“A short time after this John’s folks—­his father, mother, brothers and sisters—­removed to another part of the city—­and to the boy’s great surprise, he found that the merchant lived just a square away.  Incidentally, too, he found that the laboring man lived right next door to his new home.

“And, right then and there, John learned one of the great lessons of his life.  What did he learn about the merchant?  He learned that the man, while he looked pleasant and kindly, was selfish and unkind.  He learned that the making and hoarding of money was his great object in life.  He learned that he cared but little for the comfort and welfare of other people.  He learned that the man’s family was unhappy because no home can be happy when selfishness and unkindness reign.

“What else did he learn?  He learned that the laboring man who lived next door was one of the finest men he ever knew.  He learned that the whole family was so kind and helpful that he soon forgot the merchant and his fine clothes.  He learned that the laboring man with his wife had been willing to live humbly and work hard in order that their children might be kept in school and then go to college.  He learned that all the children of the neighborhood liked to go to this man’s home where everybody seemed to have such a jolly good time.  He found that the Bible was opened every day while the Scriptures were read, and that the dust never had a chance to gather on its covers.

“So one day, when John was looking out of the window of his place of employment, and received a happy smile from his friend, the working man, he said to himself, ’I’ve changed my mind.  Clothes don’t count for everything.  To be a good man depends upon what’s inside, and not what’s on the outside.  When I grow up, I want to be just as good and kind as this man is.’

“Let us all be careful in choosing our examples of how to live.  The life of Christ is full of help to us, and the lives of many of His true disciples all about us today give us a practical illustration of the best way to live.”

TREE SURGERY
    —­Rally Day
    —­Obstacles

Trees Need Skillful Surgery More Often Than People Do—­Superfluous
Branches.

THE LESSON—­That the life which wastes its strength in unnecessary efforts cannot bring forth the best fruits.

That the boys and girls may realize the sad results of forming habits which hinder growth, development and fruit-bearing, is one of the great objects of the teaching of the Sunday school.  Rally Day is an especially appropriate time for a lesson along this line of thought.

The Talk.

“A stranger from the East was visiting a large fruit farm in the celebrated Hood River Valley in Oregon.  He was astonished at the size and appearance of the growing apples, and he asked the owner of the fruit farm to tell him the secret of such wonderful results.