Christmas with Grandma Elsie | Page 6

hoping he would ask what she wanted from him, but
he did not. He sat silently caressing her hair and cheek with his hand,
and seemingly lost in thought.
At length, "Papa," she asked half hesitatingly, "are you very rich?"
"Rich?" he repeated, coming suddenly out of his reverie and looking
smilingly down into her eyes, "yes; I have a sound constitution,
excellent health, a delightful home, a wife and five children, each one
of whom I esteem worth at least a million to me; I live in a Christian
land," he went on in a graver tone, "I have the Bible with all its great
and precious promises, the hope of a blessed eternity at God's right
hand, and that all my dear ones are traveling heavenward with me; yes,
I am a very rich man!"
"Yes, sir; but--I meant have you a great deal of money."
"Enough to provide all that is necessary for the comfort of my family,

and to gratify any reasonable desire on the part of my little girl. What is
it you want, my darling?"
"Papa, I'm almost ashamed to tell you," she said, blushing and hanging
her head; "but if I do, and you can't afford it, won't you please say so
and not feel sorry about it? because I wouldn't ever want you to spend
money on me that you need for yourself or some of the others."
"I am glad you are thoughtful for others as well as yourself, daughter,"
he said kindly; "but don't hesitate to tell me all that is in your heart.
Nothing pleases me better than to have you, and all my dear children do
so."
"Thank you, my dear, dear papa. I don't mean ever to hide anything
from you," she returned, giving him another hug and kiss, while her
eyes sparkled and her cheek flushed with pleasure. "It's a diamond ring
I'd like to have."
"A diamond ring?" he repeated in surprise. "What would my little girl
do with such a thing as that?"
"Wear it, papa. Maud Dinsmore has such beautiful one, that a rich aunt
sent her the other day," she went on eagerly; "there's a large diamond in
the middle and little ones all round it, and it sparkles so, and looks just
lovely on her hand! We all admired it ever so much, and I said I'd be
wild with delight if I had such an one; then Sydney said, 'Why not give
your father a hint that you'd like one for Christmas?' and I said I was
afraid you couldn't afford to give me anything that would cost so much;
but Maud said I needn't be, for you were worth millions of money. Can
you really afford to give it to me, papa? I'd like it better than anything
else if you can, but if you can't I don't want it," she concluded with a
sigh, and creeping closer into his embrace.
He did not speak for a moment, but though grave and thoughtful his
countenance was quite free from displeasure,--and when, at length, he
spoke, his tones were very kind and affectionate.
"If I thought it would really be for my little girl's welfare and happiness

in the end," he said, "I should not hesitate for a moment to gratify her in
this wish of hers, but, daughter, the ornament you covet would be
extremely unsuitable for one of your years, and I fear its possession
would foster a love of finery that I do not wish to cultivate in you,
because it is not right, and would hinder you in the race I trust you are
running for the prize of eternal life.
"The Bible tells us we can not serve both God and Mammon; can not
love him and the world too.
"'If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.' God
has entrusted me with a good deal of money, but I hold it as his steward,
and 'it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.'"
"I don't know what you mean, papa," she said, with look and tone of
keen disappointment.
"That I must use the Lord's money to do his work, daughter; a great
deal of money is needed to help on the advancement of his cause and
kingdom in the hearts of individuals, and in the world at large. There
are millions of poor creatures in heathen lands who have never so much
as heard of Jesus and his dying love; and even in our own favored
country there are thousands who are sunk in poverty, ignorance and
wretchedness. Money is needed to feed and clothe them, to send them
teachers and preachers, and to build churches, schools, and colleges,
where they can be educated and