"

"Maybe your mother will let me help her too," said Charlotte, eagerly;
"but I have so little time to play that I could not earn much, and I
would be ashamed to give so little. I would rather put in more than any
one, it would please the teacher and make the girls envy me."

"I am sure," answered Annie, gently, "the teacher would not like us to
do anything that would make another envy us, because that is a very
wicked and unhappy feeling, and though she might be pleased to see us
put in so much, yet it is God whom we are seeking to serve, and he looks
at the heart, and knows our feelings. He tells us not to give alms to be
seen of men, and you remember, Charlotte, what the superintendent said
about the widow's mite, which pleased Jesus, though the gift was so
small."

"You speak like a superintendent yourself," cried Charlotte, gaily, "but
ask your mother, Annie, and I will come over to-night and hear what she
says."

They had now reached Mrs. Grey's house, and bidding each other good-by
they parted. Charlotte hurried home to tell her mother about the
contributions, and was laughed at, as she expected; however, Mrs. Murray
said she would give, if she had it to spare, but charity began at home,
and it was not for poor folks to trouble their heads about such matters.
Let those who had means, and nothing else to do, attend to it.

When Annie told her mother what had been said in school, Mrs. Grey told
her that it had also been given out in church, and a collection was to
be taken up on the following Sunday, when the missionary himself would
preach for them.

"I shall give what little I can," she added, with a slight sigh. "I wish
it was more, but my earnest prayers shall accompany this humble offering
to the Lord."

Annie now unfolded her plan to her mother, and asked her consent, which
was readily given, and then Annie told her of Charlotte's request. And
her mother said that although she did not require Charlotte's help,
still she would not refuse her, as she liked to encourage every good
inclination. And when Charlotte came in the evening, Annie had the
pleasure of telling her that her mother had consented, and would give
them a little pile of wool to card every day, for which each should
receive a penny.

"And that will be sixpence a-piece, you know," continued Annie, "and we
can change it to a silver piece, for fear we might drop a penny by the
way."

"Oh, how nice that will be," cried Charlotte. "Do you