PART I
THE CHILD AND THE BIBLE
_Answering Mothers' Questions_
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"So great is my veneration for the Bible, that the earlier my children begin to read it the more confident will be my hopes that they will prove useful citizens to their country and respectable members of society." --_John Quincy Adams_.
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THE CHILD AND THE BIBLE
THE MOTHER'S PART--HOW CAN I USE THE BIBLE STORY WITH MY CHILD?
This is the most important part of the work, because it helps you to understand and use all the rest, and answers your questions in regard to the religious life of your child. These suggestions are largely for the use of "The Golden Book."
1. What Do I Have to Know in Order to Make the Best Use of THE BIBLE STORY with My Child?
You must know three things:--
That a child will not appreciate and use this work at first unless you appreciate and use it too.
That in order to appreciate and use it, you do not need to read all five volumes through at once. You may begin with any one of the suggestions here given, that pleases and interests you most, and use only what little time you may have. Little by little interest will grow and the child will be finding keen enjoyment in acquiring Bible knowledge for himself.
That even though you had time for immediate and thorough reading, the work is of such proportion that its worth cannot be grasped at once. It is by constant daily use in the home that the beauty and effectiveness of THE BIBLE STORY are revealed and the Bible made an "open book" to many a child as well as adult.
2. How Can I Encourage My Child to Memorize Bible Verses?
This is not difficult. Childhood is the time when verbal memory is most acute. The best way to encourage the memorizing of verses is {16} to make a game out of it instead of a task. Do this by using the Bible alphabet in "The Golden Book" (page 25) and thus linking up the Bible with something familiar. Teach a verse each week and ask for daily repetition of it. After several are learned, a drill on the verses is suggested as a spur to memory. Ask what verse in the Bible begins with A? B? C? etc. For the older children there are memory verses given, one for each week in the year, in the back of each of the first four volumes. Let the child himself, so far as he can, arrange these in alphabetical order.
Memorizing is much quickened by making as many natural connections as possible, the known with the unknown. Many hymns are readily recalled by associating them with Psalms of which they are explanations. Children like to learn poetry. Give them the poems suggested below as well as the accompanying Bible passages to learn. Go over them first and let the children understand the parallelism.
Psalm 23 ( 35 S.A.) Hymns (309, 291 G.B.)
Psalm 117 (139 S.A.) Hymn (494 S.A.)
Psalm 19 ( 30 S.A.) Hymn (434 G.B.)
The Birth of Jesus (37 L.J.) Hymns (405, 409 G.B.)
These hymns are well worth memorizing, for they are among the best in our language and knowing them will be an added inducement to memorizing the Bible verses that tell the same story.
3. How Can I Help My Child to Understand God's Relation to the World?
Begin with familiar things.--This is very easily done when the child's thoughts of God are related to his knowledge of the things of home. You will find a splendid treatment of these relationships in the primer pages in "The Golden Book" (27-68). Give these lessons to a child who is learning to read. He will like them because the pages look just like his school book and he will be helped in his reading at the same time that he is learning truths which explain the Bible verse given at the bottom of each page. There is no better way of helping a young child to understand love for God, faith in God, the presence of God, and other great truths that are usually given in the abstract.
(The questions at the end of this chapter will be helpful in getting the child to express himself.)
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4. How Can I Know the Best Bible Stories to Tell to Children?
Remember two things: that, as children develop, different types of stories appeal to them, and that everyone of these types is found in THE BIBLE STORY. It is a fact that, while the Bible is a universal story book, many of its best lessons cannot be put in story form and are therefore left out of any collection of Bible stories. Consequently the child is missing much that he might profitably have. THE BIBLE STORY meets a great need of the times by bringing to children all the lessons of the Bible, some by means of simple treatments of interesting things and some by means of longer stories of its heroes and heroines.
_Simple Good-Night Talks for Little Tots_
The following paragraphs in "The Golden Book" contain the sweetest, most constructive lessons to be found in the whole Bible and are beautiful good-night talks for very young children. The questions at the end of this chapter are listed according to pages in "The Golden Book" and will help in getting the child to repeat the story.
God Sees Me. 81 G.B.
What Does God Want Me to Do? 82 G.B.
What God Gives. 85 G.B.
Jesus and His Friends. 86 G.B.
Jesus Had no Home. 89 G.B.
The People Loved Jesus. 93 G.B.
The Boyhood of Jesus 97 G.B.
Jesus and Sick People. 98 G.B.
Talking with Our Father. 101 G.B.
God is Our Father. 105 G.B.
What Jesus Said about Birds and Flowers. 106 G.B.
