Page:The Art of Helping People Out of Trouble (1924).pdf/204

 When he arrived at the institution, the superintendent used another motive as a means of strengthening his determination to regain his health. A few steps away two boys were shouting and running about apparently with every muscle and nerve under their command.

"Jim, Harry," the superintendent called. "Come here a minute, please."

The boys came up with leaps and skips.

"Boys?" asked the superintendent, "were you as badly off as Tom, here, when you came to us?"

"Oh, we were much worse," they replied.

"So you see, Tom," said the superintendent, "you can get well if you want to. If you really want to get well you will."

This was both an assurance and a challenge. The superintendent was using the age-old suggestion that "all may do what has by man been done." It was both a means of instifling confidence in the boy, and an appeal to the spirit of competition.

A typical use of this latter motive was that made by a social case worker in encouraging Mrs. Dorello to fix up her home. The house was in a most dilapidated state. It had not been papered for eight years. What paper was left on the walls