The Efficient Mutual

A Recreational, Educational and Spiritual Center

By Prof. Osborne J. P. Widtsoe

The Aim

"Search the scriptures," exhorted Jesus, "for in them ye

think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of

me." As always, Jesus announced in this admonition an eternal

truth, applicable not only to the specific case in hand, but

to any and every problem that might arise. The prophets have

always been inspired men of God, who have spoken as the

Spirit of God has given them utterance. It is always safe, there-

fore, to search the Scriptures. If the prophets have had a

right to say about the matter for which we are looking, we may

rest assured that it is right. In the Scriptures we do find the

way of eternal life. They testify of the truth.

Now, when we attempt to discover what should characterize

an efficient mutual, we are at once confronted by the question,

Why does the M. I. A. exist? What is the purpose of the M.

I. A.? To these questions there might possibly be given as many

answers as there are questioners, were it not for the fact that the

Prophet — the Prophet of God — has defined the Mutual Im-

provement Association under the inspiration of the Spirit of

God. So, heeding the admonition of Jesus, we search the

Scriptures. They testify of the truth.

The Prophet, Brigham Young, said in 1875 to the young

men whom he had called to begin the work of the Mutual

Improvement Association, "Mutual Improvement of the youth;

establishment of individual testimonies of the truth and mag-

nitude of the great Latter-day work; the development of the

gifts within them, that have been bestowed upon them by the

laying on of the hands of the servants of God; cultivating a

knowledge and an application of the eternal principles of the

great science of life."

Again, the Prophet said, "It is our desire that these insti-

tutions should flourish, that our young men may grow in a

comprehension of and faith in the holy principles of the gos-

pel of eternal salvation; and furthermore have an opportunity

to and be encouraged in bearing testimony to and speaking of

the truths of our holy religion. Let the consideration of these

truths and principles be the groundwork and leading idea of

246 IMPROVEMENT ERA

every such association; and on this foundation of faith in

God's great Latter-day work, let their members build all use-

ful knowledge, by which they may be useful in the establish-

ment of his kingdom. Each member will find that happiness

in this world mainly depends on the work he does and the

way in which he does it."

Here is stated in inspired words the aim, the purpose,

the "groundwork and leading idea" of the Mutual Improve-

ment Associations. Upon the foundation of faith in God's

great latter-day work, may be builded all kinds of useful know-

ledge. The association may study what they will — but always

with faith in God, in his Son Jesus Christ, and m God's great

latter-day work as the "leading idea," — and for the purpose

that the association members may become useful in the estab-

lishment of God's kingdom.

Analyzed, the Prophet's statement of the aim of the M. I.

A. yields these points.

The M. I. A. should establish individual testimony of

the truth and magnitude of the great Latter-day work.

The M. I. A. should help develop the gifts within its

members confirmed upon them by the laying on of the hands

of the servants of God.

The M. I. A. should cultivate a knowledge and applica-

tion of the eternal principles of the great science of life (the

art of living).

The groundwork and leading idea of every associa-

tion should be faith in God's great Latter-day work.

The end, or result, of the association's endeavors should

be the turning out of young men efficient in God's service — men

who may be useful in the establishing of God's kingdom —

men endued with the 'desire of action, spiritual service — men

who have learned that happiness in this world depends mainly

upon the work they do — the service they render — and the

way in which they do it.

Naturally the full, efficient M. I. A. is that which success-

fully achieves the five requirements here laid down by the

Prophet. And to satisfy as nearly as may be these five re-

quirement's must be the aim of every M. I. A.

The Elements

But how to do so?

Having presented the aim of the M. I. A., as declared by

the Master-builder, Brigham Young, let me now suggest a few

points essential to the efficient mutual. The work of the M. I.

A. officers is naturally of two kinds: 1. the work of getting;

the work of holding. Into these should be woven the great

desideratum — the end for which we solicit membership and

THE EFFICIENT MUTUAL 247

labor to hold it — the work of helping young men to become

firmly grounded in the faith, and to become spiritually active

in the up-building of righteousness upon the earth. These

general divisions, I shall consider in the order named.

