Heaven knows,"

"I don't imagine that the charity fund has suffered anything in
consequence of Mr. Birtwell's costly entertainment," replied Mr.
Craig. "If the money spent for last night's feast had not gone to
the wine-merchant and the caterer, it would have remained as it
was."

The lady with the vinegar face said something about the Dives who
have their good things here, adding, with a zest in her voice, that
"Riches, thank God! can't be taken over to the other side, and your
nabobs will be no better off after they die than the commonest
beggars."

"That will depend on something more than the money-aspect of the
case," said Mr. Craig. "And as to the cost of giving a feast, what
would be extravagance in one might only be a liberal hospitality in
another. Cake and ice cream for my friends might be as lavish an
expenditure for me as Mr. Birtwell's banquet last night was for him,
and as likely to set me among the beggars when I get over to the
other side."

"Then you don't believe that God holds rich men to a strict account
for the manner in which they spend the money he has placed in their
hands? Are they not his almoners?"

"No more than poor men, and not to be held to any stricter
accountability," was replied. "Mr. Birtwell does not sin against the
poor when he lavishes his hundreds, or it may be thousands, of
dollars in the preparation of a feast for his friends any more than