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　　’Tohimthatsmiteththeeontheonecheekofferalsotheother；andfromhimthattakethawaythyclokewithholdnotthycoatalso。Givetoeverymanthataskeththee；andofhimthattakethawaythygoodsaskthemnotagain。Andasyewouldthatmenshoulddotoyou，doyealsotothemlikewise。’

　　HealsoreadtheverseswhereourLordsays:

　　’Andwhycallyeme，Lord，Lord，anddonotthethingswhichIsay？

　　Whosoevercomethtome，andhearethmysayings，anddoeththem，Iwillshewyoutowhomheislike:Heislikeamanwhichbuiltanhouse，anddiggeddeep，andlaidthefoundationonarock:

　　andwhenthefloodarose，thestreambeatvehementlyuponthathouse，andcouldnotshakeit:foritwasfoundeduponarock。Buthethathearethanddoethnot，islikeamanthatwithoutafoundationbuiltanhouseupontheearth，againstwhichthestreamdidbeatvehemently，andimmediatelyitfell；andtheruinofthathousewasgreat。’

　　WhenMartinreadthesewordshissoulwasgladwithinhim。Hetookoffhisspectaclesandlaidthemonthebook，andleaninghiselbowsonthetableponderedoverwhathehadread。Hetriedhisownlifebythestandardofthosewords，askinghimself:

　　’Ismyhousebuiltontherock，oronsand？Ifitstandsontherock，itiswell。Itseemseasyenoughwhileonesitsherealone，andonethinksonehasdoneallthatGodcommands；butassoonasIceasetobeonmyguard，Isinagain。StillIwillpersevere。Itbringssuchjoy。Helpme，OLord！’

　　Hethoughtallthis，andwasabouttogotobed，butwaslothtoleavehisbook。Sohewentonreadingtheseventhchapter——aboutthecenturion，thewidow’sson，andtheanswertoJohn’sdisciples——andhecametothepartwherearichPhariseeinvitedtheLordtohishouse；andhereadhowthewomanwhowasasinner，anointedhisfeetandwashedthemwithhertears，andhowhejustifiedher。Comingtotheforty-fourthverse，heread:

　　’Andturningtothewoman，hesaiduntoSimon，Seestthouthiswoman？

　　Ienteredintothinehousethougavestmenowaterformyfeet:butshehathwettedmyfeetwithhertears，andwipedthemwithherhair。Thougavestmenokiss；butshe，sincethetimeI

　　camein，hathnotceasedtokissmyfeet。Myheadwithoilthoudidstnotanoint:butshehathanointedmyfeetwithointment。’

　　Hereadtheseversesandthought:’Hegavenowaterforhisfeet，gavenokiss，hisheadwithoilhedidnotanoint……’AndMartintookoffhisspectaclesoncemore，laidthemonhisbook，andpondered。

　　’Hemusthavebeenlikeme，thatPharisee。Hetoothoughtonlyofhimself——howtogetacupoftea，howtokeepwarmandcomfortable；neverathoughtofhisguest。Hetookcareofhimself，butforhisguesthecarednothingatall。Yetwhowastheguest？TheLordhimself！Ifhecametome，shouldIbehavelikethat？’

　　ThenMartinlaidhisheaduponbothhisarmsand，beforehewasawareofit，hefellasleep。

　　’Martin！’hesuddenlyheardavoice，asifsomeonehadbreathedthewordabovehisear。

　　Hestartedfromhissleep。’Who’sthere？’heasked。

　　Heturnedroundandlookedatthedoor；noonewasthere。Hecalledagain。Thenheheardquitedistinctly:’Martin，Martin！Lookoutintothestreetto-morrow，forIshallcome。’

　　Martinrousedhimself，rosefromhischairandrubbedhiseyes，butdidnotknowwhetherhehadheardthesewordsinadreamorawake。Heputoutthelampandlaydowntosleep。

　　Nextmorningherosebeforedaylight，andaftersayinghisprayershelitthefireandpreparedhiscabbagesoupandbuckwheatporridge。Thenhelitthesamov&aacute；r，putonhisapron，andsatdownbythewindowtohiswork。AshesatworkingMartinthoughtoverwhathadhappenedthenightbefore。Attimesitseemedtohimlikeadream，andattimeshethoughtthathehadreallyheardthevoice。’Suchthingshavehappenedbeforenow，’thoughthe。

　　Sohesatbythewindow，lookingoutintothestreetmorethanheworked，andwheneveranyonepassedinunfamiliarbootshewouldstoopandlookup，soastoseenotthefeetonlybutthefaceofthepasser-byaswell。Ahouse-porterpassedinnewfeltboots；thenawater-carrier。PresentlyanoldsoldierofNicholas’

　　reigncamenearthewindowspadeinhand。Martinknewhimbyhisboots，whichwereshabbyoldfeltones，goloshedwithleather。

　　TheoldmanwascalledStep&aacute；niteh:aneighbouringtradesmankepthiminhishouseforcharity，andhisdutywastohelpthehouse-porter。

　　HebegantoclearawaythesnowbeforeMartin’swindow。Martinglancedathimandthenwentonwithhiswork。

　　’Imustbegrowingcrazywithage，’saidMartin，laughingathisfancy。

　　’Step&aacute；nitchcomestoclearawaythesnow，andImustneedsimagineit’sChristcomingtovisitme。OlddotardthatIam！’

