also; but she never did more than think about it.

Sometimes the husband remembered the time when he had asked in faith and had received, but he had no attention for such things

now.

Then it became necessary for the child, Clarice, to go to the grandmother's home for a few days. When she returned she was strangely seriThe first night she ous and quiet. sat in her little chair at the table,

her food untasted before her. She

glanced timidly first at the mother and then at the father, who said, "Clarice, little girl, come eat your supper."

The child waited an instant and then bowing her head said very softly, "Our Father which art in Heaven, bless our food. Amen."

The father had involuntarily laid his knife and fork down, and reverently bent his head. As the child finished, he looked quickly up at his wife, then closed his eyes and said,

"Oh, Father, sanctify this food. that it may indeed be food to us."

Before Clarice went to bed that night she came and knelt at her mother's knee and looked appealingly up.

The mother hesitated an instant and then said in a husky voice the prayer which she had learned when she was at her moth er's knee. Clarice repeated it after her.

Long after the child was asleep the mother and father sat very quiet. thinking, though she kept on with her sewing, and he

Both were

his book. looked very hard at the same page in

and crossed the room to where his At last the father rose wife sat and laid his hand gently on her head.

"Mary," he said very softly, "we have neglected Him so long, do you think He will let us come back?"

Then she raised her face to him and answered very reverently, "He has waited long and patiently for us, but I think He sent His messenger tonight."

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are the Lord's ways higher than man's ways."

Were the wisdom of the earth to choose a man to perform a difficult mission, he would be prepared by the greatest educators the earth's wealth could procure, trained in every known art, manner and custom. But when the Lord chose a man to perform the mightiest work since the time of the Savior, in fact, a work of such great magnitude that the brains of men can conceive of it only in part, He chose the son of a poor farmer, whose worldly position was of the humblest, yet through

whose being coursed the blood of kings and princes.

This man, thousands of years before his birth, was seen and named through the inspiration of God, by the ancient Prophet. His name was to be Joseph, and when he came, an untutored lad, a humble, suppliant, asking wisdom from heaven, the Lord of hosts answered his petition in words that shook the earth.

Joseph Smith was not educated by the great men of the earth-no; their knowledge was too meager, their minds too much darkened by the bigotry of priestridden centuries. to assist in the development of him

whom Jehovah had chosen to be the father of the dispensation of the fullness of times.

He was to receive unadulterated light and truth; the limited knowledge of mortals was not sufficient for God's purposes; therefore, an angel from heaven was chosen as his tutor. Four years Joseph was a student under this divine instructor, before he could begin the mighty work that was to be accomplished through him.

Is it any wonder, then, since Joseph Smith was educated by a personage from the throne of God, that we should be profited by reviewing incidents in his life? Has not Joseph's beautiful personality and marvelous career been known "for good and evil" throughout every nation, kindred, tongue and people?

This great seer, revelator and or ganizer first breathed the breath of mortal life the 23rd of December, 1805, in Sharon, Windsor County; Vermont, and even in the childhood of Joseph Smith we have incidents

that furnish evidence of his future greatness.

At the tender age of eight years

he was threatened with the loss of his leg, on account of a severe sore affecting that member. His parents were so grieved at the thought of his losing a limb, and, indeed, op

posed the doctors in that decision so determinedly, that it was finally concluded to remove the affected parts of the bone. For this operation they called for a strong cord to bind the little lad, and also prepared to give him a stimulant. But to both proposals the brave boy objected, saying:

"I will not touch one drop of liquor, neither will I be tied down, but I will have my father sit on the bed and hold me in his arms, and then I will do whatever is necessary to have the bone taken out."

It is needless to add that with great fortitude he passed through

this ordeal. That little speech is characteristic of the matchless heroism and courage with which he met all trials in his unparalleled career.

Under the leadership of our Heavenly Father, Joseph Smith grew in grace and wisdom. Not only did he lay the foundation of a glorious work in which from Deacon to Apostle there is opportunity for all male members of the Church; but he also turned the key that opened the doors to woman, in that he organized the Woman's Relief Society, the blessings of which we are today the humble and appreciative recipients of.

