A LITTLE boy who had plenty of pennies dropped one in the missionary box, laughing as he did so. He had no thought in his heart of Jesus, the heathen, or the missionary. His was a tin penny. It was as light as a scrap of tin.
Another boy put a penny in, and as he did so, looked around with a self-applauding gaze, as if he had done some great thing. His was a brass penny. It was not the gift of a lowly heart, but of a proud spirit.
A third boy gave a penny, saying to himself, “I suppose I must because all others do.” That was an iron penny. It was the gift of a cold, hard heart.
As a fourth boy dropped his penny in the box, he shed a tear and in his heart said, “Poor heathens! I’m so sorry they are so poor, so ignorant, and so miserable.” That was a silver penny. It was the gift of a heart full of pity.
But there was one scholar who gave his penny with a throbbing heart, saying to himself, “For Thy sake, O loving Jesus, I give this penny, hoping that the poor heathen, whom Thou lovest, will believe in Thee and become Thy disciples.” That was a golden penny, because it was the gift of love.
