There is a reticence about him at this time which we should learn to respect and to reverence.  I told you at the first meeting that Nature put the shell around the egg so we would keep our fingers out of it, and Nature puts that shell of reticence around the boy and the girl at that time so we will keep our blundering fingers out and leave them to solve their problems with their help and that of the good Lord who is watching over them.

Authority has little hold over him at this time, traditions none at all.  The influence of early training which have rooted themselves in his very life are very powerful and they will hold him, and the Lord have mercy on the boy whose early traditions do not hold him at that time.  Remember it is not his fault; that is a sad thought for us parents.  We must take the responsibility for these defects in the early training of our children.

The boy is led by class and group feeling at this time.  You take him at eight or ten and he is an admirable little fellow in many respects.  He wants to play fair, and if the other fellow does not play fair he will smite him, just as Samson smote the Philistines, if he can, and that is the occasion of much friction.  After a time there is danger that he will not play as fair as he did when he was younger, for a time at least, because he is swallowed up in the team, or the society, or the group, or the gang, whatever it may be, to which he belongs, and he will give himself body and soul to help that team to win.  This has its bad side, a very bad side, I grant you.  If you would understand the boy, every now and then you must study the psychology of the mob.  But there is a very good side also, because he is generous to a fault.  Now is the time in his life when he will go down with the team, and in order for the team to win he will make a play when you and I would hesitate to make it.  We had better respect the boy.  He is loyal to his leader and to his friends.  It is the epoch of the heart, and out of the heart, remember, are the issues of life.  He has a great deal more heart than he has head knowledge at this time, and I confess I rather like him for it.

You remember what Paul says to those knowledge-worshiping Corinthians as to knowledge:  “It will vanish away; for we know in part.”  Those of us who have lived more than half a century have seen nine-tenths of our knowledge vanish away in just that fashion because we knew in part.  But, says Paul, there are some things that abide, and one of them is faith.  That is never done away with; another is hope, and the third and sure abiding thing is love, which is three-thirds in the heart, and out of the heart are the issues of life; the heart is often wiser than the head.  Do not under-value and never despise the value of the greatness of heart in the boy; for Great Heart is the only champion who ever killed Giant Despair.

The boy at this age is seeking for a king.  He is very likely to be like old St. Christopher, he will serve the strongest if he can find him.  Tides of religious feeling are sweeping in on him now; but if you want to convert him you must hold up before him no mediaeval example, but the great, magnificent, athletic life of that Divine Master who has been so often misrepresented to us.