ou find in the seventh verse of the ninth chapter?"

Norton dropped his book and sprang to do the service asked for. He read
the words--

"'Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give;
not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.'"

Norton read, and looked up, as much as to say, What now? how does this
help?

"I don't see how that tells, Mr. Richmond," said Matilda.

"It tells one or two things. You are to give out of your heart; not
because somebody else asks you, or some other body says you ought.
_That_ would not please God. You are to do what you _like_ to do; much
or little, as you feel."

"But ought it to be much or little?"

"As you feel. As your heart says."

"But then, Mr. Richmond, will the Lord be just as well pleased whether
it is much or little?"

"Norton will please read the sixth verse."

"'But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;
and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.'"

"But that don't tell either," said Norton, when he had read.

"I think it does," said Matilda, slowly. "It tells one thing. Mr.
Richmond, it doesn't tell _how much_ one ought to like to give. That
was the very question between Norton and me; and we could not settle
it."

"Don't you see, Matilda, that everybody's heart would give its own
answer to that question?"

"But, Mr. Richmond, surely there is a right and a wrong answer?"

"I am afraid a good many wrong answers," said Mr. Richmond.

Norton looked as if he would like to say something, but modestly kept
back before the minister. Mr. Richmond caught the look.

"Speak out, Norton," said he, smiling. "Truth will always bear to be
looked at."

"I don't know much about it, sir," said Norton. "Only it seems to me,
that if one begins to help other people all one can, one will soon want
helping himself."

"Ah!" said Mr. Richmond. "Read the next verse now."

"The next to the seventh, sir?--'And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may abound to every good work.'"

"That does not sound as if Matilda were in any danger of growing poor
through helping Mrs. Eldridge, does it?"

"But, sir!" said Norton, "the more one gives away, the less one has for
one's self?"

"It does not always work so," said Mr. Richmond. "The Bible says,
'There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth.'"

Norton did not know exactly how to