What Jesus Said about Trees. 109 G.B.
It will be helpful to the mother who is constantly appealed to by her children for special kinds of stories to know where to find them in THE BIBLE STORY.
_Stories about Other Children_
Children are fond of listening to stories about other children like themselves. THE BIBLE STORY contains many such.
Jesus and the Little Girl. 110 G.B.
The Baby Hid in a Basket. 117 G.B.
The Boy Who Came when He was Called. 132 G.B.
The Boy Who was Raised from the Dead. 193 G.B.
The Little Captive Maid. 205 G.B.
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_Hero Stories_
The favorites of all children beyond the first year or two of school are the stories of great heroes. A large part of "The Golden Book" is given up to stories of Bible heroes, and the following volume is made up of the lives of these same heroes in the words of the Bible text and is consequently more difficult. The beauty of this arrangement is that after reading the easy story in "The Golden Book" a child will want to read more, and as soon as he is able will enjoy going further with his great heroes in the volumes that contain the Bible text. He will understand seemingly difficult passages in the succeeding volumes of the set because of the substantial background formed by the simple treatments in "The Golden Book." The list of simple hero stories is here given together with the corresponding stories in the Bible text in other volumes.
The Shepherd Boy Who Killed a Giant. 139 G.B.
David and Goliath. 386 H.T.
David and King Saul. 151 G.B.
David an Outlaw. 406 H.T.
David and Jonathan. 156 G.B.
The Jealousy of Saul. 396 H.T.
David and His Three Brave Soldiers. 163 G.B.
A Knightly Deed. 438 H.T.
David and His Son Absalom. 167 G.B.
The Rebellion of Absalom. 443 H.T.
The Story of a Good King. 170 G.B.
Solomon's Temple. 461 H.T.
Joseph and His Brethren. 177 G.B.
Joseph. 91 H.T.
In the same way you may read the Bedtime Stories, beginning on page 245 of "The Golden Book," and then go naturally to the same stories in the Bible text itself as told in the volume "The Life of Jesus."
The Story of the First Christmas. 245 G.B.
Nativity. 37 L.J.
The Story of Palm Sunday. 251 G.B.
The Entry into Jerusalem. 233 L.J.
How Jesus Gave His Life for the World. 257 G.B.
The Crucifixion. 281 L.J.
The Story of the First Easter Sunday. 265 G.B.
The Resurrection. 297 L.J.
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Who was the Neighbor? 279 G.B.
The Good Samaritan. 88 L.J.
The Good Shepherd. 282 G.B.
The Good Shepherd and the Sheep. 200 L.J.
5. How Can I Get My Child to Read the Bible?
In no better way than that suggested in the two foregoing paragraphs. Begin at once with the simpler parts of "The Golden Book," proceed gradually, awakening new interest, daily if possible, by means of the Questions (page 26) and Things to Do (page 20). It will take a little time and much thought, but it is the great privilege of the mother to watch for the opportunity and lead the child by means of "The Golden Book" into the treasure house of the Bible, which, despite its wonderful interest and character-building values, has up to this time presented almost a closed door to children. As soon as the child has passed out of "The Golden Book" and found an interest in the other volumes make use of the suggestions and questions in the next chapter for the "Hero Age," and hold the interest once gained.
Very early in life little children begin to ask about Christmas, Palm Sunday, and Easter. Why not seize this opportunity and give them answers to their questions from the Bible?
6. How Can I Help My Child to Understand Life in Bible Times?
By "Seeing Palestine with THE BIBLE STORY."
Read these Stories:--
How the People Traveled in the Lands of the Bible 208 G.B.
Houses in the Lands of the Bible. 214 G.B.
Children in the Lands of the Bible. 217 G.B.
Jerusalem. 218 G.B.
The Jordan. 224 G.B.
The Dead Sea. 226 G.B.
Bethlehem. 229 G.B.
Palestine in the Days of the Lord Jesus. 17 L.J.
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Answer these questions:--
(_Be sure to read the story on the back of each picture._)
What do you know about plowing in Palestine? 50, 84 G.B.
How do they thresh in the lands of the Bible? 128, 274 G.B. 440 H.T.
What is the town of Nazareth like to-day? 88, 100 G.B.
How do they draw water in old Philistia? 142 G.B.
What do you know about an Eastern shepherd and his sheep? 146, 210, 284, 308 G.B.
Who said, "I am the good shepherd"? 288 G.B.
Tell about winnowing in Bible lands. 158, 162 G.B.
Look at the pictures on pages 294, 298, 302, 312, 368, 374 G.B., then tell what Jesus said about animals. 304 G.B.
