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Make-believe
We all know how fond most small boys are of playing at soldiers. We have frequently seen a band of little fellows being marshaled along by a boy, perhaps a little bigger than themselves, who is pretending to be a great general and assuming that officer's name and authority. The small boys are quite willing, for the time being, to be led by him and to obey his orders. They become so earnest in their game that it all seems very real to them.
A bystander watching such a scene finds plenty to amuse him, mainly in the total unlikeness of the acting to the real thing. The more familiar the onlooker is with the reality, the more absurd this futile attempt at imitation appears. He does not, however, grow indignant that an insignificant little person should assume the name, title, and powers of a general. Why? Because he knows it is all in fun, all make-believe. This little bit of acting does not interfere with the work of the real general. That goes on exactly the same as before, and in fact the original is totally ignorant of the existence of his imitator.

December 23, 1916 issue
View Issue-
Jesus' Practical Example
STOKES ANTHONY BENNETT
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Spiritual Law and Growth
THURLENE I. WADSWORTH
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Sublimity of Truth
CHARLES A. DANFORTH
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What Is a Christian Scientist?
W. W. GRISWOLD
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Problems Big and Little
CAROLINE LAURA HESSE
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Make-believe
EMILY A. ASHCROFT
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"Life's burdens light"
AGNES FLORIDA CHALMERS
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Many of your readers have been listening to the futile...
Thorwald Siegfried
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A letter from a critic, in which she states a few of the...
Charles W. J. Tennant
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Our critic, after accepting without reservation all that a...
John D. Sherwood
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It seems difficult to comprehend how a Christian minister...
Henry A. Teasdel
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His Friend
SAMUEL JOHNSTONE MACDONALD
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The True Christmas
Archibald McLellan
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Mother and Child
William D. McCrackan
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True Observance
Annie M. Knott
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An Announcement
Editor
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The Lectures
with contributions from Merle J. Rogers, Arthur W. Marriott, Warren C. Klein, Z. R. Moorman's
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I feel it both a duty and a privilege to add my testimony...
Marie H. Frohman
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Seven years ago Christian Science found me on crutches...
Henry S. Williams
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With the earnest desire to help others who may be unable...
Edward H. Roos
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Christian Science was first presented to me over three...
Amella Butcher with contributions from Ada P. Hoadley
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My thankfulness goes out to God, the giver of all good....
May Philson with contributions from Marguerite Goodsell
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Eleven years ago I was a physical wreck
John M. Walshe
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For over nine years Christian Science has been my only...
Harriet M. Fechner
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For the many blessings that have come to me through...
Corine Nye with contributions from Clinton Burgess
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From Our Exchanges
with contributions from Charles Gore, J. D. Jones