’Tohimthatsmiteththeeontheonecheekofferalsotheother；andfromhimthattakethawaythyclokewithholdnotthycoatalso。Givetoeverymanthataskeththee；andofhimthattakethawaythygoodsaskthemnotagain。Andasyewouldthatmenshoulddotoyou，doyealsotothemlikewise。’
HealsoreadtheverseswhereourLordsays:
’Andwhycallyeme，Lord，Lord，anddonotthethingswhichIsay？
Whosoevercomethtome，andhearethmysayings，anddoeththem，Iwillshewyoutowhomheislike:Heislikeamanwhichbuiltanhouse，anddiggeddeep，andlaidthefoundationonarock:
andwhenthefloodarose，thestreambeatvehementlyuponthathouse，andcouldnotshakeit:foritwasfoundeduponarock。Buthethathearethanddoethnot，islikeamanthatwithoutafoundationbuiltanhouseupontheearth，againstwhichthestreamdidbeatvehemently，andimmediatelyitfell；andtheruinofthathousewasgreat。’
WhenMartinreadthesewordshissoulwasgladwithinhim。Hetookoffhisspectaclesandlaidthemonthebook，andleaninghiselbowsonthetableponderedoverwhathehadread。Hetriedhisownlifebythestandardofthosewords，askinghimself:
’Ismyhousebuiltontherock，oronsand？Ifitstandsontherock，itiswell。Itseemseasyenoughwhileonesitsherealone，andonethinksonehasdoneallthatGodcommands；butassoonasIceasetobeonmyguard，Isinagain。StillIwillpersevere。Itbringssuchjoy。Helpme，OLord！’
Hethoughtallthis，andwasabouttogotobed，butwaslothtoleavehisbook。Sohewentonreadingtheseventhchapter——aboutthecenturion，thewidow’sson，andtheanswertoJohn’sdisciples——andhecametothepartwherearichPhariseeinvitedtheLordtohishouse；andhereadhowthewomanwhowasasinner，anointedhisfeetandwashedthemwithhertears，andhowhejustifiedher。Comingtotheforty-fourthverse，heread:
’Andturningtothewoman，hesaiduntoSimon，Seestthouthiswoman？
Ienteredintothinehousethougavestmenowaterformyfeet:butshehathwettedmyfeetwithhertears，andwipedthemwithherhair。Thougavestmenokiss；butshe，sincethetimeI
camein，hathnotceasedtokissmyfeet。Myheadwithoilthoudidstnotanoint:butshehathanointedmyfeetwithointment。’
Hereadtheseversesandthought:’Hegavenowaterforhisfeet，gavenokiss，hisheadwithoilhedidnotanoint……’AndMartintookoffhisspectaclesoncemore，laidthemonhisbook，andpondered。
’Hemusthavebeenlikeme，thatPharisee。Hetoothoughtonlyofhimself——howtogetacupoftea，howtokeepwarmandcomfortable；neverathoughtofhisguest。Hetookcareofhimself，butforhisguesthecarednothingatall。Yetwhowastheguest？TheLordhimself！Ifhecametome，shouldIbehavelikethat？’
ThenMartinlaidhisheaduponbothhisarmsand，beforehewasawareofit，hefellasleep。
’Martin！’hesuddenlyheardavoice，asifsomeonehadbreathedthewordabovehisear。
Hestartedfromhissleep。’Who’sthere？’heasked。
Heturnedroundandlookedatthedoor；noonewasthere。Hecalledagain。Thenheheardquitedistinctly:’Martin，Martin！Lookoutintothestreetto-morrow，forIshallcome。’
Martinrousedhimself，rosefromhischairandrubbedhiseyes，butdidnotknowwhetherhehadheardthesewordsinadreamorawake。Heputoutthelampandlaydowntosleep。
Nextmorningherosebeforedaylight，andaftersayinghisprayershelitthefireandpreparedhiscabbagesoupandbuckwheatporridge。Thenhelitthesamová；r，putonhisapron，andsatdownbythewindowtohiswork。AshesatworkingMartinthoughtoverwhathadhappenedthenightbefore。Attimesitseemedtohimlikeadream，andattimeshethoughtthathehadreallyheardthevoice。’Suchthingshavehappenedbeforenow，’thoughthe。
Sohesatbythewindow，lookingoutintothestreetmorethanheworked，andwheneveranyonepassedinunfamiliarbootshewouldstoopandlookup，soastoseenotthefeetonlybutthefaceofthepasser-byaswell。Ahouse-porterpassedinnewfeltboots；thenawater-carrier。PresentlyanoldsoldierofNicholas’
