Arrange on a table a long row of unlit candles. Light the first one, the second one from the first, the third, from the second one, and so one until the end of the line. This illustrates the power of a good example. One follows after another.
THE PRODIGAL SON IN CANDLES
This is the dear old story of the Prodigal Son in candles. Produce a solitary candle. This represents the boy at home. Surround it with a number of other candles, calling them the Prodigal's family. He feels he is all alone. He is not happy with parents and brother, so goes out where he may shine. Now move the light to the other end of the table. This you may call the "far country." Here bring a few other lighted candles and put them around the Prodigal light, and call them the gay company he found in the white way of the new land. Now take all the lights away except the Prodigal light, and say: "Now he is poor and alone. His gay companions have taken their departure, they have forsaken him and left him in want and poverty." Move his light to another part of the platform or place it on the floor. He is now down and almost out. He is feeding swine in the field. He is left all alone. No man cares for the swine-tenders. Now bring in a small yellow candle and place this beside him and say, "This represents memory," so he thinks of his Father's home and his Father's bread—enough and to spare, and as he thinks he says he will arise, and go home again. (Here remove the "memory" light.) Place another light in the middle of the table representing the Great Father who comes out to meet him. Now take both the lights back to the old home. At this point bring in a cluster of lights to represent the neighbors and friends who have come to greet him, and rejoice with his Father. "And they began to be merry." Then from another corner produce a candle which represents the elder brother, who would not go in to the banquet because of his dislike for his brother. Now take a light from the Home Cluster representing the Father, take it over to the Elder Brother light, and bring both lights back to the feast. Sing "Brighten the Corner," and drive home the lesson of coming back to the light, to Father and home.
THE HOT TEMPER CANDLE
This candle represents the angry man, the man with the ungovernable temper. With a good rasp, file off an ounce from the fire end of a poker. The iron filings produced are perfectly combustible, as may be proved by sprinkling them over the flame of a candle. As they descend into the flame they take fire, each particle burning like a star—producing, in fact, miniature fireworks.
THE HOT TEMPER CANDLE
The little shower of sparks will greatly impress the small eyes and will not be forgotten. (See Fig. above.)
SHINING THE LONGEST FOR JESUS
An evangelist was talking to a meeting of children. He illustrated his talk by bringing out a row of candles on a board. A very long candle was at one end and a short candle at the other. Between the long and short candles there were candles of various heights. He said by these candles he wanted to represent the Grandfather, the Grandmother, Father and Mother, and boys and girls, and the baby of the family who had never heard of Jesus until a missionary came, whom he represented by a lighted candle, and then they gave their hearts to Jesus, and from that day loved and served him. He then lit all the candles and said, "The whole family are now shining for Jesus." He then asked which candle represented the Grandmother, the Grandfather, and so on. They all thought the tallest candle would represent the oldest of the family, and said that one must stand for Grandfather. The evangelist said "No, that stands for the baby, the youngest member of the family," and then said, "Do any of you know why?" Presently a little fellow piped out, "I know why, he has the chance to shine the longest for Jesus." That was a wonderful answer, and it made a great impression on the audience. It was the heart of the lesson, Thus we find a message in the candle. Hear it. See it.