8 THE ACORN small for use, But if you find the author valuable, and worth your attention, then go back to the contents. Examine them chapter by chapter-; then close the book, and see if you have the plan of the whole work distinctly and fully in your mind. Do not proceed till this is done. Then get the first chapter vividly before you, so far as the contents will enable you to do it; now proceed to read. At the close of each sentence, ask yourself: "Do I understand that? Is it true, important, or to the point? Anything valuable there which I ought to retain?" At the close of each paragraph do the same, till you have the substance of it in your mind. Proceed in this manner through the chapter; and, at the close of the chapter, look back, and see what the author tried to accomplish by it, and what he really has accomplished. As you proceed, mark in the margin those places which you think doubtful, not founded on fact, or those which are true; those which are not clear, and those which contain valuable food for thought. These notations will aid us all to be not only good readers, but also good judges of what we read. After completing a book, it is an excellent thing to impress the most beautiful thoughts upon your mind by reviewing. This may be done by yourself, or better, through conversation with others. It is very instructive to read books with your friends, and discuss them together as you proceed. We cannot remember-all that we read; in fact, we retain but very little in our minds. A plan has been suggested, whereby we are enabled to keep track of these many thoughts. This plan is to have a memorandum book near, in which we make a note of the different ideas, giving them in alphabetical order, and telling the book and page where it is found. This makes it easy to turn quickly to any particular expression which we may desire to call to our- minds. Another use which we may make of a pen and a book while reading is to put down the thoughts which those in the book bring up in our minds We never read ideas on philosophical subjects, but they call up new thoughts to us which THE ACORN 9 would be lost if not noted at the time. These thoughts many times are very beautiful and good; but people are too often afraid to stand out against the world, and give their own opinions, even though they feel certain of the truth of them. In conclusion, we may say that reading has three very excellent ends: (1) Reading forms your style, (2) Reading stocks the mind with knowledge. (3) Reading stimulates and puts your own mental energies into operation. The thing for us to do now is to see that our style is to be good style, as a result of having good books for a pattern; that our minds are stored with useful and ennobling instructions and knowledge; and that our thoughts are of the highest type, thus showing a good moral condition of the mind and will of which we have charge. Song of the Lunch Hour. Should you ask me whence these stories? Whence these legends and traditions, With the odors of the lunches. With the classes, and the Art rooms, With the piercing scream of Delphia, At the scamperingof poor mousie; With their frequent repititions, And their wild reverberations, As a daily part of school-life? I should answer, I should tell you, 'Neath blue skies of dear old Og-den, In the school of many studies, Where the building is so crowded By the many, many students, That the teachers are kept busy, Busy even during noon hour; And the students, are all fasting, 'Tis of this we are to tell you, You shall hear how hungry students Prayed and fasted all the noon hour, Not for greater skill in thinking, Not for greater strength of mem'- ry, Not for triumphs over class-mates, And renown among the scholars; But for time to eat their luncheons, And a room no class should enter. Yes, at last, the teacher noticed, Saw the dark and gloomy faces Turn to Wiley with a longing, Which expressed, meant. "What o'clock is't?" No, those looks were not mistaken; And the woeful, sad expression Plainly said, "It is twelve fifty," And he could no longer keep them So 'mid murmurings and confusions