EASY STEPS

FOR

LITTLE FEET

E. J. WAGGONER

THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL FOR CHILDREN – VOL. 11

Source:

Present Truth

1901 to 1903

Cover:

Chipmunk Reaching for Peanuts

Manning Park, BC, Canada / Frank Zimmerman

Fonts:

Liberation Sans Narrow

Linux Biolinum

Linux Libertine

May 2024

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Contents

About This Series	5

A Poor Little Bird	1

Migration	2

Homecoming	3

Mother’s Love	4

Baby Birds	5

King of the Birds	7

The Biggest Bird	8

The Smallest Bird	10

The Prettiest Bird	11

Lilies	13

Seeds	14

Baby Plants	15

Growth	16

Flowers	17

Pollen	18

Bees	19

Spreading Seeds	21

The Word of God	22

Spiders	23

Life in the Sea	24

Care for the Animals	25

A Flower Clock	27

Faces	28

Burying Beetles	29

Be Kind	30

Kings and Crowns	31

Little Hands	32

Goats	33

Insects	34

The Dove	36

Training Animals	37

Rain	39

Nests	40

Weaver Bird Nests	41

Tailor Bird Nests	42

Just Hatched	43

Chickens and Chicks	44

The Morning Plunge	45

Love Makes Us Happy	47

The School of the Woods	48

Never Alone	49

Picture Credits	51

About This Series

IN 1891, E. J. Waggoner was sent from America to England, and took over the publishing of the Present Truth periodical. Some time around the end of August 1892, we observe the transition from the previous editor, with a sudden increase in articles from the pen of Waggoner. In some issues, there are up to a dozen articles authored by him. This “stream opened up in the desert”1 Isaiah 35:6. was not to stop until the end of 1903, when he returned to America.

Shortly after taking over the editorship of Present Truth, Waggoner introduced a column for children. His own three children would have been aged about 4, 7, and 10 at that time. The children’s column took on various names over the next ten years:

Children’s Corner

Children’s Page

Easy Steps for Little Feet

For Little Ones

For the Children

Gospel Primer

Light for Little Ones

Little Folks

Little Ones

Our Little Ones

The Children

The Home

Most of the articles collected for this set of children’s books, “The Everlasting Gospel for Children,” were originally published in the series that the individual volumes are named from. In the remaining few cases, I tried to organize the articles into a volume that fit with their theme, or in some cases, I placed some articles among pre-existing themes, even though they came from different years.

This particular series, “Easy Steps for Little Feet,” appeared from December 1901 to July 1903, a span of about 1½ years. These articles are aimed at very young children.

Frank Zimmerman

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A Poor Little Bird

Present Truth, December 19, 1901

HERE is a poor little bird that has no food to eat. He looks as if he had come to this dish in the hope that he would find some. But the soft, white snow that fell in the night, hid it all. What will poor Birdie do?

You see what he is doing? He has nothing to eat, yet he sings his happy song without a fear. He seems to know that there is One who will not forget him. He is asking God for his breakfast. It is God who gives us all our daily bread. He gives to the beast his food. He hears the cry of the birds, and takes care of them all. They do not have a store-house or barn, where they can keep a lot of food. God gives it to them day by day.

Jesus never forgets one of the little birds that He has made. He will be sure to send something for this poor little one. Perhaps He will put it into the heart of a kindly little child, like the one in our picture, to give him some crumbs. Or Birdie may find some bright berries left on a tree.

Let us be kind to the birds, and help God to feed them in the cold weather.

Migration

Present Truth, January 2, 1902

MANY of the little birds fly away from us before the winter comes. They cannot live here when it is so cold. The flowers are all dead. The insects that feed on their honey have died too, or gone to sleep where the birds cannot find them. The worms are fast asleep in their holes under the ground. The earth is frozen hard, so the birds cannot get at them. There is no fruit on the trees, nor even any leaves. What would the birds find to eat if they should stay?

So they spread their little wings, and away they fly over the wide sea. They go to a warm land, where the sun shines, and the flowers bloom all the winter.

How do they know the way to go? Many of them are young birds that have not been there before. There is no path over the sea, and nothing to show them the way.

Yes, there is something. It is the Spirit of God in each little bird that tells it the time has come to fly away. The birds know the voice of God, and they obey His call. He leads them over the pathless sea, He takes them to the place where He has plenty of food for them to eat. How happy they will be in the bright sunshine!

But some birds, like our dear Robin Redbreast, stay with us all the cold, dark winter. This is why we love him so.

Homecoming

Present Truth, January 9, 1902

THE birds do not seem glad when they fly away in the Autumn. They do not sing, but they are quiet and sad.

But by and by the cold Winter is past. The flowers are seen on the earth again. All things wake up from their long sleep. Then the time of the singing of birds is come again.2 Song of Solomon 2:12.

Just as the tiny leaf-buds burst out all over the trees, the happy birds flock home. Their joyful songs show how glad they are to be back again.

How busy they are now! Each one has to choose a mate to live with all the Summer. So they are very loving and kind; they sing sweet songs to the ones they love.

Each pair hunts about for a nice, cozy place to build a nest. They look for a spot that will be hidden from their foes, and out of the reach of thoughtless little boys who would like to steal their eggs.

God who brought the birds safe home across the great sea, shows each little pair how to build their pretty nest. They gather bits of straw, string, wool, or moss, as you see in the picture. They weave this together with wonderful skill.

Mother’s Love

Present Truth, January 16, 1902

WHEN the birds get home in the spring the buds are just bursting out on the trees. When the nests are ready, the trees are covered with leaves. And by the time the sweet blossoms come out on the trees there is something in the nest.

Day after day the mother bird sits on the nest. She never leaves it except for a very little while each day. Then she takes a short flight to keep up her health. Her mate brings her all her food.

What can it be that keeps this Queen of the air so still on her nest? Let us take a peep as she is gone. Ah! Now we know her secret. But we will not tell, for we should not like anyone to steal her tiny treasures. We will wait, as she does, until we find out what she is waiting for.

Love is the cord that binds this happy little mother bird so close to her nest. It is love for what she knows will soon be there. She does not think it is hard that she cannot fly about and amuse herself all day, any more than your mother thinks it hard that she has to stay at home to take care of you.

