Please see the Transcriber’s Notes at the end of this text.
GOOD TIMES WITH THE JUNIORS
Good Times
With The Juniors
By
LILIAN M. HEATH
United Society of Christian Endeavor
Boston and Chicago
Copyright, 1904,
By GEORGE B. GRAFF
Preface
“Good times” may be either work or play. Butwork and play—who shall define them truly?
Our block houses, toy engines, and dolls onceseemed intensely real and important to us. They arenot so now. In the same way, as we grow into the stilllarger consciousness, into the “life more abundant,”much that we now regard as of grave moment will takeon a new aspect, and we shall see that it was onlyplay. But play is blessed, and necessary to the verygrowth that discards it.
A dear enthusiast in certain lines of work, who ishimself growing, I am sure, once publicly expressedthe belief that too close (!) an adherence to theChristian Endeavor pledge results in a kind of“paperdolatry” tending toward idleness and pauperism.Dear, dear! Can this be true?
A look around the social and business world of to-dayought to settle the question. We take the look,and breathe more freely. Endeavorers here, Endeavorersthere, in places of honor and responsibility—whatcould our good friend have been thinking about?We must be permitted to smile, and think that onconsideration he will smile, too. In fact, the smile[6]cure is the best one for this and all other kinds ofpessimism.
Yet we are serious, too. In God’s great kindergarten,where we are all scholars, learning throughour play-work how to live, who shall say which playsare most—or least—important?
One thing is certain. He who said, “Of such isthe kingdom of heaven,” was speaking of those whoseonly conscious motive was play—natural, graceful,happy, loving life-expression. The growth resultingwas involuntary. With the growth came new impulses,new activities, and new growth. It is theplan, in God’s kindergarten. Brother, if we wouldgrow, let us not be afraid of play!
To those whose loving ministry among the Juniorsfinds frequent occasion for new plans, this little companionvolume to “Eighty Pleasant Evenings” isoffered by one who has found both joy and growth inpreparing it. The proportion of the articles originalwith the compiler is larger than in any of her previouscollections; but ideas from other sources have beenwelcomed and utilized whenever they could be madeto fit the Juniors’ needs.
Credit for specially contributed articles is due toMr. Vincent Van Marter Beede, Miss Imogen A.Storey, Miss Mattie Marie Gamble, Miss Ida M.Parmelee, and Miss Alice Chadwick. The aim hasbeen to make each evening or afternoon as completeas possible in itself. The games described are thereforeincluded in the socials and parties, but in addition[7]to t