“‘It must be,’ says Helen Keller, ’that when the Lord took from me one faculty, He gave me another, which is in no way impossible.  I think of the beautiful Italian proverb, ’When God shuts a door, he opens a window.’

“Truly, God has opened a window to let in the sunshine of His love and care, and this blind girl is one of His brightest children.

“What an example to the world is Helen Keller!  What an example to every girl who has heard of her great success.  Up with a monument to her memory!  Build it high and strong!  She has shown the world how difficulties can be overcome by determination and perseverance, and to what rugged, lofty heights one may attain, even though he carry the heaviest of burdens!”

THE STORY OF A KITE
    —­Conceit
    —­Vanity

A Fable Talk to Children About the Ambitious Flier Which Broke the
String.

THE LESSON—­That sometimes the things which seem to be hindering us and holding us down are the very things which we need to hold us up and build us up.

In the days of our grandfathers and grandmothers, the children were taught from the beginning to perform many household duties which the children of today know nothing of.  Whether it be a cause or an effect, the truth of the matter is that the modern tendency is to get away from the home influence and home responsibilities at a very early age—­to break loose from “mother’s apron strings.”  The talk deals with this phase of modern life.

The Talk. (By Chas. D. Meigs.)

“I am going to draw you a picture this morning, and I am wondering which one of you will be able to tell me first what it is a picture of.  I will go a little slow, so you can all follow every line and think real hard what it is going to be! [Begin drawing Fig. 126, at the lines indicating the distant foliage; then draw the tail, and finally the kite frame and string.]

[Illustration:  Fig. 126]

“No, no, no!  It’s not a wood pile!  It’s not a gridiron!  No, it is not a trap!  Where’s the boy who said ‘kite?’ He’s the smartie, for he got it right.  Yes—­it’s a kite, and it was John’s kite.

“One day the wind came up just right for the kite, so John got it out, called to his chum, Harry, across the street, and said, ’Say, Harry, come on—­let’s go out and fly the kite; the wind is just dandy today.’

“So, away the boys went, and before they reached the open lot three or four other kids had fallen in line, and they went along to help have the fun.  ’Now, Harry, you take the kite and run out there towards that old stump,’ said John, ’and when I pull the string, you stop and hold the kite up over your head as high as you can and when I say ‘ready’ you let her go.’  Away went Harry, and he held up the kite. [Let speaker hold up a song book, high.] ‘Are you ready?’ ‘Yes.’  ’Well, then, let her go.’  And with that, along came a gust of wind which laid hold of that kite and began to climb