. Is it not so, Harold?"

"Surely; and mamma has never been one to spend unnecessarily on
herself," replied Harold, fondly caressing the hand he held.

"It has been my endeavor to be a faithful steward," she sighed, "and yet
I might have given more than I have. I have been giving only of my
income; I could give some of the principal; and I have a good many
valuable jewels that might be turned into money for the Lord's treasury.

"I have thought a good deal about that of late and have talked with my
daughters in regard to the matter; I thought it but right to consult
with them, because the jewels would be a part of their inheritance, and
I wish you two to have some say about it also, as fellow heirs with
them."

She paused and both lads answered quickly that they thought the jewels
should all go to their sisters.

"No; you and your future wives should have a share also," she replied
smilingly; "that is if I retained them all. And that being understood,
are you willing to have most of them disposed of and the proceeds used
in aid of home and foreign missions?"

Both gave a hearty assent.

"Thank you, my dears," she said. "And now having already consulted with
your grandfather and older brother, winning their consent and approval,
I consider the matter settled.

"A few of my jewels, dear to me as mementoes of the past, I shall
retain; also a few others which would not sell for nearly what they are
really worth to us; but the rest I intend to have sold and the money
used for the spread of the gospel in our own and heathen lands."

"I am convinced you could not make a better investment, mamma," Harold
said, his eyes shining with pleasure.

"Yes, you are right," she returned, "it is an investment; one that can
not possibly fail to give a grand return: for does He not say, 'He that
hath pity upon the poor lendeth to the Lord; and that which he hath
given will he pay him again?'

"Who was it (Dean Swift if I remember aright) who preached a charity
sermon from that text--'If you like the security, down with the dust'?"

"And you do like the security, mamma; you prefer it to any other, I am
quite sure," said Herbert. "But what a fine specimen of a charity sermon
that was! both powerful and brief. Doubtless many of the hearers were
greatly relieved that they had not to listen to a long, dull harangue on
the subject, and all the more disposed to give liberally on that
account."

"Yes; do not forget to act upon that