"You have? Well, wait a minute," she said, as Carrie felt for her pocket, "till I wash my hands and get my glasses; then I will sit down and rest while I see what it is."

When she was seated Carrie took the rubber band from around the little plush lined box, took off the cover and handed her the box where lay the bright new thimble.

"Mamma sent it and she said I might tell you it is partly my present to you because she had promised to get one for me and I told her she might get yours instead."

Of course you want to know how Aunt Evaline looked and what she said. We will hear what Carrie told her mother about it when she went home. Eager to find her mother, she ran into the house and called,

"Mamma!"

"Well?" sounded the loving voice from the kitchen, where mamma was helping to get the big turkey ready for the

oven.

"Oh, mamma," she said, "I'm so glad you didn't get the thimble for me. Aunt Evaline was so pleased. And just think, mamma, she said she never had a silver thimble in all her life before. You ought to have seen her eyes when she saw it. She opened them so wide, and smiled; and, then, when I told her why it was partly my present, there came such a solemn, earnest look in her eyes, and she took my face between her hands and kissed me; and she said,

"Carrie, dear, I am more glad of that than of all the rest, though I am pleased with the thimble. For I never had a silver one before, and I have always wanted one. It is such a beauty, too. Tell your mother I thank her very much."

The tears might have come in Aunt Evaline's eyes if she had been like most people, but for years she had never shed any tears. When she felt very deeply there always came into her dark gray eyes that deep, earnest look which meant more to those who knew her than tears might have done. Aunt Ida could tell you how, years ago in her girlhood, when some of the family were speaking impatiently of the actions of a careless, wayward cousin, she had tried to excuse her faults and to influence others to have

passed from the room Aunt Evaline followed her, and said to Ida,

"I came down here to kiss you for that."

"For what?" questioned Ida.

"For what you have just been saying." Then she looked into Ida's eyes a look so full of meaning, and kissed her so seriously, that Ida has never forgotten either the look or the kiss; and I think they have helped her to remember that we ought to have charity for the failings of others.

Carrie, as we have seen, felt amply repaid for her disappointment. But there was still a pleasant surprise in store for her because of it.

For, after Christmas, her mother in writing to Aunt Ida told the story of the thimble, and she, enjoying it herself, read it to a very dear friend, who was also a friend of Carrie's mother, and Miss Jennie said,

"Wasn't that nice! I would like to get the child a thimble and send it to her at once; and I think I'll do it."

In the small place where she lived she could not find one to suit, so she sent to Chicago for it, and in course of time it came, one pretty enough to satisfy the the longings of any little girl with a desire for a silver thimble.

So it happened that one morning in January, when the mail carrier stopped at Carrie's home, he left a letter in a pink envelope, and a little square package, both addressed to her. At noon, when she came home from school she found the letter and package lying on the table in the sitting-room. She hardly knew which to open first; but the package looked the most enticing. So, taking off the wrapping, she found a little box, and in it-a silver thimble.

"Why mamma!" she exclaimed.

And mamma was as much surprised as she.

"Who could have sent it?"

"Read your letter," said mamma; "perhaps that will tell."

Carrie cut off the end of the envelope and drew out the pink tinted sheet; and this is what she read:

Dear Carrie:- When I heard of a little girl who was willing to give up that which she so much desired, and for a long year had anticipated having, I felt as if I wanted to 19ward

her for her unselfishness. Not that she expected reward. No, indeed; but because she so lovingly and cheerfully gave up her thimble, and was willing to wait another whole year for it.

That, dear, is just why I wanted you to have one now. As you use it if you are ever tempted to be selfish, (and you know the temptation to selfishness comes to us all in many ways), may the thimble be a reminder to you that it always brings peace and happiness to sacrifice our own comfort and pleasure for others. The good book, which is light to our pathway, teaches us that "it is more blessed to give than to receive." This is true in more ways than one, as I trust you may prove by a life of unselfishness. Work done and sacrifices made for love, are sure to bring a reward with the doing; and then at the end of the race will come the great reward.

May you, dear child, so strive that at the last it may be said to you, "Well done" Please accept the thimble with love from, Your friend,

JENNIE C. And now it was Miss Jennie's turn to get a letter. It was handed to her through the little window at the post office, and she knew by the writing that it must be from Carrie. It was a very nicely written letter; for Carrie had had good training at school, as well as at home, and she was as careful with her writing as with her sewing. This is what the letter said:

Dear Miss Jennie:-I thank you very much for the thimble. It is such a pretty one, and I so much wanted one. Before Christmas mamma told me that she had intended to get me one, as she had promised, but that Aunt Evaline had no silver thimble and she asked if I would give up mine for her. It was pretty hard to give it up; but when I thought all about it I was willing to let her have it. I took it out to her on Christmas morning; and when I saw how pleased she was it did me more good than twenty thimbles. She said that she never had a silver thimble before. How glad I was that I gave it to her.

