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18 THE
The Family
MAMMA'S FAVORITE.
Oh, which do I love best, the best
Of all my little flock!
1 here's Baby Rob, wfth his roguish face,
And Tot in her fresh, white frock;
Which is the dearer? What shall I do?
And how shall I choose between the two?
And there's my Fan, wilh round brown
head,
Aim uer waya au >v lac uuu uciuuic,
Her words are sweet, her lips are true,
Her heart is loyal and pure.
So what shall I do? Which shall it be?
How shall I choose between the three?
And there's ray Kitty, with star-like eyes,
And her golden fleece of curls;
Gentle and gay, solemn and sweet,
The pearl of my garland or girls
The more I think, I'm puzzled the more?
Which is the best of all the four?
And then there's Harry, the dear, big boy,
With a foot as fleet as a dart;
He's honest and bright, merry and
brave?
I love him with all my heart.
In vain 1 ponder, in vain contrive,
To find the best of all the five.
'For Rob's my darling, and Tot's my lamb,
And Fan's my ladybird bright;
And Kit's my sweetheart, now and for
aye,
And Harry's my own true knight!
So my mind's made up and my heart's at
rest
For I love each one of the five the best!
"LOSING HEART."
Henry Maclean, Superintendent of Alpine
Road Sunday-school, had become depressed
in uis work. When he accepted
the position ne tnought to find a com
pany of earnest workers, who would be
eager in gathering in the young from
the evils of the world, and anxious to
lead them to Christ.
But of late his hopes had been disappointed.
Several of the best teachers had
gone away; two had died; the Bible classes
had decreased. For the junior classes
he had difficulty to find teachers, and one
Sunday afternoon he seriously contemplated
resigning, hoping a more suitable
man might be found.
Burdened with the weight of heavy
thoughts, he strolled along the road after
school was closed, through the quiet lane,
and out on the hill, from whence the town
presented a picture of rest.
Surely there were many needing teaching
and help, he thought, as he gazed on
the houses clustering below; but where
was the enthusiasm and ardor he had expected
among the workers? He stood
meditating thus until startled by the approach
of a man from the other side of
the hill.
"Fine view here for one who knows and
loves that town," said the stranger.
"Have you friends there?" asked Mac
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUT
lean.
"I had one to whom I owe everything
?eh, more than I can tell; but I have
been away twelve years."
"You will doubtless find changes," said
Maclean.
"Yes, but one spot is more sacred to
me than any other?see, it is that building
beside yon church," and the stranger
pointed to the place from which the superintendent
had come.
"That is the Sunday-school, surely, to
which you point; I have just come from
there."
"Indeed; then perhaps I may tell you
of the power that once dwelt within those
walls. I was a wild, foolish lad at the
time of which I speak, but I had been
somehow persuaded to become a member
of a Bible class. I was many times on
the verge of leaving, for my course of living
made me ashamed to go; but, sir,
that teacher was in touch with the Lord
Jesus Christ, and he treated me so patiently,
and kept such a hold on me, as
only a Christ-like life could do."
J i? ??? 1 J i
opicuuiu leaiimuujr, sum aiuciean.
"is that teacher living?"
"Nay, he passed away two years ago,
and I was far away on business, and
could not get over to see him. His name
was Sanford. He was a good teacher, but
I cared nothing about Bible teaching; it
was just his joy and enthusiasm in his
work that captivated me and made me
stay. Then, to tell you in brief if I can,
I got into terrible trouble?never mind
how; no one would tolerate me, and I
was leaving the place, hoping to avoid every
one, when I met him, and found he
knew it all. I can never forget his look
of pain at me. Long afterwards, I know
it was the Spirit of Christ in him, loving
me to penitence. His words were few, but
so full of pleading that they seemed to
fasten a chain around me, which long
afterwards brought me to the cross,
though at the time I withstood it all."
"Sad, if he never knew," said Maclean,
deeply interested.
"Ah, but he did; do you suppose he
would let one like me go? He followed
me by prayers and letters, and with what
blessed results God knows, and the teacher
also came to know.*"
Henry Maclean began to see what was
lacking in the school, and as he listened
he sighed and said: "We have but few
like Mr. Sanford. I knew him, but I am
losing heart in Sunday-school work."
"Knew him, and yet losing heart in
such work! Why, sir, it is the work an
nnn-nl ... i-.V, ? I...4 1 i. "
UIICI^I UlIfellL tUICl, UUL 1 glUUl JTUU 11 IB
spoiled when unconsecrated souls attempt
to teach the way of salvation. We
want the holiest men and women to train
the young, those who, like my sainted
teacher, are in touch with the Lord Jesus
Christ. May his mantle fall on us, and
urn csVioll ho o HIta nnwof * < ? aA?iln
??v aimii uw u unv j/wnci tv/ win ouuin iui
eternity!"
"Strange I should have met you just as
I was in this desponding condition; but
God knows what a change it may make,
for I can take heart again and look to
Him for a blessing." Maclean and Haviland
(that was the stranger's name)
H. Sept. 22, 1909.
walked towards the town together, and a
friendship was started that led to great
things.
A time of good cheer came to Alpine
Road Sunday-school; teachers became
consecrated, and all indifference gave
place to joyful enthusiasm.
Haviland told his experience at a teach
ers' meeting, and urged the importance
of sympathy with young men and women,
and the power of a look or a word?for
A look a fainting heart may break,
Or make it whole;
And just one word, if said for Christ's
dear sake,
May save a soul.
?Mrs. Harvey-Jellie, in the "London
Christian."
LOST NEIGHBORS.
Bv Emma C. Dowd
"Are you sure you know the way, Jeannette?"
said mother, cheerily
"Why, of course I do, mamma! I go
right down this street, and down next
street and turn the corner, and then I'm
there."
Mamma kissed her, and said, "All
right. One loaf of rye bread, remember."
Jeannette really did know the way to
the bakery, or would have If she had not
happened to be looking at a dear little
pony cart just when she ought to have
turned the first corner. So she went on
to the next street, and. that carried her
into a strange neighborhood. When she
got to where the bakery ought to be, it
was not there at all. Where was she?
She looked around in sudden terror.
Nothing was as she remembered it! "Oh,
I'm lost!" she whispered, tearfully. There
was an open lot on the corner, with a
dog in it. She was afraid of dogs. She
ran on down the street. Perhaps she
had not gone far enough to reach the
bakery. She heard a little wailing cry,
and looked across to the opposite sidewalk.
Tnere was a little girl just as big
as she, and this little girl was crying,
too, crying out loud! Jeannette stopped
to look at her and to wonder what could
be the matter.
"She feels bad, and hasn't got anybody
to comfort her," Jeannette thought. She
looked round. "There isn't anybody but
me. I guess I must go." She ran over.
"Hullo! Don't cry?I'm here! I won't
let anybody hurt you," and Jeannette put
her arm round the other little girl.
"I want?my mamma!" she sobbed. "I
can't, find mv hnnap"'
"Never mind!" comforted Jeannette,
"Maybe I can find it."
"I'm Charlotte Cashen. I live at 55
Summer street. I'm four years old.
Then little Charlotte stared at Jeannette.
"'Why, you're crying, too!" she exclaimed.
.. "Oh, I forgot!" said Jeannette. "I was
crying 'cause I was lost. I couldn't, find
the baker's shop. I live on Summer
street and I'm four years old, and my
name's Jeannette Jacobs."
Little Charlotte showed dimples
through her tears. "Ain't that funny?"
she said. "You're lost and I'm lost, and