Self-Denial; or, Alice Wood, and Her Missionary Society

In a sun‑dappled village where the schoolhouse nestles beside old elms and the scent of Mother Grimes’s sweets drifts down the lane, a bright‑spirited girl named Alice Wood gathers her classmates after the final bell. She’s known for putting others first, and today she’s brimming with a new purpose that catches the curiosity of every girl who lingers near the candy shop.

Alice has just heard a missionary speak of distant lands where people have never known the Bible, and she convinces the girls to form a modest sewing society. Their Saturdays will be spent stitching bags, collars and small trinkets, while one of them reads aloud about missions, turning ordinary craft into a charitable cause. By saving pennies they'd otherwise spend on treats, the children begin to see how even tiny sacrifices can add up to books, Bibles, and support for those in need, sparking both camaraderie and a gentle resolve to live a bit more self‑lessly.