plish little, but if gathered into a common fund they grow in power. A savings bank is like the organization of a city fire department: if every man had a water tank in his dwelling for fire protection, he might be able to put out a small fire in his house; but if the water in all the tanks is collected in one great reservoir, cheaper and better protection can be given to the whole city. So the force of the people's savings is beyond comprehension, when they are gathered into the savings banks as the waters of little streams are gathered in a mighty reservoir, and poured out again through many channels to earn for the depositors by building houses, factories, railways, and steamships. That force has been our mightiest weapon of offense and defense. Millions of the savings of our boys and girls bought Thrift Stamps and Liberty Bonds.

5. What is the chief service of a
savings bank?

A savings account is a living, working force in the community and the nation. It works not only for its owner but for the multitude; its first aim is the most beneficent one- to protect the individual and the family as a business house is protected by reserve funds. The habit of thrift that the savings account encourages is one of the first and highest virtues; it is the foundation of character, the beginning of a successful career.

The advice that Benjamin Franklin gave the young people of his generation comes down to us through more than a hundred years with added force to-day, when a war-wasted world has special need to husband its resources:

"Save, young man, and become respectable and respected. That is the surest way. If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting. The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market: it chiefly depends on two words — industry and frugality."

6. State Franklin's advice

in your own words.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1. Write a complete sentence in answer to each of these questions. When you have finished, give yourself 10 for each question you have answered correctly.

a. Are people who live in hot climates industrious?

b. Does Herrick think that the hard climate which the first Americans found was a misfortune?

c. Are the people of the United States growing more thrifty?

d. Does charity relieve us from the necessity of thrift?

e. Is the habit of thrift natural for most people?

f. What are the two commonest enemies of thrift?

g. Would it be wise for every house to have its own fire protection? h. Does the savings bank help only the owner of the money saved? i. How did our thrift show its value during the World War? j. Which does Franklin stress more, saving or earning?

2. How does the meaning of "thrift" in this selection compare with the meaning of "thrift" in the selection on p. 496? Compare Herrick's statement of American lack of thrift with Bok's statement, Book One, p. 523. Compare Herrick's statement about savings banks on p. 504, with the statements in "Better Banking,” p. 322.

3. Herrick quotes sentences from Franklin not taken directly from "The Way to Wealth" as you read it on p. 496. Look rapidly through "The Way to Wealth" and locate a passage of Franklin's which closely resembles in meaning the sentences which Herrick quotes. 4. Raising and answering questions. When you are reading carefully in history or community-life text-books, it is often very helpful to stop after an important part and ask yourself a question about the materials you have been reading. You try to think what question you would ask some one if you were the teacher. In the selection which precedes, you found printed in italics some of the questions which a reader might very well ask himself. If he can ask and answer such questions correctly, he has been studying his lesson skilfully.

Test your skill by turning back to the selection on p. 496 entitled, "The Way to Wealth," and write out three questions you might ask yourself as you are reading. Compare your questions with those of other pupils.

5. Volunteer work: Send to the Bureau of Education, Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C., for Bulletin No. 46, School Savings Banks, by Sarah L. Oberholtzer. Be ready during the general review to explain to the class how school savings banks are used.

3. MR. VINEGAR

This old folk story came from the rural parts of England; like many similar stories, it was passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth. Read it as rapidly as you can to determine why it is placed under "Living Within One's Means."

Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar lived in a vinegar bottle. Now one day when Mr. Vinegar was away from home and Mrs. Vinegar, who was a very good housewife, was busily sweeping her house, an unlucky thump of the broom brought the whole house clitter-clatter about her ears. In an agony of grief she rushed forth to meet her husband. On seeing him she exclaimed, “Oh, Mr. Vinegar, Mr. Vinegar, we are ruined, we are ruined; I have knocked the house down, and it is all in pieces!"

Mr. Vinegar then said: "My dear, let us see what can be done. Here is the door; I will take it on my back, and we will go forth to seek our fortune."

They walked all that day and at nightfall entered a thick forest. They were both excessively tired, and Mr. Vinegar said: "My love, I will climb up into a tree, drag up the door, and you shall follow." He accordingly did so, and they both stretched their weary limbs on the door, and fell fast asleep.

In the middle of the night Mr. Vinegar was disturbed by the sound of voices beneath, and to his dismay perceived that a party of thieves were met to divide their booty. "Here, Jack," said one, "here's five pounds for you; here, Bill, here's ten pounds for you; here, Bob, here's three pounds for you."