I didn't think of anyone but mamma giving me a thimble, and did not expect it now at all, so it was a great surprise when this one came from you. I had some nice Christmas presents, and since you sent the thimble I have everything I wanted.

I thank you for your nice letter, and will try to remember what you said about being unselfish. Your little friend,

CARRIE BELL.

Do some of the children say, "That's the way things always turn out in stories; the people get just what they want, in the end?"

We grant that it happens there more often than in real life; in fact we rarely see it happen so. However, this is a true story. But, while it was kind in Miss Jennie to get the thimble, and pleasant for Carrie to have it, that is not the best part of the story. Now is it? Are not Carrie's struggle with herself, resulting in victory, and the pleasure that followed (her own and her aunt's) the best parts to remember?

We read that the things which are not seen are the ones whieh are eternal. Carrie might lose or wear out the thimble, which she could see and handle, but she will not lose the memory of the pleasure she gave and gained; or, if she should, the effect upon her life of her triumph over self will not be lost. "Each victory helps us some other to win." Our thoughts and the intents of our hearts are not seen, but it is from them that our characters are built; and these will remain with us to eternity.

"Fill up each hour with what will last;
For life above, when this is past,
Will be ripe fruit of this thou hast.
"Be pure and true in inmost thought;
From threads of purpose, deftly caught,
The warp and woof of deeds are wrought.
"Be kind in act and speech; one word
May soothe some heart by trouble stirred,
And be by listening angels heard.
"And heart and hand shall both be strong,
And life itself shall prove, ere long,
A prelude to the perfect song."

CALLIE B. STEBBINS.

If thou wert lying, cold and still and white,
In death's embraces, O mine enemy!

I think that if I came and looked on thee
I should forgive; that something in the sight
Of thy still face would conquer me, by right
Of death's sad impotence, and I should see
How pitiful a thing it is to be
At feud with aught that's mortal.

So to-night,

My soul, unfurling her white flag of peace,
Forestalling that dread hour when we may meet
The dead face and the living, fain would cry
Across the years, "Oh, let our warfare cease!
Life is so short, and hatred is not sweet!
Let there be peace between us ere we die."
-Century.

IN nature, Unity and Diversity each have their rights and legitimate duties. Each fills its proper sphere, and we have "unity in diversity and diversity in unity."

It should be so in religion. A religion without unity does not represent God; without diversity it does not represent

man.

A system or arrangement which has for its object the reconciling of man to God should represent both. To exaggerate unity and destroy diversity, is to destroy manhood and make man a slave, while true religion should make him free.

To exaggerate diversity to the extent. of destroying unity is to rule God out, and a religion in which God is not, cannot draw God and man nearer together. So there are two errors into which we may fall; first, to expect too great unity; second, to teach too great diversity.

The essential doctrines of salvation Occupy the golden mean between these extremes. Emanating from God they form a perfect unity, but in their effects upon different minds they produce just enough diversity. So in true religion, as in nature, we have "unity in diversity and diversity in unity," or man in God and God in man. In the language of Jesus, "As thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also might be one in us."

Anything more or less than this is out of proportion. Doctrines that originate. with man are all diversity and no unity, consequently all man and no God. Had God chosen to govern man without man's agency or volition, thus making him a machine, to move absolutely as moved upon, there would be all unity and no diversity, or all God and no man.

Then, as true religion represents both God and man, we may expect both unity and diversity; also in its practical workings both strength and weakness. As the great governing and overruling power is perfect, we may expect it to grow and develop wonderfully in the direction of perfection; but, as it has the element of weakness in it, as represented by man, we need not be surprised if we see the outcroppings of imperfection, nor need we conclude that there is no God in it because mistakes are made.

The sun's rays are always one and the same, yet they produce diversity in color according to the object on which they fall. From where I sit I count at least nine shades of green. There is also the brown, the blue, the gray, the red, the white, etc., but the same sun "working all in all." (I use the language which Paul applies to spiritual gifts for an evident purpose). To the orange is given by the sun a dark green foliage; to the cherry a lighter green by the same sun. To one flower is given blue, to another red, to another white, to another purple, to another divers shades of color, but all these worketh by the selfsame sun “dividing to them severally as he will." Thus, through the unity of the sun's rays, that diversity is produced which beautifies this world of ours. How monstrous and tiresome it would be if there were perfect unity of form and color in all the creatures of nature, yet how chaotic and inorganic it would be if all did not blend in perfect unity.

Again: Before me, as I write, are the orange, lemon, apricot, cherry, fig, apple and plum. They are exposed to the same rays of the sun, they grow in the same soil, they live in the same temperature, and yet these unity of causes will produce a diversity of fruit by operating on different seed germs. Nor does the diversity end here. There are many varieties of apples, of oranges, figs, etc. Should there occasionally appear a sickly or deformed plant or tree, whose blossom or fruit is defective, we do not attribute this to the fault of the sun but to the disease of the plant, arising from other causes; nor are we so foolish as to say that this particular plant has been rejected or cast off by the sun.