God puts this love into your mother’s heart. And He puts the same love into the heart of the mother bird. All love comes from God, for:

1 John 4

8 God is Love.

Baby Birds

Present Truth, January 23, 1902

GOD made all the birds by His Word. He said,

Genesis 1

20 Let the waters bring forth fowl that may fly above the earth.

24 ...and it was so.

Then He blessed all the birds that He had made, and told them to mul-ti-ply.

This is why the birds make their nests in the Spring, and lay their pretty little eggs. For out of them come the baby birds. So God still makes the birds by His Word. His blessing is upon them all. This is what makes them mul-ti-ply.

The father and mother birds are very busy. They have so many mouths to fill with food. God sends the birds their food. He shows the old ones where to find it. They carry it to the little ones in the nest.

Your father and mother bring you your food, but it is God who sends it. He gives your parents the power to get it for you. The birds do not sow nor reap nor gather into barns,

Matthew 6

26 ...yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?

Soon the little birds’ feathers will grow. Then the old ones will teach them to fly and sing, and to gather food for themselves. Their little wings will grow stronger every day. When the Autumn comes they will be ready for their long journey over the seas. The young birds will go first, and the old ones will follow.

Wild Geese migrating South

King of the Birds

Present Truth, January 30, 1902

THIS is a picture of the King of birds. Do you know his name? It is the Eagle. He is called the King of Birds because he can fly higher than any other bird. See what long, broad, strong wings he has. He makes his nest up very high, on the rocks and the tops of the mountains.

The baby Eagles are called Eaglets. The parents take great care of their little ones. The are very fierce to anyone who hurts their young.

When the Eaglets are old enough to fly, their mother stirs up the nest. This is to make it so hard that they will want to leave it.

If they will not start to fly when the mother calls them, she throws them off the rocks into the air. Then they have to use their little wings. But she stays close beside them. When they are tired, and begin to fall, she flies under them, and catches them on her own strong wings. She carries them until they are able to fly again.

God says that this shows how He cares for His children. He leads them, and carries them, and watches over them, and keeps them from falling.

The Biggest Bird

Present Truth, February 6, 1902

THE Eagle is the King of birds, but it is not the largest bird. You know which is the largest bird? It is the Ostrich, which lives in the desert in hot lands.

This great bird, when it is full grown, is sometimes eight feet high. This is taller than a very tall man.

But the Ostrich does not have large, strong wings, like the eagle. Its wings are very small. They could not hold up its big body in the air. So the Ostrich cannot fly.

But it has long legs and it can run very fast. When it runs, it spreads out its small wings like sails. This helps it to run fast, for the wind helps it along, as it blows a ship along when its sails are spread out.

The Ostrich is not a good mother. She lays her eggs in the sand…

Job 39

15 And forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

And when the young birds are hatched, she does not take care of them, like the eagle.

16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers.

But God takes care of these poor little forsaken birds, and feeds them. They grow up in the desert into great birds like their parents.

Psalm 27

10 When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

He sees when even a sparrow falls;3 Matthew 10:29. and He will much more care for us His children.4 Matthew 6:30; 1 Peter 5:7.

The Smallest Bird

Present Truth, February 13, 1902

HERE is a tiny nest not much larger than a big thimble. Take a peek inside. There you will see some tiny eggs no bigger than a pee. These will turn into a wee bird about the size of the blue-bottle fly.

What very small bird can have built so tiny a nest? Here she comes. But she is so small and darts so quickly through the air, that we should hardly see her, if it were not for her bright feathers.

She looks like a flying jewel. She glows with all the colors of the rainbow. This is the little Humming-bird, the smallest of all the birds. She is not much bigger than a Bumble-bee.

This little mother does not fly right to her nest. She wants to keep it secret. She rises high in the air. Then she darts like a flash of lightning down among the branches. She feeds her babies with honey and the insects she has brought for them, from the flowers.

God made the glowing feathers, and the tiny wings of this beautiful little bird. All beauty comes from Him, and shows us a little of His own glory. He teaches her now to make her nest and feed her young.

The Prettiest Bird

Present Truth, February 20, 1902

THE Peacock in this picture is a fine bird. But it is not so beautiful as the bird on the opposite page. Is he not a lovely bird? Do all those light, graceful feathers grow out of his small body? Yes; they grow in a bunch just under the shoulder on each side. They are about two feet long.

He has rich green and yellow feathers on his head and neck. But these long plumes are a golden orange.

Do you see what his name is? He is called the “Bird of Paradise.” This is because he is so beautiful.

Paradise is the Garden of Eden. This was the first home of all kinds of birds. Then they were all much more beautiful than they are now. Their songs were more sweet, and strong, and clear.

By and by God will make the earth new. No sin will ever come into it any more. Then Paradise will be on the earth again, as it was when God first made it. Those who love God and trust in Him will live there for ever.

Then we shall see what the birds were like when God first made them. They will all be as beautiful and perfect as they were then. The earth will be full of living creatures that will all be kind and gentle. Will not that be a happy time?

Lilies

Present Truth, February 27, 1902

Matthew 6

28 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.

THIS is what Jesus has told us all to do. “Consider” means “think” on with care. So Jesus means that we are to think of the flowers, and learn how they grow.

This is a picture of a Lily of Palestine, the land where Jesus lived. He said that…

29 ...even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Yet,

28 ...they toil not, neither do they spin.

Lilies cannot make themselves grow. They cannot spin their own clothes. It is God who clothes the grass of the field.

Their robe of glory grows upon them as they grow. What is it that makes the lilies grow? It is life. They grow because they are alive. So we must find out about their life. We must learn where it comes from, and how it unfolds, and clothes them with glory in beauty better than that of the richest king of earth.

All this, Jesus says, is to teach us how we are to live and grow.

30 For if God so clothe the grass of the field,...shall He not much more clothe you?

God who makes the flowers, and gives them such beauty, longs far more to clothe our souls with the beauty of the life of Jesus.

