224

Leviticus, xxv, 35.—"And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee, then thou shalt relieve him; yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee."

Mr. H——, an ingenious artist, being driven out of all employment, and reduced to great distress, had no resource to which to apply except that of an elder brother, who was in good circumstances. To him, therefore, he applied, and begged some little hovel to live in, and some small provision for his support. The brother melted into tears, and said, "You, my dear brother! You live in a hovel! You are a man; you are an honor to the family. I am nothing. You shall take this house and the estate, and I will be your guest, if you please." The brothers lived together without its being distinguishable who was proprietor of the estate, till the death of the elder put the artist in possession of it.

225

UNAWARES.

They said, "The Master is coming
To honor the town to-day,
And none can tell what house or home
He may choose wherein to stay."
Then straight I turned to toiling,
To make my home more neat;
I swept and polished and garnished,
And decked it with blossoms sweet.

But right in the midst of my duties
A woman came to my door;
She had come to tell me her sorrow,
And my comfort and aid to implore.
And I said, "I can not listen,
Nor help you any to-day;
I have greater things to attend to."
So the pleader turned away.

But soon there came another—
A cripple, thin, pale and gray—
And said, "O let me stop and rest
Awhile in your home I pray."
I said, "I am grieved and sorry,
But I can not keep you to-day;
I look for a great and noble guest."
And the cripple went away.

And the day wore onward swiftly,
And my task was nearly done,
And a prayer was ever in my heart
That the Master to me might come.

I thought I would spring to meet Him,
And treat Him with utmost care,
When a little child stood by me
With a face so sweet and fair—
Sweet, but with marks of tear drops—
And his clothes were tattered old;
A finger was bruised and bleeding,
And his little bare feet were cold.