Getting

The efficient M. I. A. has an active and effective recruiting

system, by means of which the association and its mission are

brought home to every member of the ward. This is not the

place to discuss methods of doing missionary work. The

methods must necessarily vary with respective wards. But this

at least the alert M. I. A. president will do. He will have a full

and complete register of every person of mutual age residing in

his ward; he will, himself, visit or have visited every person

registered; he will keep in close touch with all new arrivals,

and solicit their membership in the M. I. A., and he will not

cease his missionary labors after the first visit in September,

but he will continue to visit from time to time, and to importune,

until — as in the parable of the unrighteous judge — his importun-

ing will prevail. Read over the five points of purpose. Has any

M. I. A. officer the right to cease from his labors until he has

done his utmost to bring every member in the ward under the

spiritual guidance of this benign and glorious aim? The M.

I. A. officer who is content to conduct his association with only

those who volunteer commits a great fault of omission. Such

an officer cannot build up an efficient Mutual. The efficient

M. I. A. carries its mission out to the ward, and does not

cease from its efforts until every member of it has been labored

with, not seven times, but seventy times seven.

Helping

The efficient M. I. A. holds in regular attendance the

members that it once gets enrolled. The principles of holding

are four-fold: (a) Supplying physical comfort; (b) Building

a social center; (c) Satisfying the intellectual hunger; (d) Meet-

ing the spiritual need. Let me suggest a few thoughts on each

of these points in order.

Supplying Physical Comfort

A few years ago, there appeared in one of our prosperous

towns two alert, energetic young men, trained in the sectarian

ministry, and eager to win young men from the dominant faith.

Almost at a glance they measured the situation in the towns.

Then they proceeded to work. Before the good citizens awoke

to what was in progress these two young ministers had won the

hearts of most of the young men of the town. They were good

mixers and made things interesting for the boys. On Tuesday

248 IMPROVEMENT ERA

evenings, the club rooms annexed to the Protestant church were

thronged with happy contented boys; whereas the Mutual Im-

provement Associations in the several wards were attended by

a mere handful of boys only passively concerned in the work.

The program was uninteresting; there was no boys' energy or

enthusiasm; the life-blood was sluggish, near to stagnant.

And what was the matter?

Over at the ministers' hall the rooms were cheerily lighted,

warm and comfortable. In the ward halls, the rooms were

drearily lighted, and the fire in the cold-looking, rusty stove,

had not been long enough made to warm the air. At the ministers'

hall the walls of the rooms were bright and clean, and attrac-

tively hung with beautiful, uplifting pictures. In the ward halls,

the walls of the rooms were dark and dingy, and there where no

pictures at all. At the ministers' hall, the rooms had clean

floors, with now and again a rug; in the ward halls, the rooms

had grimy, blackish floors, with never a sign of adornment. At

the ministers' hall there were scores of clean, ennobling books

placed conveniently in neat, attractive cases, inviting the hun-

gry boy to remain and feast; in the ward halls there were also

scores of books, perhaps as clean in matter and as ennobling in

character, but dust-ridden and dirty, thrown in slovenly fash-

ion upon the grimy shelves of a repellent cupboard, driving the

hungry boy away from a feast that, had it been served attrac-

tively, might well have been better and richer than the one he

attended. At the ministers' hall every effort was put forth to

furnish physical comfort and clean attractive surroundings; in

the ward halls no effort had been made to appeal to the com-

fort and finer sensibilities of the boy.

Fortunately, of course, this picture is not a common one. At

least, I hope that there are now very few towns, or wards — I

hope, in fact, that there is none — that the description above will

fit. But so long as such conditions as those depicted obtain to

any degree in a ward, it will be impossible for the M. I. A. to

attain the ideal of efficiency. It is not because boys are in-

herently bad that they go to to the club-room, or to the pool-

room, or even to the saloon. More often it is because they find

there physical comfort, and attractiveness utterly unknown to

the meeting place of the M. I. A. Make that meeting place

comfortable and attractive, and much of the difficulty of mis-

sionary work will be overcome. Clean up, light up, adorn the

walls with beautiful pictures that will stir the soul, and you

have already in part prepared the soil in which to sow the

seed of faith. You are on the Lord's highway: cleanliness is

next to Godliness; the step becomes easy and light following.