Seeds

Present Truth, March 6, 1902

DO YOU know what is the first thing that you must do if you want flowers to grow in your garden? You must sow some seeds. The little seeds that we sow in the ground are the tiny eggs of the plants.

The birds lay their eggs in the nest that they make, and out of them come wee birds that grow just like the parents. The bees, butterflies, and, fishes, frogs and many other creatures lay eggs to bring forth new beings like themselves.

There is a very old saying,

“All life comes from the egg; it is the world’s cradle.”

The seed is the plant’s egg; it is the cradle in which the baby plant is sleeping.

Where did these seeds come from? From last year’s plants, and these plants also came from the seed of plants that were before them. To get back to the real beginning and find out where the seeds come from, we must go to the very first of each kind of plant that ever grew in this world. What made it grow? The Word of God. For God said,

Genesis 1

11 Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed,...and it was so.

So the Word of God is the real seed that plants and all other living things have come from. This is what gives life to the plants, and makes them yield their seed at the right season, so that we may have food, and flowers to carpet the earth in coming years.

Baby Plants

Present Truth, March 13, 1902

ASLEEP in their little seed cradles the baby plants need two things to wake them up to life: heat and water. We bury them in the ground, the rain waters them, and the sun warms them. Then the life within stirs them, and they awake. The outer case of the seed breaks, like the egg-shell, and they are set free.

A tiny white point comes forth, and begins to burrow in the earth like a mole. This is the beginning of the root. Its purpose is to find food in the ground for the new plant.

Then a little bent neck appears, and pushes its way out. It does not go the way of the root, but up out of the ground into the air and sunlight. This is the chute. Its work is to drink in the air and store up light.

In our picture you can see both the root and the shoot. No matter which way they start to grow, the root finds its way down into the ground, and the shoot gets up into the light. How is it that each knows the way to go, the work it has to do, and how to do it?

God, who by His Spirit teaches the birds their way through the air, and how to make their nests, also teaches a little plant. He lives in everything that He has made, to guide each one in the right way.

Growth

Present Truth, March 20, 1902

WE HAVE seen the baby plant come out of its cradle, and now we must consider how it grows. Plants are like children; they cannot live and grow unless they have something to eat. They need food to build them up, just as we do.

But they are like little babies—they cannot take solid food. All their food has to be sucked up by the little rootlets, or drawn in through the leaves. So it must all be melted in water or in the air. They send out their roots to find water, and if there is any near, they are sure to go the shortest way to it.

The animals cannot all live on the same kind of food. God teaches each living thing what is best for it, and where to find its food. The plants also do not all need the same food. Each plant takes from the ground just the kind that it needs.

Reeds and water-lilies growing in the same water, will take up quite different food from it. Plants growing close together on the same land will not suck up the same food. Each one will take just what is best for it.

Where do the plants get such wonderful wisdom? How did the little roots know where to go for water, and what to take up from it, and what to leave? They are all taught by the Spirit of God.

Flowers

Present Truth, March 27, 1902

THE Spirit of Jesus Christ is the life of all things. He teaches each one the way of life that He has planned for it.

As the plant and flowers grow it puts forth buds and blossoms, that crown it with beauty and show the glory of the life that is in it. We see in the lovely flowers a little of the beauty of the Lord who made them.

Remember what Jesus said about the lilies of the field—that Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of them.5 Matthew 6:28-29. The glory of Solomon was all dead show, put on from outside.

But the flower’s beautiful robe shows the glory of the life within. This living beauty is a part of the plant, and not something that can be put on and off, like the clothes we wear.

In the sweet gifts our heavenly Father tells us of His love for us. He lets us know that He wants to make us happy.

But the flowers are for use, as well as beauty. In the flowers the little seeds that hold the baby plants are formed and made ripe, so that each plant may bring forth more plants. In this they fulfill the Word of God,

Genesis 1

11 Let the earth bring forth...the herb yielding seed...after his kind.

Pollen

Present Truth, April 3, 1902

LOOK into the golden heart of a rose, or notice the golden scepter or star that the queenly lily bears. In almost every flower you will see something like this. When the flower is full blown, just before its petals fall, its tiny yellow grains fall in a golden shower.

Did you know that this gold dust you have seen upon the flowers is of far more value than the gold dust that is dug from the mine? For without this flower dust, that is called pollen, the seeds would be of no use at all.

A little grain of pollen must find its way into the heart of each little seed that is being formed in the pod, or else it will never come to anything. It is the pollen that makes the seeds fruitful—that is, able to bring forth new plants.

So even these tiny grains of pollen that we can scarcely see, have their place in God’s plan.

The best and strongest plants come from seeds that have been made fruitful by the pollen from another flower. So in many plants it is not possible for the flower dust to fall upon its own seed. How then does the pollen get from one flower to another, to make the seeds perfect? This wonderful story will next be told.

Bees

Present Truth, April 10, 1902

THE busy bee, if she could talk, might be able to tell you how of the flower dust is carried from one flower to another to make good seed. For she is a little gardener that God uses to help in this work.

Have you ever seen a velvet Bumble-bee with legs and head powdered with gold? This golden powder came from the last flower that she went to for honey. Now see which she does with it. Down goes her head into the scented cup of another flower, and she comes up laden with honey, she leaves gold dust in the heart of the flower, to pay for what she has carried off.

Now do you see one reason why God has filled the flowers with honey? It is to draw the bees to work among them. Their colors and scent tell the bees were the honey is to be found.

In giving its honey to the bee, the flower is working for its own good. It gets a blessing in return. And in helping the flowers to bear good seed, the bee is working for the good of its race. It is helping to provide flowers that will give the bees a fresh store of honey.

How wonderful is the work of God, and how much there is to learn in each little flower that He has told us to consider.

Spreading Seeds

Present Truth, April 17, 1902

JUST as soon as the honey is gathered, and the flower droops and its petals fall. But the seed pod grows bigger and bigger into the perfect ripe fruit. Did you know that the juicy, rosy, sweet apple is the seed pod of the apple tree?

God has many ways of spreading the seeds of the earth. Some are gathered by man and planted in the ground. Some have little wings or light down, and they float in the air, and are carried by the wind far away from the mother plant, to a new home in the earth. Some are carried long distances by the birds that feed on their bright berries.

