With  these  character  stories  which  present  ideals  of  conduct,  and
the  many  parables  of  nature  facts,  we  have  ample  material  for  the
Sunday-school.  And  what  is  our  method?  ''Without  a  parable
spake  he  not  unto  them.''.  The  person  with  a  story  is  always  the
friend  of  children.  No  matter  where  you  find  the  story-teller,  there
you  find  a  group  of  listeners.  One  fault  with  our  teaching  is  that
we  have  not  a  story  to  tell.  If  the  teacher  understands  the  purpose
of  her  story,  if  she  be  the  person  with  a  story,  the  Sunday-school
hour  cannot  fail  to  be  profitable.  But  the  story  is  not  merely  to  fill
the  time.  There  should  be  both  purpose  and  continuity.  At  this
season  of  the  year,  think  what  lessons  are  everywhere  about  us, —
the  lessons  of  the  harvest !  '*  Our  common  mother  sits  and  sings,
like  Ruth  among  the  garnered  sheaves."     It  is  a  time  of  giving.
The  field  of  grain  gives  its  gift.  The  orchards  are  offering  their
golden  and  ruddy  fruits,  that  our  wants  may  be  satisfied.  Every-
thing has  its  gift.  And  the  thought  culminates  in  Thanksgiving,  for
giving  and  Thanksgiving  are  bound  up  together.  At  Christmas
time  the  thought  is  intensified,  "Freely  ye  have  received,  freely
give."  Is  there  anything  better  for  a  child  than  to  listen  to  these
teachers  all  about  him?  Everywhere  the  la\y  of  helpfulness  is  the
law  of  life.
