Boys Wanted! by MRS. I. H. E.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 3, 1916

Boys Wanted!

By MRS. I. H. E.

THE world needs boys! Good boys are needed, manly boys, honorable boys,—boys who hate deceit and scorn lies, and who do not “follow the crowd” in the ways that lead to destruction.

Are you a boy? and would you like to qualify—to take an “efficiency test” to see if you are the kind really wanted today? Read the following list, and see how you measure up to its requirements. Can you “pass”? If you can, the world wants you, needs you, now!

“Wanted: a boy who stands straight, sits straight, acts straight, and talks straight.

“A boy who listens carefully when spoken to, who asks questions when he does not understand, and does not ask questions about things that are none of his business.

“A boy whose finger nails are not in mourning, whose ears are clean, whose shoes are polished, whose clothes are brushed, whose hair is combed, and whose teeth are well cared for.

“A boy who moves quickly and makes as little noise about it as possible.

“A boy who whistles in the street, but not where he ought to keep still.

“A boy who looks cheerful, has a ready smile for everybody, and never sulks.

“A boy who is polite to every man and respectful to every woman and girl.

“A boy who does not smoke cigarettes, and has no desire to learn how.

“A boy who never bullies other boys.

“A boy who, when he does not know a thing, says, ‘I do not know;’ and when he has made a mistake, says, ‘I’m sorry;’ and when requested to do a thing, immediately says, ‘I’ll try.’

“A boy who looks you right in the eye and tells the truth every time.

“A boy who would rather lose his job or be expelled from school than to tell a lie or be a cad.

“A boy who does not want to be ‘smart’ nor in any wise to attract attention.

“A boy who is more eager to know how to speak good English than to talk slang.

“A boy who is eager to read good, wholesome books.

“A boy whom other boys like.

“A boy who is perfectly at ease in the company of respectable girls.

“A boy who is not sorry for himself, and not forever thinking and talking about himself.

“A boy who is friendly with his mother and more intimate with her than with her than with any one else.

“A boy who makes you feel good when he is around.

“A boy who is not a goody-goody, a prig, nor a Pharisee, but just healthy, happy, and full of life.”

Or—are you a mother of boys? If so, are you training them to be the right kind?

Or a father? Are you giving your boy precept upon precept, line upon line, —and all backed up by the daily example that will make your words effective?

Yes, the world needs boys, the right kind of boys, as never before. And boys from Seventh-day Adventist homes ought to be able to measure up to the highest standards. Do they? Shall they? MRS. I. H. E.