Mr. Brown was just bringing the buggy to the front.

"Oh, John!" shouted Mrs. Brown, "Did you ever see anything like this lawn? It's just thick with dandelions and it's only the other day I told Willie to cut them all out-may be you'll have time today to weed it a bit!"

I glanced at Mr. Brown, but he did not look up.

"What's the matter with you, John; don't you feel well?" she inquired.

"O yes," said he, "I'm all right,and may be I'll see to that lawn by and bye."

"That's right," she said cheerfully; "you do; it'll do you good."

The children and baskets were soon safely stowed away in the buggy.

I stood a few moments talking to Mr. Brown while his wife gazed with evident satisfaction at her pretty little home.

"John!" she exclaimed, "just look at that fence! You must really put in some new pickets and paint it; it'll go to rack and ruin if you don't.

We haven't got any paint in the house today, but may be you could just fix the slats. There's plenty of good lumber in the back.

"It does begin to look a bit shabby," he replied, "but-Good bye, folks, have a good time!"

"Good bye, John," shouted Mrs. Brown at parting; "now mind you get a good dinner. There's plenty

in the larder and I put a meat pie in the oven for you; you won't be lonely, will you? Good bye!"

Just as we were driving off, she called back:

"Say, John, don't forget to milk the cow, and take Smiths and Mullinses their milk."

"I won't," said John. "Good bye!"

When we were seated at dinner under the pleasant shade of the trees, Mrs. Brown remarked:

It

"I do wish John had come. would have done him so much good, but there, I'm glad he's having a rest!"

I thought of the potato patch, the lawn, the cows and the picket fence, and smiled, but said nothing.

I. WOMAN'S INFLUENCE IN

SOCIETY.

or

Very frequently the daughters of Zion are confronted with the statement that they do not realize appreciate the influence they wield. Perhaps other girls like myself have pondered upon this remark and wondered what that influence really is and how it is wielded.

Have you met a sister, of whom formerly you knew nothing, who impressed you very much, whom you loved from the instant of your first meeting, and who filled you with an aspiration to so live that you, too, would be loved and honored? These thoughts and impressions came not perhaps from anything particular the lady said or did, but they seemed to radiate from her being, to speak to your heart, not in audible language, but rather in that still communion of soul to soul. Again. you may have met another person in whose company you were ill at case, in whose presence you felt to shrink as if some venomous serpent were nigh. In each instance it was the "influence" of that person which affected you.

Although silent, yet the appeals of personal influence speak in tones louder than words, and affect all, even where words would fail.

Another fact often spoken of is that woman's nature is more susceptible to inward promptings or intuitions than is man's. Her sense of discernment is more acute than is that of her brother. This being the case, her delicate sensibility will detect evil and she may reject it before it has time to allure her to any extent. If rightly used, then, this intuition of woman's would tend to preserve her purity, to keep vice at bay. As is the individual, so is

the influence which that individual carries; therefore,naturally we would. expect a woman's influence to be pure and ennobling.

Woman's nature is of finer texture than is man's; her feelings are more sensitive, her affections more delicate and her sympathies of greater depth.

What effect, then, are we to expect her to have upon the character of her stronger brother, in other words, what is to be the nature of her influence? It must follow that such influence would be delicate, sensitive, loving, sympathetic, and, although her intuitions be keener, she must not be weak, but full of faith and inspiration. The mingling of such a nature with man's would necessarily soften, refine and elevate his.

Is this the result that is obtained.

and, if so, is it a result to be desired? For our answer, let us refer to communities composed of men,and study the condition there. In mining localities, in army and in various other places where no women are found, the men are harsh, coarse, unrefined, lacking in that which makes up a true gentleman. In fact, conditions are such that men of culture will not long endure them. In political circles, the influence of woman has been called for to purify the polls and to raise the standard of our local politics.

Our conclusion must be then that women not only bring about certain conditions, but that those conditions are elevating and ennobling to the extent that the women themselves are cultured and refined.

home, as the trainer of her children, as the nurse at the bedside of the invalid, or in the many other positions which she is called upon to fill.

Essentially her sphere is in the home, with the little ones kneeling at her feet, learning from her lips their first childish prayer, coming to her with their little griefs and receiving in return the sweetest comfort found on earth. The young man just starting out in life, confronted with obstacles, discouraged, finds no other strength like that obtained from his mother's fond embrace, encouraging words and inspiring prayer. The maiden with her little trials, her first dreams of love, clings to her mother, craving that mother-wisdom to guide her over the slippery path of youth. The father, burdened and oppressed with business affairs, seeks that patient, faithful partner of his youth and he, too, receives new life, fresh courage and faith to struggle on despite the difficulties ahead.

III. THE SOURCE OF THAT POWER.

What is it that woman possesses that makes her equal to these emergencies, that makes her, though she is of the weaker sex, the great sup

porter, the fountain of solace, sympathy and love? It is her strong spiritual nature. It is that finer spark of Divinity which her Maker has endowed her with that especially qualifies her for her particular sphere. Her greatness lies not in her strength of body or even of intellect, but rather in her strength of spirit, her unflinching faith and her deep, unwavering affections.

