of old when she would call them from their bachelor quarters and poor fare while they were struggling for an education, to those sumptuous Sunday dinners prepared by her kind hands. And how those invitations would come about as often as Sunday itself! No use to say, "No" to her. She had planned it that way, and none must be left out. And after dinner the boys would talk it over and agree that it was an imposition on good nature, and that they would not go any more. But the next Sunday-there would be the dinner, and there would be "Aunt Susan," and there would be the boys. She could not escape the promptings of her own big soul, and they could not escape the magic of her ministries.

With her it was everything for others, but nothing for self. No praise. No position. No pay. No reward. The doing of the good was her compensation. She is not rich, except in faith, and hope, and character. In all these she is many times a millionaire.

That is my idea of character. What people actually are. What they are when stripped of the flesh. What they are in

CHARACTER

side. What they are when no one is watching. What they are in the dark. What they are when only the eye of God is upon them. What they are when there is no pay coming. What they are when there is no applause. What they are when there is no public account, and no "Hall of Fame." What they are when there is work to do, and when sacrifice is called for. What they are when love is the only motive, and perhaps ingratitude the sole reward. Then character shines with undimmed luster, for then is true character revealed. Such is "Aunt Susan."

Character is as rich in rags as in royal robes; it forges its own crown, and every day is a coronation day.

Though thy name be spread abroad,

Like winged seed, from shore to shore,

What thou art before thy God,

That thou art, and nothing more.

From "Poems With Power to Strengthen the Soul," by Mudge, p. 40.

Mother

God thought to give the sweetest thing
In His Almighty power
To earth; and deeply pondering
What it should be one hour
In fondest joy and love of heart,
Outweighing every other,

He moved the gates of Heaven apart
And gave to earth-a mother!

-G. NEWELL LOVEJOY.

AYOUNG man of nineteen years was

leaving his Kansas home some years ago to engage in the battle of life on his own responsibility. He has said good-bye to the old mother, whose blessing, like sweet ointment, fell upon his head in these two simple words, "Be good." His wardrobe, library, and all his earthly possessions were packed in the old yellow grip-sack, which he carried on a stick swung across his shoulder as he walked the distance of twelve miles to the nearest railway station, where he was to take the train for his destination in Nebraska.

As he reached the summit of the hill a

out into the big, uncertain world. seemed to him she was holding the co of the old, faded calico apron to her For what purpose? Ah, could it be was crying for her boy?

when she said good-bye. brave then. But she is

now.

She did not

No, she was surely doin

She was so strong in his pres to encourage him, but when he was started the floods broke loose. And v he passed from sight of her beyond hill she was still standing thus.

New thoughts were wakened in mind. New and nobler ambitions born in him. The very sight of mother watching her boy, and wee for him, gave him the assurance that was pushing him to higher levels with prayers to God. He would not fail. could not fail. He would never freeze t tears, nor cause to fail those prayers, disappoint that anxious heart by any 77

aim or unworthy act of his. He would never fall, with the memory of that mother holding him up in tears and prayers. He would work. He would dig. He would climb. He would succeed, and be worthy, knowing well that those eyes, though unseen, were upon him all the time. Her faith and her love should be rewarded.

Before that time the boy had not really appreciated his mother. Like a great many other boys, he was thoughtless and careless. But now he was thoroughly awakened to a new life, and to a sense of his great loss. That sweet, humble, faithful, hard-working, loving, patient mother had been giving her very life for him. He did not think of it before, and now he was leaving it all, never to live in the very presence of a mother's holy influence again. Those days and that sweet privilege were gone forever. As the full meaning and realization of it all dawned upon him, he was overwhelmed.

Boys who are rich in the love and care of a good mother should appreciate her while she lives, and while they live with her, and should make her life both rich and glad in the thought that she has a boy