"We never thought you would back out," they said, with an accusing emphasis on the "you." "We thought you had enough patriotism to do that little towards honoring your country." "A great citizen of this glorious republic you'll make!" The flush on Tom's face deepened, but he shut his lips tightly and made no defense, even when one boy said disgustedly that he'd "like to know what Tom Bartlett did spend that money for." They all treated him very coolly in the days that followed, before the Fourth, and groups of his friends, animatedly talking, would grow silent and separate when they saw him approaching. It gave him a left-out feeling that he had never experienced before, and that was hard to bear. On the morning of the Fourth a telegraph messenger came to the house, and when Tom's father read the message he found that he had been sent for by Tom's grandfather who was dying. There were hurried preparations, a rushing away to catch the train, and Tom and his mother were left alone. As they sat at their breakfast, it suddenly occurred to Tom that his mother was not eating much, and he looked at her sharply. "You're coming down with one of your sick headaches-now aren't you?" he exclaimed. "I'm afraid so," she admitted reluctantly. "I hoped you wouldn't notice it. I will lie down and try to sleep it off." She went upstairs to her room, and Tom deftly and noiseless ly cleared away the breakfast dishes. After a little while his mother called to him faintly from the head of the stairs, asking him to lock the outside door when he went away. Tom bounded up to where she was. "Why, mother," he said, "did you think I would go off and leave you here all alone, sick? Not much I sha'nt!" The tears came to her eyes. "I hate to have you lose the parade and the bicycle trip and all, just for me," she said. Tom assured her that there were ever so many Fourth-ofJulys coming, and she needn't waste a bit of worry on him; and he helped her back to her room and closed the blinds, and did whatever else he could for her comfort. That evening she was better, and when it grew dark she and Tom sat at the window and saw the fireworks over the tops of the trees. In the Square, between the fireworks, there were speeches, and as Tom Bartlett's three most intimate friends were walking home together, after all was over, one of them suddenly asked, "did you notice what General Hunter said about being patriotic ?" No, the others had been too far away to hear distinctly. What was it? "He said that buying the most powder, and marching the farthest in a procession, and making the most noise, didn't make it that a boy was the most patriotic, but it was the one who was trying the hardest to be a worthy son of his country-square, you know, and unselfish, and always ready to help the weak and those in trouble, and not afraid to do what he thought was right, even when he knew folks would misunderstand him and be down on him. He said that was the highest kind of courage." The three boys were silent. They were thinking of Tom Bartlett, for in different ways--but not from Tom himself—they had learned how he had spent his money, and his Fourth. "I wish we hadn't treated Tom the way we did," the first boy said discontentedly-"accusing him of being stingy and mean and not caring anything about his country." "Well," declared one of the others. "Tom Bartlett won't have any reason to complain of the way we treat him in the future." "No," the other two agreed emphatically, "he won't."Elizabeth Robbins. BOOKS FOR USE IN PRIMARY ASSOCIATIONS. Primary Roll Book.... Primary Report Blanks, per doz. A Young Folks' History of the Church, by Nephi Anderson, Cloth... Life Sketches by Aurelia S. Rogers. .$1.00 .25 .50 .25 .75 .10 1.50 .60 1.50 .20 Minutes of the First General Conference of the Primary As sociations.... Life of Christ, by Canon Farrar, illustrated.. Pictures representing Life of Christ, per set.. History of the Church, published by the Church.. A Child's Life of Brigham Young, by Wm. A. Morton.. SALTAIR BEACH. SALT LAKE & LOS ANGELES RY, Largest Pavilion and deep water. Trains leave 2:20, 4:20, Dancing Floor in the World. 400 Bath Rooms in 6:20. 8:00 p.m. Corner 1st South and 4th West St. Performances J. E. Langford, Gen. Mgr. THE CHILDREN'S FRIEND. VOL. II. ORGAN OF THE PRIMARY ASSOCIATIONS OF THE AUGUST, 1903. THE END. The course of the weariest river Shines promise through the storm; Complex although they be, And peace at last be given, Dear, both to you and to me. Then though the path may be dreary, Look onward to the goal; Though the heart and the head be weary, Let faith inspire the soul; Seek the right, though the wrong be tempting, Speak the truth at any cost; Vain is all weak exempting When once the gem is lost. Let strong hand and keen eye be ready Bear best unto the close. The heavy clouds may be raining, But with evening comes the light; Though the dark low winds are complaining, And Love has his hidden treasure And Time gives his fullest measure No. 8 For a good many years the Primary Associations in each stake have held a conference at least once a year, and in many places these are looked forward to by the children as one of the pleasant occurrences of the year. These meetings are not held without a