301. I wish I had two little mouths
Like my two hands & feet--
A little mouth to talk with
And one that just could eat.

Because it seems to me mouths have
So many things to do--
All the time they want to talk
They are supposed to chew!
--Dorothy Aldis

302. My sister's young son spent a weekend at a nature camp. When she went to pick him up, he told her camp was okay, but that they play tricks on you. Asked to explain, he said, "Well, like when they make you get up every morning for ravioli--& then they never give you any!"

303. Bernard Shaw was enjoying a swin in a pool during a stay in South Africa; so were some boys who knew nothing of the august author. One small boy was "dared" by his playmates to "duck the old man" for a shilling. He accepted, but when he was close to his victim, panic seized him. Shaw turned, saw the youngster, & asked him what he wanted. In halting accents, the boy revealed the plot & the shilling bet. "Well," said Shaw, looking sternly at the youngster, "if you wait a moment while I get my breath, I'll let you push my head under water." He did, & the small boy swam back triumphantly to collect his shilling.

304. Never a sigh for the cares that she bore for me,
Never a thought of the joys that flew by;
Her one regret that she couldn't do more for me,
Thoughtless & selfish, her Master was I.

Oh, the long nights that she came at my call to me!
Oh, the soft touch of her hands on my brow!
Oh, the long years that she gave up her all to me!
Oh, how I yearn for her gentleness now!

Slave to her baby! Yes, that was the way of her,
Counting her greatest of services small;
Words cannot tell what this old heart would say of her,
Mother--the sweetest & fairest of all.

305. You can talk about your music, & your operatic airs,
And your phonographic record that Caruso's tenor bears;
But there isn't any music that such wondrous joy can bring
Like that concert when the kiddies & their mother start to sing.

When the supper time is over, then the mother starts
to play
Some simple little ditty, & our concert's under way.
And I'm happier & richer than a millionaire or king
When I listen to the kiddies & their mother as they sing.

There's a sweetness most appealing in the trilling of their notes:
It is innocence that's pouring from their little baby throats;
And I gaze at them enraptured, for my joy's a real thing
Every evening when the kiddies & their mother start to sing.

306. O Mother-My-Love, if you'll give me your hand,
And go where I ask you to wander,
I will lead you away to a beautiful land--
The Dreamland that's waiting out yonder.
We'll walk in a sweet-posie garden out there
Where moonlight & starlight are streaming
And the flowers & the birds are filling the air
With the fragrance & music of dreaming.

There'll be no little tired-out boy to undress,
No questions or cares to perplex you;
There'll be no little bruises or bumps to caress,
Nor patching of stockings to vex you.
For I'll rock you away on a silver-dew stream,
And sing you asleep when you're weary,
And no one shall know of our beautiful dream
But you & your own little dearie.

And when I an tired I'll nestle my head
In the bosom that's soothed me so often,
And the wide-awake stars shall sing in my stead
A song which our dreaming shall soften.
So, Mother-My-Love, let me take your dear hand,
And away through the starlight we'll wander--
Away through the mist to the beautiful land--
The Dreamland that's waiting out yonder!

307. The day after the circus came to town, a teacher received the following excuse for the absence of one of her pupils:
'Dear Teacher: Education, you know, is a lot of things. It is reading & writing & ciphering. It is "Yes, please" & "Yes, thanks," & 'No, thank you.' It is the washing of our hands & the use of forks. It is pencils & scissors & paste & erasers & chalk dust. It is the excitement of vacations. It is autumn bonfires & sleds & puddle-wading.
"Education is a lot of things. It is a brass band blaring & a calliope tooting, Education is a woman shot from a cannon, a man on a tight rope, a seal playing a tune with his nose. It is sideshow barkers, clowns, lions, cotton candy, cowboys & spangles. Education is the wonderment of new things new sensations. It is, in short, a circus!
"That's why Ginger wasn't in your classroom yesterday. Excuse it, please."

308. One father confessed that he did not realise how dishonest he was until he learned a hard lesson. His fourth-grade son received a very low mark in spelling. In spite of scoldings & extra study it seemed his son simply could not bring up his grade. One day the lad told his teacher, "When my dad went to school he got all A's in spelling." "How do you know?" the teacher asked. "Did he tell you he did?" "No!" the boy replied, "But I know he did by the way he scolds me."
"The way I scolded my son", the father said, "I conveyed in untruth. The fact is that I, too, had a hard time in spelling. Then I told my son I also had a difficult time in spelling. Immediately I saw hope shining in his eyes. From that moment on my son did much better, By giving him the impression I got all A's I made him feel defeated. By being honest myself I gave him hope that since Dad made it, he could, too.'

