ASK two little girls to come to the platform and say to them "I know
you little girls love each other, but do you like to see each other
receive good things?" Then say, as you hold up some small gift, "This
little treasure has been given to me to give to some little girl that
would be glad to receive it: but you see I cannot give it to both of
you, and how will I decide which girl shall receive it? If I give it
to this little girl then the other will be disappointed. Sometimes
great trouble comes to this world because one receives and the other
does not. However, I will take a chance and give it to this little
girl." And as you speak pass the toy to her. Turning to the other
girl, you say, "You don't feel hurt do you? I know you are glad to see
your little friend made happy. I also trust you are not displeased
with me for not giving it to you. Here learn the lesson some people
seem to get the good things of life, and others seem to go without."
Now without further remarks give the same girl another toy. Then that
is true to life also. Some seem to get all, and others get little or
nothing. Perhaps this little girl without anything seems to be saying
in her mind, she has two already, she might give me one, and at the
point pass a toy to the little girl that has none, but she says even
yet, the other girl has twice as many as I have, so she does not seem
to enjoy the one she has when she remembers the other girl has two. It
doesn't look right, does it? But she is a good little and girl and
says, "I will be thankful for what I have and try to be glad." At this
point you seem to be in deep study and finally say, "I just remember
that I have overlooked a little box," which you produce from some
corner and on opening it you discover another toy which you give to
the little girl with the one toy. Now they both have the same number
and so it is all right at last. This teaches us a lesson so hard to
learn in life,--how one man receives much, the other but little.
Strife and war are often the result of this condition but we must be
patient with our lot. God knows best. He will reward us in full by and
by so it will be all right at last.
=CHAPTER VIII
THE MAKING OF A CHRISTIAN=
_Objects: Various Parts of a Flag Assembled in Their Respective
Places_