The efficient M. I. A. keeps its rooms clean, warm, attractively

and appropriately decorated, and equipped to appeal to the in-

THE EFFICIENCY MUTUAL 249

terest of the boy, and to the noblest and highest ideals im-

planted in him.

Building a Social Center

The efficient M. I. A. is the social center of the ward in

which it lives. In the work of helping it is not sufficient, of

course, merely to surround the boy with bodily comforts. He

is naturally a social creature. His first demand, after physical

comfort, will be for recreation and social activity. The M. I.

A. is the association to lead out in the social activities of the

ward. True, it must operate through, or in cooperation with,

the ward social committee. But no other organization can so

well take the lead in matters social as can the M. I. A. Above

all, the M. I. A. must satisfy the craving for recreation and social

life in its members, and in doing so must further build upon

the foundation of faith by keeping them under spiritual guid-

ance. As the church club-rooms of the ambitious young minis-

ters in the town spoken of above became the recreational and so-

cial center for the boys of the town, so the M. I. A. of each ward

should become the social center of the members of the ward.

"Let's go down to the Mutual rooms," takes the place in the

conversation of the future of the vulgar, "Let's go down to

Pete's Pool Hall." The efficient M. I. A., warm, clean, comfort-

able, and attractive, makes itself a social center, where recreation,

games and amusements are conducted under spiritual guidance.

Satisfying the Intellectual Hunger

The M. I. A. is primarily an educational institution. Its

chief activity consists, therefore, of teaching; its chief work,

in constructing the fabric of faith. For the M. I. A. is also a

religious institution. It is a part of the educational system of

the Church. Its teaching, therefore, must embody the virtues

that are expressive of Christian character — the virtues that are

expressive of the right adjustment of the individual in his re-

lations to God, to society, and to himself. In doing this, the

M. I. A. is teaching both religion and ethics — inseparable in the

Christian life — and is fulfiling the fundamental idea laid down

by President Brigham Young.

Fortunately, the normal boy will not long remain content

on a diet of physical comfort and recreation alone. The intel-

lectual in him craves nourishment; and can easily be stimulated

to greater activity. Hence, the efficient mutual provides for the

intellectual hunger-demands of the boy. But there is, perhaps,

no other form of hunger that revolts so quickly against ill-pre-

pared food. The pupil is quick to discern the qualifications of

his teacher. It follows that the efficient M. I. A. select a class-

250 IMPROVEMENT ERA

leader who is well-informed, who prepares every lesson thor-

oughly, who spares no pains to learn how to develop and to

present the lesson in an interesting and instructive manner, who

is devoted to the work, who makes a business of it, whom the

boys respect and love and who is therefore always there — de-

pendable as the foundations of the earth. Moreover, the efficient

M. I. A. selects a class-leader who adds to these qualifications

spirituality — who has a profound and abiding faith in the Res-

toration— who sees and comprehends life through the illumina-

ting glass of faith, and who presents the lesson work through

the medium of his pure religion and Christian ethics. In short,

the efficient M. I. A. selects a class-leader who is full of faith,

devoted to his work and eager to serve; who feeds the hungry

intellect, holds the interest, and thrills the spiritual self of

the boy.

Meeting the Spiritual Need

The efficient M. I. A. recognizes the fact that it is something

more than a mere secular institution. Were it not that the

eternal truths and everlasting principles of the restored gospel

of Jesus Christ form the "groundwork and leading idea" of the

work of the M. I. A., it would differ little, if any, from the

work of any other educational institution. But the M. I. A. has

for its special mission the building of faith through the enlarge-

ment of the intellect — the inspiriting of every kind of knowledge

with the living principle of faith and testimony. Therefore it is

that the meeting place is cleansed, and warmed, and adorned,

that it may sanctify and inspire. Therefore it is that the games

of recreation and the amusements are made holy by being placed

under spiritual guidance. Therefore it is that the lesson-work is

considered from the viewpoint of the Christian virtues — from

the view point of man's right relationship to God, to society, and

to himself. It may be said that man is physical, intellectual,

and spiritual; and the greatest of these is the spiritual. The

efficient M. I. A. adjusts the physical comforts, the social ac-

tivities, and the intellectual labors so that there shall result the

largest possible reaction in spiritual life.

