MOTHER: They did not; for people can not be made to do right in that way. They used it more than they had before. I think the best way is for the master of every body-house to say, “I will never, no, _never_, touch it; and I will do my best to let others know how hurtful it is, so they will not use it.” Many, very many, do not know how much harm tobacco does in the body, nor what a sinful waste of money it causes. They spend it a few pennies at a time, and do not stop to think how much it amounts to in a year or a lifetime. More money is spent for tobacco than for bread. One hundred times as much money goes up in tobacco smoke as is given to missions. Let us do all that we can to prevent this waste. No bird or animal would ever be guilty of taking into its body anything so harmful. MINNIE AND HER CANARY. MINNIE’S REBUKE. “You were a naughty bird to-day; It shocked me, do you know, To see you fly from brother Frank, And pick at cousin Joe. “Now tell me why you acted so; There, don’t begin to sing, But tell me why you were so rude, You saucy little thing!” THE BIRD’S REPLY. “I _had_ to leave your brother Frank, Or else to stay and choke; He had a nasty cigarette; I could not stand the smoke. “And with your cousin Joe--oh, dear! He put his mouth to mine, And, oh! I thought I’d faint away, For he’d been drinking wine. “The little birds don’t do such things; No crow, or paroquet, Or other bird, would swallow wine Or smoke a cigarette.” A CRUEL MURDERER MOTHER: Bad as it is to steal, it is worse to kill. Dreadful as it may seem, yet it is true that a murderer watches to get into the body-house; and unless it is kept out, sooner or later it will ruin the house and kill the master. It has different names, but the most common are Cider, Beer, Wine, Ale, Brandy, and Whisky; but its real name is Alcohol. I have some here in this bottle. ELMER: Why, it looks like clear water! MOTHER: So it does. Let us see if we can find out how it is different from water. I will pour a little into this saucer. Percy, you may light a match and hold close to it. AMY: Oh, it burns! MOTHER: Will water burn? HELEN: No, water puts out fire. MOTHER: Here is a tester. I will pour a little whisky in it and boil it over this spirit lamp. Now the steam comes out. Percy, you may light a match and hold it close to the steam. PERCY: Oh, see it burn! MOTHER: Will steam from the teakettle burn? AMY: No, mother. MOTHER: So you see the American Indians gave it a very good name when they called it “fire-water.” Another difference between water and alcohol is that water will freeze, but alcohol never freezes. I will show you one thing more. Here is some oil in this bottle. If I should pour in some water, would it mix with the oil? [Illustration Burning alcohol]