eeded. So our heavenly Father is pleased with his
children when they do what they can to provide for the wants of the
needy; and the smallest gift, offered in love, is not forgotten by
him.

You recollect that our Saviour, when he saw the rich men casting their
gifts into the treasury and the poor woman casting in her two mites,
said that she had cast in more than they all. They had given of their
abundance; it had cost them no self-denial--but she, of her penury,
had cast in all the living that she had. God looks not only on the
outward act, but at the heart. He sees the motives which actuate us.
He saw Nelly's heart, and he approved her generosity. He gave her an
approving conscience, which made her very happy--far happier than she
could have been if she had been selfish, and thought only of her own
enjoyment.

LOVEST THOU ME?

Jesus, after his resurrection from the dead, appeared at various times
to his disciples. Once, when Peter, John, and a few others were
fishing in the Sea of Tiberias, he stood on the shore, and inquired of
them, "Have ye any meat?" They answered, "No." Then he directed them
to cast their net on the right side of the ship, and they should find
fish. They did so, and caught one hundred and fifty-three. The
disciples then knew it was Jesus who had spoken to them. After they
had secured the fish by drawing the net to the shore, Jesus invited
them to dine with him.

The disciples had observed, so soon as they came to land, a fire of
coals, and "fish laid thereon, and bread." This was the refreshment
our Lord had prepared for them, and he, himself, gave them the simple
repast.

After they had dined, our Saviour said to Peter three times, "Simon,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" The first and the second time Peter
answered, "Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee." Peter was
grieved because Jesus said unto him the third time, "Lovest thou me?"
and he replied, "Thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love
thee."

How did Peter know that he loved Jesus? It was not because he always
did right, for a short time before he had denied his Lord, and had
more than once said that he did not know him! Yet, notwithstanding
this, when he was now asked, "Lovest thou me?" he could unhesitatingly
answer, "Thou knowest that I love thee."

If you should be asked, "Do you love your parents?" you would
immediately answer, "Yes." You know you love them. How do you know it?
It might not be so easy f