The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1919-08-21

want you to remember what kind act
you do so you can tell me about it
some morning when we meet. OF
course, | can't ask each pupil, the first
day, but l will ask several each day
until all are asked, and then wouldn't
il be nice to tell mother or father how
you showed your love by keeping the
commandment, BE we kind and af-
fectionate one to another Here is a
little story want TO tell you. You
will not only enjoy reading it, but will
be helped by it. 1t tells how family
of children proved their love for their
mother. The name of the story is
How Much?
yesterday was mothers birthday"
said Billy Stone, as he walked proudly
by the side of Miss Fowler. his Sun
day School teacher. eve gave her
presents"
"How nice, | suppose you love her
very much, don't your
Lots"
well, Billy, my man." said Miss
Fowler, stopping a minute at the cor
ner where she turned off, "don't you
forget your lesson last Sunday. You
know what our Bible says about how
true love shows itself"
Yes, Billy knew. He walked on,
thinking of it, presently his round
face grew very sober. Yesterday we
told mother that we gave her pres
ents with our love- Today is only one
day off, and ! would not get up in
time for breakfast. | was late at
school. / made the twins mad and
sneaked out of the back-door so as not
TO have to go for the mail. can't see
how anybody, looking at the way
have acted, could tell that love moth
err at ALL"
1t was beginning to rain when Billy
reached home. He and the twins, who
had been playing in the yard, all went
into the shelter of the kitchen togeth-
err. Mrs. Stone, at work in the next
room looked out the window with a
sigh. She had so much to do and
there was liable to be trouble when
the children must stay in doors. Bill
~ thought this too. The twins were
hanging their caps up with a scuf-
file.
Il say, Robin asked Billy abrupt
ly, chow much do you love mother this
afternoon"
Robin turned and stared at him.
What queer question it was, not a
bit like boy. why he giggled, "
do YOU want me to write some poetry
about it?"
POETRY" shifted Billy, 81 want to
know how much-just plain how
much--that isn't poetry, is it?"
THAT'S arithmetic" said Dora.
Dora was the eldest Of them all She
was bolstered up in big chair by the
fire; she had been i'll for fortnight.
"How much ?" repeated Ribin. "How
can you tell how much you love per-
SOM"
"In plenty of ways" said Billy wise
ly. "Ill tell you one right now; love
mother a box full" With that he
picked up the kindling box and march,
ed out into the shed
A light broke upon the twins
"Oh-o!" said Harry, that's what you
mean, is it? Well, love her a pail
full" Selling the water bucket and
starting for the pump.
Il love her scuttle full said
Robin, as he plunged down into the
cellar after coal
| Dora looked at the clock. She had
looked at it FIVE minutes before and
said to her self: 81 do believe darling
mother is going to forget the medi-
cine this time. | shall not remind her,
that's one thing sure"
for the bottle, with wry face, 81
guess at least can love spoonful"
There was shout of laughter
Mrs. Stone heard and glanced anxious
ly at the door. II hope there is no
mischief on foot. | am in hurry to
get this sewing DONE"
Kitty Stone had reused herself from
her book in the old-fashioned window
seat to listen to Billy and the rest. So
far she said nothing But when the
kindling box, the pail and the scuttle
were full, and the medicine bottle a
little less full, the covers of Kitty s
book went together with a snap.
Don't you think that all of us to-
gether, if we hurried, could love moth
er this room full before she came
in and caught us? III clean out the
stove and blacken it." They worked
| like beavers. The last tin was swing
ing on the nail, and the last chair set
back TO the wall, before Mrs. Stone
step was heard coming rapidly down
the hall.
Dora, child, your medicine" she
said.
"Yessum," Dora said demurelv. II
took it for pure love to you, not it."
Her mother looked at the tidy kitch-
en-, and when she saw how spick and
span it was, and when she saw the
row of smiling faces, she kissed them
every one, and her own was as bright
as the brightest There is no mother
in this country that has such children
as minel" said Mrs. Stone.
There, do you seel" sail Billy to
Robin, Cant you tell how much you
love q. person? II feels nice. doesn't
lit?"
The lesson is concluded when the
pupils copy in composition book,
which is saved for memory work, and
in talking about this lesson let the
children bring out the point of Che les
son that these children proved their
| love for mother more forcibly and