-as though he brought what the king greatly
loved--was his reward who brought unto his master the offering of
gratitude from the broken-hearted widow.

Then drew near the servant who had wasted the morning, but had repented
of his sloth, and had fought his way through the crowds, and had at last
bought the sackcloth. Now he came bringing it with him; and it looked
poor, and mean, and coarse, as he bore it amongst the heaps of gold, and
jewels, and silks, which lay piled up all around; yet did he draw near
unto the king; and as he came, he spoke, and said, "A broken and a
contrite heart wilt thou not despise." And as he spake, the king looked
graciously upon him: a mild and an approving smile sat upon his
countenance, and he spoke to him also the blessed words, "Well done, thou
good and faithful servant." Then did the coarse sackcloth shine as the
most rich cloth of gold; then did the ashes of the furnace sparkle as a
monarch's jewels; whilst every bitter tear which was stored in the bottle
changed into pearls and rubies which were above all price.

Then the king turned to the careless servants, and his voice was terrible
to hear, and from his face they fled away. I dared not to look upon
them; but I heard their just and most terrible sentence, and I knew that
they were driven away for ever from the presence of the king, in which is
life and peace; and that they were bound under chains and darkness,
deeper and more dreadful than those from which the king's son had
graciously delivered them.

* * * * *

_Father_. In what part of God's word do we read such a parable as this?

_Child_. In the 25th chapter of St. Matthew's gospel, and at the 15th
verse.

F. Who is the King who called his servants thus together?

C. Almighty God.

F. Who are meant by these servants trading in the town?

C. All of us Christians.

F. How do you know that they were Christians?

C. Because they had been delivered from slavery and dungeons by the
King's own Son.

F. What is the great town to which they were sent?

C. This world.

F. What are the goods which God gave them to lay out for him?

C. Every thing which we have in this life: our strength, and health, and
reason, and money, and time.

F. How may we trade with these for the King?

C. By trying to use them all so as to please Him and set forth His
glory.

F. Who are those who rose up early to go into the town?

C. Those who begin to serve the Lord