Jill's Red Bag

ad the Bible every morning before

ith a few words at the end tried to mak

acob's flight from home. Jill

to God?" she asked after reading in h

kner exp

ying to be His servants feel we are given it to use for Him. But even so it is nice to put apart a tenth to use especially for His work dow

and eyes we

e only nine pen

alkner

you have te

e tenth?" asked Jack; "put it

issionary-box and put their tenth in that. Sometimes you can buy something for very poor

wn. That afternoon, when lessons were over,

as full of ea

, "I've a lovely plan in my head; only fir

garden. Fortune seemed in Jill's favour, for near the plant

me of these right into the middle of the plantat

or?" as

beyed unqu

to have three heaps of stones, only it will take so l

tall old pine, and soon had a very resp

lunteered he

ither, but I'm going to do it. This is going to be a kind of Jacob's pil

sked Jack, his eyes lig

e a tenth of my money to God, and I

falling a little; "and y

to," Jill s

d Bumps in her breathless

you can make up your mind. It's a very solemn

re was the oil, you know. Jacob had

cook for some; she'll a

k began to take a k

good, Jill?" he asked, look

I shall always be very wicked. But, Jack, I've quite made up my

h the river?" asked J

road, but I think I'm on it. And anyhow I'm quite determined to give a tenth. Now here comes Bumps. Hooray! She's got the oil!" Jill

stones a little

er," Jill announced. "When I'm an old woman with a stick and a cap I shall be led o

aid Jack admiringly. "D

e marshalled Jack and Bumps to a r

laughing, because I'm in awful earnest. I've brought my Bible out to say

hen holding her Bible in both hands for an instant, she looked up int

hall be God's house; and of all that Thou shalt

for a minute, then she

n,'" she

fervently and

ay and sat dow

you must be quite quiet for five minutes. No

d a little

," he confided to Bumps; "ar

," assented Bumps che

ose I'd

e poured some oil out, then followed Jill's example an

nd Jack came back to his tree and sat down,

umps," he

the stones then look

ow what nex

out so

ah! it's thpilt itt

shed up

he bottle to me, why, there's hardly any left! Now take it an

ooked a

is so hard to read. I'm 'fraid I shall never do it prop'ly. And you said the verth l

estly trying t

the verse,

e prayer, of course, but you must do it by yo

KNELT

le fat hands. She read the verse haltingly, but her whol

d out of doors before. He is sure to have heard me

e had managed it qu

ldren stood and lo

the vow, but that's only the beginning. And we mustn't tell anybody about this pla

up somewhere

a trespassers' board, and chalk it with that lovel

shall we ge

ll make

he premises. The children loved him, for he made them m

him, and came across him taking

wn. Jill was always emphatic

last week, and I should like you to paint, 'Trespassers will be prosecuted

o," suggested Jack, "it wo

d doubtful

d 'Bethel,' Sam? I'll te

grin

ou show me where you want i

tell, because it's a great secret, and w

m. "Show me the spot, and be sharp,

led him into

n he saw the

re is a Bet

' board," said Jack with a knowing shake of

coming, and making fun, and pulling our stones ab

d at her si

d them to pris

on the stones and seeing the marks of the

ike to join us you shall. It's a vow we've made to God. You can read about it in your

atched

, missy, but I can't

d if you read about Jacob like Miss Fa

ake the board, and the children, hearing

ough Bumps was sadly wanting to do so. After tea their governess sa

forces into a co

said; "have you

t it's precious little! Here's a threepenny bit and a sixpence and

oor, and then sat down in front of it to co

e one away, and that leaves ten; take a p

d complete

the first penny that

said Jill with a knitted brow. "I'm sure that will be r

at I saw in the shop in the village, and I believe

ss Falkner told you that. No

," said Bumps

h then," said Jill, "f

oked rea

he said; "do pleath make it com

nt idea s

fpennies, and she'l

mps both br

halfpenny by, and that will be your tenth. I have

en that was done Jill produced her own purse. She was the richest of the three, for

o over would go towards the next tenth. Then she delighted her small pupils by producing a pretty scarlet flannel bag which she gave them as a

s she was tucking her up in bed that night. "Tha

es glistened as s

from these beginnings, as you call them. Ask Him to help you, dea

ut that's because the Golden