The Great Desideratum

When the M. I. A. — the successful M. I. A., we may say —

has conducted an effective drive for membership, and has con-

sistently held its members in regular and interested attendance,

then comes the test of efficiency as an association in the Church

of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For it is not enough that

the M. I. A. shall have a reasonably large percentage of the

THE EFFICIENCY MUTUAL 251

ward membership in regular attendance, it is not enough that

the M. I. A. rooms shall be clean and warm and attractive; it is

not enough that the association shall be active — socially; it is

not enough even that the class-work shall be all that might be

desired; nor yet that the class-leader has endeavored to spirit-

ualize his work. What has been the result of all this splendid

effort? Do the M. I. A. members lead cleaner lives than do

others? Have they adjusted themselves rightly toward society?

Do they love their neighbors as themselves ? Do they love God

with all their might, mind and strength? Are they devoted to

the upbuilding of the kingdom of God? Are they firmly

founded in the faith? The efficient M. I. A. will produce men

of faith, of profound conviction, of unlimited spiritual activity,

who in their devoted service in season and out of season stand

as pillars of strength to the Church.

Review

In conclusion, the ultimate aim of the Mutual Improvement

Association is to ground its members in the faith, and to pro-

duce men who shall be useful in the establishment of God's

kingdom.

The elements of efficiency are therefore these:

The efficient M. I. A. carries its mission out to the ward,

and does not cease from its efforts until every member of it

has been labored with, not seven times, but seventy times

seven.

The efficient M. I. A. keeps its rooms clean, warm, at-

tractively and appropriately decorated, and equipped to appeal

to the interest of the boy and to the highest and noblest ideals

implanted in him.

The efficient M. I. A. makes itself a social center, where

recreation, games, and amusements are conducted under spirit-

ual guidance.

The efficient M. I. A. selects a class leader who is full of

faith, devoted to his work, and eager to serve; who feeds the

hungry intellect, holds the interest, and thrills the spiritual self

of the boy.

The efficient M. I. A. adjusts the physical comforts, the

social activities, and the intellectual labors, so that there shall

result the largest possible reaction in spiritual life.

The test of efficiency. The efficient M. I. A. will pro-

duce men of faith, of profound conviction, of unlimited spiritual

activity, who in their devoted service in season and out of sea-

son stand as pillars of strength to the Church.

(Continued from page 216)

A heightened color was on the girl's face, and her eyes

shone with the tremulous light of a great hope. "O Grand-

ma!" she burst out as the apples were being passed, "I could

hardly wait to read it to you — I just know you'll agree with me.

Angie found it in a California paper, and enclosed it in her

"How cosy you are" exclaimed Dorothy!

letter. She thinks it's just beautiful and so romantic, but she

doesn't even guess who it's about."

There was hardly time for neighborly greetings, so full of

her message was the excited girl.

"Didn't Tom's letter say that he had a friend — and that he

couldn't tell a certain story? Well, here's the story."

Dorothy produced a short clipping and began to read.

Needless to say, there was sympathetic attention.

Yesterday, before the state Board of Pardons, (so began the

clipping) there occurred one of those rare episodes which, in

spite of the low level of mankind in general, give us a glimpse

into the profound depths of the human heart, and help per-

suade us that perhaps man — selfish, sordid man — may after all

be blood and spirit kin to Him who died on Calvary.

The business of the day was nearly over, and most of those

who had appeared in behalf of prisoners, had left, when a tall,

dark young man arose and approached the court.

THE GATEWAY 253

"Your honors," he began, rather brokenly, "I — I want to

make a confession. It's about Rob Roy. I want to tell you that

he's innocent and I'm guilty."

