’Butmyheartdidnotquitemelt，’continuedtherobber，’untilyoupitiedmeandweptforme。’
Thegodson，fullofjoy，ledtherobbertotheplacewherethestumpswere。Andwhentheygotthere，theysawthatfromthethirdstumpanapple-treehadbeguntosprout。Andthegodsonrememberedthatthedrovershadnotbeenabletolightthedampwooduntilthefirehadburntupwell。Soitwasonlywhenhisownheartburntwarmly，thatanother’shearthadbeenkindledbyit。
Andthegodsonwasfullofjoythathehadatlastatonedforhissins。
Hetoldallthistotherobber，anddied。Therobberburiedhim，andlivedasthegodsonhadcommandedhim，teachingtootherswhatthegodsonhadtaughthim。
therepentantsinnerTHEREPENTANTSINNER
’AndhesaiduntoJesus，Lord，remembermewhenthoucomestintothyKingdom。AndJesussaiduntohim，VerilyIsayuntothee，Todayshaltthoubewithmeinparadise。’——Lukexxiii。42，43。
THEREwasonceamanwholivedforseventyyearsintheworld，andlivedinsinallthattime。Hefellillbuteventhendidnotrepent。Onlyatthelastmoment，ashewasdying，heweptandsaid:
’Lord！forgiveme，asThouforgavestthethiefuponthecross。’
Andashesaidthesewords，hissoullefthisbody。Andthesoulofthesinner，feelinglovetowardsGodandfaithinHismercy，wenttothegatesofheavenandknocked，prayingtobeletintotheheavenlykingdom。
Thenavoicespokefromwithinthegate:
’WhatmanisitthatknocksatthegatesofParadiseandwhatdeedsdidhedoduringhislife？’
AndthevoiceoftheAccuserreplied，recountingalltheman’sevildeeds，andnotasinglegoodone。
Andthevoicefromwithinthegatesanswered:
’Sinnerscannotenterintothekingdomofheaven。Gohence！’
Thenthemansaid:
’Lord，Ihearthyvoice，butcannotseethyface，nordoIknowthyname。’
Thevoiceanswered:
’IamPeter，theApostle。’
Andthesinnerreplied:
’Havepityonme，ApostlePeter！Rememberman’sweakness，andGod’smercy。WertnotthouadiscipleofChrist？Didstnotthouhearhisteachingfromhisownlips，andhadstthounothisexamplebeforethee？Rememberthenhow，whenhesorrowedandwasgrievedinspirit，andthreetimesaskedtheetokeepawakeandpray，thoudidstsleep，becausethineeyeswereheavy，andthreetimeshefoundtheesleeping。Soitwaswithme。Remember，also，howthoudidstpromisetobefaithfuluntodeath，andyetdidstthricedenyhim，whenhewastakenbeforeCaiaphas。Soitwaswithme。Andremember，too，howwhenthecockcrowedthoudidstgooutanddidstweepbitterly。Soitiswithme。Thoucanstnotrefusetoletmein。’
Andthevoicebehindthegateswassilent。
Thenthesinnerstoodalittlewhile，andagainbegantoknock，andtoasktobeletintothekingdomofheaven。
Andheheardanothervoicebehindthegates，whichsaid:
’Whoisthisman，andhowdidheliveonearth？’
AndthevoiceoftheAccuseragainrepeatedallthesinner’sevildeeds，andnotasinglegoodone。
Andthevoicefrombehindthegatesreplied:
’Gohence！SuchsinnerscannotlivewithusinParadise。’Thenthesinnersaid:
’Lord，Ihearthyvoice，butIseetheenot，nordoIknowthyname。’
Andthevoiceanswered:
’IamDavid；kingandprophet。’
Thesinnerdidnotdespair，nordidheleavethegatesofParadise，butsaid:
Havepityonme，KingDavid！Rememberman’sweakness，andGod’smercy。
Godlovedtheeandexaltedtheeamongmen。Thouhadstall:akingdom，andhonour，andriches，andwives，andchildren；
