He turned round restlessly, and any one who cared might see that his pitcher was empty enough as it lay on the ground under his arm.
Esther was all unconscious that the eyes of the party were fixed upon her. When she had completed her chain of daisies, she took her little brother"s hand in hers.
"Now, darling," she said softly, "you promised me you would go at once to get your little pitcher filled."
He nodded and trotted off by her side, while she continued, "It would be so sad not to have any Oil when night comes on, wouldn"t it?"
"But you could lend me some," answered the child, confident in her love.
"You know I can"t; I must not; no one can lend. So that is why I want you to get some for yourself."
As they turned round to go towards the place where I imagined the Golden Oil was to be obtained, I saw another strange thing about these children which I had not noticed before; each carried, fastened to the same girdle, a tiny lamp. I looked round to enquire the meaning of it all, but found myself unable to speak; so I could do nothing but follow the two children to see what would become of them.
"But why must we have our lamps lighted. Esther?" asked the little one; "I go to sleep all night."
"Yes," said Esther; "but every night before I go to sleep I trim and light my lamp, and then, if the King were to come, I should only have to jump up and run out to welcome Him."
"But I should take hold of your hand, Esther!" said the little man.
"Oh, but the King says we must _obey_, Ernest; it is of no use thinking you will do all those things. You might not be able to find me in the dark, nor find the King. He tells us to ask for the Golden Oil, and to trim the golden lamp, and we have nothing to do but obey."
Esther pressed his little hand, and they hastened on. Presently, just by the side of the road I saw a Herald standing, with an open book in his hand, and though I could not catch all the words he said, I saw that the children understood.
"I do not like to go in," little Ernest was urging, as he pulled back Esther"s hand; "I am afraid to."
"But the Herald says, "Whosoever _will_," that means you, Ernest darling."
Then they turned in under an archway, Ernest, now that his mind was made up, running on before.
Esther waited just inside the gate. She could not follow right into the chamber where the Oil was given away, for each one who would get his vessel filled with the Golden Oil must go in alone to receive it.
In a very few minutes Ernest came out again, bearing the golden pitcher full of Golden Oil. His face was radiant, and as he took Esther"s hand once more, he looked up into her face with large, wondering eyes.
"Esther," he said, "the King came down and spoke to me Himself, and put His hand on my head, and charged me to listen to the Herald"s message, and to obey."
Esther"s eyes glistened. "Is He not a gracious King, Ernest?" she said.
As my eyes followed these children I perceived that the possession of the Golden Oil seemed to bring them happiness and peace.
Everywhere they went they did loving little actions, said kind little words. Sometimes I wondered at the very smallness of these actions and words; and yet, as I noticed the faces brighten on whom they fell, I knew that they were understood and appreciated.
By-and-by Esther joined the group of children from whom she had parted but a while ago. The sun had risen higher in the heavens, and had begun to descend by the time she and Ernest returned to them; but still they were where they had been, and were occupied in much the same way as before.
The tall boy in the gra.s.s had sauntered away for a walk with another companion, and though he again pa.s.sed the Herald, his warning voice was still unheeded.
Esther sat down by the girl whom I had observed as being anxious about the Golden Oil, and as little Ernest ran to play with some other children Esther said, "I wish you had been with us, Allea; we have had such a happy morning."
"I cannot see that a walk with a little prattling brother can give such delight," she answered.
"But we have been to get his pitcher filled. Oh, Allea, I went almost into the presence of the King!"
"You _did_!"
"Yes; I was never so near before, except the day----"
"When?" asked Allea, looking into Esther"s face.
"When He gave me the Oil Himself."
"You make so much of having this Oil," said Allea, discontentedly; "more than half the world gets on very well without it."
Esther looked abashed for a moment. This was true certainly. Then her eyes were raised to the blue vault of the sky above her, and beyond it she saw, what all those who received the Golden Oil could see if they looked, a mystic word written--Eternity!--and as she read and re-read its well-known letters, they seemed to melt away and transform themselves into a wondrous palace of beauty and light, where her King dwelt, and where He had promised to take those who obeyed Him during this little Journey. Still absorbed in the sight, she gazed upward till one by one the azure towers and palaces faded back; but before it vanished from her sight, once more the word Eternity stood like a fleecy cloud upon the blue, and then melted away.
Then her eyes came back to her companion"s face: "Yes, Allea, you are quite right, half the world does very well without it _now_."
"Well?" said Allea impatiently.
"But when this little Journey is ended, or when night comes on, if the King suddenly calls us to come with Him, then, oh, Allea! what would it be to be shut out of the Everlasting City?"
Allea was silent, while one or two children who had noticed the earnestness of their talk had gathered round them to hear. "Will you not get your pitcher filled to-day. Allea?" pleaded Esther with wistful eyes.
"By-and-by," she answered; "I shall be pa.s.sing that way this evening."
"The night cometh when no one can work," whispered Esther, as if to herself.
"But I am going before night," answered Allea somewhat proudly; "you are too fast, Esther."
As they sat and talked, I fancied that shadows began to fall over the land. The children did not seem to heed it at first, but presently they seemed divided one from another by the deepening twilight, and before I knew where I was, I found myself following Esther and her little brother, who held by the hand one of the children who had been listening to the conversation.
Again we approached the portal where the Herald stood, and I could see that Ernest and Esther were both hurrying forward with all their speed, helping their companion along, who, though hastening as much as she could, seemed weary and spent.
Ever and anon upon the quiet evening air the Herald"s voice sounded clear and full, "The time is short--the day is far spent--ask and it shall be given you;" and as they ran under the archway darkness fell upon the land, and I could not follow them.
But while I pondered on these things, I saw a little glimmering light in a cas.e.m.e.nt, and seemed drawn to approach near enough to see what it was. As I came close I could see the interior of a small chamber; hard by on a couch lay Esther, fast asleep, with her little brother"s arms flung about her neck. Close beside them, and still fastened by golden links to their waists, stood the two Golden Lamps, burning brightly and steadily, while a King"s Messenger, arrayed in white apparel, waited near, guarding the sleepers and the Lamps with watchful care.
Long did I look, and was at last turning away, when a strange sound startled the midnight air: "Your King cometh! your King cometh!"
At the words, so long looked for, so eagerly expected, Esther sprang from her rest, caught her Lamp in her hand, looked round with joyful eyes for her little brother, who had also heard that cry, and then both ran out to meet the King. Did I see their companion of the evening before, holding aloft a Golden Lamp too, to welcome Him?
And then I thought I heard confused tones of regret, and sorrow, and wailing disappointment, as one and another, awakened by the lights and glad sounds, hastened from their couches--not to meet the King; alas!
no--but to find He had come, and had taken those who were ready, into His glorious Palace, to go no more out for ever.
"Agnes," said Minnie, looking up solemnly into her sister"s face, "I think I know, but isn"t the Oil in that story meant for the Holy Spirit?"
"Yes, darling, and the promise stands fresh and sure now, as it did eighteen hundred years ago, "If ye...know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.""