A VALUABLE HINT AS WELL AS POTATO.
"I CAN'T afford it," John Hale, the rich farmer, answered when asked to give to missions. Harry, his grandson, was grieved. "But the poor heathen; is it not too bad that they can not have churches and school-houses and books?" "What do you know about the heathen? Would you wish me to give away my hard earnings? I tell you I can not afford it." "If you do not feel able to give money, will you give a potato?" "A potato!" ejaculated Mr. Hale, looking up from his paper. "Yes, sir; and land enough to plant it in, and what it produces in four years?" "O, yes," setting his glasses on his calculating nose in a way that showed he was glad to escape from the lad's persecution on such cheap terms. Harry planted the potato, and it rewarded him the first year by producing thirteen; these the following season became a peck; the next season, seven and a half bushels; and when the fourth harvest came, the potatoes had increased to seventy bushels; and when sold, the amount realized was, with a glad heart, put into the treasury of the Lord. Even the aged farmer exclaimed: "Why, I did not feel that donation in the least. And, Harry, I've been thinking that if there were a little missionary like you in every house, and each one got a potato or something else as productive, for the cause, there would be quite a large sum gathered." Little reader, will you be that missionary at home?—Gospel in all Lands.