The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-24

tinued; "you may call it foreign mis-
sions or anything else, and / think God
withholds his blessing from us because
we do not give enough Honor the
Lord with thy substance and with the
first fruits Of all thine increase, Oh.
my dear sisters, if we could onlv see
ourselves as God sees us how different
our actions would be. 1t is woman's
privilege TO be flrst in every good work;
can we not do something to lift this bur-
den? Let us make a mighty effort, and
begin with our pockets. We will give
not what we can spare, but that which
costs something to do without, conse-
Grating ourselves to the work by sacri-
flee and prayer; and since it is not the
custom here for ladies to pray aloud
even among themselves, let us kneei
and silently invoke the divine blessing"
They knelt in silence and in tears,
and-could that be sister Susan Grace.
whose opinions were like the laws of
the Medes and Persians, that altered
not, actually speaking out in meeting?
Her prayer was:
"Our fathers God, unto whom can we
go but unto thee. Thou art our refuge
and strength; very present help in
trouble. Forgive our selfshness. orr
narrow-mindedness, and our vain reach
ings after the things of this world. Con-
secrate us now to thy service, and en-
able us to give willingly to thee frg
the abundance thou hast bestowed upol.
us-for all that we have is thine, and we
are thine, through Jesus Christ our
Lord"
Amen" responded grandma Wal
lace, as they rose from their knees with
the light of beautiful resolution upon
every face. Here are fifty cents"
said Miss Mary; You know l am SO
foolish l must have my tea in a china
cup; Johnnie broke mine Yesterday,
and cousin gave me fifty cents to buy
another. have nothing of my own to
give, but my Lord may have the china
cup, and the tea, too, if necessary"
Tears sprang afresh to the eyes that
were already dim as this first gift, the
offering of a lonely and loveless old
age, was laid upon the altar of self-sac-
rifice. Mrs. Green had started out of
the door, but she turned and nervously
fingered her pocket-book for a moment.
then handed a fve-d ollar-bill to the
treasurer, saying:
luu IhtObhNu OlutIluR 6O1lt cut
flowers, but will do without: it is not
much of a sacrifice, but give it freely"
God Hess YOU" said grandma, as
the silken drapery foated out of sight.
Miss Sarah fell back with " Well, I'm
overcOmel What next?n "This.v
answered the schoo-mistress drawing
from an envelope a check of fifteen
dollars. " L have been writing a little
for the press, but this is the first money
| have received"
" But you are not able to give it all, :"
gently demonstrated the treasurer.
Z" Shall | give that which costs me
nothing?" she replied, with glistening
eyes. 1t is the first fruits, and
belongs of right to my God"
" Need we tell what sacrifices we
make?" inquired a timid one.
NO" answered grandma; God
will know and accept the gift
There was stir in the community
during the next two weeks, and a
mysterious fitting about of the ladies {:
the elders and deacons were also seen
more than once with their wise heads
together. When the ladies assembled
for the next society meeting, they saw
a huge pile of shingles and a new fence
that didn't lean the least bit out toward
the world.
" How much money have we?''
sounded from every side.
1.-Two hundred and thirteen dollars, ;;
answered the committee, besides eight
hundred subscribed for a preacher, a
new fence, and shingles for the roof. "
"Glory hallelujah!" shouted Miss
Sarah. Let us pray" said sister
Susan Grace.
Is it necessary to say that the sum of
twenty-five dollars was soon on its way
to cheer the heart of the aboring mis-
sionary, or to add any further history of
the church at Perry?
If so, one sentence will suffice. The
blessing of God rested upon it, and
" the blessing of the Lord it maketh
rich, and he addeth no sorrow with
it."-NelC York Observer.
Seven Ways of Giving.