The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-17

gnawed at the end of his pencil. He
hooked his feet round the legs of his
chair and stared at the paper in front
of him. What one thing do-you like
best about your mother" he read.
His face took on a puzzled frown.
Johnny" came a feminine voice
from the next room. johnny, II you
hurry here you can lick the molasses
spoon"
Johnny unlocked hts feet. Mo-
laases was better than the end OF 4
pencils He was off his chair in a
fash. He went into the kitchen
'G.e. that's good" no explained
as ha put down the spoon he went
back to paper, pencil and thought.
What one thing do I IKE best
about my mother" he asked him
self for the hundredth time And
after a moment he wrote:
II hike to way she lets me lick the
molasses spoon"
Johnny surveyed thu answer for
moment; then he ran his pencil
through It And he wrote:
Il like her because she looks after
me wren am sick and we'll Again
he Considered the answer and
crossed 1t out Then he wrote II
like best her love OF home"
Johnny read and re-read hts an
swer. He hooked and unlocked hts
feet But the contortions of his body
were as nothing to the contortions
Of his mind. At last an inspiration
struck him. He sat bolt upright. He
rescued his pencil jus, as 1t was dis
appearing down hts gullot and he
wrote:
There is no one best thing about
my mother"
Johnny smiled smile Of deep sat
isfaction He was one OF a group OF
boys with whom the Brotherhood of
St Andrew, a laymens organization
Of the Episcopal church. was conduct
ing an intensive campaign and the
question he had answered had been
propounded by Gordon NJ. Reese, of
Philadelphia, who was in charge of
the campaign. Mr.. Reesc's campaign
Is over now but through the nation
wide campaign of the Episcopal
similar work among boys IN other
cities, for the nationwide campaign
cones to continue and increase the
work Of the church.
OF the eorty-six answers Mr.. Reese
received from boys most Of them said
what they liked best about their
mother was her sympathy.
''She shows me when ! am wrong
and puts me on the right track one
boy wrote. Another said:
II like her best because she Is am
bilious and has taught me that any
one who Is lazy will never get along
very we'll in the world" A third re-
pied:
II like best her sincere wholehearted
interest IN the things am interested
In and desire to help me IN my
probiems'
One boy liked Tier purity" an
Other Her love- still another Tier
kindness"
with rank recognition Of his own
weakness one lad answered that hen
liked her because she made hinp
There are no secrets between u.s..
wrote another, while yet another
said: 4 like best her simple punish
ments THAI mako Teller change hts
natnd.~
Now. Mr.. Reese did not ask his
question ont of idle curiosity or any
desire to pry into the private lives
OF his boys He was planning to
bring mothers and sons closer to-
gether because he knew the Sons us
ually had to do most Of the church
going for the family and he wanted
to attract mothers, and fathers. too,
TINT the family pew might be g.
tablished and spiritual expression be
made mere vital factor Of home life.
50 he conceived the idea OF \ moth
eYs' and song dinner, at which the
fathers would serve the meal. and he
told every boy to 90 out and beg.
borrow o. g-N-l mother Il necessary.
When Y, got them together he had
one boy tell what he liked best about
HIN f91<pf hAr Nd n WnnthQ3 pAm1V an
what she liked bent about her ton.
And he concluded with talk hased
on the answers he had received.
The dinner was Z great success and
Mr.. Reese'a work was triumph. He
gOt tho boys interested IN tho church
ana IN the church pchool. He Ep<
them - that they wanted to 40 more
for the church. ana Ne established =
1tsslpiaF eshcol RE hEistian ssryaes