What were some of the streets like in ancient Palestine? 356 T.J. 278 L.J. 300 S.A.
Name the lake on which Jesus so often sailed with his disciples. 108 G.B. 462 T.J.
Why were the disciples so often to be found on the lake? 146 L.J.
Tell two stories about Jesus and the Lake of Galilee. 94, 307 L.J.
How did the people fish in Palestine? 487 L.J.
Why is it necessary in Palestine to separate the tares from the wheat before harvest? 22 L.J.
What did the army of the Midianites look like when they came to fight the children of Israel? 318, 322 H.T.
Read the story. 319 H.T.
How and by whom is meal ground in Palestine? 176 S.A.
The extent of Solomon's kingdom was from "Dan to Beersheba"; find northern and southern points 14 T.J.
7. How Can I Get My Child to Use THE BIBLE STORY for Himself?
By giving him some _Things to Do_. It is a splendid plan to take advantage of the child's natural eagerness to look at the pictures in THE BIBLE STORY, so as to make that desire of real educational value. The following are delightful for a child to do:--
Study closely the pictures on pages 176, 196, 204, and 254 of "The Golden Book," read the interesting notes on the back of each picture, and the story on page 208 of "The Golden Book." Then tell the difference between traveling in Bible lands and in our land.
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Look at the pictures of Bethlehem on pages 138 and 248 of "The Golden Book" and page 28 L.J. and read the story on the back of each. Then tell how David's home and life were different from yours. Read the story on page 229 G.B. and see what wonderful things happened in this little town.
Read the story on page 214 G.B. and look at the pictures on pages 88,92,188, of "The Golden Book" and 192 T.J., then compare a house in the Holy Land with your house.
Read the story on page 217 of "The Golden Book" and look at the pictures opposite and on page 172 of "The Golden Book." Then tell or write what you think are the pleasant things about living in Bible lands. Look at the picture on page 236 and tell why it was good to live there in the year 33 A.D.
In your sand pile build a tiny city of Jerusalem. You will know just how to make it after you have read the story on page 218 of "The Golden Book." Put it on a hill with valleys on three sides of it. Use stones to build the wall. (See page 216 T.J.) Put a large white stone where you think the temple stood. The picture on page 480 in "Hero Tales" will show you how the city really looked. After you have built the city and neighboring hills and valleys as well as you can, show them to your mother and father and explain all the interesting features. Tell about the path on the wall and its use; tell why the city was built on a hill; tell about the gates in the wall. (See page 215 T.J.) Explain who built the temple and tell anything else you may know about the greatest city of the Bible lands.
In the back of the volume, "The Songs of the Ages," you will find an index of illustrations and can easily turn to all the pictures of Jerusalem in these volumes and learn some interesting things.
8. How Can I Interest My Child in the Great Works of Art in THE BIBLE STORY?
The interest of children in works of art, if unguided, usually lasts only for a moment. Let some one, however, begin to talk about the picture and the child fixes eager eyes upon it and follows every word with breathless attention. "Talking about a picture is simply letting a picture talk," and many of these pictures are volumes in themselves which one must read carefully to know all they are meant to tell. The following paragraphs furnish questions and suggest lines of study which will often open the door of the child's mind to artistic appreciation.
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_Talking about Pictures_
What painter of Madonnas was called the "peasant painter of Spain"? 30 G.B.
There are four Madonnas by this artist in "The Golden Book" 30, 348, 436, 450 G.B.
Which two most resemble each other? How do even these two differ?
Which is thought to be the most beautiful of all?
Which is your favorite? Why?
Find the one painted without the child.
Did you notice two little seraphs that are in almost the same position on pages 436 and 450 G.B.?
In which of the pictures do you think the painter has shown the most loving mother?
Describe some other children's pictures painted by this great man. 336, 480 G.B.
Who is generally considered the greatest of all painters? 220 G.B.
Name the most famous Madonna in the world 220 G.B.
(Notice how lines drawn from the head of the Madonna to the heads of the two supporting figures and across their base make a triangle. This balance gives strength to the picture and makes it more pleasing to look at. One reason why art critics say this picture is "without one false note" is its perfect balance. Remember that this regularity and balance of composition mean repose in a picture while a combination of slanting lines and lessening figures suggests motion. (See 38 T.J.) If slanting lines suggest motion, perpendicular ones show rest, as seen in the figure of Ruth (44 T.J.). These perpendicular lines are very much used by the great artists; for instance, look at pages 262, 372, 382, 390 S.A.)
Raphael painted many pictures besides Madonnas. One of his most famous pictures is on page 366 L.J. There are two other Madonnas by this same artist in "The Golden Book" (pages 356, 444). Describe them and learn their names.
