"I suppose I can go," replied Harry, not ungraciously, but somewhat indifferently.
"I do want to go; and, Harry, you know you said you were to write an essay on the Indian question for next Wednesday; maybe you'll get some ideas; you know Miss R—— is from the Indian Territory."
"All right! Count me in. I'll be ready in a jiffy."
Harry Danvers was never the same boy after that evening. You might not have noticed the difference, but it was there. He could never again be indifferent towards Missions. He gained, as Alice had suggested, some ideas, but not altogether in the line of his school essay. He for the first time in his life realized that he, Harry Danvers, had a part in the great work given to the church of Christ; that the responsibility of sending the Gospel to the heathen nations rested upon him in proportion to his ability, and the question, What can I give? was pressed home upon his heart. The duty and privilege of sacrifice were set before him, and he asked himself, What can I sacrifice? The questions were unanswered when he went to bed that night. Harry was a Christian boy, and he carried his questioning to his Heavenly Father, and waited for the answer. The next morning as he went down stairs, with Jack's customary greeting there came to him the answer he had sought. Here was an opportunity to prove his sincerity! Was he equal to the sacrifice?
"What is the matter, Harry?" asked his mother; "are you sick?"
"The missionary meeting was too much for him, I guess," said Alice.
"Didn't you like the speaker?" asked Mr. Danvers.
"Yes, sir; I liked it all very much. Mother, you ought to go this morning; they say there is a perfectly wonderful speaker to be on the platform—a woman from Syria; are you going, Harry?"
"I don't know," replied Harry indifferently.
"Dear me," said Alice; "boys are so queer. Now I thought it was just splendid last evening, but Harry won't even say he liked it. I was all stirred up and ready to give all my jewelry—only I haven't any to give," and Alice chattered on until breakfast was over, and the family went their several ways. All the time Harry was thinking, and, as you will see, thinking to some purpose. He had an errand down town for his mother, and as he went out of the gate he said with energy, "I'll do it!"