“No, I am sure you could not; and I believe you would find far more enjoyment, a far sweeter pleasure, in selecting objects for me to benefit by the money the ring might cost.”

“O papa, how nice, how delightful that would be if you would let me!” she cried joyously.

“I will,” he said; “I have some thousands to divide among the various religious and benevolent objects, and shall give a certain sum—­perhaps as much as a thousand dollars—­in the name of each of my three children who are old enough to understand these things, letting each of you select the cause, or causes, to which his or her share is to go.”

“Which are the causes, papa?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.

“There are Home and Foreign Missions, the work among the freedmen, and for the destitute in our own neighborhood, beside very many others.  We will read about these various objects and talk the matter over together, and finally decide how many we can help, and how much shall be given to each.  Perhaps you may choose to support a little Indian girl in one of the Mission schools, or some child in heathen lands; or a missionary who will go and teach them the way to heaven.”

“Oh I should love to do that!” she exclaimed, “it will be better than having a ring.  Papa, how good you are to me!  I am so glad God gave me such a father; one who tries always to teach me how to serve Him and to help me to be the right kind of a Christian.”

“I want to help you in that, my darling,” he said; “I think I could do you no greater kindness.”

Just then Max came into the room, and his father called him to take a seat by his side, saying, “I am glad you have come, my son, for I was about to speak to Lulu on a subject that concerns you quite as nearly.”

“Yes, sir; I’ll be glad to listen,” replied Max, doing as directed.

The captain went on.  “The Bible tells us, ’If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.’  If we are like Jesus in spirit, we will love others and be ready to deny ourselves to do them good; especially to save their souls; for to that end he denied himself even to the shameful and painful death of the cross.

“He says, ’If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me....  Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.’

“That is we cannot be his disciples without doing something to bring sinners to him that they may be saved; something that will cost us self-denial; it may be of our own ease, or of something we would like to do or have.

“And it must be done willingly, cheerfully, from love to the dear Master and the souls he died to save, and not as the way to earn heaven for ourselves.

“We can not merit salvation, do what we will; we must take it as God’s free, undeserved gift.”

There was a moment of thoughtful silence; then Max said, “Papa, I think I am willing if I knew just what to do and how to do it.  Can you tell me?”