Nor was it alone as the Prophet of a new dispensation that he will be held in grateful remembrance. His personal character was such that he will live forever in the hearts of those who knew him.

to the principle of obedience and of As an example of his adherence the way he taught his people to give honor to parents and those placed over them, permit me to give a little incident which I found in the journal of my father, the late Dr. John Riggs.

At one time, in Kirtland, when the Prophet had called for the "strength Zion," my father, hero-worshiper of Israel to go forth to redeem that he no doubt was, offered to join the cause, even in direct opposition to his parents' wishes. Joseph said to the eager boy:

But

gotten to have the boy's name enrolled.

Here is another instance of filial

duty. At the time when Joseph had the plates entrusted to his care, he was greatly concerned for their safety, and explained to his mother the anxiety he felt and the necessity of preserving them sacred.

His mother said, "Order a chest at once."

"But we have not a dollar in the house to pay for it," said Joseph. "God will provide, my son. Go, promise part cash and part trade." This Joseph did, and the same day he was given the work of digging a well and was promised cash for the work. His mother then reminded him of the Lord's providence, so soon fulfilled.

This little incident shows that though Joseph was tutored by angels, he was not above taking counsel of his mother, even in so important a matter as preserving the

sacred records.

Consideration for the uplifting of women, which characterized the life of the Prophet, was by no means so common a thing in those early days as now. His ideas in this line were, as indeed was the rest of his work, in almost direct opposition to the prevalent notions of the age. We have lived to see the wisdom and broad views of the unlettered boy become the pride of the present age of progress.

In this era of investigation it is difficult to realize the courage it took for one humble youth to advance ideas years before their time. That it was not always easy for him, is shown by the incident about the Book of Mormon.

When he was ready to publish the work, and realized that its contents would explode every theory then believed in concerning the origin of the inhabitants of this continent, he trembled, and cried out:

"Lord, they will laugh me to shame."

For answer the Prophet received these prophetic words, "Joseph, I will make the earth bear record of it."

You who have taken note of recent discoveries, know how that promise is being fulfilled.

Men's minds had become so dis

torted by the priestcraft and superstition of ages, that when the Gospel them to frenzy, and in the name of did come, its bright light blinded their Deity, "the being without body, parts or passions," they reviled the name of the living God and martyred His prophets.

has shone steadily for seventy years, But now, that the light of truth Smith are gradually gaining ground. the principles advanced by Joseph Our greatest thinkers are accepting them, taking the honor to themselves, of course; and these principles are revolutionizing the world. Not least of the mighty changes is the palpable fact that woman is being freed from her thraldom. The earth is indeed being prepared for the great reign of peace the long heralded. Millennium.

"Only let the soul believe that God has a plan for humanity, and it can work in peace."

"The same God who moulded the sun and kindled the stars watches the flight of the insect."

"If for some of us action cannot mean doing, then remember bearing, too, is action, often its hardest part."

"What we make our children love and desir. is more important than what we make them learn."-John Quincy Adams.

A tourist, strolling through one of the rural districts of bonnie Scotland, had his attention suddenly arrested by a peasant, who raised his hat and seemed to gaze in silent admiration at all around him.

"Why do raise your hat?" asked the stranger, "The day's not yet hot."

"True, the heat did not compel the action," came the quick reply; "but to such beauty as I now behold I always uncover my head."

"Oh," said the stranger, "I see it all now; it is not surprising that a country whose very peasants bow in adoration to nature should have produced such a great literature."

It is of one of the authors of the little country that has produced a Scott, a Burns, a Carlyle, a Stevenson and a Maclaren, that I am about to write.

By way of illustrating the high esteem and love in which the Scotch people hold Mr. Barrie, the subject of this writing, I quote the following from Maclaren: "Not long ago I was travelling in Aberdeen in Perth. A man sitting opposite studied me for a minute, and then, evidently being convinced that I had average intelligence, and could appreciate a great sight if I saw it, he said, 'If you will stand up with me at the window, I will show you something in a minute; you will only get a glimpse suddenly and for an instant.' I stood. He said, 'Can you see that?" I saw some smoke, and said so. "That's Kirriemuir,' he answered. I sat down and he sat opposite me, and watched my face to see that the fact that I had had a glimpse of Kirriemuir, or, rather, of its smoke, was one I thor oughly appreciated, and would carry in retentive memory the rest of my

life. Then I said, 'Mr. Barrie was born there.' 'Yes,' he said, 'he was; and I was born there myself."