Some pods burst open with force that shoots the seed out. Others have left bristles, by which they cling to the sides of animals, who brush them off, and the seeds take root in the ground.

Some birds—the nut crackers—and some animals, like the squirrel, bury a store of seeds for use in the winter. If these are not taken out again they grow up when the spring comes.

Each creature, helps in some way, like the bee, to increase the plants from which it feeds. All this is a part of the loving plan of the great Creator, who provides food for all living things.

The Word of God

Present Truth, April 24, 1902

THE seed which makes the flowers grow is the Word of God, so as we…

Matthew 6

28 Consider the lilies, how they grow,

–we can learn how this Word can make us grow in purity and beauty of character.

The flowers do not grow by trying to. It is God’s power, and not their own, that makes them grow. Like the lilies we cannot make ourselves pure, and good, and beautiful. But if we look to Jesus, He will do everything for us.

The flowers must have sunshine and rain to make them grow, and so must we. Jesus is the light of the world. And His light shines on those who turn to Him. And He has promised to pour His Holy Spirit upon those who ask Him, like floods upon the dry ground. The sunshine of His love, and the rain of His Holy Spirit, will make the good seed of the word grow in our hearts.

The earth could not clothe itself with beautiful flowers. But when God spoke to it and said,

Genesis 1

11 Let the earth bring forth grass,

–His Word covered it with its lovely, flowery robe. Neither can we do any good thing of ourselves. But God speaks to us in His Word, and if we let it into our hearts, it will put His own good works into our lives. Then the flowers of love will grow up in our hearts, and clothe us with the beautiful robe of the righteousness of Jesus.

Spiders

Present Truth, May 1, 1902

FOOLISH little boy, to be so afraid of a harmless spider! He is like “little Miss Moffat,” who ran away from the “great Spider that sat down beside her.” Perhaps it is because spiders are so thirsty for the blood of flies and other insects that little children are afraid of them; but to us they are quite harmless.

Watch the busy spider making her fine web. Those thin threads that she spins out of her own body, are each made up of at least four thousand tiny threads, woven together like the strands of a rope.

The little spinning machine at the end of the spider’s body has four or six “spinnerets” full of tiny holes, so small that there are sometimes one thousand in a space no bigger than a pin’s point. The threads are drawn through these. The spider’s thread is strong; yet it is so fine and light that one pound of it would reach round the world.

The spider has a very large appetite, and eats a great deal. This is because she spins out so much to make her web.

If a man should eat as much for his size as a spider does, he would want a whole bullock for breakfast; another bullock and five sheep for dinner; two more sheep for tea; a supper of two bullocks, four or five hogs, and six sheep; and at bedtime five barrels of fish. This would be just about as much as a spider eats for its size. Yet spiders can go for ten months with no food at all.

Life in the Sea

Present Truth, May 8, 1902

IF YOU could walk along the bottom of the sea, you would find there many wonderful and beautiful things. There are ocean flowers of many colors. One is a living animal. They are fastened to the rocks, and do not move, but they have little mouths that open and take in their food.

There are also the red, white, and pink coral plants, which grow in stiff bushes under the sea. These are built up by the tiny “coral insects.” Sparkling little red, blue, green, and silver fish play among the coral blossoms like butterflies or birds among the flowers of earth.

Down in the deep sea it is very dark; but some of the fishes carry “electric lights.” The Torch Fish has a little lamp in his head, that lights up the water round about.

Sometimes the waves wash up on the sea-beach some of the beautiful, colored shells and sea-weed from the ocean depths.

Psalm 104

24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! in wisdom have You made them all. The earth is full of your riches.

25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beast.

The largest and smallest of living things are found in the sea,—creatures so small that they cannot be seen, and great whales that weigh as much as an army of 3,000 men.

Care for the Animals

Present Truth, May 22, 1902

MEOW! Meow! Kitty is crying for some milk. She cannot tell in words what she wants, but her kind little master knows she is hungry.

When God first made the animals, He gave them all to man to take care of. Now most of them are afraid of us, and they will not come at our call. But there are still a few who love and obey man. Among these are the horse, the dog, and the cat.

Cats are very affectionate. They like to be petted. All the animals had been made to suffer a great deal because of man’s sin. So we must do all we can to make them happy.

God’s Word says:

Proverbs 12

10 A merciful man regards the life of his beast.

That means that he takes good care of the animals that he owns. If we do not like to take the trouble to make them comfortable and happy, we ought not to keep any pets.

Little children are sometimes thoughtless, and forget to feed them. It is very hard for them to be hungry and cold and not able to tell their wants.

God notices even the little sparrows, and He knows when they are hungry. He is pleased when we are kind to any of His creatures, for it pains Him when they suffer.

Psalm 145

9 The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.

A Flower Clock

Present Truth, May 29, 1902

LITTLE MINNIE has a flower clock. She is trying to tell the time, as perhaps you have done, by blowing off the top of a dandelion head.6 The term “dandelion clock” refers to a practice by children in which the number of puffs needed to blow the seeds from a dandelion head is supposed to tell the time. But of course she cannot tell the right time in that way.

But do you know that every flower is a real little time-keeper. Hundreds and hundreds of years ago, before any watches or clocks were made, people used to tell the time of day by the flowers. Each little flower opens at exactly the same time day after day. Some open early and some late; but all the same kind always open at the same time. So those who watch them closely can tell, when they see them open or close, what the time is.

One old writer said that he knew forty-one different flowers by which he could tell the time, and since then a lot more have been found out. For every hour of the day or night, some little flower opens or closes its petals.

So if you would like a real flower clock, watch the flowers closely, and those of you who live in the country, can make one for yourself. In doing that you will find out a great many more wonderful things about the flowers that God has made to be our teachers.

Psalm 111

2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

Faces

Present Truth, June 5, 1902

DID you ever see a little boy with a face like this? I hope you never saw one in the looking-glass. Look at the turned down corners of the mouth, the angry scowl on the brow, and the sour expression of the face. It is not pleasant to see; no one likes to look upon such a face.

Do you know what makes this face look ugly? It is discontent. This is what makes those lines around the mouth and on the brow, takes the light of the eyes, and spoils the whole face.

