[Illustration:  Fig. 103]

“Boys and girls, what does the flag stand for? Loyalty to country.  What does the cross stand for? Loyalty to Christ.  Which is the more important?  You are not asked to answer—­only to think.  Being loyal to Christ makes people truly loyal to country; but, alas, there are many who profane His name while they pretend to be loyal to their country.  It cannot be done.”

THE LITTLE ONES
    —­Cradle Roll Day
    —­Teaching

A Word of Appreciation to the Parents on the Occasion of Cradle
Roll Day.

THE LESSON—­That the proper early home training of children for
Christ will save future heartaches and anguish.

It is well to make of Cradle Roll Day an occasion of profit and inspiration to the parents of the little ones.  Perhaps you don’t get a chance to speak to them very often.  Your words to them on this occasion, when a day has been set aside for the special consideration of the children in whom their hearts and hopes are centered, will best serve their purpose if they are directed to make the parents feel sure that you, also, are deeply interested in their little ones.

The Talk.

“We are delighted today to see so many of our little Cradle Roll boys and girls—­and we are just as pleased to look into the faces of their fathers and mothers.  Why?  Well, just because we want these parents to know that we love their children and that we are grateful to them for coming with them today to observe this happy time together.

“We want these fathers and mothers to know that while we are trying to teach the way of unselfishness and love to these older boys and girls, and while we are waiting for the time to come when these little visitors of today will be old enough to be with us regularly, we are convinced that the home training for seven days in the week is higher and more lasting than an hour of teaching in the Sunday school under the best of teachers.  So it is with joy that we know that these parents are beginning with the babyhood of their children to tell them of Him who blessed the little ones and said, ’of such is the kingdom of heaven.’  We are glad we may look forward to the time when we, in the Sunday school, may also have a part in this training.

“Let us hear a little story this morning:  Once upon a time a young lad, while idly spending his time in a grove surrounding his eastern home, carved with his knife in the bark of a young birch tree three words which his mother had taught him to say. [As you continue the narrative, draw the small tree and merely indicate the words and the heart next referred to, completing Fig. 104.] The first word had three letters, the second had two letters and the third four letters.  And around them he drew a little heart, as his mother had taught him to do.  And when he had finished it, he ran away to his play and forgot all about it.