A Little Girl's Talk

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Feb 18, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 7.

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A Little Girl's Talk.

A FEW weeks ago I heard a little girl's talk over her pocket-book, before church time. Her brother said to her,—

"Where's your money? There will be a contribution to-day."

She went to get her pocket-book.

"I have two silver ten cents and a paper one."

Her brother said,—

"A tenth of that is three cents."

"But three cents is such a stingy little to give. I shall give this ten cents. You see I would have had more here, only I spent some for myself last week; it would not be fair to take a tenth of what is left, after I have used all I wanted."

"Why don't you give the paper ten cents? The silver ones are prettier to keep."

"So they are prettier to give. Paper ten cents look so dirty and shabby. No; I'll give good things."

So she had put one ten cents in her pocket, when some one said,—

"I hope we can raise that three hundred dollars for home missions to-day."

Then that little girl gave a groan.

"Oh, is this home-missions day? Then that other silver ten cents has to go too." And she went to get it, with another doleful groan.

I said, "If you feel so distressed about it, why do you give it?"

"Oh, because I made up my mind to always give twice as much to home missions as anything else; and I shall just stick to what I made up my mind to."

Now this little affair set me to thinking.

1. We should deal honestly with God in giving. "It is not fair," said the little girl, "to count your tenth after you have used all you want."

2. We should deal liberally in giving. If the fair tenth is a petty sum, let us go beyond it, and give more.

3. Let us give our best things. That which is the nicest to keep is also the nicest to give.

4. Let us give until we feel it.—Sel.