But the page takes longer than she thought, and while she hastens upstairs to dress, the cab drives up, and she is not ready!
The father looks dreadfully sorry, for the train will not wait; and the little girl has to be left behind!
That is why our Lord says in that 24th Chapter, "Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh."
So after Jesus had urged them so earnestly to watch, and to be ready, He told them a story, which will help us all to understand what He meant.
"Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom," He said.
And five of these virgins were wise, and five were foolish. Those that were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them.
They wanted to meet the Bridegroom, but they forgot that perhaps He might come when it was dark night, and their lamps would be of no use unless there was oil in them.
It was not that they could not have obtained the oil; oh, no! But they were careless, and did not think.
But the wise virgins took oil in their pitchers, with their lamps.
So they all went out to meet the Bridegroom, some with oil, and some without it.