"Just wait a moment, young man," said Judge Howland,

"and we'll get at this matter properly."

The oath was administered to him.

"Now you may continue. Tell the story from the begin-

ning."

"My name's John O'Brien — Jack is what everybody calls

me now, though when I first met Bob I was Billy Williams.

That was at Reno, three years ago. We was both strapped, and

rode in one night on a Pullman, him on one brake rod, me on

the other.

"My friend's name? — Robert Roy den, Pennsylvania. Bob

used to laugh and say, 'That's my Sunday school name,' and

that's the way it is on your books.

"Bob and me took to each other right from the start- — we

look enough alike to pass for brothers. But when he wouldn't

drink or smoke, I knew I couldn't let him in to the kind of jay

I was. So we got work together and roomed together for nearly

six months; and honest, I never was happier in my life.

"But one day I met an old pal from New York. He told

me of a layout he'd been working on for nearly a month — ten

thousand in it, at least, he said.

"When I told him who I was with, he said, 'Good, stay right

there, best blind in the world — especially the library and church

racket, and don't feel bad about your friend; we'll take him on

after awhile.'

"I'm sorry to say I fell for it; and of course it took me out

of nights, and it was not long till Bob got uneasy about me,

though he tried not to show it. One night we was on our way

from the library — we'd walked home with Mary first — when I

caught sight of Dick Wells among a crowd of saloon bums. He

tipped me a wink as we passed, so I knew the police was onto us.

"Well, I made some excuse not to go upstairs, and this is

what happened. When Bob turned on the light, he found two

cops in the room. They looked at him a moment. 'Fits the de-

scription to a T,' said one of 'em as they slipped on the irons.

'Oh, we're on to your 'respectable' dodge, young man, and now

we'll just look around a little.'

"But they didn't find anything till they came to my trunk.

When they opened that, there was all the pickings we didn't

dare to sell or dispose of: diamond rings, pearl necklace, three

gold watches, some government bonds, and lots of other junk;

and there also they found Dick Wells' fine kit of tools.

"Bob could have told 'em it wasn't his trunk but he didn't

254 IMPROVEMENT ERA

say a word. I lit out and waited, thinking, of course, he'd clear

himself — as he could easily have done; and as I wouldn't be

there to be arrested, no harm would come of it. But when I got

the papers of the trial and read, 'Defendant refused to plead,

and also to engage counsel,' I knew Bob was taking punishment

for my sake.

"Well, I was pretty badly broke up over that; so when Dick

Wells said one day, 'Aw, let the duffer sweat for it!' that was

the last straw. I just turned on him. 'You low-down scoundrel.

You got me into this kind of a life, but you can't keep me in it.

I'll give you twenty-four hours to get out of this state, or you'll

go in for life, even if I have to follow you!' and you bet Dick

lit out. He's in Sing Sing now.

"I didn't know what to do next. Bob was in for ten years,

and I couldn't get up courage enough to swallow that pill; but

when I told my story to Mary O'Donnell she made my duty

pretty clear. We called at the pen next day, as Bob's brother and

sister. I broke down completely, but Bob just put his arms

around me, and said he wouldn't hear of me taking his place.

" 'Jonathan' — he often called me that — 'you've got to have

your chance. What kind of chance would it be among these

crooks?' He soon won Mary over, and I had to consent. 'You

get a steady job, and report every little while to Mary,' says Bob,

and that's how I started to make a man of myself."

At this point the fair reader stopped to wipe her eyes.

"Isn't that like Tom! I'm so proud of him!" Then she

continued :

"The job I took up with was plumbing — Mary thought

that'd be the easiest trade for me to learn" — the laugh that ac-

companied this bit of whimsical humor was a half sob. "And I

have made good as far as that goes. How could I help it, with

such a friend and such a wife!"

"You are married, then?" asked the chairman.

"Yes ; Bob helped that out, too. He was at our wedding, for

he's been a trusty ever since he went in; and last year he was at

the christening of our little Tommie. We wanted to call him

Robert, but Bob asked, as a special favor, that we call him

Thomas after Bob's father. The kid thinks more of Bob than

he does of his dad.