309. At the Newspaper Boys Congress Dinner one little boy kept coming back again & again for pieces of pie. The coloured lady finally said to him, "Boy, if yo' don' stop eatin' pie, you's gonna bust!" The little boy said, "Well, lady, gime the pie & get outta the way!"--DB

310. A little girl in Sunday School was asked by the teacher what else goes with the Armour of God; there's the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness & what else? The little girl said, "The Axe of the Apostles."

311. When Mrs. Ruth Hopkins, a fourth-grade teacher in Brooklyn, New York, looked at her class roster the first day of school, her excitement and joy of starting a new term was tinged with anxiety. In her class this year she would have Tommy T., the school's most notorious -bad boy." His third-grade teacher had constantly complained about Tommy to colleagues, the principal and anyone else who would listen. He was not just mischievous; he caused serious discipline problems in the class, picked fights with the boys, teased the girls, was fresh to the teacher, and seemed to get worse as he grew older. His only redeeming feature was his ability to learn rapidly and master the school work easily.
Mrs. Hopkins decided to face the "Tommy problem" immediately. When she greeted her new students, she made little comments to each of them: "Rose, that's a pretty dress you are wearing." "Alicia, I hear you draw beautifully." When she came to Tommy, she looked him straight in the eyes and said, "Tommy, I understand you are a natural leader. I'm going to depend on you to help me make this class the best class in the fourth grade this year." She reinforced this over the first few days by complimenting Tommy on everything he did and commenting on how this showed what a good student he was. With that reputation to live up to, even a nine-year-old couldn't let her down--and he didn't.
If you want to excel in that difficult leadership role of changing the attitude or behavior of others, give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.

312. One businessman to another: "I finally taught my son the value of a dollar. Now he wants his weekly allowance in Swiss Francs!"

313. The mother of the little boy that sleeps
Has blest assurance, even as she weeps:
She knows her little boy has now no pain--
No further ache, in body, heart or brain;
All sorrow is lulled for him--all distress
Passed into utter peace & restfulness.--
All health that heretofore has been denied--
All happiness, all hope, & ill beside
Of childish longing, now he clasps & keeps
In voiceless joy--the little boy that
sleeps.
--James Whitcomb Riley

314. Dr. R. A. Torrey told a touching story about a man in Chicago who had a sweet little daughter. He loved her dearly, but God took the little child away from him. The house was so lonely and he was so angry against God, that he walked up and down in his room far into the night cursing God for having robbed him of his child. At last, thoroughly worn out, and in great bitterness he threw himself on his bed. He dreamed he stood beside a river, Across the river, in the distance, he heard the singing of such voices as he had never listened to before. Then he saw beautiful little girls coming toward him, nearer and nearer, until at last at the head of the company, he saw his own little girl. She stood on the brink of the river and called across, "Come over here, father!" That overcame his bitterness. He accepted Jesus and prepared to go over yonder where his sweet child had gone.

315. Our children must know the Scriptures so they can quote them when they're in trouble & when all they have is what they've hidden in their hearts. It's a bulwark, a defence against the voice of the Enemy.--DB

316. Adolescence is of necessity a time of conflict between one's own capabilities and what one is expected and permitted to do. It is a time if ambiguity. The adolescent is forever being told by the adult world to "act his age", that is, to behave according to his chronological maturity. But he is also being told to stay out of adult concerns, that is, to behave according to his cultural age. Whatever he does, he is wrong. He does violence either to his chronological or to his cultural age. He is, therefore, inevitably a problem to himself as well as to society.--Peter Drucker

317. Absorbed in his own minor tribulations of coin & conquest, the adult too often forgets that youth is a jarring time, full of excruciating first experiences & full-blown tragedies. It is a pimple on the cheek which everyone will see with distaste; it is the clothes which never seem to fit a gangly body; it is the ultimate disappointment, a broken promise by a parent. It is a training ground for adulthood, a place & time to try for independence, a place & time to try & fail & succeed.

318. Adults are used to talking, to giving orders, but when it comes to living with Teens, adults need to listen with both ears and with their hearts.

319. The problem of communicating with the younger generation would be less complicated if parents knew a little more about what was going on under that male or female hair. One way to find out, I have discovered, is to act as chauffeur for a group of teenagers. Keep your mouth shut, & within minutes of starting out you will be forgotten & conversation will go on as though you were an automatic pilot. I don't know if this is considered an illegal form of bugging, but it is effective.

320. "We lost our first child", said a man in the course of a conversation with a friend.
The other, shocked, cried out, "I didn't know she was dead!"
"Oh, she isn't dead," was the quick response, to which was added sadly, "I was too busy."

321. A recipe for a dear grandmother:
Begin with warm & sunny smiles & add a hug or two.
Combine with all the thoughtful things grandmothers say & do.
Sprinkle with understanding, add memories of family fun,
And you'll have a DEAR grandmother, a Very SPECIAL one!

