Now, I ask you this: Don't you think it would

be better to kneel down and thank our AllFather for everything He sends, whether it be wet or whether it be fine? He sends rough and smooth weather when we need it. He sends storms, thunder-claps, lightning-flashes, that shake everything. He sends showers of soft snow-blossoms in winter; trees-full of apples in the autumn; glad crowds of singing birds in summer; and the strange green buds that burst on all the hedge-rows in spring

"And the winds may blow

And the blossoms may fall,

But the wise, good God is over all.”

IS IT WRONG TO WISH TO BE GREAT.

"Is it wrong to wish to be GREAT?

No, boy, it is not wrong;

The child who stands at the HIGH closed GATE,

Must wish to be tall and strong.

Everything made must grow,

And, however small the start,

It does not matter for that, you know,
So long as there's life at the heart.

If

you

Idid not wish to grow,

I should be a sorry man

I should think my boy was dull and slow,
And unworthy of his clan.

You are bound to be great, my boy,
Wish, and get up, and do!
Were you content to be little, my joy
Would be little enough in you!

I will tell you the only plan
To fight and not to fall-
Every man wants every other man,
And each must be servant of all.

Find out what you can do,

And do it, with all your might,
To serve the many or serve the few,
Earnest, and faithful, and right."

UNDER a railway arch. The trains trundled over it. Carts, and cabs, and waggons rumbled under it. Men, and women, and children too, more than he ever counted, went past that arch to the station. And just at the corner, on the flagstones, under the arch, stood Kif ready to black anybody's boots.

Blacking boots is not easy. Not many boys and girls like the job. Kif did not like it at first. Only, you see, he had to do it.

Eih? What did you say? You'd be ashamed? Surely not! Not ashamed to work?

O ashamed to black boots, do you mean? But why? There may be two thousand millions of big and little feet in this world where God

has put us. Why should any boy be ashamed to help make some of those feet nice?

Anyway, that happened to be the bit of work that Kif Diamond had to do in this world.

And I want to tell you how he did it, and what came of it.

At first, I said, Kif was not fond of the work. He was only ten years old, remember. Play was just as sweet to him as you. And he liked it better than work. But his father was away at sea these years; and his mother had got hurt, and had to keep at home. So there was nothing for it but that Kif must work.

One morning Kif was at his corner early. He didn't know that there had been a great meeting in the great hall of the town the night before. He was just standing looking at the old church clock, watching a sparrow trying to perch on one of the golden figures, when Kif's eye caught sight of a tall stranger looking at the church, and walking along slowly.

The stranger started. He was almost frightened. He didn't know there was a boy so near. But when the tall gentleman turned round, he found Kif ready with his box, and blacking-pot, and a brush in each hand, saying

The gentleman looked down at Kif and smiled. He was on his knees already. He was ready to begin. The gentleman's boots had not been cleaned that morning, or else he had soiled them again. So, almost before he thought of it, Kif was brushing away at the boots of the tall stranger. And the gentleman had to lean his back against the wall of the arch, and he held his foot up on the shoe-black's box, and began to talk to Kif quite friendly. They talked a long time.

"There's your penny, see," said the gentleman, just as he was going.