What do you think is interesting about the Madonna picture by Carlo Dolci on page 340 G.B.?
Where does the light come from in the Madonna picture on page 396?
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Note another very much like Dolci's (page 400): Can you explain this light?
In the picture on page 414 G.B. notice how glad every one is that the Christ Child has come: Why do you think the artist made them look so happy?
Which of the Madonnas on pages 364, 392, 418, 432, 470 G.B. do you like best, and why?
Find on page 42 G.B. one of the most popular modern Madonnas. This is something like the Madonna on page 450 but it is not considered so good. What do you think is the difference between the two?
What does the Bible call the three men represented as looking at the baby in the Madonna picture on page 408 G.B.?
What is unusual about the picture by Bouguereau on page 332 G.B.?
Describe the picture by the same artist on page 426.
In what way is the picture on page 332 like the one by Murillo on page 450?
How is the picture on page 404 like the Adoration of the Angels on page 426?
There are many pictures of the face of Jesus in "The Golden Book" that are worth studying and comparing. Turn, one after another, to the pictures on pages 74, 104, 288, 308; look at each of the faces, and say which you like best, and why.
Name a very great French artist who was a painter of landscapes. 38 G.B.
What sort of subject did Sir Joshua Reynolds choose for many of his paintings? In what country did he live? 46,374,382 G.B.
(A group of men in England called the Pre-Raphaelites were fond of painting pictures that tell a story. One of the most famous of these, an allegorical picture, is given on page 466 G.B. It is interesting to trace out its meaning. See how many prominent features of this picture you can pick out. Notice the three lights: the moonlight, symbol of earth's dimness; the lantern light, symbol of the searching light of conscience; the light around the Master's head, symbol of the light of love. One of the Master's hands is bound by the light of conscience, but the other is free to knock at the door of the heart of man. The brambles and vines of neglect and sin have grown over the door and it has no latch. It can be opened only from within.)
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What woman is ranked among the most famous animal painters of the world? 378 G.B.
Of what form of art was Thorwaldsen a master? Notice how this form can tell a story 48 H.T.
Who painted the famous frieze of the Prophets in the Boston Public Library? 89 H.T.
What prophets are represented in each of the four sections? 262, 372, 382, 390 S.A.
Tell the history of the great statue of David by Michael Angelo. 384 H. T.
Who was Michael Angelo?
Murillo, great painter of Madonnas, also painted other pictures. Can you tell the story of the two pictures on 64, 246 H.T.?
An interesting picture is given on page 38 H.T. Can you tell where this family is going and why?
You can tell a story of Jesus from the pictures in the volume, "The Life of Jesus." Follow those in the order suggested and see how much you can tell about Jesus' life from pages 16, 40, 48, 52, 56, 76, 114, 232, 236, 274, 312.
The pictures of Jesus that we see most often were painted by Hofmann. This artist has painted a great many pictures of Jesus and several are given in the volume, "The Life of Jesus," on pages 84, 164, 210, 266. Would you know from looking at them that these pictures were all painted by the same man? Why?
Leonardo da Vinci was one of the greatest of Italian painters. What is his most famous picture? 252 L.J.
Can you explain who the men are, represented in this picture (252 L.J.), and what they are all talking about? Do you know why Jesus' face is so sad? Look on page 256 L.J. for a larger picture of the face of Jesus. This is a study made by Da Vinci for his great painting, "The Last Supper," and is called "The Unfinished Christ." It is said of this picture: "Never had such a vision of the face come to mortal before. Never has it been approached in beauty or power by any painter since."
The following is an interesting observation test as well as a help in fixing the beautiful stories in mind. Turn to the picture on page 254 G.B. Ask the child to examine it closely for a few minutes and then tell you in detail what he sees in the picture. Some children will see many things, others will need suggestions to help them in bringing out {25} the interesting points of characters and setting. After the picture is well in mind turn to page 251 G.B. and read the story of Palm Sunday, letting the child fit his observations to the story.
Other pictures and stories that may be used in the same way are:--
Pictures. 16 L.J., 388 G.B. Story. 245 G.B.
Picture. 458 G.B. Story. 49 L.J.
Picture. 112 G.B. Story. 110 G.B.
Picture. 236 G.B. Story. 188 L.J.
Pictures. 290,300 L.J. Story. 265 G.B.
Picture. 188 G.B. Story. 214 G.B.
Picture. 366 L.J. Story. 469 L.J.
Picture. Frontispiece H.T. Story. 177 G.B.