322. What is a Dad? A dad is someone to count on, for his
warm good-natured ways.
He's a gentle strength that's always there, he's encouragement & praise.
Dad's the one you can call on when you need a helping hand,
He'll stand by you, he'll be a friend, he'll somehow understand.
And though it seems he never gets the thanks that are his due,
Life truly is a better place because of dads like you.
Thoughts of you, Dad, are always filled with gratitude for all
The years you give to care for me when I was young and small,
This letter comes straight from a heart that knows so very clearly
That you gave me so much!--And I love you so very dearly, Dear Dad!

323. When you need real understanding, when You need someone to care,
When you need someone to guide you, when you just need someone there,
It's so wonderful) having a father who's thoughtful, gentle & kind,
A father who's ready to help & hear what you have on your mind.
How wonderful having a father who cares about all that you do.
How wonderful having a father like that, a father who's just like you!

324. It takes such special qualities to make a Dad like you,
Loving kindness, thoughtfulness & understanding too.
It takes the giving manner of a true & trusted friend,
And the kind and loving mercies that just never seen to end.
It takes such special qualities to make a Dad like you,
A Dad who sure deserves our love--And admiration too!

325. A father's deep interest & loving concern
Are generous gifts we do nothing to earn.
Gifts he keeps giving us day after day,
Gifts of the heart we can never repay.
For the time that you've taken to listen & share,
For the things you've done that show that you care.
For all of these things, You're thought fondly of,
And wished a blest birthday with plenty of love!

326. Dads are special people no home should be without,
For everyone will sure agree they're nice to have about.
They are a happy mixture of a small boy in a man,
with soft and twinkling eyes and a strong and guiding hand.
Sometimes they're most demanding & stern is they can be,
But it's only 'cause they love us so, it's plain as day to see,
For in any kind of trouble, a Dad will reach out with his hand,
And You can always count on him to help and understand.
And while we do not thank him quite as often as we should,
We love him & admire him & hope it's understood,
That we're really mighty thankful to have a Dad like you,
For we know how much you love us by the loving things you do!

327. Mothers are God's helpers that show us tender care,
So a prayer that's said for mothers is a very special prayer.
And God gives His warmest blessing, purest sunlight from above,
When you say a prayer for mother with a heart that's filled with love.

328.There's no one like a mother who so thoughtfully displays,
A real care for others by her sweet & loving ways
There's no one like a mother to bring joy & comfort too !
And there's no mother anywhere more wonderful than you!

329. A mother's love is fashioned after God's enduring Love.
For it's endless & unfailing like the Love of Him above.
A mother's love is beautiful in giving & in sharing,
A mother's love is always so considerate & caring.
A mother's love is ever new & oh, so very dear!
It's a part of special memories that lasts down through the years.

330. It takes a lot of loving care & patience day by day,
Kindness & unselfishness all along the way.
It takes a world of thoughtfulness, a lot of dearness too,
And everything that's especially nice to make a mother like you.

331. All Your loving ways, Mother, help others to see,
How beautiful caring & sharing can be.
So my best loving wishes are that God will bless you,
With a beautiful birthday & a happy year too.

332. For you, Mother:
A smile, a hug, a word of praise,
A guiding hand, a tender phrase,
A heart warm as the sun above,
A precious gift: A mother's love.
It really would be hard to count,
The thoughtful things you've done,
To make the path for those you love,
A smoother brighter one.
So it's no wonder, Mother, that
You're loved the whole year through,
And wished a world of happiness,
Today & always too.

333. Everything they've ever said about a mother's ways,
About the sunshine of her smile that brightens cloudy days,
About her gentle patience & her understanding care,
About the comfort she can give by simply being there.
Everything they've eyer said about a mother's touch,
About the happiness she shares, the warmth she shows so much,
About the way she's always glad to help & see things through.
Everything they've ever said is very true of you.

334. What is a Mother? A mother is someone who guides & inspires.
She helps us to attain our dreams & desires.
Wisdom & insight are part of her way,
And her faith in her children brightens their days.

335. Mother is a tender smile that brightens up the day,
Mother is the helping hand that guides us on our way.
Mother is the cheering word, that speaks of deeds so kind.
Mother is the listening ear when something's on our mind.
Mother is the tender soul, the heart that's always true.
Mother dear, these words of rhyme were written just for you.
Happy Birthday!

336. To a very dear mother.
I said a birthday prayer for you, I asked the Lord Above
To keep you safely in His arms & hold you in His Love.
I did not ask He grant you fortune, nor riches, no, nor fame.
But that the gentle life you live might glorify His Name.
And Mother, in my heart I know
You would have prayed the same.