cent he was to get and
writing it all down in the contract, most likely Dr. Frank W. Gunsaulus
would have remained a struggling, discouraged preacher in the backwoods
of Morrow county, Ohio.

Give It Now

Gunsaulus often says, "You are planning and saving and telling yourself
that afterwhile you are going to give great things and do great things.
Give it now! Give your dollar now, rather than your thousands
afterwhile. You need to give it now, and the world needs to get it now."

Chapter VI

The Problem of "Preparedness"

Preparing Children to Live

THE problem of "preparedness" is the problem of preparing children for
life. All other kinds of "preparedness" fade into insignificance before
this. The history of nations shows that their strength was not in the
size of their armies and in the vastness of their population and
wealth, but in the strength and ideals of the individual citizens.

As long as the nation was young and growing--as long as the people were
struggling and overcoming--that nation was strong. It was "prepared."

But when the struggle stopped, the strength waned, for the strength
came from the struggle. When the people became materially prosperous
and surrendered to ease and indulgence, they became fat, stall-fed
weaklings. Then they fell a prey to younger, hardier peoples.

Has the American nation reached that period?

Many homes and communities have reached it.

All over America are fathers and mothers who have struggled and have
become strong men and women thru their struggles, who are saying, "Our
children shall have better chances than we had. We are living for our
children. We are going to give them the best education our money can
buy."

Then, forgetful of how they became strong, they plan to take away from
their children their birthright--their opportunity to become strong and
"prepared"--thru struggle and service and overcoming.

Most "advantages" are disadvantages. Giving a child a chance generally
means getting out of his way. Many an orphan can be grateful that he
was jolted from his life-preserver and cruelly forced to sink or swim.
Thus he learned to swim.

"We are going to give our children the best education our money can
buy."

They think they can buy an education--buy wisdom, strength and
understanding, and give it to them C. O. D! They seem to think they
will buy any brand they see--buy the home brand of education, or else
send off to New York or Paris o