Accepting these facts, then, is it necessary, my dear sisters, for you and I to cultivate that spiritual nature, to seek to God for greater faith, for more sympathy, to practice those little kindnesses that will make us more helpful, more considerate, more loving? Is it not necessary for us to make sacrifices which will soften and sweeten. our natures and make us more dependent on our Father in Heaven, that our confidence in Him may inspire confidence. in others? By having suffered ourselves we can better appreciate the sufferings of others and thereby be the better prepared to alleviate others' pain. As our power lies in the strength of our spiritual natures, let us use every opportunity to develop that nature, asking God to help us to become all that He would have us be.

crawled under the table trying to hide himself by pulling the tablecloth down to the floor, never heeding that the books and papers went down at the same time.

The mother appeared in the doorway of the adjoining room at this period of the commotion. She was angry at their cries and noise and felt like reproving one and all severely. Then the Voice said: "You

are just as angry as they,

The children saw the earnest, pitying look in their mother's eyes, and ceased their noise. Ella looked ashamed that she had been so peerish.

Maud's song became low and sweet. Anna closed the door very gently for that little lady and forgave Frank, thinking it was not so much harm he had done after all. and Frank condescended to pick up the books and papers and restore the tablecloth to its place.

The mother remained till all was in order again, then nodded approvingly and returned to her work. The children looked at one another with gentler eyes, for they had caught a glimpse of her thoughts from her looks, and they felt reproved though she had spoken not a word.

And the mother knew that her "soft answer" had turned away the wrath and established the good feeling that all harshness and severity would have been powerless to effect.

There is a desire in the human heart to draw near unto a Supreme Being. This reaching forth of the soul toward God is prayer. It may take the form of a petition from the lips; it may be a silent appeal from the heart; in whatever point it arises it is the medium through which we may communicate with our Father in Heaven.

The position which man occupies in the great eternal universe is one of helplessness. The heavens shed forth their light and warmth; the earth in turn gives up her richness; and man, given all the tools to work with, can at best be but a laborer in God's vineyard.

This entire dependence of all mankind upon the bounties of an unseen power, combined, let us hope, with a

touch of the divine within, leads every intelligent being to turn with longing toward the source of all power. Let man call himself infidel, atheist, or what he will. no one can say that he has not at some time in his life felt the need of a power higher than himself, greater than any mortal man could give himaye, or all the world combined.

This life is like a crooked stream that winds through many changing scenes of temptation on the one hand and aspiration on the otherof trials that must be met, and work that must be done-and in its course each life must be tried and tested.

This is, no doubt, as it should be: for when the allwise Creator placed man upon the earth, it was His design that His child should pass

through a series of experiences that would perfect and prepare him for a better life hereafter.

Our Heavenly Father, as a kind and loving parent, has not left us alone to fight the battles of life. He has promised us His aid if we will seek Him. He has said: "Ask and ye shall receive." And again: "If any lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth unto all men. liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."

Our Father has in every way possible invited us to put our trust in Him, and has provided that heaven's choicest blessings shall be ours.

our

Oh, how that feeling of nearness to our Heavenly Friend sweetens and softens the cold, hard duties that waste our cheeks and furrow brows! How strong and how peaceful would be our minds and how light our hearts if we knew how to approach Him!

The time has come when it is a hard thing to know right from wrong. Delusive spirits are at work among us. The evil one is a great general; he knows our weak points and at these weak places he makes his attack. Infidelity is increasing in our midst. It creeps like a serpent into the hearts of the youths of Zion and poisons them against the truth.

The pleasures of the world are around us, and if there is any one thing alluring to the young it is the pursuit of pleasure. There is but a step from ignorance to guilt, and who is strong enough to stop before that step is taken? Those who learn the value of sincere and daily prayer. In the midst of all our temptations comes a quet monitor, echoing the words of our Savior: "Oh, Father, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Many who would be shocked at the thought of committing a great sin will speak unkind words and do little selfish actions, and leave undone the many

little deeds of love that make a heaven of earth.

We all have need to seek God's Holy Spirit to remind us constantly of these many littlethings we do and leave undone, that in the aggregate make up so large a part of our lives. In reading the scriptures, and studying God's dealings with the inhabitants of the earth, we find in every dispensation and under every variety of circumstance, that blessings of the Lord were obtained through prayer. Scores of instances might be cited in proof of this, many of which are familiar to all.

In our own Church organization, every gift and ordinance of the Gospel, and every office and power of the Priesthood, are conferred by and through praver.

Every man who has been called to be a leader in Zion has been a man of prayerful spirit. Joseph the Prophet, through prayer, when only a mere boy, became the founder of this great latter-day work. Another notable example is that of our late beloved President, President, Wilford Woodruff. No man ever lived who put more trust in the guiding hand of Providence than did he; and his whole life is a witness to us that that trust was not misplaced.

But while there are those who seem to live in constant communion with the heavens, there are others who complain that their prayers are not answered. To such let me say: Do not despair! There may be good and sufficient reasons why you do not receive what you pray for. Perchance you pray for things that are not for your good. Perhaps your prayers are sometimes selfish. Do you always feel to say as did our Savior: "Not my will, but Thine be done?"

Again, there may be a lack of concentration of thought. We should never pray in a light, or preoccupied state of mind.

But I believe the greatest reason