14
long faces, or to sacrifice all the fun and enjoyment of life.
But ax the other hand, that right living and fine companionship
put one up in the ranks of winners.
“I went home and thought the matter over, and was per-
suaded that he was right. I started to go to ehureh, and to
do my part in the services when T was asked, and to pick out
what would count in life. Before long I found myself taking
a greater interest in my studies at school. And talk about
laving a good fime—why, I have never enjoyed myself so mueh
in my life as sinee I deeided to be a sincere Christian.”
If you have a friend who will play with you, or who will join
you in doing the things you are interested in, you will both
enjoy the reereation mueh more, and be more persistent and
systematic. His fun and earnestness will arouse the same
qualities in you. Very few successful business enterprises are
one-man affairs. It is quite as useful to form partnerships for
reereation.
One danger in recreation is that we shall allow the spirit of
competition to devolep into envy, faultfinding, and anger. The
best game is spoiled without kindness. Any game, however
oaod, is rendered haymful if it is played too mueh, or played
when duty ealls elsewhere, Any game is harmful that teaches
thode that play it to rely on chance, Life is strengthened by
selfireliance and by relianee upon God. Some games, though
good in thsmselves, will be avoided by Christians because they
have had associations, and are quite likely to lead us into those
associations. The best recreations are those that can he carried
out most easily, at little or no expense, and in all seasons and
weathers.
There are many ways in which one may find recreation and
havé a good time besides playing games. When properly
planned, different kinds of missionary endeavor may become a
real pleasure, and even a change in work may prove to be
recreation, Let us endeavor to have a good time doing worth-
while things. C. L. B.
|
| Talk: Have a Good Time With a Hobby
(The superintendent, or an older Junior, may lead out in this
talk, The week before, ask each Junior to be ready io tell about
his lobby, why he likes it, what It does for him or others, ete.)
AlHOBBY is a very valuahle thing to have if it is well ehoeen,
It keeps one from getting into a rut, and may be a real source
of pleasure and reercation. Your hobby should be different
from your usual work. A student should cultivate 2 hobby, such
as hiking, handieraft, nature study, gardening, poultry raising,
somo branch of agriculture, or something clee that will take
him out of doors. And those who generally work outdoors
may find a suitable hobby in reading good books, some branch
of art, needleeraft, radio mechanies, or shoe repairing. You
will ‘find these and many more things to select from, fully
outlined in the Junior Handbook,
A well-known speaker and writer once said that sorae of the
greatest things in the world have been done in play. Franklin
was really playing when he discovered electricity. Newton was
playing when he discovered gravity, Why is this? It is because
when we are playing, We are doing a thing because we want
to do it, not because we have to do it. Hobbies are things
we do beeause we want to do them,
Amusements and hobbies may be regarded as tests of ehar-
acter, What do you do when you do what you want to do?
Whether a person is strong or weak, noble or base, can be geen
in the kinds of hobbies he has, and in the kinds of amusements
in which he participates.
Hobbies sometimes help people to find their life work. The
hobby of one young woman was telling stories to the ehildren
ahoul her. As ghe grew older, she did not have time. Finally
sorrow came to her. Her health broke. One day a letter came
from one of the ehildren, now grown, to whom she had told
stories, asking her to tell stories to her ehildren. As the in-
valid retold her stories, happiness and health eame back to her.
It is possible for a person to have too many hobbies. He
may spend too much time in doing many little things, and
become master of none. Reading, however, is a good hobby
for all. “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
In choosing our hobbies, let ue think not only of the present,
but of the future. Let ug fll our lives with the things that will
make them more beautiful, more happy, and more useful,
C. L. B.
THE CHURCH OFFICERS’ GAZETTE
June, 1932
Story: Be True
KATHERINE was a popular schoolgirl. She loved to study.
She could play the piano and sing well. She had many friends.
80 when, beeause of her father’s illness, it became necessary
for her to go with him to a little farm in the mountains of
New Hampshire, she did not find it so easy a thing to do. But
it was spring then, and the mountains were just beginning to
grow green. Lady’s-slippers grew even in the front yard. One
by one strange and beautiful birds built their nests in the
frees just outside fhe little farmhouse.
Katherine loved the out-of-doors; so the beautiful changing
springtime kept her happy. Then came the summer—and
visitors to the mountains. Many heard of the talented girl in
the farmhouse, and Katherine was again happy as she sang
and played for them. But soon the summer passed, and then
the autumn. The people had left the monutain side; the won-
derful colors in the trees and the lovely sunsets were gone,
Only the bleak, eold winter was ahead.
As Katherine thought of all this, she recalled what she used
to do on winter days, “But what is there to do here?” she
thought. As she was ohserving the Morning Wateh one morn.
ing, she read, “I will lift up mine eyes unte the hills, from
whence cometh my help.” “Ah!” she said, “I need help. I
will lift up mine eyes unto the hills’ Perhaps if I go inte
the hills for the day, God will help me. T think I will try.”
“I feel like having a tramp today,” she fold her father,
She reached a litile lake high in the mountains. It wag very
calm; and as she locked at it she thought, “I wish God could
gond peace to me as He sende 1t to the little lake)” Her eyes
wandered to the pine trees and then to the higher cliffs, when
euddenly, it seemed as if by magic, there stood ont before her
the giant face of a man, Then she remembered a story that
she had heard. This must be the “Old Man of the Mountain.”
It wag the “Great Stone Faee” she had read about. As she
locked at the strong, kind face, she thought again of the winter
days ahead. She thought of the kind thinge she conld do in
the little cottage, in helping to make her father comfortable
and happy during his illness. She thought of the books she
might read when there was nothing to disturb her. She
thought, too, of the missionary letters she might write, and
the papers she could send to tell others of the Master whom ghe
loved. Her heart was thrilled as she thought of the good times
ghe would have in these ways. Her Morning Watch that
morning had net been in vain, And as she jumped from rock to
rock on her way back to the cottage, she sang, “I would be
true.” ‘
As the Juniors stand in consecration, have them sing this
song, No, 58 in the “Junior Song Book.” C. L. B.
The Message of the Birds
{(Progrem for Week Ending June 85)
BY MRE. M. EE, KERN
Norges we Junior SUPERINTENDENTS: A better aequaintance
with bird life will teach the children sympathy for God’s
creatures and eneourage a mereiful epirvit., Children often do
cruel things beeause they are thoughtless and uninformed. The
best time to begin the study of birds is in winter or very early
spring, hefore they are hidden by the foliage of trees and
bushes. There are, however, some birds that may be studied all
summer, and many more that may be seen occasionally. The
English sparrow is always with us-—help the ehildren to learn
to distinguish between him and other sparrows.
Make a list of the birds the children have seen recently, dis-
cussing nests, song, size and eplor of eggs, habits, migration,
and any other interesting points,
Helpful books on birds may be obtained from a Puble Li-
hrary, ‘There are also several Government Bulleting available
without eharge. Nos. 760, 1456, and 1644 are of speeial in
terest. To obtain them, send a card to Department of Infor-
mation, U. 8. Agrieultural Department, Washington, D. C. If
more than ten are desived, you ean probably obtain them from
your Representative at Washington.
Memorice Matthew 10: 29 and repeat in unison.
The story of Noah sending out the dove and the raven (Gen.
8:6-12), and that of Elijah fed by ravens (1 Kings 17: 1-8),
may be told by twe of the Juniors.
Songs: Nos, 137, 134, 132, 157, in “Junior Song Book.”
You have found the “Junior Song Book’ indispensable, have you not?