"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 passing 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."