"That's about all of my story. We'd be the happiest fam-

ily in the world if it wasn't for Bob being in stripes. 'Don't

worry about me,' he tells us every time he calls. 'My pardon

will come without my asking. Besides, I'm doing more good in-

side than I could out.'

"You see, Bob's the leader among a lot of young fellers in

there. He's coaching 'em to straighten up so as to get par-

THE GATEWAY 255

doned; they're all wild to enlist and so is he; hut how can he, as

long as that black lie stands against his name on the records?

"But there's another side to this. I can't feel that I'm quite

a man till I get into Bob's shoes. My self-respect demands it;

and as for Mary, you never saw a gladder woman than when I

told her I was coming here.

"We've worked and saved, so that she and the kid is pro-

vided for; and now I'm ready to do what I ought to have

done long ago. We want to give back Bob's good name as a

Christmas gift, and a free ride home to his mother."

The few auditors left in the court room applauded as the

man sat down, and the members of the Board were visibly af-

fected. After a whispered consultation the chairman thanked

Jack O'Brien for his manly confession, and said the Board

would take the case under advisement. In the meantime Jack

would be free to spend Christmas with his family.

VI

It is Christmas eve. A transformation — almost a trans-

figuration— has come to the old farm house. Eighteen inches

of snow is on the ground, and the flakes, still descending, serve

to weave a moving veil against the blaze of light from a score

of windows.

The surrounding grove is no longer naked, but clad in filmy

white, irradiated with glowing colors suspended from the trees.

Even the barn has its electric bulb, revealing fresh occupants

in the old stalls; and under the sheds one catches the dim out-

lines of sleighs, surreys, and automobiles.

For the first scout in this army of invasion, preceding even

the advance guard of cooks and decorators, was Tom Wakefield

III, electrician from the power house at Ogden. Then came

auto-trucks loaded down with rolls of bedding; crates of apples,

oranges, grapes, bananas; boxes, savory of cooked meats and

pastries; baskets of table ware; and mysterious packages from

Santa Claus.

Next came the organizers, a bevy of Wakefield young men

and maidens, cousins from north and south and east; lastly, the

family vans, loaded to the guards.

And there they all are now— the old house is bursting with

hem. That row of imps carrying in back-logs, are urchins who

^ave listened to pioneer tales of blazing hearths, and are eager

to see and feel the reality.

There, with hands behind and back to the blaze, stands

grandpa; tall, spare, white-haired, half spiritualized, in

a grove of sturdy sons and grandsons still anchored to earth.

Mothers with babes in arms are seen through windows here and

256

IMPROVEMENT ERA

there; and flitting about to comfort and help is grandma, also

half-angel in contrast with daughters and granddaughters still

on Eve's mission.

Nor is this home pageant visible only; one has only to shut

one's eyes to hear the tide of life surge in the old house as it

"That row of imps carrying in back logs."

never did before: infants' sleepy cries, the gleeful shouts and

resounding boots of youngsters; the gay banter and laugh of

youths and maidens in the "he-said-then-she-said" age ; the duets,

trios, and quartets of those deeper in the mysterious swell of life.

Later in the evening we shall hear all sing together, "0 Ye Moun-

tains High," or "We Thank Thee, 0 God, for a Prophet."

But a change in the program is even now pending — a change

long presaged, indeed, by savory odors from the kitchen. Two

tables, made from boards resting on trestles, and surrounded by

benches similarly contrived, are being set up the entire length

of the parlor. The youngsters are enjoined to make room by

standing up like soldiers against the wall. And there they

watch the fascinating transfer of good things from the kitchen.

How their eyes shine, and what appetitizing interjections

they chorus, as the miracle spreads before them on snow-white

linen: twelve roasted turkeys, hot from the oven; twice twelve

pyramids of apples, pears, oranges, and bananas; steaming

mounds of potatoes mashed in cream; Christmas cakes galore;

heaping platters of cookies; wreaths, crosses, and anchors of

holly and mistletoe — but imagination must do the rest!

