For you know, children, that water is not "laid on" in eastern countries, but has to be fetched from long distances in jars or skins.
The women and children generally do this; and the Lord Jesus when He was a little boy must have gone daily to this well with His mother, keeping her company in the long hot walks to and fro, and helping her to carry the jars of water back to their home.
If you were to go to Palestine, the land where Jesus lived, you would see (besides, the women who come to the wells) the water-carriers, who have large pig-skins supported by straps to their shoulders.
These they fill with water, and tie up the neck securely with a string; and then they carry the heavy skin to the next town or village; and as they go along they call out—
"Ho! Thirsty ones, come and buy water! Here is water! Do you want to buy it?"
Then the people who have any money to spare, and who do not want to walk the long distance to the well, come out to the water-carriers and have their jars filled and pay for it.
Do you remember what God says about that in the 55th chapter of Isaiah?
"Ho! Every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money come and buy. Yea, come and buy wine and milk without money and without price."
Ah, children, God gives us His gifts without money and without price! The "Living Water" which Jesus promises, we have only to ask of Him and we shall be given it.
For Jesus is the Living Water Himself, and those who drink of that water and have Jesus in their hearts, will find that He makes them happy, and that having Him for their Saviour they have all they need!