our shillings and fourpence
is not much, indeed, yet it will buy some nice little books for the
Hindoo children in the schools; and if you will also give a penny a
week, that will buy just as many more."

It was of no use. Louisa would not be persuaded to do anything for the
heathen _yet_. Emma gave her penny a week, and felt happy in giving
it; while Louisa only talked of doing so by and by. If Louisa had
loved her Saviour and her Bible, she would have felt it a delight to
assist in sending the glad tidings of the gospel to heathen lands; but
when the heart has not been changed by the Holy Spirit, we feel but
little concern for our own souls, and do not care for the salvation of
others.

Emma was not led away by the example of her sister; but as she grew
older she seemed to grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of
Christ. This will always be the case with those who believe the
promises of God, and seek for divine assistance to enable them to obey
his word. We can do nothing of ourselves, for we are poor, guilty,
helpless sinners: but God, who has given his only Son to die for our
sins, has also promised to give his Holy Spirit to them that ask it.
Therefore, though we feel ourselves ever so weak and sinful, we need
not despair of growing better, if we also feel our need of Christ, and
go to him for help and pardon.

Louisa and Emma had often heard that life is short and uncertain; but
it is not easy for young people to feel the truth of this while they
are healthy and strong. When Emma was about twelve years old she was
taken very ill, so that there was from the first but little hope that
she would recover. Then she felt that it is an awful thing to die; and
the thought of the soul, which cannot die, and of heaven and hell,
were far more solemn than they had ever seemed to her before. At first
she was greatly afraid of death, for she knew she was a sinner, and
deserving of the anger of God; but by degrees, as she lay on her sick
bed, there came into her mind many sweet verses of the Bible, which
she had learned in her days of health, and which gave her comfort, by
telling her of the love of Jesus the Lamb of God, who taketh away the
sins of the world. Do you think she was sorry, now, that she had spent
so many hours in reading that holy and blessed book? No; for the
promises of mercy and salvation which it held out to her was her only
support through many hours of pain and suffering, when death seemed
near,