CHAPTER X.
_THE GOLDEN OIL: AN ALLEGORY._
I fell asleep and dreamed. Before me spread out verdant fields,picturesque villages, valleys of peace and plenty, cities of care andtoil, the wide ocean restlessly tossing, the mountain bare and rugged.
At first my eyes seemed heavy with sleep, but after a time I began tosee things more clearly, and in all these varied scenes I perceivedthere were children moving to and fro.
I was apparently at a great distance from them, and could not wellunderstand what they did, nor could I hear what they said.
They appeared to be very busy, often eagerly running or walking; talkingtogether in twos and threes; playing with the trifles which seemed tolie everywhere for their amusement; sometimes two quarrelling loudlyover these same trifles, and crying pitifully if they could not havewhat they wanted.
In my dream I seemed to be drawing nearer and nearer to them, and Ibegan to perceive the differences in their countenances and dress, andto find that there was only one point of resemblance in them all; andthis one thing caused me great surprise.
Some were robed in dresses whose sheen, reflecting the rays of themorning sun, dazzled my eyes; again, others had garments of the dullesthue; and the clothes of others were so covered with mud and dirt, that Icould not have told what they once were. But, whether gaily decked ordressed in sombre attire, each child had fastened round it acuriously-fashioned girdle, to which hung a small pitcher. The pitchersappeared to be all of one shape and size, but the materials of whichthey were made seemed to differ widely.
On some of the children, whose dress was of gayest hue, the pitcher,strange to say, appeared to be made of commonest material, for it lookeddull and dark; while at the girdle of some who were most plainly attiredhung vessels of brightest gold. This also was incomprehensible to me.
Presently my dream seemed to bring me so near that I could see what theywere doing and hear a little of what they said.
A group of them were sitting on a bank of flowers, resting in the shade,and as they talked I drew near to listen.
"I do not believe it," said a sturdy little boy, as he threw a ball offlowers into the lap of a little maiden opposite.
"What do you not believe?" asked a grave-looking girl who was seatednear.
"That there is any hurry to get the pitchers filled."
"Did any one say there was?" asked the girl, glancing thoughtfully atthe vessel hanging at her side, while I perceived that it had the lookof being neglected and soiled.
"Yes, there was a proclamation this morning that the pitchers might beneeded this very day, and that all who had not the Golden Oil should,without delay, repair to the place whence it could be obtained."
"So there is every day," exclaimed a tall youth who was lying on thegrass at their feet. "That is nothing new: it is the duty of the Heraldto proclaim, and it is our duty to hear, but----"
"No one ever thinks of obeying," laughed the roguish boy, weaving hisflowers as if all his life were centred in doing that only.
But the thoughtful girl looked up with a deep flush at those carelesswords. "I do not think _every one_ does that, Ashton; for Estherhere----"
She pointed to a child at a little distance who was threading daisiestogether wherewith to deck a tiny brother, who sat watching her littlefingers with absorbed interest.
Now that my attention was directed to this little girl, I took note ofher for the first time. Her dress was of some white material, her eyesclear as the deep summer azure, her face full of sunshine, while closeto her heart a golden pitcher gleamed in the light, as her happy littlefigure turned backwards and forwards in her task.
"Oh, Esther always obeys!" said the youth from the grass, "and is thehappiest little mortal in doing so; but that would not suit every one."
He turned round restlessly, and any one who cared might see that hispitcher was empty enough as it lay on the ground under his arm.
Esther was all unconscious that the eyes of the party were fixed uponher. When she had completed her chain of daisies, she took her littlebrother's hand in hers.
"Now, darling," she said softly, "you promised me you would go at onceto get your little pitcher filled."
He nodded and trotted off by her side, while she continued, "It would beso sad not to have any Oil when night comes on, wouldn't it?"
"But you could lend me some," answered the child, confident in her love.
"You know I can't; I must not; no one can lend. So that is why I wantyou to get some for yourself."
As they turned round to go towards the place where I imagined theGolden Oil was to be obtained, I saw another strange thing about thesechildren which I had not noticed before; each carried, fastened to thesame girdle, a tiny lamp. I looked round to enquire the meaning of itall, but found myself unable to speak; so I could do nothing but followthe two children to see what would become of them.
"But why must we have our lamps lighted. Esther?" asked the little one;"I go to sleep all night."
"Yes," said Esther; "but every night before I go to sleep I trim andlight my lamp, and then, if the King were to come, I should only have tojump up and run out to welcome Him."
"But I should take hold of your hand, Esther!" said the little man.
"Oh, but the King says we must _obey_, Ernest; it is of no use thinkingyou will do all those things. You might not be able to find me in thedark, nor find the King. He tells us to ask for the Golden Oil, and totrim the golden lamp, and we have nothing to do but obey."
Esther pressed his little hand, and they hastened on. Presently, just bythe side of the road I saw a Herald standing, with an open book in hishand, and though I could not catch all the words he said, I saw that thechildren understood.
"I do not like to go in," little Ernest was urging, as he pulled backEsther's hand; "I am afraid to."
