greatly modified by the condition of the home. Suffice it to say that the home, as far as possible, should be a model Christian home, presided over by. a gentle, loving mother, whose influence for good falls as constantly and as gently and as effectually upon the child as do the dews of night upon the tender plant. Kindness, with sufficient restraining positiveness, may often command a loving and willing obedience when all other powers may fail so to do. Who knows but that in this or that Christian home is being trained some great character, possibly a philosopher, a historian, a scholar, the president or queen of some great nation, a great reformer or conqueror? Who can tell what the extent of that home's influence shall be?
One thing is certain, however, that the influences of the home will be just what the home is, and the home will be largely what the woman of the home makes it. If the queen of a great and good home, then there will radiate therefrom great and good influences.
(3). Intellectual development. Children are great imitators, both by inheritance and by acquisition of the habit. It is quite possible that even the acts of childish imitation serve as little whetstones, so to speak, to the little mind in giving it sharpness, and at the same time as an exercise may do much by assisting in the development of the same. Whether true or not, it does seem that the more intelligently the powers of the mind are brought into play in early life, the more readily that mind will acquire knowledge, all things else being equal. The more intelligent the home and home surroundings,