James Matthew Barrie was born in Kirriemuir, a little town situated about sixty miles from Edinburgh, on the 9th of May, 1860. He passed his life in a very ordinary manner. With Barrie, it is the man himself who is eminently great, nothing with which he has personally come in contact is nearly so great as the soul which looks into this world through mortal eyes.

This celebrated Scotch writer spent his early years at his mother's side. She was the tutor of his childhood, and the severe critic of his youth. It was she who read to him those first tales of adventure that made such a lasting impression upon his mind. The attachment existing between Mr. Barrie and his mother, seems to have been one of those ideal affections, which we all so love to discover. One writer has called it "a worshipful love on the part of both."

At the age of twelve, little Jamie, as he was called by the folks at home, made up his mind that he would be an author. At this thought the fond mother was filled with delight. She had every confidence in the ability of her little son, nor was she unmindful of the great pride the Scotch people feel in a national author. Scholarship is much sought after by these sturdy yeoman of the north. As a consequence of all this. Mrs. Barrie did everything in her power to encourage this very laudable ambition. At thirteen years of age, the youth was sent to Dumfries Academy. He was a bright student and made rapid progress in his work.

At eighteen he was prepared for college work; accordingly he entered the University of Edinburgh. Here he devoted the great part of his time to the study of literature. The vast number and variety of books to be found in the university library were especially attractive to him. He read incessantly at this period. Before leaving the university, he began his work as a critic. His first writings bespoke ability; his taste was delicate, and his compositions generally of a very high order. Nor, indeed, were these writings his first, for he had served a long apprenticeship to his art, at his mother's side, and in the garret in his old home. He knew Carlyle, and this great philosopher had exerted no little influence over him. It was the honesty and integrity of the essayist that had impressed itself on the author of a "Window in Thrums."

His university course completed, our author leaves Edinburgh and goes down to London. Here he wrote his first book, "Better Dead," a satire on London life. It was not successful. Meanwhile he was a contributor to the St. James Gazette. In this magazine he began his "Auld Licht Idyls." These idyls gave him a standing in the literary world. They were the stories his mother had told him in those days when he sat eagerly drinking in every word that fell from her lips. She was an "Auld Licht." They were a very strict sect who had broken off from the Presbyterian church. When the good old Scotch lady first received the paper containing her son's articles, she was ashamed and hid them in the garret lest any of her neighbors might see them. The dear lady had no idea of the value of the stories she had related to amuse her favorite son. She was astonished at the editor's cry of "more." Finally she grasped the situation and was not slow to give him all the information

possible on the work in which he was then interesting himself. These sketches were followed by a "Window in Thrums."

Just here I want to write a little on Mr. Barrie's choice of material. One would naturally be led to believe that because our author exhibited such a taste for romances and tales of adventure when a child. that his writings would of course be of the romantic type. This, however, is not the case; Barrie belongs as truly to the realistic school of authors, as do any of our professed realists. This noted Scotchman loved most of all, next to his mother and sister, the people among whom his life's lot had been cast. With the eye of a literary artist he could discover much beauty and ideality of character in those seemingly ordinary people who were all around him.

For

When a child, he sought for the hero of his story in a knight with glittering armor and fine plume; as a man he found his heroes in the honest peasants of Thrums. his novel, a "Window in Thrums," is as truly descriptive of his home life and family as is "Snow Bound" of the life and family of the Poet Whittier. The Scotch people received this new book with open arms, for they knew that their own loved Barrie had immortalized Scotland, even as the classic poets had immortalized Greece. Then came from the author's pen another story, descriptive of Thrums life. This time it was no other than his famous "Little Minister." It is unnecessary to ask the question, is the "Little Minister" true? We know instinctively that it is true, true to life, and the highest emotions of the soul. doubt the people of Utah feel a special interest in this book from the fact that Maude Adams, our own Utah girl, has been so successful in her presentation of the play. I told you that Barrie had turned from

No