Sometimes children “make faces” at one another. Do you know that we are all day by day helping to make our own faces? Think how very different the same face looks when the child is laughing or crying, when he smiles or looks cross.

So whichever way it is our habit to look, our faces will at last be set in that shape. The child who has the habit of crying and fretting, and who often marks his face with the sharp lines of temper, is making for himself a face like the one in the picture. Do you think that you can look as cross as you like at home, and then go with a bright, sweet, happy face to your friends outside.

Now look at the sweet face of this year old girl. It does every one good to see a bright face. But if you want one, do not think that you can put it on. You must make it day by day. Every small, every loving look, every good thought, is helping to make your face pleasant to look upon.

Burying Beetles

Present Truth, June 12, 1902

HAVE you not wondered what becomes of the bodies of all little birds and animals that die in our fields and woods? Many creatures are caught and killed and eaten by animals larger and stronger than they.

You have seen the spider’s web, and know what she spins it for. You know also what becomes of the body of the little mouse when it is caught by the cat.

Look at our picture, and you will see what happens to those that are not killed or eaten. The little insects you see are called Burying Beetles. When they find the body of a dead rat or mouse or bird they join together to dig a grave for it.

Four or five of them glide underneath and dig very fast. In two hours they can make a hole deep enough, and then they pile up the ground over the body.

Why do they do this? It is because they want to lay up a store of food for their young. They lay their eggs on the buried animal, and when the young are hatched, they at once begin to feed on it.

This is all the beetles are thinking of; but God is using them to do a work for the world, to help to keep the earth pure and sweet. Nothing lives for itself only; everything is a part of God’s great plan.

Be Kind

Present Truth, June 19, 1902

JEANNIE AND JOHNNY have not been happy today. Would you like to know why? It is because they have been quarreling, as some other little children sometimes do.

Johnny is a little echo of Jeannie. When Jeannie smiles and speaks gently, her little brother laughs and is good and happy. But when Jeannie is cross and speaks sharply to him, Johnnie cries and pouts and says naughty words too. Here is a lesson for all little boys and girls who have baby brothers or sisters.

But now it is bed-time, and mamma has been telling them that God is love, and that He wants all His little children to be like Him. So He says,

John 13

33 Little children,…

34 ...love one another.

He also says,

Ephesians 4

26 Let not the sun go down on your wrath.

So Jeannie forgets that she has been angry with dear little Johnny, and makes him happy with a sweet kiss.

It is our enemy Satan who tries to make us unkind to one another. He knows that this will make Jesus sorry. Let us ask God every day to give us loving hearts, and make us kind and gentle to one another, that we may be like Him.

Kings and Crowns

Present Truth, June 26, 1902

YOU all know what a crown means. It means that the one who wears it is a king or queen. Just now we are hearing a great deal about “The Coronation,” and the King’s Crown.

God meant every man to be a king, and when He made the first man, He himself crowned him king. But He did not put on him a crown of gold and jewels like the one that the King of England wears,—a crown that can be put on or put off.

Psalm 8

5 [He] crowned him with glory and honor.

A beautiful crown of glorious light shone round about his head. This was the beauty of his holy character that shone out and showed that he was the son of God, and belonged to the royal family. He was clothed also with a royal robe of light.

But through sin, wrong-doing, disobedience to their Heavenly Father, men have lost their crowns and royal robes. Their crown of glory has faded from their brow because sin has got into their hearts. Their robe of light has vanished, and they have to cover themselves with clothes that they make for themselves.

Jesus Christ came into the world to bring back to us all that we have lost by sin. He came to take sin out of our hearts, and to bring us again into the family of God. When we believe on Him we become God’s children—kings, because we are the children of the King of kings. And when He comes we shall each receive a beautiful crown of glory, that will never fade away.

Little Hands

Present Truth, July 3, 1902

ALL FOR JESUS Little hands may work for Jesus,	And may do their Maker’s will; Little feet may run for Jesus,	They may do His errands still. Little lips may sing for Jesus;	Precious tributes they may bring; They may sing the glad hosannas	To the praise of Israel’s King. Little one, oh, love the Saviour;	Give yourself to Him, I pray. He will willingly receive you;	He will lead you all the way.

Goats

Present Truth, July 10, 1902

THE goat has always been one of the animals most useful to man. We read of it in the Bible from the very earliest times.

In its natural state the goat lives a free life among the rocks and mountains. It skips lightly from rock to rock, and leaps down very steep places without getting hurt. We are told that God has made…

Psalm 104

18 The high hills [to be] a refuge for the wild goats.

He thinks of the animal and provides for the needs of every animal that He has made.

Flocks of goats were very early kept by man because of the many ways in which they were useful to him. In the present that Jacob gave to Esau there were two hundred and twenty goats. In those days people made their homes in tents covered with a goat skins. The milk, which is weak and nourishing, was used for drinking and for making a kind of butter that was given to travelers who stopped at the tents to rest, as it was thought to be refreshing.

The flesh of the young goats, which are called kids, was used for food. It was this that Rebecca used to make “savory meat” for Isaac.7 Genesis chapter 27.

When a water bottle was wanted, a kid of the goats was taken, its head and feet cut off, the animal drawn out of the skin, the openings tied up, and the bottle was then ready for use.

Insects

Present Truth, July 24, 1902

HAVE you noticed, these hot summer days, how busy the bees, caterpillars, butterflies, flies, and all little insects are? In the middle of the hot days, when even little children are tired with the heat, and the little birds’ wings droop, and they sit still and quiet in the shade, then the merry hum and buzz of the busy insects can be heard louder than ever.

The sun is their life. When the sunny summer days are over, most of them will die. So now, they are making the most of their short, sunny life.

The bees are storing honey in the hive. The caterpillars are eating up the green leaves just as fast as they can, so that they will be able to spin their cocoons, of which the gay butterflies will come.

The butterflies are sipping honey enough from the flowers to keep them alive until they have done their work of laying their tiny eggs in beautiful even rows on the leaves or stems of plants. Out of these a host of tiny caterpillars will creep.