Mr. Vinegar could listen no longer; his terror was so intense that he trembled most violently and shook down the door on their heads. Away scampered the thieves, but Mr. Vinegar dared not quit the tree till broad daylight. Then he scrambled out of the tree and went to lift up the door. What did he behold but a number of golden guineas! "Come down, Mrs. Vinegar,” he cried; "come down, I say; our fortune's made! Come down, I say."

Mrs. Vinegar got down as fast as she could and saw the money with equal delight. "Now, my dear," said she, "I'll tell you what you shall do. There is a fair at the neighboring town; you

shall take these forty guineas and buy a cow. I can make butter and cheese, which you shall sell at market, and we shall then be able to live very comfortably."

Mr. Vinegar joyfully assented, took the money, and went off to the fair. When he arrived, he walked up and down, and at length saw a beautiful red cow, an excellent milker and perfect in every respect. "Oh," thought Mr. Vinegar, "if I had but that cow, I should be the happiest man alive." So he offered the forty guineas for the cow, and the owner declaring that, as he was a friend, he'd oblige him, the bargain was made. Proud of his purchase, Mr. Vinegar drove the cow backwards and forwards to show it.

By-and-by he saw a man playing the bagpipes tweedledum, tweedle-dee. The children followed him about, and he appeared to be pocketing money on all sides. "Well," thought Mr. Vinegar, "if I had but that beautiful instrument, I should be the happiest man alive-my fortune would be made." So he went up to the man. "Friend," says he, "what a beautiful instrument that is, and what a deal of money you must make.”

"Why, yes," said the man, "I make a great deal of money, to be sure, and it is a wonderful instrument."

"Oh!" cried Mr. Vinegar, "how I should like to possess it!" "Well," said the man, "as you are a friend, I don't much mind parting with it; you shall have it for that red cow."

"Done!" said the delighted Mr. Vinegar. So the beautiful red cow was given for the bagpipes. He walked up and down with his purchase; but in vain he attempted to play a tune, and, instead of pocketing pence, the boys followed him hooting, laughing, and pelting.

Poor Mr. Vinegar; his fingers grew very cold, and, heartily ashamed and mortified, he was leaving the town, when he met a man with a fine thick pair of gloves. "Oh, my fingers are so very cold," said Mr. Vinegar to himself. "If I had but those beautiful gloves I should be the happiest man alive." He went up to the man, and said to him: "Friend, you seem to have a capital pair of gloves there."

"Yes, truly," cried the man; "and my hands are as warm as possible this cold November day."

"Well," said Mr. Vinegar, "I should like to have them."

"What will you give?" said the man; "as you are a friend, I don't much mind letting you have them for those bagpipes." "Done!" cried Mr. Vinegar. He put on the gloves, and felt perfectly happy as he trudged homewards.

At last he grew very tired, when he saw a man coming towards him with a good stout stick in his hand. "Oh," said Mr. Vinegar, "that I but had that stick! I should then be the happiest man alive." He called to the man: "Friend! what a rare good stick you have got."

"Yes," said the man; "I have used it for many a long mile, and a good friend it has been; but if you have a fancy for it, as you are a friend, I don't mind giving it to you for that pair of gloves. Mr. Vinegar's hands were so warm and his legs so tired that he gladly exchanged.

As he drew near to the wood where he had left his wife, he heard a parrot on a tree calling out his name: "Mr. Vinegar, you foolish man, you blockhead, you simpleton; you went to the fair and laid out all your money in buying a cow. Not content with that, you changed it for bagpipes, on which you could not play and which were not worth one-tenth of the money. You fool, you you had no sooner got the bagpipes than you changed them for the gloves, which were not worth one-quarter of the money; and when you had got the gloves, you changed them for a miserable stick; and now for your forty guineas, cow, bagpipes, and gloves, you have nothing to show but that poor stick, which you might have cut in any hedge." On this the bird laughed loudly, and Mr. Vinegar, falling into a violent rage, threw the stick at its head. The stick lodged in the tree, and he returned to his wife without money, cow, bagpipes, gloves, or stick. She instantly gave him such a sound cudgelling that she broke almost every bone in his skin.

CLASS ACTIVITIES

1. Tell the story of misfortunes in this fairy tale.

2. How does this story resemble "The Whistle," p. 287? How does it resemble "Moses Sells the Colt," p. 302?

3. There is an old proverb, "Easy come, easy go." Tell of other stories like "Mr. Vinegar" that illustrate this proverb.