is daughter had placed the old Bible,
worn with much reading, although treated with careful reverence. It was
lying open, with Harry's horn spectacles put in to mark the place.

"I reckon my spectacles are getting worn out; they are not so clear as
they used to be; they are dim-like before my eyes, and it hurts me to
read long together," said Harry. "It's a sad miss to me. I never thought
the time long when I could read; but now I keep wearying for the day to
be over, though the nights, when I cannot sleep for my legs paining me,
are almost as bad. However, it's the Lord's will."

"Would you like me--I cannot read very well aloud, but I'd do my best,
if you'd like me to read a bit to you. I'll just run home and get my
tea, and be back directly." And off Tom ran.

He found it very pleasant reading aloud to lame Harry, for the old man
had so much to say that was worth listening to, and was so glad of a
listener, that I think there was as much talking as reading done that
evening. But the Bible served as a text-book to their conversation;
for in a long life old Harry had seen and heard so much, which he
had connected with events, or promises, or precepts contained in the
Scriptures, that it was quite curious to find how everything was brought
in and dove-tailed, as an illustration of what they were reading.

When Tom got up to go away, lame Harry gave him many thanks, and told
him he would not sleep the worse for having made an old man's evening
so pleasant. Tom came home in high self-satisfaction. "Mother," said
he, "it's all very true what you said about the good that may be done
without money: I've done many pieces of good to-day without a farthing.
First," said he, taking hold of his little finger, "I helped Ann Jones
with hanging out her clothes when she was"--

His mother had been listening while she turned over the pages of the New
Testament which lay by her, and now having found what she wanted, she
put her arm gently round his waist, and drew him fondly towards her. He
saw her finger put under one passage, and read,--

"Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."

He was silent in a moment.

Then his mother spoke in her soft low voice:--"Dearest Tom, though I
don't want us to talk about it, as if you had been doing more than just
what you ought, I am glad you have seen the truth of what I said; how
far more may be done by the loving heart than by mere money-giving; and
every one may have the lov