The tiny ants are rushing hither and thither on their way to or from their homes. For the ant…

Proverbs 6

8 Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest,

–ready for the winter. What a busy world! Every living thing has its own appointed work to do, and by doing it faithfully, each little creature is helping the whole world.

The Dove

Present Truth, August 7, 1902

THE sweet and gentle dove is often spoken of in God’s Word. It is a beautiful bird; we are told of…

Psalm 68

13 ...the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

The first time we hear of the dove is after the Flood, when Noah sent her forth from the ark, and she came back with an olive leaf in her mouth.8 Genesis 8:11. The olive branch is the sign of peace; so that dove seems to us to be the messenger of peace.

The dove came back to Noah for rest and protection. This bird has always been a favorite with man, perhaps because it is so tame and gentle and loving, and trusts in his care and keeping.

But although the dove is so gentle, it is also very strong. It can fly very fast and very far. King David said:

Psalm 55

6 Oh, that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest.

It was in the form of a dove that the Holy Spirit came upon our Saviour when He came out of the water after His baptism.9 Matthew 3:16. He wants to come and make His home in every heart. The Holy Spirit brings to us peace, and love, and strength. And this is what the dove is to remind us of.

Training Animals

Present Truth, September 4, 1902

OLIVER’S FATHER has a brown horse named Dobbin, and Oliver has a little pup that he calls Don. Of course Don is very fond of his young master. How quickly he comes at his call, and follows him wherever he goes. He tries to do all that he is told. But he is very playful, and sometimes gets into mischief and trouble. He will learn better as he gets older.

Oliver is teaching him many tricks. You see he has a whip, but this is more for show than anything else. He uses it to make Don understand what he wants him to do. And sometimes when he rides on Dobbin’s back, he cracks his whip to make the patient old horse go faster, but he does not strike him with it.

God made the human race to rule over all the animals. In the earth, when it was new, all living things obeyed the voice of Adam. He did not rule them with a rod or a whip, but with kind, loving words. When God makes the earth new again,

Isaiah 11

6 ...a little child shall lead them.

They will all be as gentle and obedient as they were at first, and love will take away all fear of each other from both children and animals.

But even now the dog is the faithful friend of man, and the horse is his obedient servant.

Rain

Present Truth, April 23, 1903

THIS little girl and boy do not like to see the rain. It stops their merry play. But if they were as wise as the little birds and animals seem to be, they would be glad.

Hear the little birds singing their thanks. Do they know that their heavenly Father is sending them food as well as drink in the pattering rain drops? The ducks know that their pond will now be full again.

They seem to say

In their loud “Quack! Quack!”

Nice soft mud and running water

Now we shall not lack.

See the flowers, how they lift, their bright faces, to be washed by the soft drops. Their thirsty little roots are taking a big drink of the pure water. The tall trees wave their branches in thanks for the rain which helps to clothe them in their new spring dress. They will now have plenty of sap to make their green buds swell and grow and burst out all over the brown boughs.

So let the little children join with the birds and the flowers in giving thanks to their kind heavenly Father who makes His rain to fall upon all, even upon the unthankful. Let us not be among those.

Nests

Present Truth, April 30, 1903

IN THE spring time all the birds are very busy. First they choose their mates; then they build their nests and lay their eggs. After this the mother bird has to stay at home all the time to hatch the eggs. And when the young ones come out of the shell, both parents are busy getting them food.

Each kind of bird has a different kind of nest. Look at the beautiful little cradle in our picture. It is slung up just like a sailor’s hammock. The bird that builds this nest is called the Honey Eater, because it feeds on the sweet juice of the flowers. Its home is in Australia.

The nest is hung high up on a thin twig at the top of a tall tree. It is very hard to find. If any animal should climb up to take the eggs or young when the parents are away, the thin twigs would not bear his weight, and he would be afraid to venture.

The soft wind rocks the nest gently to and fro, as a mother rocks her little one’s cradle. The cool breeze keeps the nest from getting too warm and uncomfortable for the young birds.

God watches over all the little birds. Not one is forgotten by Him. He gives the parent birds skill and wisdom to care for and defend their young, and not even a little sparrow falls to the ground without His notice.10 Matthew 10:29.

Weaver Bird Nests

Present Truth, May 7, 1903

HERE is another nest. It looks very different from the last one we saw. It is the home of one of the Weaver Birds. You can see the hole in the bottom where the mother goes in and out. She goes up a long tunnel to the place where the eggs or the young are hidden.

In Africa, where these birds live, there are monkeys and snakes. They like eggs and young birds for their breakfast, so the mother makes her nest very long, and hides the eggs where these creatures cannot easily get them.

The nest is hung near the end of a branch, and often over the water. So if a monkey burglar comes to rob the nest, his weight drags down the branch, and he finds himself in the water. Then all the Weaver Birds round about come and scold and peck at the thief.

Sometimes many Weaver Birds join their nests together so that they will be safer. As the young birds grow up and want new homes, more nests are joined on to the old ones. At last the nest city gets so large that it looks like a small thatched house hanging in the tree.

When the rain comes and the nests are soaked with water, they get so heavy that the branch breaks off and comes crashing to the ground. But at that time there are no little ones inside. They are all able to fly before the rainy season comes.

The next year they have to build new nests.

Tailor Bird Nests

Present Truth, May 14, 1903

THIS is a nest of a very beautiful little bird of India. He is called the Tailor Bird, because he sews up his nest like a tailor sews cloth. He chooses a leaf, usually a large one growing from the end of a twig, but sometimes he sews several leaves together.

He uses his beak to pierce a row of holes along each. Then he finds his thread of grass. He pushes this through the holes with his beak and draws the leaves together. This makes a pretty leaf covering. In this hollow he fits his cosy nest, lined with soft white down. The green leaves hide the nest from the sharp eyes of his foes. Here the little Tailor Bird will be safe.

Is he not a wise, clever little worker? He has no needle, no scissors, no tools of any kind; only his little beak. Yet he makes for his family a better house than man with all his tools and skill could make for him.

