Dew Drops, Vol. 37, No. 16, April 19, 1914

There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.—Luke 15:10.

Beginners Golden Text for April 26

God is love.—1 John 4:8.

How Trees Know Their Birthdays

Willard wondered how old the pretty graceful maple that grew outside his window was.

"I don't know exactly," said mother, "five or six years I should think. But the maple has the story of each birthday shut up safe inside its trunk. If the tree should blow down, or we should ever cut it down we could tell how many years it had lived.

"Each year a layer of soft green wood grows right next to the bark, and when winter comes this wood hardens until it is like the other wood. So when the tree is cut down we see in rings of wood the number of years it has been growing."

–Zelia Margaret Walters.

Hanging Out Signs

Grace had a sprained ankle when the new little girl moved next door. One afternoon a week later mother came in to tell Grace that the new little girl had come over for a visit.

"I'm glad," said Grace. "Please bring her up, mother, I like her."

"Why," said mother, "you've never seen her."

"Yes, but I could hear her every day from my window," said Grace. "I heard her talk to her little brother, and she's so kind and jolly, and she never says mean things to the dog, and when her mother calls, she says, 'yes, mother,' just as pleasant, and runs right away to see what she wants. She's always singing, too. I know she's nice."

"So little June has been hanging out signs telling just what she was though you haven't seen her," said mother with a smile. "I hope my daughter is putting out as good signs both for those who hear her, and those who see her."

What kind of signs are you hanging out, boys and girls? You are putting out some kind all the time. What would the next-door neighbor think of you if she only heard what you said to mother, and little brother, and the pets? Would she know you were kind, or would she think you were cross? Or suppose your neighbor were deaf, and could only see what you did. Would she read the sign of smiles on your face, or the sign of frowns? Would she see prompt obedience, and cheerful work, or lagging footsteps, and the shirking of tasks? Look over your signs to-day, and see if you are hanging out pleasant ones so that people will be sure you are nice.

–Jane West.