In such cases we cultivate and nurture them more carefully; and, if by nature they are too tender to stand extremes of heat or cold, we shelter them. Thus, "where the least honor is bestowed we bestow more abundantly," that our uncomely plants may have "more abundant comeliness." While we study to take advantage of the unity of causes, we seek to diversify effects. He would be foolish who would pull up the lily and throw it

out of the garden because it does not bloom like the rose, or cut down the cherry because it does not produce apples. Unity (or harmony) in music is also produced by diversity of sounds. What a tiresome jargon it would be if all notes were exactly the same measure and pitch.

Truth, like the sun, is always one and the same, but, as the sun produces a diversity of color according as it shines on different objects, so truth produces different effects as it operates on different natures. So the apostle affirms that the spirit of truth is diversified in its operations. The rays of truth acting upon one mind gives it a testimony of Jesus, upon another mind it produces faith, upon another knowledge, upon another the prophetic gift, upon another the gift of tongues, upon another health to afflicted parts, etc. But it is "the same spirit that worketh all in all," "dividing to every man severally as he will." Thus, as in music, harmony is produced by diversity, each contributing to the enjoyment and perfection of others.

Should there be a weak one, who, in the exercise of these gifts, makes a mistake and falls into error, we should not conclude that the truth which such an one has received is to be blamed, or that the Spirit of truth has entirely forsaken such an one. Weak such may be with the light of truth, but infinitely weaker would he or she be without that light.

Then be careful in your treatment, lest you may exaggerate diversity at the expense of unity, and injury result. Be careful also not to demand absolute unity of thought and act, lest you may exaggerate unity at the expense of diversity, and thus trammel the liberty of man. By demanding that all should conform to your judgment, you forget that the unity in religion should not proceed from you, but from God, and that you are one of the many from whom proceeds its diversity. In the light of the sun a color may be distinctly discerned, but in artificial light the finer shades cannot be distinguished. We may wrangle so much as we will, but the dispute can only be settled by carrying the object into the sunlight. So man may quarrel about fine shades of opinion, while viewing them in the light of uninspired reason, but such questions can only be settled by the Spirit of truth shedding its light upon it. Hence

the necessity of revelation from God that unity may be represented and not too much diversity obtain.

And yet, if we have not sufficient light of truth to exactly agree upon fine shades of opinion, let us keep the unity of the Spirit until we can emerge into the glorious light where color may be perfectly defined.

Diversity is not only to be expected, but is absolutely necessary. Ours is the human part of religion, and none of us have sufficient breadth of intellect to see and comprehend all phases of essential Christian life and character.

My

What one sees he may tell to another, and in turn may receive information concerning that which he does not see. taste, or inclination may lead me to excess in one direction while your taste or inclination leads you into excess in another direction. You see my danger, I see yours. By mutual warnings we may benefit each other. Our diversity helps us; but, in order to derive the full benefit from it, we must keep the unity of the Spirit. If we sacrifice that our divinity will grow to extreme proportions, and each of us will run to excess and be destroyed, while we may hate and despise each other because of our differences. the other hand, if we were alike in our views we would run into the same excesses. Not seeing our danger we would go hand in hand to destruction while loving each other for our unity. This is extreme unity and not enough diversity.

On

We admire the taste that so arranges a garden that a commingling of colors in a variety of flowers causes all to unite in forming some grand design. We commend the judgment that plans an orchard to produce a variety of wholesome fruits to satisfy the diversified tastes of man. But we could not admire a garden where all its flowers were of the same kind and color; nor an orchard where there is only one fruit, and that of the same variety.

Likewise we must admire a theology where all the diversified gifts and graces combine in founding a perfect character, and where every cast of mind can be advantageously used to adorn and beautify the church. But we cannot admire a theology where men pluck out the lily because it is not a rose, or reject all other gifts because they vainly imagine that they have great wisdom.

In the organization of his kingdom God gave diversified grades of authority, because, if all had been equal, there would have been no government, and yet he so united them together that they form a grand symmetrical whole. He assigned to each grade of officers different duties, because it would be difficult for one to comprehend all; or, if comprehending, they would be unable to discharge all; and yet each has such relation to the others that, when all have performed their part, the Saints may be perfected, the ministry be thoroughly worked, and the body of Christ be edified, until "all the building fitly framed together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord."

tions to prepare each other for usefulness within the bounds of duty or calling. Thus, by necessary diversity, proper unity is obtained, and by necessary unity diversity is properly tempered in all departments of God's work.

May God kindly deliver us from the stagnation of absolute unity, and from the excesses of extreme diversity, giving us the golden mean where the unity of truth and diversity of man are all utilized to the grand end of purifying and elevating the human race.

Kind reader, let us neither be alarmed nor discouraged when we see that differences exist or hear contrary opinions expressed, but let us avoid the bitterness of extreme diversity by keeping the unity of the Spirit. Then we will present our work to the Master by and by "without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;" and that, too, by virtue of the great principle that there is "diversity in unity, and unity in diversity."