Tell them the tales of sea adventures by the hardy mariners. Talk about the ocean shells and sands at their feet. Conclude by telling them Bible sea stories; how a runaway prophet was cast into the sea during a great storm and what happened to him. Tell them about the storm on the sea of Tiberias, and how Jesus commanded the winds and the waves to obey his word. Tell them about Paul's sea journeys, and the wreck of the prison ship, and how they all escaped to a friendly island. In concluding tell them about the heavenly land where there shall be no more sea, and of the mercy of God which is like the wideness of the sea.
You will note that you have used ponderous object-lessons, the sky and the sea.
Sometime when it is possible use household pets as object-lessons. Tell them how to be kind to animals. Explain to them the habits and needs of the little creatures. Tell them when possible Bible stories in which these animals figure. A bird in a cage, a fish in the bowl, etc., will make most interesting and fascinating object-lessons.
When this is not possible use pictures of the animals you want to talk about. Let me tell you how once upon a time I gave an object-lesson extraordinary by using living wild animals. From childhood I have been a lover of wild beasts. I could sit up all night and read about wild animals, I loved these stories more than I loved my play. As I grew older I made them my special study. In later life it was my good fortune to study them at close range which finally enabled me to go into their cages with them. They became my good friends. They treated me with the greatest consideration. It seemed to them I was their second keeper. Let me tell you about the wild animals that I have met, and whose pictures you will see on the following pages.
"ATLAS" THE BIG LION
Atlas was four years old and as friendly and gentle as the house dog. Wild animals, like humans, differ as to their dispositions; some are snarling and cross, others are gentle and winsome. Atlas belonged to the latter class.
One evening I invited 1,000 children to come to his winter quarters and see him. In the center of a large room there was a great cage into which the animals were taken one by one for their daily exercise and run about. Into this big cage Atlas was brought, and I went in with him. While we were together in this great cage he was as friendly as any of my little pets. He purred away like the family cat behind the kitchen stove on a snowy day. He would take his meat from my hand, displaying at all times great concern lest he should in any way harm me. I did not use a whip or a gun, simply a little rod to urge him on a bit, but controlled him by tones, persuasive tones to which he made quick response. I told the children to use kind words with animals as well as humans, as these were very winsome powers. A lion of docile disposition was dangerous only when sick, hungry, in temper, or acting in self-defense. When the lion is seeking food he displays great intelligence. The monkey is a mimic, and can only do what it is taught to do, and even this he cannot in turn teach to its offspring, but a lion seems to think out its problems.
A man in Central Africa was once out late in the day and far from home. He saw a lion at some distance from him. The lion saw him and also followed him slowly.
Atlas, the Big Lion—A Docile, Friendly Beast Performing for
the Children