ne through emphasizing the fact that the child is making a
book of Bible stories, and special care must be used to make it
beautiful and worthy. A mission of help or cheer to some one else may
also be held out as a climax to its completion.

(3) The program must be planned with reference to training in habit
formation.

Though the latter part of Childhood is the habit forming period of life,
pre-eminently, yet habits of Christian activity must be begun during
these earlier years. The children in this department are not too young
to lay the foundations of regular and punctual attendance, bringing of
Bibles, giving to church expenses and benevolences, interest in and
gifts for missionary work, daily prayer and, under proper conditions,
church attendance.

II. Instruction.

While special teaching must be given in connection with each habit to be
formed, the supplemental work and the lesson constitute the principal
subjects of instruction.

1. Supplemental Work.

Scripture for memorization in this period should be chosen primarily to
help the children in habit formation. Information about the Bible and
storing for future use belong in the next period of "Golden memory."
Verses that give the thought of God's love, and incite loving obedience
to Him and to their parents, and loving service to others, are
fundamental and should predominate. The Twenty-third Psalm and Lord's
Prayer will have real meaning, and therefore help for the child at this
time, if carefully taught. A few of the great stories of the Bible,
including those of Christmas and Easter, may be added, and some of the
hymns of the church expressing God's majesty and the thought of service.

2. The Lesson.

Every principle of nurture already discussed bears upon the presentation
of the lesson.

(1) The lesson must bring an ideal to the child in concrete form. This
will be the truth connected in some way with a person. Where the lesson
gives the negative side, or the absence of the truth in life, the
positive side must also be presented and made more attractive, since
the child's impulse to imitate, even when warned against it, is stronger
than the warnings. He must always be sent away with something to do,
rather than not to do.

(2) This ideal must always be given in a story. When the lesson material
is abstract, like the Epistles or Psalms, a truth to be taught should be
selected from it, and then made concrete and living in some Bible story.

(3)