UNIV. OF

"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. Nay not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow-men."
The angel wrote and vanished. The next night

It came again, with a great awakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And lo! Ben Adam's name led all the rest.

WHICH SHALL IT BE?

(Illustrating Family Affection)

LEIGH HUNT.

Which shall it be? Which shall it be?
I looked at John and John looked at me.
(Dear patient John, who loves me yet
As well as though my locks were jet.)
And when I found that I must speak,
My voice seemed strangely low and weak:

"Tell me again what Robert said,"
And then I, listening, bent my head.
"This is his letter: I will give

A house and land while you shall live,
If, in return, from out your seven,
One child to me for aye is given."
I looked at John's old garments worn,
I thought of all that John had borne
Of poverty and work and care,
Which I, though willing, could not share;
I thought of seven mouths to feed,
Of seven little children's need,

And then of this, "Come, John,” said I,
"We'll choose among them as they lie
Asleep," so, walking hand in hand,
Dear John and I surveyed our band.
First to the cradle lightly stepped
Where the new nameless baby slept.

To Lily's crib. Her sleeping grasp
Held her old doll within its clasp;
Her dark curls lay like gold alight,
A glory 'gainst the pillow white.
Softly her father stooped to lay
His rough hand down in loving way,
When dream or whisper made her stir,
Then huskily said John, "Not her, not her."
We stooped beside the trundle-bed
And one long ray of lamp light shed
Athwart the boyish faces there,

In sleep so pitiful and fair;

I saw on Jamie's rough, red cheek
A tear undried. E'er John could speak,
"He's but a baby, too," said I,
And kissed him as we hurried by.
Pale, patient Robbie's angel face
Still in his sleep bore suffering's trace.
"No, for a thousand crowns, not him."
We whispered, while our eyes were dim,
Poor Dick, bad Dick, our wayward son,
Turbulent, reckless, idle one-

Could be spared? Nay, He who gave
Bids us befriend him to the grave.

Only a mother's heart can be
Patient enough for such as he.

"And so," said John, "I would not dare
To send him from her bedside prayer."

Then stole we softly up above

And knelt by Mary, child of love.
"Perhaps for her 'twould better be,"
I said to John. Quite silently
He lifted up a curl astray

Across her cheek in wilful way,

And shook his head: "Nay, love; not thee,"

The while my heart beat audibly.

Only one more, our eldest lad,

Trusty and truthful, good and glad—

And so we wrote in courteous way,
We could not give one child away;
And afterward toil lighter seem'd,
Thinking of that of which we dreamed,
Happy in truth that not one face
We missed from its accustomed place;
Thankful to work for all the seven,
Trusting the rest to One in heaven.

TOPICAL SUGGESTIONS:

ETHEL LYNN BEERS.

I. Man a social being. "It is not good for man to be alone." Solitary confinement, greatest punishment.

2. The development of the family the basis of social relations. Scenes in the child life.

3. School life, the mazes of school associations, companionships and friendships; high school and University life.

4. Church and society associations.

5. The many orders and clubs all working with definite purpose for the accomplishment of some good end.

6. The great Mississippi River and tributaries illustration of the development under these associations.

7. Development of good-will in all altruistic associations.

8. "Abou Ben Adam" and "Which Shall It Be?"

I

X

CO-OPERATION

N all our discussion of the goodness of God as mani

fest among men we must consider the spirit of cooperation so prevalent in our government and among individuals, classes and nations-in political, religious, educational, domestic and industrial life.

In the field of government men have grown and developed from the individual or patriarchal and tribal forms of government to the highly organized form as we find them to-day in the outstanding national, state and municipal governments.

We could trace the history of these developments but suffice to say that a surface survey would show how gradually the spirit of co-operation has worked throughout the world and brought man to his present state of fine altruistic motive.

In the times of the patriarchs the father of the family was the controlling figure. Later the tribe, consisting of few or many families, combining, and electing a chief, either from outstanding bravery, ability to slay men or as hunter of animals-then followed the larger combination of tribes and the welding of them into states; then the still larger combinations of states into empires and national governments, as we see them to-day in the British Empire and United States government. But along with this larger organization there have grown up within the national government the minor forms, but subject to the national, the municipal and county forms, all

working together and co-operating with each other as wheels within wheels of machinery to work out the good of the whole. And along with these various forms we still maintain the patriarchal form to a limited extent as we find it in the family relations. These various forms of government have developed as men have learned to trust each other or to co-operate for protection, economic advantage or the higher ideals of altruistic purpose,such as in educational and religious purpose.

Not only have the peoples become highly organized along the above lines but the same spirit of co-operation is manifest as we study the ways and means by which men are led into a state of almost care-free and pleasurable condition of society.

Formerly during the tribal period the individual man was required to be prepared with his club or axe in hand to meet the attack of the enemy tribe-and during the reign of the feudal barons the walled castle was built to guard against the attack of the enemy, and the feudal lord was supposed to care for his subjects and they in turn to work at his direction. Then later a smaller number, relatively, were required to serve as armed guards to insure their security while the rest could give attention to the higher lines of thought and development.

So we have men co-operating in government to-day with a fine community and national spirit working out the highest and best for all.

In our common currency system we have a fine medium of measure and exchange, common to all the people and so simple that the children can comprehend and employ same for value received, as often quoted in our commercial activities, the deal is complete; while formerly it was a question of exchange values between states and large discounts for the weaker. Before the common medium