　　Yetafterhehadmadeadozenstitcheshefeltdrawntolookoutofthewindowagain。HesawthatStep&aacute；nitchhadleanedhisspadeagainstthewall，andwaseitherrestinghimselfortryingtogetwarm。Themanwasoldandbrokendown，andhadevidentlynotenoughstrengtheventoclearawaythesnow。

　　’WhatifIcalledhiminandgavehimsometea？’thoughtMartin。’Thesamov&aacute；risjustontheboil。’

　　Hestuckhisawlinitsplace，androse；andputtingthesamov&aacute；ronthetable，madetea。Thenhetappedthewindowwithhisfingers。Step&aacute；nitchturnedandcametothewindow。Martinbeckonedtohimtocomein，andwenthimselftoopenthedoor。

　　’Comein，’hesaid，’andwarmyourselfabit。I’msureyoumustbecold。’

　　’MayGodblessyou！’Step&aacute；nitchanswered。’Mybonesdoachetobesure。’Hecamein，firstshakingoffthesnow，andlestheshouldleavemarksonthefloorhebeganwipinghisfeet；butashedidsohetotteredandnearlyfell。

　　’Don’ttroubletowipeyourfeet，’saidMartin’I’llwipeupthefloor——it’sallintheday’swork。Come，friend，sitdownandhavesometea。’

　　Fillingtwotumblers，hepassedonetohisvisitor，andpouringhisownoutintothesaucer，begantoblowonit。

　　Step&aacute；nitehemptiedhisglass，and，turningitupsidedown，puttheremainsofhispieceofsugaronthetop。Hebegantoexpresshisthanks，butitwasplainthathewouldbegladofsomemore。

　　’Haveanotherglass，’saidMartin，refillingthevisitor’stumblerandhisown。ButwhilehedrankhisteaMartinkeptlookingoutintothestreet。

　　’Areyouexpectinganyone？’askedthevisitor。

　　’AmIexpectinganyone？Well，now，I’mashamedtotellyou。Itisn’tthatIreallyexpectanyone；butIheardsomethinglastnightwhichIcan’tgetoutofmymindWhetheritwasavision，oronlyafancy，Ican’ttell。Yousee，friend，lastnightIwasreadingtheGospel，aboutChristtheLord，howhesuffered，andhowhewalkedonearth。Youhaveheardtellofit，Idaresay。’

　　’Ihaveheardtellofit，’answeredStep&aacute；nitch；’butI’manignorantmanandnotabletoread。’

　　’Well，yousee，Iwasreadingofhowhewalkedonearth。Icametothatpart，youknow，wherehewenttoaPhariseewhodidnotreceivehimwell。Well，friend，asIreadaboutit，IthoughtnowthatmandidnotreceiveChristtheLordwithproperhonour。

　　Supposesuchathingcouldhappentosuchamanasmyself，Ithought，whatwouldInotdotoreceivehim！Butthatmangavehimnoreceptionatall。Well，friend，asIwasthinkingofthis，Ibegantodoze，andasIdozedIheardsomeonecallmebyname。Igotup，andthoughtIheardsomeonewhispering，“Expectme；Iwillcometo-morrow。“Thishappenedtwiceover。Andtotellyouthetruth，itsanksointomymindthat，thoughIamashamedofitmyself，Ikeeponexpectinghim，thedearLord！’

　　Step&aacute；nitchshookhisheadinsilence，finishedhistumblerandlaiditonitsside；butMartinstooditupagainandrefilleditforhim。

　　’Heredrinkanotherglass，blessyou！AndIwasthinkingtoo，howhewalkedonearthanddespisednoone，butwentmostlyamongcommonfolk。Hewentwithplainpeople，andchosehisdisciplesfromamongthelikesofus，fromworkmenlikeus，sinnersthatweare。“Hewhoraiseshimself，“hesaid，“shallbehumbledandhewhohumbleshimselfshallberaised。““YoucallmeLord，“hesaid，“andIwillwashyourfeet。““Hewhowouldbefirst，“hesaid，“lethimbetheservantofall；because，“hesaid，“blessedarethepoor，thehumble，themeek，andthemerciful。“’

　　Step&aacute；nitchforgothistea。Hewasanoldmaneasilymovedtotears，andashesatandlistenedthetearsrandownhischeeks。

　　’Come，drinksomemore，’saidMartin。ButStep&aacute；nitchcrossedhimself，thankedhim，movedawayhistumbler，androse。

　　’Thankyou，MartinAvd&eacute；itch，’hesaid，’youhavegivenmefoodandcomfortbothforsoulandbody。’

　　’You’reverywelcome。Comeagainanothertime。Iamgladtohaveaguest，’

　　saidMartin。

　　Step&aacute；nitchwentaway；andMartinpouredoutthelastoftheteaanddrankitup。Thenheputawaytheteathingsandsatdowntohiswork，stitchingthebackseamofaboot。Andashestitchedhekeptlookingoutofthewindow，waitingforChrist，andthinkingabouthimandhisdoings。AndhisheadwasfullofChrist’ssayings。

　　Twosoldierswentby:oneinGovernmentbootstheotherinbootsofhisown；thenthemasterofaneighbouringhouse，inshininggoloshes；thenabakercarryingabasket。Allthesepassedon。Thenawomancameupinworstedstockingsandpeasant-madeshoes。Shepassedthewindow，butstoppedbythewall。Martinglancedupatherthroughthewindow，andsawthatshewasastranger，poorlydressed，andwithababyinherarms。Shestoppedbythewallwithherbacktothewind，tryingtowrapthebabyupthoughshehadhardlyanythingtowrapitin。Thewomanhadonlysummerclotheson，andeventheywereshabbyandworn。