The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-11

traversed by Cause and Effeet-all
guided by Providence. On this path may
be found three young women filled
with knowledge and zeal, who have
been working many months on the
plans that made the settlement social
so large feature in the lives of these
people. Let us see if this is not all
true. March with us back to the start
ing point, back through four seasons,
and as we go let not the odors OF
myrtle and wild honeysuckle, the mod
est mods and gentle whispers of the
pines in thier retreat. the delicious
store of fruits and grains poured into
our laps by the generous month of
October, blind our eyes to the other
things that transpired on the way. Note
welthose who participated, note again
the young women and you will see
the same spirits-aye. the same faces,
coming and going along the way. II
you were to ask again. what is the
substance or spirit of this place that
attracts the people, we would tell you
to observe the young woman who has
just turned aside from her duties at
the Wesley House. because she has
heard the cry of distress from a fam
lily in the vicinity. The wall came from
a mother-God save the mothers!
And again. the tireless worker goes out
to have a heart-to-neart talk with the
father concerning the son of the home.
1t is the old story.
Poor Dick, sad Dick wayward son,
turbulent reckless, idle one"
A full record of the deficits of the boy $
life is laid bare-a recital of the mis-
deed is made by the indulgent and heart
broken father The good women are in
terested and set out to find the "ap-
proach' to that boys affections. And
1t is because they do not know such a
word as fail" that they have won the
confidence and esteem and are enjoying
the moral support of the many fine boys
who reside in the vicinity. o the skill
of the willing hand when moved by
the spirit divine. Mans effort at MAX
ing men without the essential spark to
make 1t glow, give it beauty-give 1t
lfe-'tis sad to contemplate.
When the day of toll is over and the
crowds are turning homeward from the
Moore school-then the playground is the
thing. Hundreds of boys and girls are
there daily to enjoy its various means of
pleasure. The boys (and the girls go up
and-down on the "teeters' or see saws;
the boys (and the girls go round and
round on the circle swing and giant
stride; the boys (and the girls play bas-
ketball; the little girls play among the
sand piles, grooming to dolly" as visions
of Fairyland sweep before their mind S
eye; the little men gather, fall in" and
play soldier
Charge upon a flock of geese and put
them all to flight,
Save one, a sturdy gander, who thought
he'd show them fight"
NEWS FROM THE FRONT!
q VICTORYt
1--WE roAted him. we secuted him, nor
lost a single man..
Great victories may be won on the play
ground.
We observed late one afternoon a desire
to have a game for ''men only" on the
ball ground-but the boys had held the
ball for hours and the girls were clamor-
ing for their right to an 'inning"-there
We're signs of contest. The young peo-
pie Immediately rushed to the sides for
their friends and advisers and straight
way came Miss Grim to represent the
boys and Miss Stowell leading the girls
and as they came marching we went back
through memory a score and half of
years-to put ourselves in their place.
And so this day the eyes of the chill
dren We're turned first to the ''brig hit
black eyes"-then to the melting blue"
The 'blue eyes saw and sympathized
but taught them q good lesson in re-
fusing them further indulgence. Now
boys. boys dhey had surrendered), y,u
must give the ball to the girls-after
awhile you may have it again. The
boys obeyed like good and gallant SOL
diers, stacked their arms and turned
from the field.
The boys are taught to employ part
of their time in cultivating the ground
about the Wesley House The vegetables
grown are easily sold and the cash pro-
ceeds are wisely spent by the boys to
provide further equipment for the ground
Miss Grim and her assistants have en-
listed the aid of bright and sympathetic
women of Ensley in their undertaking and
a score or more make periodic visits to
the Wesley House to assist the children
in learning to do useful things about
their homes to tighten the load o.
mother. And so the whole place-at work
or at play-is moving along well ordered
lines that have been tested and proven
good. good for the now and good for
the hereafter. And in this sentence we
find synonym for Miss Grim, the
head Of the house" She has uneon-
sciously suggested it. In conversation
with her those two words are used over
and over again-and always with great
are the magic words, Good
and Glad. Can you improve upon them?
In reverence we say God is good.' and
again His command is that we be glad .
BE glad, o ye righteous, and rejoice
in the Lord
Miss Grim and her companions have
constituted haven to which many turn
in time of storm.
And so we would come, attesting in no
miserly way to the spirit of goodness and
gladness that pervades Wesley House
And if it be true that like bcgets like"
then We shall see many noble and gen.
erous deeds rise there to go out and
bless mankind