to
places in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke where our Saviour commends the
giving of tithes, though he says that there are "weightier matters of
the law, judgment, mercy, and faith."

"But tithes were not all the Israelites gave," Mrs. Howell resumed,
after the little girls had read the verses. "They gave in many other
ways. Let me take that Bible a moment, Marty. Here in Deuteronomy,
twelfth chapter and sixth verse, you see that many things are mentioned
besides tithes--vows and free-will-offerings and the firstlings of the
herds and of the flocks. Then at their feast times, three times in the
year, they were told, in the sixteenth chapter of the same book, the
sixteenth and seventeenth verses, that every man was to give as he was
able."

"Seems to me they must have been giving all the time," observed Marty.

"Yes, it has been estimated that a truly devout Jew gave away about a
third of his income. That is more than three-tenths, you know. Giving
freely to the Lord's service and to the poor was part of a Jew's
religion."

"That's what Edith says," Marty remarked. "'Tisn't part of ours, is it?"

"Oh, yes it is," said Mrs. Howell, smiling a little; "though perhaps not
as much as it should be. All through the Bible we are taught the duty of
giving, and though, of course, those particular directions in the Old
Testament were intended especially for the Jews, we may learn from them
that the best way of giving is to give systematically."

"What do you mean by systematically?" asked Marty.

"I mean not giving just when we happen to feel particularly interested
in some object, or when we don't want the money for something else, but
having some plan about it and giving regularly, intelligently, and,
above all, prayerfully."

"Tell Marty the New Testament plan for giving, mamma," Edith requested.

"St. Paul tells the Corinthians in the sixteenth chapter and second
verse of the first epistle: 'Upon the first day of the week let every
one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.' You see that
is somewhat different from tenths. No particular portion is mentioned,
but we are to regularly set aside for religious purposes as much as we
can afford, and the amount is to be increased as our means increase."

"Why doesn't Edith do that way?" Marty inquired.

"When she is older and better able to judge how much she ought to give,
she may adopt that plan. But it is simpler and easier just to give a
tenth, and it