So the fine lady was not without use after all. As to the other doll, it did more than give pleasure. It was a mute lesson which seemed to be always saying, “If a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well.” It was an example of neatness, orderliness, industry and ungrudging labour to the small people, who were taught by those about them to take care of what had cost so much painstaking to produce. I think I hear one of you ask, “Has not straw its value also? Could it be done without? Is it not necessary for the production of the grain itself?” Certainly it is a most valuable thing and fills a most important place. It could be ill spared from Nature’s storehouse. Its uses are manifold, and would take long to enumerate. You will remember that, at the very beginning of our talk this evening, we showed the straw in use, along with the grain it held, both as an offering and a decoration in the house of God. It was only when it was proposed to put straw in place of “the full corn in the ear,” that it was objected to as an empty sham. There is a great deal of straw mixed with our social intercourse that might well be thrown aside, and there are other cases in which we should be sorry to part with it. The visits which are paid merely because we owe them, without the slightest wish to see the individual and only to get rid of a feeling of debt, are straw of one kind. We have all heard the remark, “I got through such a number of calls to-day. It was so fine that nearly everybody was out, as I thought they would be.” The calls made in the expectation and hope of finding our acquaintances out, are surely a kind of social straw that we could well dispense with. The invitation given, not because a guest is really wanted, but because it “would not do to leave her out,” is straw of the same kind. But there are many kind words said and little thoughtful actions performed which are only straw, in a sense; but we should miss them sadly if they were omitted. Supposing that one of you received two gifts of equal intrinsic value at the same time. A curt line or a telegram announced the one, a lovingly-worded letter, or kind expressions uttered in a tone and with a look of good will accompanied the other. In neither case would the value of the gift be affected; but—oh, what a difference there would be in the feelings of the receiver! The prettily-worded letter or message would linger in the memory and the pleasant smile would be recalled whenever the gift was in sight. They were but the straw that enfolded it, but it was precious straw which had its right place and value. Much that I have said to-night, dear girls, is intended to suggest thought—not to exhaust the subject, for that would be difficult. But I trust it will help us all to discriminate between the false and the true, the thorough and the fair-seeming, and strengthen our determination to give of our best to God above all, and, for His sake, to our neighbour also. (_To be continued._)