ice said. I looked and there, right before me, was a
graceful elm tree, smiling and courteously bowing low to me. "I shall
try and heed your word," I said.

Going on my way I was no longer absorbed in thought, for I knew that
other trees would have something to say. Sure enough, "Be steadfast," I
heard. What tree could that be? I should have known at once. The maple,
of course.

Now the white birch beckons. How its face shines in the light of the
early morning! But dark or light I can distinguish it from all its
fellows. Always white of face and clean of life. So I hear it say, "Be
clean."

Turning my steps homeward I said to the kindly trees, "Good-by, and
thank you. I shall never forget this morning's walk."

MEMORY VERSE, _Isaiah_ 61: 3

"To give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called
trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be
glorified."

MEMORY HYMN [745]

_"Into the woods my Master went."_

BANKS

Here is a bank. I have been reading lately about banks. You know that in
Jesus' day they did not have banks such as we have. People took their
treasures and jewels and hid them in a vessel, or dug a hole in the
earth and covered their valuable possessions with dirt. But now one of
the most prominent institutions of any community is the bank.

What does this bank stand for? In the first place it means Strength. It
is made of very heavy, hard material. There is money in this bank. It
does not belong to me, it is the property of our Beginners' Department.
Each Sunday they put their birthday money in here, then at the end of
the year they open it and the contents is given to our Sunday School
Missionary Society. That the money may be kept safe and sound to the end
of the year the bank is made very strong.

In the second place I notice that there is a single opening and that the
opening is made very small. It is meant for small coins, I could not
possibly get a one dollar piece into this opening. No, it is meant for
dimes, nickels and pennies. That is, it stands for Thrift. Each little
child brings his or her amount, small in itself, but when they are all
together there is a considerable sum.

Again, I see that this bank is made in the form of a church. It is
really quite a beautiful building. Here is the steeple, here the steps
and the wide entrance doors, and the windows with gen