butthousawestfromthyhouse-topthewifeofapoorman，andsinenteredintothee，andthoutookestthewifeofUriah，anddidstslayhimwiththeswordoftheAmmonites。Thou，arichman，didsttakefromthepoormanhisoneewelamb，anddidstkillhim。Ihavedonelikewise。Remember，then，howthoudidstrepent，andhowthousaidst，“Iacknowledgemytransgressions:mysiniseverbeforeme？“Ihavedonethesame。Thoucanstnotrefusetoletmein。’
Andthevoicefromwithinthegateswassilent。
Thesinnerhavingstoodalittlewhile，beganknockingagain，andaskingtobeletintothekingdomofheaven。Andathirdvoicewasheardwithinthegates，saying:
’Whoisthisman，andhowhashespenthislifeonearth？’
AndthevoiceoftheAccuserrepliedforthethirdtime，recountingthesinner’sevildeeds，andnotmentioningonegooddeed。
Andthevoicewithinthegatessaid:
’Departhence！Sinnerscannotenterintothekingdomofheaven。’
Andthesinnersaid:
’ThyvoiceIhear，butthyfaceIseenot，neitherdoIknowthyname。’
Thenthevoicereplied:
’IamJohntheDivine，thebeloveddiscipleofChrist。’
Andthesinnerrejoicedandsaid:
’NowsurelyIshallbeallowedtoenter。PeterandDavidmustletmein，becausetheyknowman’sweaknessandGod’smercy；
andthouwiltletmein，becausethoulovestmuch。Wasitnotthou，JohntheDivinewhowrotethatGodisLove，andthathewholovesnot，knowsnotGod？Andinthineoldagedidstthounotsayuntomen:“Brethren，loveoneanother。“How，then，canstthoulookonmewithhatred，anddrivemeaway？Eitherthoumustrenouncewhatthouhastsaid，orlovingme，mustletmeenterthekingdomofheaven。’
AndthegatesofParadiseopened，andJohnembracedtherepentantsinnerandtookhimintothekingdomofheaven。
EMELYÁ；Nwasalabourerandworkedforamaster。Crossingthemeadowsonedayonhiswaytowork，henearlytrodonafrogthatjumpedrightinfrontofhim，buthejustmanagedtoavoidit。Suddenlyheheardsomeonecallingtohimfrombehind。
Emelyá；nlookedroundandsawalovelylassie，whosaidtohim:
’Whydon’tyougetmarried，Emelyá；n？’
’HowcanImarry，mylass？’saidhe。’IhavebuttheclothesIstandupin，nothingmore，andnoonewouldhavemeforahusband。’
’Takemeforawife，’saidshe。
Emelyá；nlikedthemaid。’Ishouldbegladto，’saidhe，’butwhereandhowcouldwelive？’
’Whytroubleaboutthat？’saidthegirl。’Oneonlyhastoworkmoreandsleepless，andonecanclotheandfeedoneselfanywhere。’
’Verywellthen，letusmarry，’saidEmelyá；n。’Whereshallwegoto？’
’Letusgototown。’
SoEmelyá；nandthelasswenttotown，andshetookhimtoasmallhutontheveryedgeofthetown，andtheymarriedandbeganhousekeeping。
OnedaytheKing，drivingthroughthetown，passedbyEmelyá；n’shut。Emelyá；n’swifecameouttoseetheKing。TheKingnoticedherandwasquitesurprised。
’Wheredidsuchabeautycomefrom？’saidheandstoppinghiscarriagehecalledEmelyá；n’swifeandaskedher:’Whoareyou？’
’ThepeasantEmelyá；n’swife，’saidshe。
’Whydidyou，whoaresuchabeauty，marryapeasant？’saidtheKing。
’Yououghttobeaqueen！’
’Thankyouforyourkindwords，’saidshe，’butapeasanthusbandisgoodenoughforme。’
TheKingtalkedtoherawhileandthendroveon。Hereturnedtothepalace，butcouldnotgetEmelyá；n’swifeoutofhishead。Allnighthedidnotsleep，butkeptthinkinghowtogetherforhimself。
Hecouldthinkofnowayofdoingit，sohecalledhisservantsandtoldthemtheymustfindaway。
TheKing’sservantssaid:’CommandEmelyá；ntocometothepalacetowork，andwewillworkhimsohardthathewilldie。Hiswifewillbeleftawidow，andthenyoucantakeherforyourself。’
TheKingfollowedtheiradvice。HesentanorderthatEmelyá；nshouldcometothepalaceasaworkmanandthatheshouldliveatthepalace，andhiswifewithhim。