"WE WANTED TO COME."



LAST Sabbath morning dawned chill and rainy, and by Sabbath-school time the rain was falling heavily. Well protected with waterproof, rubbers, and umbrella, I hurried down the street, thinking the while of what a small school we should be likely to have on account of the disagreeable weather. "The older classes," thought I, "will be likely to be quite well represented, for the young men and women will not mind the rain; but the children's classes will be rather thin, as it will be too bad for the little ones to get out much." Thus I mused, as I walked rapidly up the church steps, and laying off my wraps in the vestry, went first into the room were the older classes met. It was yet early, but many of the teachers were there, and a few scholars. Others soon came in, but still the classes were small, and some were without teachers. 

"The school will be pretty thin today," said one of the superintendents to me, just as the last bell was tolling and all should have been in their places.

Starting to go into the children's room, I passed through the vestry, where I noticed a row of small umbrellas along one side. Several little girls were hurrying up the steps, most of them with an umbrella or parasol of some kind; but a number of small joys were running along with nothing to protect them. Perhaps they came 'between the drops!’ Still I was hardly prepared for the full classes that met my eyes as I passed into the children's room; and the fifty or more bright faces that looked up with a pleasant "good morning" written there, seemed to say, "We don't care for the rain!"

Going up to a class of the smallest, I said, "What made you come today? ‘t was so bad and rainy!" "Why, cause we wanted to come!" piped out several eager little voices. And I needed not to be told that these brave little ones who "wanted to come" had good lessons.

"Ah, yes," thought I, as I passed on, "That is just the secret of it,” and that is the very reason why the older ones stayed away because they did not want to come. And this same childish answer is the expression of the motive, which underlies all earnest work, whether in the Sabbath school or elsewhere. In one way or another we usually find time and opportunity to do what we really want to do.