All at length are seated ; grandpa and grandma at the head,

where the three tables form a U. Before them is a bank of red

and white roses, the breath of California still in their petals.

How these Christmas revelers applauded this gift to grand-

ma— and especially the giver ! For Tom is here — Tom, no longer

skeptical; the strength of his father and the tenderness of his

mother in his face ; more handsome, more manly for that valley

of tribulation.

Tom sits next to grandma on the left, and by his side is

Dorothy Avery, with dewy eyes!

THE GATEWAY 257

Nat is also here — no longer merely Nat, but fully-unfolded

Nathaniel, like his namesake of old, "an Israelite without guile."

He is seated on the right side of his father, and between them

is a blushing village maiden, whom want of space has not per-

mitted hitherto to be introduced.

In front of these guests of honor sit — big and little — the

rest of the Wakefield family; a typical "Mormon" family, made

up of ten sons and daughters, doubled by marriage; men and

women prominent in affairs, religious, civil, and industrial, with

over threescore children and grandchildren.

But the time is too urgent for a roster; the banquet waits

only for the venerable patriarch to rise and bless the feast and

leave his benediction upon the bowed heads of his children and

children's children. Then what joy and revelry ensue! And

after the tables are cleared away, what games from old England,

transmitted through grandma, what Yankee tricks, through

grandpa !

It is past midnight. Grandma and Grandpa, who took good

care to save their strength during the revels, have said good

night, with much throwing of kisses up and down the double

rows of beds on the parlor floor; Santa Claus has performed the

ticklish job of filling three score stockings and hanging them

back on the big chimney.

And now those first boys and girls — the children of long

ago — have tiptoed upstairs — not to disturb father and mother,

whom they believe to be sleeping in mother's room — and the

big house is dark and still.

But father and mother are not sleeping; they are sitting

hand in hand, trying to sense the mystery and purpose of all

this life that almost overwhelms them.

"Think of it, sweetheart!" said grandma. "Our babies are

all upstairs once more."

Then, as if time has been rolled backward twenty — thirty

— forty years, she lights the old brass candlestick, and together

they ascend the stairs.

Tears bedew cheeks long bearded or wrinkled with life 8

cares as grandma and grandpa smooth the pillows and kiss these

"babies" asleep. Silently the old folks move from room to room,

and their secret is not noised ahead.

At length they enter the boys' room. There lies once more

the dark head pillowed by the side of the fair— and both are

asleep! The old folks have borne up well until now, but this

sight quite overcomes them. Tears stream from their eyes, and

broken sobs from grandpa awaken the sleepers.

"Why, father and mother! What is the matter?

258

IMPROVEMENT ERA

"Nothing, darlings," says grandma, smiling through her

tears, and laying the dear heads back on the pillow. "We came

to kiss our boys good-night; and — don't you see? — the Lord has

been so good to us, we simply couldn't hold it all."

And then the boys wept too!

As the aged lovers knelt together that night in mother's

room, they might have passed for Simeon and Anna of old; for

among other inspired words in grandpa's prayer occurred this

petition: "Now let thy servant and handmaiden depart, 0

Lord, in peace, since our eyes have beheld the glory of thy salva-

tion, and our hearts have been filled with the peace that shall

have no end."

Such is the simple record of the Wakefield reunion one

short year ago. Great changes have since taken place. Tom,

following his bent, joined the officers' school at Presidio, and is

today captain of a regiment in France. Nat and six of his

nephews were drafted and have also been "over there" fighting

God's battles. The old house has taken on a renewed activity as

Red Cross headquarters, with Dorothy and her sister war-bride

in charge.

The Lord granted the prayer of grandpa and grandma; so

that they were renewed to eternal life during last June, only ten

days between their passing.

In the village cemetery are two marble columns; and in-

scribed on the arch uniting them are these words: "Sacred to

the mortal remains of Thomas and Mary Wakefield: GATEWAY

for the shining feet of a multitude that came to bless the world.

v//\KEFieLo

. THOMAS -vl-lARy WAKCFIFUO

{on. the sni.iNj f^et ef» «ult.T«<i«- Thh e»>it1 H**»