General Assembly." He became a
minister of the Gospel, a very successful one, and subsequently
married a young woman who was also much interested in religious work.
She continued to encourage him in this ambition, saying: "David,
preach the best sermons you can; make an effort to bring many souls to
Christ, and some day I believe you will be President of the General
Assembly." The man presided over the General Assembly of his
denomination, not one term, but term after term. He kept his eye long
fixed on that particular aim, and by faith he won it.

THE POWER OF SUGGESTION

To see how powerful suggestion may be in a child's life take this
incident that every parent knows: The little one trips and tumbles.
Mamma says, "Oh, did you fall? Well, never mind; come here, I'll kiss
it. There, now it's well." Immediately the child goes back to his play
perfectly happy. One little fellow was taught that when he fell he
should get up at once, rub the bump, and say, "That didn't hurt." All
through his career the bumps and the hardships of life were met with
the same pluck. On the other hand, a thoughtless caretaker will
excitedly jump and catch up the slightly injured child, coddle it,
rock it, pet it--and the crying continues indefinitely. This early
training in meeting minor hurts and obstacles lasts throughout the
lifetime. Pluck and grit are lacking. The behavior of the man in the
face of difficulties is foreshadowed by the attitude of the child
toward his petty trials and bumps.

Successful child training follows in the path of positive suggestion.
Impatient words and careless threats of punishment can only contribute
to the wrong training of the young mind.

When is the best time to suggest to the child? Catch the little fellow
when he is happiest, when he is overjoyed and filled with glee; for it
is at such times that the suggestions offered will meet with the least
resistance.

Teach the children through the spirit of play and through the medium
of the story. The boy or girl in the story always can have a clean
face, always close the doors quietly, and otherwise so conduct himself
or herself as to constitute a powerful positive suggestion for good.
The story-child always says, "All right, Papa," "All right, Mamma,"
when corrected.

BEDTIME A GOOD TIME TO SUGGEST

The "going-to-bed time" is the time _par excellence_ for suggestion in
early childhood. After the play time, the study time, and the evening
story, w