Then the child suddenly understood the end and purpose of that toil which he had shunned—to raise a holy house of prayer and praise that should teach men how to live and work that this glorious kingdom might the sooner come.
Now as he stood, watching with a full heart, he felt a touch upon his hand, and saw a hurrying throng going by, and one spoke in his ear and said,—
“Child, haste! haste! the Master hath come and calleth thee!”
And another voice took up the word and said,—
“He calleth for all those who have helped to rear this temple to His honour and glory.”
Then the child suddenly broke into bitter weeping, remembering how he had rejected his share of the work, and had left his hodfuls of mortar lying on the ground. Yet, in spite of his grief and shame, he was borne along by the crowd, and was aware of a strange and wonderful shining, the like of which he had never seen before; and casting himself down with his face to the ground he confessed his unfaithfulness, and prayed for the forgiveness of the Master.
Then it seemed to him that a hand was laid upon him, and a face looked down at him in infinite compassion and love, and a voice said in his heart,—
“Thy sin is forgiven thee. Arise and go in peace. Take up thy cross and follow me.”
And in his rapture the child smote his hands together and cried aloud,—
“O Lord, thy servant heareth!” and in so speaking he awoke.