Dew Drops, Vol. 37, No. 10, March 8, 1914

In Short

This archival issue of a classic early-twentieth-century Sunday school periodical gathers illustrated moral tales, instructional verses, and practical religious lessons tailored for young children. Across its pages, children navigate everyday choices: finding new scholars for church, learning to entertain themselves without bothering a busy parent, overcoming selfish desires, and mastering volatile tempers. Blending narrative vignettes, Scandinavian folklore, seasonal nature poetry, and structured Sunday school curriculum, the publication provides a vivid historical window into how period literature sought to cultivate early childhood virtue, family harmony, and gentle Christian devotion through relatable domestic scenarios.

The Story

The issue opens with young Francie gazing wistfully at a primary classroom wall hanging of a shining river, where fourteen paper fish represent new scholars brought into Sunday school. Eager to earn his own fish and a red tag for his blouse, Francie searches his street, only to find every child already enrolled. When the local ash-man, Mr. Lugi, arrives with his curly-haired son Rafael, Francie seizes the opportunity. Learning that little Rafael lacks church clothes, Francie unhesitatingly offers his own outgrown brown suit. With his mother's help, Francie visits the Italian family, securing their permission and friendship. On Sunday, Francie proudly walks into class with Rafael; to his delight, Mr. and Mrs. Lugi join the adult classes, turning Francie's single catch into a three-fold family blessing.

Domestic independence and self-control take center stage in the next narrative, where little Alice finds herself left to her own devices on a busy Saturday. Her mother, tied up in the sewing room, challenges Alice to amuse herself and make her own good times. Armed with blunt scissors and bright paper, Alice happily cuts out whimsical paper dolls and multi-legged horses. When her table accidentally flips, spreading clutter everywhere, an inner voice prompts her to clean up the mess rather than abandon it. Resisting repeated temptations to interrupt her mother, Alice spends a quiet morning playing with her doll Peggy Morlinda and reading stories by the library window. At dinner, her father learns that Alice "helped" all morning simply by keeping herself happily occupied, reinforcing the value of unselfish self-reliance.

Subsequent pieces explore moral decision-making and character formation. In a story about interpersonal integrity, young Betty routinely walks her neighbor's small child, Robbie, to school, quietly wrestling with shame because the boy's mother rewards her with treats. When her cousin invites her over for a rare evening of popping corn, Betty initially plans to abandon her promise to walk Robbie early the next day. Remembering the Golden Rule, she chooses duty over convenience, running to Mrs. Porter's house to arrange a substitute before enjoying her visit, discovering that following her conscience grants true peace of mind. A starker lesson unfolds in a story where young Jack receives a toy arrow gun for Christmas. Irritated by his younger brother Will's teasing during a game of wild Indians, Jack loses his temper and shoots, lodging a sharp metal hairpin into Will's cheek. As his mother burns the toy on the hearth, Jack realizes he has been serving a bad master—Bad Temper—and resolves to abandon it.

The issue closes with educational and devotional material: a nature story explaining Norwegian folklore about snow as Mother Hulda shaking her feather bed; a cultural note on Lapland parents safely tucking their babies into snow beds during church services; a formal Sunday school lesson on Luke's parable of the watchful servants; and brief notes urging mothers to instill early moral habits.

How It Unfolds

The quest for a scholar Francie longs to earn a paper fish tag for his Sunday school wall chart by bringing a new child to class. Opportunity arrives when he notices the ash-man's little boy, Rafael, and generously offers his own outgrown suit so the child can attend.

Learning self-reliance Left to amuse herself while her mother sews, young Alice uses paper and scissors to craft toys, cleans up her own mess when her table tips over, and resists interrupting her busy parent all morning.

The test of the Golden Rule Betty faces a choice between keeping her promise to escort a neighbor's young boy to school or rushing off to an enjoyable evening with her cousin. Guided by the Golden Rule, she takes responsibility and arranges things properly before leaving.

The cost of a lost temper Playing with his new toy gun, Jack surrenders to anger when his little brother teases him, firing a sharp hairpin that strikes his brother's cheek. The incident leads to his toy being burned and a stern lesson on self-mastery.

Lessons from nature and scripture The issue broadens its scope to include Scandinavian winter folklore, Lapland churchgoing customs, and an explicit Sunday school lesson on watchfulness from the Gospel of Luke.

The People

• Francie: A warm-hearted, enthusiastic young boy in the Primary Class who longs to contribute to his church community. He demonstrates genuine hospitality by sharing his clothes with a newcomer.
• Rafael Lugi: The shy, curly-haired son of the neighborhood ash-man. He is welcomed into the Sunday school room and inadvertently brings his parents along with him.
• Alice: A small girl who learns to manage her time and master her impulses on a busy morning, discovering that staying out of the way is its own form of helpfulness.
• Betty: A schoolgirl who initially struggles with mixed motives regarding the small rewards she receives for helping a neighbor, but ultimately chooses duty and consideration over selfish pleasures.
• Jack: An energetic boy who receives a dangerous toy gun for Christmas. His struggle with a quick temper leads to a painful accident with his younger brother, forcing him to choose between self-control and anger.
• Will: Jack's teasing two-year-old brother, whose playful provings provoke Jack's outburst and who ends up with a cheek injury that serves as a visual lesson for both boys.

In Its Own Voice

"The brown suit, too small for Francie, was just right for Rafael, and it would have been hard to find two happier little boys than Francie and his fish when they walked into the Primary class together."

Francie brings his new friend to Sunday school after offering his own clothing.

"'I will go take one little peek at mamma.' said Alice, starting upstairs, but stopping next step. 'No. I won't neiver,' she said bravely. 'I won't 'sturb mamma one bit.'"

Little Alice exercises self-restraint so her mother can complete her sewing work undisturbed.

"'Mamma,' said Jack, presently, 'I think I'll leave Bad Temper's service. He gets me into a heap of trouble.'"

Jack reflects on his outburst after his toy gun is destroyed on the hearth.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this collection examines the quiet moral discipline required of young children in a turn-of-the-century household. Rather than framing morality through dramatic adventures or high-stakes trials, the text argues that character is forged through ordinary, daily decisions: picking up paper scraps, keeping a promise to a neighbor despite a better offer, sharing clothes with an immigrant family, or staying quiet so a parent can finish work. The stories repeatedly contrast external actions with internal motives, emphasizing that true obedience and kindness must spring from a willing heart rather than a desire for tangible rewards or praise. Beneath the simple narratives lies an instructional model of childhood development that prioritizes emotional regulation, duty, and community integration.

Why Read It Today

This publication offers modern readers a fascinating, unvarnished look at early-twentieth-century juvenile literature and Christian pedagogy. Written for primary-age readers in 1914, its period flavor is immediately apparent in its domestic settings, archaic vernacular, and straightforward moralizing. Readers interested in historical childhood, social values, or period publishing will appreciate how seamlessly the issue blends social instruction—such as welcoming immigrant neighbors—with practical lessons in self-control and obedience.

While its explicit instructional tone and explicit religious framework belong squarely to its era, the narrative scenarios remain surprisingly relatable. Children still struggle with sibling rivalries, broken promises, lost tempers, and rainy-day boredom. The prose is clean, accessible, and free of unnecessary ornamentation, making it a quick, charming read that reveals how previous generations sought to guide their youngest members into responsible, thoughtful individuals.