God teaches him the best way to do what he has to do. He will teach you also, if you will let Him, just the way to do all that He wants you to do. He has promised to give His Holy Spirit to His children, to teach them and guide them in the right way. So if you want to learn God’s way, you must ask Him for His Holy Spirit. He says that He will give this to all who ask.11 Luke 11:13.

Just Hatched

Present Truth, May 21, 1903

DID you ever look into a little bird’s nest when the baby birds were just out of the shell? What a surprise it was to see their little naked bodies! No soft down, no pretty feathers.

How helpless these tiny creatures are. They cannot even stand, for there is no strength in their legs. All they can do is to cry for food, and swallow what the busy little Mother-bird brings.

This is just how you were when you came into the world, a tiny, bald-headed, helpless baby. You lay all day in your little cradle nest, or in your Mother’s arms. You could only cry for food and swallow what was given you by your loving Mother, without even saying “Thank you.”

Does the Mother-bird mind all her trouble? Would she rather be without all this care and hard work? Oh, no; she loves these ugly little fledglings, and thinks they are beautiful. All day long she thinks of them, and is never so happy as when they are cuddled under her warm, soft wings.

And did your mother think it was a trouble to work for you and care for you when you were a helpless little baby? No; all her work was sweet because she loved you so much. Do you not love her dearly for all her kind care?

What can you now do to show your love? You can be a good, obedient, happy child.

Chickens and Chicks

Present Truth, May 28, 1903

CHICKENS are not like other little birds that have to stay in their nests and be fed by their parents for weeks after they come out of the shell. The little chick comes into the world with his round body covered with soft downy feathers. He looks like a little golden ball.

He can run about and pick up his food at once, but he has learn many lessons to learn from his mother. She teaches him how to scratch for worms. She calls him when any danger is near—a big dog who might hurt him, or a naughty boy who might steal him or throw stones at him.

See what large wings she has. There is plenty of room underneath them for all her little ones. This is a safe place when there is danger and a warm shelter from the cold. The hen never thinks of herself and her own comfort, but thinks only of her chickens. She has so many babies to look after, that she is very busy.

God speaks of the care of the mother hen for her brood, to show how great is His loving care for us. He said that He would gather us to himself, and hide us from all trouble,

Matthew 22

37 ...even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings.

Psalm 36

7 How excellent is your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings.

The Morning Plunge

Present Truth, June 4, 1903

BABY loves his morning bath. When he sees the water ready for him he crows with delight, and kicks and struggles to get into it. He is a wise baby. The cold morning bath is good for all children. The fresh water not only makes them clean, but it puts new life into them.

Baby is not the only one who loves his bath. See the frogs tumbling over one another in their hurry to get their morning dip in the pond.

The birds, too, love the water. They do not have a kind nurse or mother to sponge them and dry them with a soft towel. But they splash in the lake, and send the sparkling drops all over themselves. Then they dry their leathers in the sun, and powder themselves with dust instead of sweet smelling toilet powder.

Pussie gives her babies a bath. They do not have a nice tub full of fresh water as you do. She uses her own tongue for a sponge, and licks them all over their furry bodies. Is not this a strange bath? But pussy is very well pleased with it, and of course she knows what is best for her own babies.

Even the flowers have their morning bath. If you go out on the grass early in the morning, your shoes will get wet. You can see little dewdrops, like beads, spangled over the grass and flowers. The dew bathes and freshens the flowers, grass and trees.

Love Makes Us Happy

Present Truth, June 11, 1903

IT IS love that makes us happy. Do you think these two little boys look happy? Johnnie has a nice rosy apple. Oh, how Jimmie would like a big juicy bite.

“No,” says Johnnie, “this is my apple, and I want it all for myself.”

This is not the way love goes. Love makes us think of others, and want to share our good things with those who have none. Look at Johnnie’s face. It does not make him happy to be selfish. And he is making poor little Jimmie unhappy too.

Ah, this is better. A good angel has whispered a kinder thought into little Johnnie’s ear. Or perhaps he heard God’s voice saying in his heart,

“Little children, love one another.”12 1 John 3:7, 11.

So he is giving Jimmie the very first bite. Look now at his bright beaming face. How happy his kind little heart is making him. And he is making his little playmate happy too.

Yes, it is love that makes us happy, so let us love one another.

The School of the Woods

Present Truth, June 18, 1903

HERE are two little brothers out for their early morning run in the dew and the sunshine. They live and learn in the School of the Woods.

Did you not know that little animals had to go to school? They have many lessons to learn, and their mothers are their teachers. Those poor little animals who have lost their mothers have no one to teach them. They are soon caught and killed by some larger animal or bird, because they have not learned the way to escape.

The first and chief lesson for Baby Bunnies to learn; as well as for little children, is to obey their mothers,—to do as they are told. Baby Bunny knows nothing. His wise Mamma knows all that a bunny needs to know. So if he does just what she tells him, he will be safe. But the naughty and disobedient little bunny will be sure to get into trouble.

Baby Bunny learns to lie quite still when a snake or hawk is near. Then most likely he will not be seen. He learns how to dodge the old fox and the dogs who chase him, and to lead them into the prickly thorn bushes that scratch them and shelter him.

He learns how to send telegraph messages to the other bunnies with his hind feet. One thump means “Keep still.” Two slow thumps mean “Come.” Two fast thumps mean “Danger.” And three fast thumps mean “Run.”

These are a few of the lessons that Baby Bunny learns in the School of the Woods.

Never Alone

Present Truth, July 16, 1903

“Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone,” you often sing. But the one who dares to be as true and brave as Daniel does not have to stand alone. Daniel was cast into a den of lions because he would not stop worshiping God and praying to Him, when King Darius told him to. But if he had been alone with those hungry, roaring lions, he would never have come out of the den again. They would soon have eaten him up.

King Darius had not wanted Daniel to be thrown to the lions. He had tried to save him, but he could not, because the princes were all jealous of Daniel, and wanted him to be killed. Early in the morning the king came to the den, and called to Daniel to find out if he was still alive. How glad he was when Daniel answered, and told him why the lions had not been able to eat him.

Daniel 6

22 My God has sent His angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths.

No one who loves and serves God has to stand alone, for,

Psalm 34

7 The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear Him, and delivers them.

God might have saved Daniel from going into the lions’ den. But He wanted to show the king and the people His power to save. They worshiped idols, and He wanted to turn them away from their false gods, to put their trust in Him.

