12 ^THE GOLD MINE 



out of our American homes. They are sources of 

 power. 



From on© of them a boy goes to his life work as one 

 of the captains of industry. And mark you, most of 

 the Titans of today, mightier than fabled Thor or Vul- 

 can, came from country homes. 



There goes a thoughtful girl with fertile brain and 

 facile pen. She was born and reared in the country 

 where she could get acquainted with herself and learn 

 to think and write and the world loves her. 



From another home goes a boy with the soul of a 

 patriot. He enters a naval academy and sooner or 

 later you may hear of another Santiago or Manilla. 



Another goes to West Point and becomes a Grant 

 or Sheridan. 



We think too little of home. How few expect to 

 live and die on their farms. They hope to sell, and 

 what a shifting race in which the home instinct is al- 

 most blotted out ! 



What spot can be more sacred in its hallowed asso- 

 ciations ? In that room a little sister with starry eyes 

 and hair of woven sunbeans went into the open arms 

 of a waiting Saviour. Is that room a place for stran- 

 gers ? Should wooden shoes go clamping in places 

 touched by angels' feet? 



In that room Grandfather passed away. How the 

 children loved to gather there and listen to stories of 

 the past. What a kindly soul he was and the little 

 ones loved to nestle on his bosom. When he died it 



