The same plan could be pursued in relation to almost every interest of the family—­as the planning of the annual vacation and outing, the holidays, picnics, and birthday celebrations, the church and religious exercises.  Above all, in the last mentioned, this social spirit may be cultivated.  The father may cease to be the “high priest” for his family and become a worshiper along with the other members.  The effect will be that his children are more likely to stay as worshipers with him than if they gazed on him as on some lonely elevation, unrelated to them in his religious exercises.  The reading, the song, the prayers, the comment and discussion, the story-telling, and all that may make up the regular specific religious activities of the family should be such that all may have a share in them.  Nothing could be finer, diviner, and bring larger helpfulness for social living than the attempt of the least little lisping child to throw herself into the unified family act of prayer, as when one little tot, unable to say the Lord’s Prayer, united in worship at the time of that act by saying, as reverently as possible, “One, two, three, four, five,” etc., up to ten.  The ability to count was her latest accomplishment; counting to ten was bringing the very best thing she then had and, in the act of family worship, offering her part to the Most High.  A fine sense of worship and a desire to be one with the others in this united, communal service prompted the participation.

Sec. 3.  COMMUNITY SERVICE

Community service may be cultivated in the home.  Here is the ideal social community, where there are neither parasites nor paupers, where all give of their best for the best of all.  No one doubts that the baby gives its full share of happiness and cheer, and the aged their offering of consolation and experience; but the difficulty is supposed to be with the lad and the girl who would rather play than work.  Usually this is because the habits of co-operation in the life of this community have been too long neglected.  The small boy or girl had no share in its work.  Parents are too busy to think through the matter of finding suitable duties for all.  It is so much easier to do things one’s self, even though the child misses the benefits of participation.  More frequently the blame lies in the fact that parents desire to shield children from labor.  Some would have them grow up without knowing what they count as the degradation of toil.  But a boy who knows nothing of the “chores” has missed half the joys of boyhood, and has a terribly hard lesson ahead of him when he goes out to relate himself to life.  No matter what one’s station may be, there is a part to be played, and one’s piece of work to be done.  The greatest unkindness we can do our children is to train them to lives that do not play their part.  The home is our chance to train a man to harmonious usefulness in his world.  Not only should the family train to social co-operation and service, but it should train to efficiency therein.  Do not let your child’s duties become a farce; let them exact as much of him as the world will exact also; that is, efficiency, accuracy, thoroughness, and fidelity.