Article August 9, 1930 ISSUE

Encouragement

PENELOPE YOULE

One spring a mocking bird and his mate built their nest in a little tree just outside the window of a ranch house on the plains of New Mexico. His song was a great joy to the kindly people on the ranch, and when he sang at night they were glad that the air could be so filled with music.

The work on the ranch progressed into early summer; the fields of grain gave promise of a bountiful harvest, and in the mocking birds' nest were tiny birds. Then one night there was a storm, the growing grain was destroyed, and the work of planting and tending had all been for naught. The morning brought such discouragement to the hearts in that home that they felt it was not worth while to go on, to start over again and plant another crop. Suddenly the mocking bird's song was heard, more joyous than ever. How had the birds fared in the storm? They had lost their nest and their little ones,—their home and their children,—but they had not yielded to discouragement. They had decided to build a new nest in a larger tree, and then, of course, there had to be a song. And so, encouraged by the mocking birds, the family on the ranch started again, with happier thoughts, and was rewarded with a plenteous harvest at the end of the season.

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