauties of nature, and roamed field and wood at will; but their home influence was not right. Their father, a good-for-nothing fellow, always drove half-starved horses; their mother, a hard-working washerwoman, had no time for household pets, and should a neighbor’s cat or dog chance to stray into their dooryard she quickly bade him begone, with a dipper of her hot soap-suds thrown after him. All this had its influence on the boys. Observation shows that our degree of love for nature and her children has its bearing on the lives of our boys and girls. Even though they may have the best environment, their attention should be especially called to nature and her music. If they are taught to listen well, its influence will be lasting.

Battle Creek, Mich.

Some Uses for Lemons

Few people realize the value of lemons. In cases of fever, sore throat, or torpid liver the medicinal qualities of this fruit are unexcelled.

The juice of half a lemon in a cup of hot water taken on awakening in the morning is an excellent liver corrective, and a successful substitute for calomel.

A dash of lemon juice in plain water makes a cleansing tooth wash, not only removing the tartar, but sweetening the breath.

A lotion of lemon and rose water will remove tan and whiten the skin.

Lemon juice and olive oil is far superior to vinegar for salad dressing; equal parts used for the blending.

Lemon juice on loaf sugar is good for hoarseness.

Outward application of lemon juice allays irritation caused by insect bites.

An old-fashioned remedy for croup, is honey, alum, and lemon juice.

Salt and lemon juice will remove rust and stains from white goods.

Slices of lemon are used in garnishing.

After the pulps of lemons are removed, the skins make dainty receptacles for serving salads, ices, etc.

In buying lemons select those having a thin rind, as they are much juicier than the plump ones.—Selected.

A Lesson on Order

A MOTHER who is pursuing the lessons in Early Education, of the Mothers’ Normal Department of the Fireside Correspondence School, has found one of the lessons very helpful in training her little boy in habits of order. She writes about her experience as follows:—

“This lesson, on order has been of great interest to me, because as a child I was taught very little, in that line, and what I did learn on the subject was through magazines. But I want our child to learn it while young, and I know that the right example is necessary.

“I have a box with shelves in it where he keeps his toys. When he is tired of playing, I take his hand and show him how to carry his toys to the box, and then walk to and from it with him until they are all put away.

“He has a regular time for meals and for going to bed. Every morning after washing his face, I give him a little toothbrush, and I have another. Then I wash his teeth; and when I finish, he tries to do it himself. This is about all I have done so far.”

Strive, Wait, and Pray

By Adelaide Proctor

STRIVE; yet I do not promise The prize you dream of today Will not fade when you think to grasp it, And melt in your hand away; But another and holier treasure You would now perchance disdain, Will come when your toil is over, And pay you for all your pain.

Wait; yet I do not tell you The hour you long for now Will not come with its radiance vanished, And a shadow upon its brow; Yet far through the misty future, With a crown of starry light, An hour of joy you know not Is winging her silent flight.

Pray; though the gift you ask for May never comfort your tears, May never repay your pleading, Yet pray, and with hopeful tears; An answer, not that you long for; But diviner, will come one day; Your eyes are too dim to see it, Yet strive, and wait, and pray.

— Adelaide Proctor.

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