The Press., 1891-06-11
w. c. T. U. DEPARTMENT.
"so HARD NOT TO eIvr.


 "Well, it's nothing but give, give, give!" whined Mrs. Holmes, ,as she grudg- ingly contributed quarter to some worthy object; ''that's the third call to-day; it seems as though if any one has money, he must be beset by subscription papers and beggars." -
 "Oh, my dear sister, said Mrs. Bonar, with a voice full of pitying tenderness, and eyes brimming with tears, "do you not know that you should thank God with all your heart that you can give-oh, it is so hard not to give" and a few scalding drops told this more than "comfortably off'' Mrs. Holmes that her humble friend had keenly suffered from what she had often imagined would be pleasure ''the inability to give"
 'Why, do you really think so ?" asked the complaining woman with unconcealed surprise and curiosity. "I never felt it a special privilege to give, that I know of but have often wished that couldn't, SC I wouldn't be so harassed."
 "Oh, don't think that way" pleaded Mrs. Bonar, evidently pained at the thought; "do you know I would be the happiest woman in the world if I could only respond to the worthy calls that are constantly coming, as you and so many others can," and the little woman's face expressed genuine sorrow. E
 ''Yes, I know that is what those that can't give always think and say ;" returned Mrs. Holmes, hesitatingly, for she didn't wish to wound her friends feelings, 'but what proof have you that you would be different ?'' 4 9a .s
 Mrs. Bonar bit her lips, looked thought fully into her neighbours face, and feeling it her duty to help this near-sighted wo. man into better light, even though al the cost of personal pride, she began, hel voice heavy with emotion: ''I know it by the sarifices my family and have already made that we might share in the pleasure of giving to worthy objects" She hesi t&ted, but her lesson must deal with the concrete rather than the abstract eff eff fectual), and so she continued: "An6 though we had the money to buy lard sugar, butter, eggs and fruit with which to have made pastry and cake, we all de. cided it would give us greater and more lasting pleasure to do without these lux. uries and invest the sum in the noble temperance cause, and I assure you il has,"
 "And no pie or cake this winter ?" ex claimed Mrs. Holmes.
 ''NOne save some very simple cookies for the children's school lunch, and often CT nothing of the kind, and we have done without butter and tea"
 Dear me! how could you ?" cried Mrs Holmes quite unable to believe it.
 Why, because we wanted to give; W, wanted to have 8 lot and part in thii grand, this wonderful work for toiling struggling humanity, and there was nc other way but to sacrifice, only the pleas ure was so great it wasn't much of sac rifice."
 "Dear me-" again sighed Mrs. Holmes do believe you would give literally i you could, for you give now hundred times more than I, in Gods sight, for never did without even the luxuries fol others sake," and then she recalled how very plainly and economically the family of Bonars had lived in other respects, ant she did learn lesson.
 "Yes," !" rejoined the little woman witl glowing emphasis, "there Is no pleasur, like responding to these noble calls ever in small degree, and scarcely a greater trial than not being able to. I wish yo, knew something about it-no, I won wish you this hard thing; I could scarce ly desire it for my worst enemy, 1t is st bitter;" and Mrs. Holmes could not doub her friends sincerity Estelle MeaadeU.