And when King Darius saw how God had saved Daniel by sending an angel from heaven to take care of him, he sent a message to every nation on the earth. He told them all to worship the true and living God, who had saved Daniel from the power of the lions.

Picture Credits

- Covers (front and back): Chipmunk reaching for Peanuts in Manning Park, BC, Canada. Taken by the Editor.

- Inside Cover: Portrait of E. J. Waggoner: auto-traced from a scan of the book, The Sanctuary Restored, by Peter Jarnes (1969) (available on awakeandsing.com). The artist was Donald Muth.

- About This Series: “Jesus helping a Boy walk in the Light,” from Standard Bible Story Readers, Book 2, 1925.

- 1. A Poor Little Bird: “Bird in Winter,” from Polly Peacemaker, 1899.

- 2. Migration: “Redbreast,” from Birds of Great Britain and Ireland, vol. 1, 1907.

- 3. Homecoming: “Two Birds building Nest,” from The Golden Harp, 1866.

- 4. Mother’s Love: “Birds Nest,” from Bible Natural History, 1856.

- 5. Baby Birds: “Wild Geese migrating South,” from Chatterbox Book of Birds, 1909.

- 6. King of the Birds: “Golden Eagle,” from Handbook to the Birds of Great Britain, vol. 2, 1894.

- 7. The Biggest Bird: “Ostrich at full speed,” from Winners in Life’s Race, 1883; “Ostrich and Nest,” Job 39:14, from Birds of the Bible, 1887.

- 8. The Smallest Bird: “Red-Throated Hummingbird,” from The Naturalist’s Miscellany, 1789.

- 9. The Prettiest Bird: “Peacock,” from Bible Natural History, 1856; “Bird of Paradise,” from rawpixel.com, image 431443.

- 10. Lilies: “Lily and Moths,” The Natural History of the Sacred Scriptures, 1800.

- 11. Seeds: “Maple Seeds,” from A Garden of Pleasure, 1895.

- 12. Baby Plants: “Acorn sprouting,” from The Child’s Book of Nature, Vol, 1: Plants, 1872.

- 13. Growth: “Water Plants,” from goodfon.com, priroda-ozero-prud-poda.

- 14. Flowers: “Ornament - Flowers and Seed Pods,” from an old book (unknown).

- 15. Pollen: “Stamen of a Pink Flower,” from wikimedia.com, image 3575978071.

- 16. Bees: “Flowers and Bees,” from Easy Steps in the Bible Story, 1900; “Thistle Blossom with Bee,” from a color picture (1886) in the Library of Congress.

- 17. Spreading Seeds: “Dandelion Seeds,” from svgsilh.com, image 335222; “Acorn of the Oaks of Palestine,” from The Bible Handbook, 1883.

- 18. The Word of God: “Lilies,” from The Life of Jesus Christ, 1903.

- 19. Spiders: “Spider,” from Bible Natural History, 1856.

- 20. Life in the Sea: “Shell,” from Beautiful Shells, 1887; “Sperm Whale,” from Winners in Life’s Race, 1883.

- 21. Care for the Animals: “Cat Begging,” from an old scan of unknown origin; “Boy playing with Cat and Dog,” from Little Folks Magazine, 1883.

- 22. A Flower Clock: “Minnie plays with a Flower Clock”: this is the original picture that appeared with the article in Present Truth, May 29, 1902.

- 23. Faces: “Frowning Face,” and “Smiling Face”: these are the original pictures that appeared with the article in Present Truth, June 5, 1902.

- 24. Burying Beetles: “Burying Beetles,” from Brehms Tierleben, 1893.

- 25. Be Kind: “Jeannie kisses Johnnie”: this is the original picture that appeared with the article in Present Truth, June 19, 1902.

- 26. Kings and Crowns: “Ornament: Small Crown,” from Bible Readings for the Home Circle, 1888.

- 27. Little Hands: “Frame for Poem”: this is the original picture that appeared with the article in Present Truth, July 3, 1902.

- 28. Goats: “Mountain Goats”: this is the original picture that appeared with the article in Present Truth, July 10, 1902.

- 29. Insects: “Caterpillars,” from Bible Natural History, 1856: “Insects,” (Genesis 1:20), from Physica Sacra, 1731.

- 30. The Dove: “Dove,” from Tract Primer, 1847.

- 31. Training Animals: “Training Animals”: this is the original picture that appeared with the article in Present Truth, September 4, 1902; “A Little Child shall lead them,” from Holy Bible, 1881.

- 32. Rain: “Girl and Boy in the Rain”: this is the original picture that appeared with the article in Present Truth, April 23, 1903; “Rain brings Blessings,” from Elegantissimorum Emblematum, 1696.

- 33. Nests: “Baby Bird in Nest, swinging under Branch,” from Chatterbox Book of Birds, 1909.

- 34. Weaver Bird Nests: “Weaver Bird Nest,” from wikimedia.com.

- 35. Tailor Bird Nests: “Tailor Bird Nest,” from rawpixel.com, 386693.

- 36. Just Hatched: “Newborn Baby Birds,” from The First Book of Birds, 1951.

- 37. Chickens and Chicks: “Chicken with Chicks,” from Bertha’s Garden, 1899.

- 38. The Morning Plunge: “Metamorphosis of the Frog,” from Winners in Life’s Race, 1883; “Spotted Harmonia Axyridis - Ladybug stitting on Wet Flower,” from pexels.com, Skyler Ewing.

- 39. Love Makes Us Happy: “Johnnie won’t share,” and “Johnnie shares with Jimmie”: these are the original pictures that appeared with the article in Present Truth, June 11, 1903.

- 40. The School of the Woods: “Two Rabbit Brothers”: this is the original picture that appeared with the article in Present Truth, June 18, 1903.

- 41. Never Alone: “Lion” (woodcut) from unknown source; “Daniel in the Lions Den,” from Story of the Bible, 1911.

- Closing page: “Flowering Pot on Book,” (Periwinkle), 1900, unknown source.