in that," said Marty.

"Tithes means tenths--the tenth part," Edith explained.

"Oh! does it? Well, you see, I didn't know."

"Yes; here it is in the thirty-second verse: 'And concerning the tithe
of the herd or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod,
the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.'"

"But there's nothing in all that about money," Marty objected. "It's all
fruit and flocks and herds."

"I know," Edith replied, "but mamma says that flocks and herds and money
are all different kinds of property. The Jews hadn't much money; their
property was flocks and herds and such things. Giving tenths of what
they had for the Lord's service was a very important part of their
religion."

"Yes, but you are not a Jew," said Marty. "Besides, you give your tenths
to a mission-band."

"But the mission-band sends the money to a big society that uses it to
send people to tell the heathen about God."

"Is that what mission-bands are for--to send people to teach the
heathen?" asked Marty.

"Yes, and to tell us about the heathen, so that we shall want to send
the gospel to them," said Edith. "Giving to help teach people about God
is giving to him, isn't it?"

"And does the Bible say that everybody must give tenths?" asked Marty.

"No," said Edith, "there is another plan in the New Testament. Mamma
says that it is good for older people, but for little children who
haven't good judgment, the Jewish plan of giving tenths is better."

"It must be pretty hard to have to give some of your money away, whether
you want to or not," said Marty.

"Oh! but I always want to," Edith declared. "The longer I do this way
the better I like it."

"Well," remarked Marty consolingly, "a tenth isn't much any way; you'd
hardly miss it. Neither would the Jews, for I guess they were pretty
rich."

"Oh! the tenth wasn't all they gave, and it isn't all I give. For me it
is just the--the--beginning, the _sure_ thing. The Jews had other ways
of giving--first-fruits and thank-offerings and praise-offerings and
free-will-offerings. And sometimes I give thank-offerings and
praise-offerings too, but they are extra; the tenths I give always."

"It's all dreadfully mixed up," said poor Marty.

"I suppose it is, the way I tell it," Edith candidly admitted. "Let us
go and get mamma to tell you, the way she told me."

Marty willingly agreed, and they went into the sitting-room where Mrs.
Howell was sewing.

CHAPTER II.

WHAT