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QUESTIONS TO ASK LITTLE CHILDREN
If possible, set a regular time for reading "The Golden Book" with the child, taking it page by page. Use these questions to recall the previous lesson before going on to a new story.
_Making the Child Think_
Who gives you "every good gift"? 32 G.B.
Tell something about the beautiful grass and flowers 35, 36 G.B.
To whom do you say your prayers? 40 G.B.
What shines in the sky when you sleep? (See picture in front of G.B.) 43 G.B.
What do you know about one great star? 245 G.B.
What shines down on the flowers and the birds and the little children when they waken? 44 G.B.
How do you thank the Father in heaven for his goodness? 47 G.B.
Who is glad when the rain falls? 48 G.B.
How does God help the seeds to grow into flowers? 51 G.B.
What beautiful things does God bring to us in the summer? 52 G.B.
Tell some good and beautiful things which you thank God for in the autumn. 55 G.B.
Why do you like the cool winter days? How does God keep the flowers warm? The animals? 59 G.B.
What can you do beside the big ocean? 63 G.B.
Why do the beautiful hills and mountains make you think of God? 68 G.B.
Tell some things you can do to make the Father in heaven glad. 81 G.B.
How many things can you do that God wants done? 82 G.B.
Why do you thank God every day? 85 G.B.
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Why did Jesus' friends love him? 86 G.B.
Did Jesus have any home? 89 G.B.
To whose home did Jesus love to go? (Look at picture, page 260 G.B., also page 218 L.J.) 90 G.B.
What did Jesus do when the people came to see him? (Look at pictures on pages 114 and 132 L.J.) 93 G.B.
Tell a little story about the Sea of Galilee. (Look at picture, page 108.) 94 G.B.
When Jesus was a boy, how many things did he do that you do? (Read page 73 G.B. and look at picture on page 56 L. J.) 97 G.B.
Do you know why Jesus was called the Great Physician? (Look at pictures pages 104 and 200.) 98 G.B.
Why do you like to talk to your Father in heaven? (Look at the picture on page 192 T.J. and see how people in the East sometimes prayed.) 101 G.B.
Tell how a good father is like the Father in heaven. 105 G.B.
What did Jesus say about birds and flowers? 106 G.B.
Did you know that there are good trees and bad trees? Tell what Jesus said about them. (Look at pictures pages 460 and 102 H.T.) 109 G.B.
How was Jesus very kind to Jairus, whose little girl was sick? 110 G.B.
What baby was hid in a basket and afterward grew up to be a great man? (Look at page 140 H.T., for one of the wonders of the country where this baby was born. Look on page 90 H. T. and see how a great artist represents him as a man.) 117 G.B.
Tell how the churches in the Bible lands were different from our churches. Where did they get the songs they sang? 121 G.B.
Can you tell one of the stories that Jesus told? 126 G.B.
How many of the important things that Jesus taught the people can you remember? 130 G.B.
What was the name of the little boy who came when he was called? How was his mother unselfish? What do you think made him a great man? (Look at picture, page 45.) 132 G.B.
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Tell about the shepherd life that made David a strong, brave boy. How did he use his strength and bravery when his country needed him? (Look at pictures, pages 384 and 388 H.T.) 139 G.B.
What did David do for the great King Saul and how did Saul treat David in return? (Look on page 404 H.T. and see the place where David hid from Saul.) 151 G.B.
How did Jonathan show his friendship for David? 156 G.B.
Tell what three brave soldiers did to show their friendship for David. 163 G.B.
Tell the name of a wicked son of David and what happened to him. 167 G.B.
Who was called the "wisest king," and what was the greatest thing he ever did? (Look at picture on page 454 H. T.) 170 G.B.
Tell the name and the story of the little boy who was put in a pit by his brothers. (Look at picture on page 94 H.T. to see how the little boy traveled to Egypt.) 177 G.B.
How did this little slave boy become a great ruler in Egypt? 181 G.B.
Tell how, as a great ruler, he did a kind thing to the brothers who had been unkind to him. (See picture in front of H.T.) 185 G.B.
Tell about the woman who did a good deed to the prophet Elijah and how she was richly rewarded. 193 G.B.
When Jesus refused to be king in Palestine and told the people that he was king over a greater kingdom than they had, what did he mean? By what stories did Jesus explain what he meant? 201 G.B.
Tell what the little captive girl did to bring health to the great general Naaman. (Look at picture, page 150 T.J.) 205 G.B.
Tell all you know about the Jordan river. (Look at pictures, pages 284 and 340 H.T.) 224 G.B.
What is the strangest lake in the world? Why would you dislike to live near it? (Look at picture on page 228 G.B., also on page 34 H.T.) 226 G.B.
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