purpose, without having some object in view. The different associations meet together, each taking some part in the programme, and the children feel that their own association is a part of a great whole, that there are many others engaged in the same work they are doing, singing the same songs, studying the same lessons, and all working with the same end in view; and here is an opportunity of becoming more closely united in the work that is being done. There is another view of this subject. We can make the meeting quite a factor in the social life of both children and officers. In some stakes arrangements are made for some kind of entertainment for the children. They have many of them come a long distance to attend the meeting, and when it is possible to prepare games and refreshments for them, this will no doubt be appreciated by the children. They have an opportunity of meeting with those whom they seldom meet, except in this way, and they enjoy a little social intercourse. The larger members of the associations will be a great help in this respect. It will give them something to do, and at the same time will be a great assistance to the officers. We want the children to feel that the conference of Primary Association is the meeting of the children; it is for them, and they furnish the exercises. It should be one of the happy and memorable days of the year for them; and in order to make it such, we must try to arrange the meetings and the programme so that we can keep the interest and instruct the children, and at the same time make them happy. Children cannot be expected to sit quietly on an uncomfortable seat, uncomfortable because it is too high for them to touch their feet on the floor, and listen to remarks which are not understood by them and often are not intended for them. The methods used with children in this regard today are very different from those used in the early times in our country. In our meeting houses we see no beadle with his rod for chastising the children who cannot keep quiet. We want to make our lessons appeal to them, not through fear or compulsion, but through our love for them, and by making those lessons so interesting that they desire to listen. One meeting in which everything is interesting and instructive will do far more than two or three in which there are some exercises or remarks not meant to apply to the children. For this reason it is better to have all remarks for the officers given at the officers' meeting, and not at the children's meeting. In speak ing to the officers, many things will be said and many instructions given which would not interest the children, and besides that, these instructions are not meant for the children, and should not be given when they are present. It has been decided by the General Board that two meetings are sufficient for a conference, one meeting for the children and one for the officers. Which meeting shall be held first is left to the discretion of the officers of the different stakes. Where some of the wards are located so far from the place of meeting, it is not well to appoint too early a time for meeting, as it makes it very difficult for the children to make such a long journey in the morning; but whatever time is appointed, try to begin the meeting promptly. Punctuality among children should be encouraged; and if they understand that meeting is to begin on time, whether few or many children are present, they will try to be there for the opening of meeting; and a great lesson will be learned by them that will be useful throughout their whole lives. The children's meeting should not exceed an hour and a half, as that is long enough for the children to remain in meeting. The programme for a conference requires thought and time in its preparation. It is well to appoint a committee for this purpose, composed of some of the officers of both the Stake Board and some of the local associations. They meet and prepare the programme, and notify each association that is expected to take part. As a rule it is not wise to leave the selection of songs or recitations with the children, as they often choose subjects quite unsuited to conference and also unfitted for the children themselves. For instance, those recitations containing stories of great suffering and hardships or wrongdoing, or those which are too difficult for them to understand are better left alone. There are so many beautiful and ennobling stories and poems which might be taught the children that there will be no time left for the others. There are many old people today who cannot memorize a single verse, but who can recall several poems learned in their childhood; and as those things learned when children make such deep and lasting impressions, we cannot be too careful in the selection of these recitations. With songs, too, care must be used. So many of the popular songs of the day and also love songs are so unsuitable; the words of these songs mean nothing to the children, or at least we often hope they do not. "But," some will say, "the children like them best." They like them because the tune is lively or in some way is attractive to them; but we have to cultivate a taste for good music, and this is an excellent opportunity. There are so many |