"But the Herald says, 'Whosoever _will_,' that means you, Ernestdarling."
Then they turned in under an archway, Ernest, now that his mind was madeup, running on before.
Esther waited just inside the gate. She could not follow right into thechamber where the Oil was given away, for each one who would get hisvessel filled with the Golden Oil must go in alone to receive it.
In a very few minutes Ernest came out again, bearing the golden pitcherfull of Golden Oil. His face was radiant, and as he took Esther's handonce more, he looked up into her face with large, wondering eyes.
"Esther," he said, "the King came down and spoke to me Himself, and putHis hand on my head, and charged me to listen to the Herald's message,and to obey."
Esther's eyes glistened. "Is He not a gracious King, Ernest?" she said.
As my eyes followed these children I perceived that the possession ofthe Golden Oil seemed to bring them happiness and peace.
Everywhere they went they did loving little actions, said kind littlewords. Sometimes I wondered at the very smallness of these actions andwords; and yet, as I noticed the faces brighten on whom they fell, Iknew that they were understood and appreciated.
By-and-by Esther joined the group of children from whom she had partedbut a while ago. The sun had risen higher in the heavens, and had begunto descend by the time she and Ernest returned to them; but still theywere where they had been, and were occupied in much the same way asbefore.
The tall boy in the grass had sauntered away for a walk with anothercompanion, and though he again passed the Herald, his warning voice wasstill unheeded.
Esther sat down by the girl whom I had observed as being anxious aboutthe Golden Oil, and as little Ernest ran to play with some otherchildren Esther said, "I wish you had been with us, Allea; we have hadsuch a happy morning."
"I cannot see that a walk with a little prattling brother can give suchdelight," she answered.
"But we have been to get his pitcher filled. Oh, Allea, I went almostinto the presence of the King!"
"You _did_!"
"Yes; I was never so near before, except the day----"
"When?" aske
d Allea, looking into Esther's face.
"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 hereyes were raised to the blue vault of the sky above her, and beyond itshe saw, what all those who received the Golden Oil could see if theylooked, a mystic word written--Eternity!--and as she read and re-readits well-known letters, they seemed to melt away and transformthemselves into a wondrous palace of beauty and light, where her Kingdwelt, and where He had promised to take those who obeyed Him duringthis little Journey. Still absorbed in the sight, she gazed upward tillone by one the azure towers and palaces faded back; but before itvanished from her sight, once more the word Eternity stood like a fleecycloud upon the blue, and then melted away.
Then her eyes came back to her companion's face: "Yes, Allea, you arequite 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 theKing suddenly calls us to come with Him, then, oh, Allea! what would itbe to be shut out of the Everlasting City?"
Allea was silent, while one or two children who had noticed theearnestness of their talk had gathered round them to hear. "Will younot get your pitcher filled to-day. Allea?" pleaded Esther with wistfuleyes.
"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 toherself.
"But I am going before night," answered Allea somewhat proudly; "you aretoo fast, Esther."
As they sat and talked, I fancied that shadows began to fall over theland. The children did not seem to heed it at first, but presently theyseemed divided one from another by the deepening twilight, and before Iknew where I was, I found myself following Esther and her littlebrother, who held by the hand one of the children who had been listeningto the conversation.
Again we approached the portal where the Herald stood, and I could seethat Ernest and Esther were both hurrying forward with all their speed,helping their companion along, who, though hastening as much as shecould, seemed weary and spent.
Ever and anon upon the quiet evening air the Herald's voice soundedclear and full, 'The time is short--the day is far spent--ask and itshall be given you;' and as they ran under the archway darkness fellupon the land, and I could not follow them.
But while I pondered on these things, I saw a little glimmering light ina casement, and seemed drawn to approach near enough to see what itwas. As I came close I could see the interior of a small chamber; hardby on a couch lay Esther, fast asleep, with her little brother's armsflung about her neck. Close beside them, and still fastened by goldenlinks to their waists, stood the two Golden Lamps, burning brightly andsteadily, while a King's Messenger, arrayed in white apparel, waitednear, guarding the sleepers and the Lamps with watchful care.
Long did I look, and was at last turning away, when a strange soundstartled the midnight air: "Your King cometh! your King cometh!"
At the words, so long looked for, so eagerly expected, Esther sprangfrom her rest, caught her Lamp in her hand, looked round with joyfuleyes for her little brother, who had also heard that cry, and then bothran out to meet the King. Did I see their companion of the eveningbefore, holding aloft a Golden Lamp too, to welcome Him?
And then I thought I heard confused tones of regret, and sorrow, andwailing disappointment, as one and another, awakened by the lights andglad sounds, hastened from their couches--not to meet the King; alas!no--but to find He had come, and had taken those who were ready, intoHis glorious Palace, to go no more out for ever.
* * * * *
"Agnes," said Minnie, looking up solemnly into her sister's face, "Ithink I know, but isn't the Oil in that story meant for the HolySpirit?"
"Yes, darling, and the promise stands fresh and sure now, as it dideighteen hundred years ago, 'If ye...know how to give good gifts untoyour children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the HolySpirit to them that ask Him.'"