To accomplish this result three things are necessary:  first, the thought suggesting the ideal must be understood; second, it must rouse the feelings; third, it must lead to action.  The story meets every demand.

1.  It makes the truth concrete.  The statement, “Love will endure hardships for the sake of Jesus Christ,” is only a thought in the brain.  The story of Paul or Livingston brings the truth out of that intangible world, puts flesh upon it and the breath of life within, and the child can in imagination exercise his sense of sight, of hearing and of touch upon it.

2.  It makes the truth visible, and therefore to be grasped through the senses or imagination.

A thought can not be seen by itself, but if lived out in the life of a person it may be seen by the physical eye, or, if mountains and centuries intervene, still by the eye of the soul—­the imagination.  When it is seen, the fact itself is understood, though the reasons for it may not be comprehended.  While no man may ever know why God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, we understand that He does love us, as we see the Babe in the manger and the blessed Savior upon the cross.  Only when a truth is so seen does it become real and, consequently, of any worth to the life.  Herein lies the need and the power of “Living Epistles,” not only in the material world, but also in the world of the imagination.

3.  When the truth is seen it always arouses feeling.

A thought which is merely known does not move men.  It is possible to read of a terrible tragedy with measured pulse and indifferent heart, but if the reader was an eye witness, or allows imagination to picture it for him, his soul quivers in its presence.  One of the greatest needs of our teachers is to see the Master among the hills and by the blue waters of Gennesaret, to look into His face, to hear His voice till hearts burn.  Then they will not repeat words, but, “Looking upon Jesus as He walked,” say, “Behold Him!” in such a way that the children will see Him also, and a great love for Him be born in their hearts, and a longing to follow.

4.  The truth that is seen and felt impels to action.

This has already been discussed in connection with the feelings, and an illustration will suffice at this time.

A mission Sunday School was listening to a talk on the fixedness of habits formed in youth, and to make it clearer the speaker said, “Boys, do they ever lay cement walks in this neighborhood?” Every eye was riveted on him, as they answered, “Yes!” “Did you know,” he continued, “that if you were to take a sharp-pointed stick and write your name in the cement while it was soft, it would harden and remain there as long as the walk lasted?” “Of course,” he hastily added, as a significant expression appeared on their faces, “no boy here would be mean enough to do such a thing,” but it was too late—­the picture had done its work and the purpose of handing autographs down to posterity would be executed at the first opportunity.