reigncamenearthewindowspadeinhand。Martinknewhimbyhisboots，whichwereshabbyoldfeltones，goloshedwithleather。
TheoldmanwascalledStepá；niteh:aneighbouringtradesmankepthiminhishouseforcharity，andhisdutywastohelpthehouse-porter。
HebegantoclearawaythesnowbeforeMartin’swindow。Martinglancedathimandthenwentonwithhiswork。
’Imustbegrowingcrazywithage，’saidMartin，laughingathisfancy。
’Stepá；nitchcomestoclearawaythesnow，andImustneedsimagineit’sChristcomingtovisitme。OlddotardthatIam！’
Yetafterhehadmadeadozenstitcheshefeltdrawntolookoutofthewindowagain。HesawthatStepá；nitchhadleanedhisspadeagainstthewall，andwaseitherrestinghimselfortryingtogetwarm。Themanwasoldandbrokendown，andhadevidentlynotenoughstrengtheventoclearawaythesnow。
’WhatifIcalledhiminandgavehimsometea？’thoughtMartin。’Thesamová；risjustontheboil。’
Hestuckhisawlinitsplace，androse；andputtingthesamová；ronthetable，madetea。Thenhetappedthewindowwithhisfingers。Stepá；nitchturnedandcametothewindow。Martinbeckonedtohimtocomein，andwenthimselftoopenthedoor。
’Comein，’hesaid，’andwarmyourselfabit。I’msureyoumustbecold。’
’MayGodblessyou！’Stepá；nitchanswered。’Mybonesdoachetobesure。’Hecamein，firstshakingoffthesnow，andlestheshouldleavemarksonthefloorhebeganwipinghisfeet；butashedidsohetotteredandnearlyfell。
’Don’ttroubletowipeyourfeet，’saidMartin’I’llwipeupthefloor——it’sallintheday’swork。Come，friend，sitdownandhavesometea。’
Fillingtwotumblers，hepassedonetohisvisitor，andpouringhisownoutintothesaucer，begantoblowonit。
Stepá；nitehemptiedhisglass，and，turningitupsidedown，puttheremainsofhispieceofsugaronthetop。Hebegantoexpresshisthanks，butitwasplainthathewouldbegladofsomemore。
’Haveanotherglass，’saidMartin，refillingthevisitor’stumblerandhisown。ButwhilehedrankhisteaMartinkeptlookingoutintothestreet。
’Areyouexpectinganyone？’askedthevisitor。
’AmIexpectinganyone？Well，now，I’mashamedtotellyou。Itisn’tthatIreallyexpectanyone；butIheardsomethinglastnightwhichIcan’tgetoutofmymindWhetheritwasavision，oronlyafancy，Ican’ttell。Yousee，friend，lastnightIwasreadingtheGospel，aboutChristtheLord，howhesuffered，andhowhewalkedonearth。Youhaveheardtellofit，Idaresay。’
’Ihaveheardtellofit，’answeredStepá；nitch；’butI’manignorantmanandnotabletoread。’
’Well，yousee，Iwasreadingofhowhewalkedonearth。Icametothatpart，youknow，wherehewenttoaPhariseewhodidnotreceivehimwell。Well，friend，asIreadaboutit，IthoughtnowthatmandidnotreceiveChristtheLordwithproperhonour。
Supposesuchathingcouldhappentosuchamanasmyself，Ithought，whatwouldInotdotoreceivehim！Butthatmangavehimnoreceptionatall。Well，friend，asIwasthinkingofthis，Ibegantodoze，andasIdozedIheardsomeonecallmebyname。Igotup，andthoughtIheardsomeonewhispering，“Expectme；Iwillcometo-morrow。“Thishappenedtwiceover。Andtotellyouthetruth，itsanksointomymindthat，thoughIamashamedofitmyself，Ikeeponexpectinghim，thedearLord！’
Stepá；nitchshookhisheadinsilence，finishedhistumblerandlaiditonitsside；butMartinstooditupagainandrefilleditforhim。
’Heredrinkanotherglass，blessyou！AndIwasthinkingtoo，howhewalkedonearthanddespisednoone，butwentmostlyamongcommonfolk。Hewentwithplainpeople，andchosehisdisciplesfromamongthelikesofus，fromworkmenlikeus，sinnersthatweare。“Hewhoraiseshimself，“hesaid，“shallbehumbledandhewhohumbleshimselfshallberaised。““YoucallmeLord，“hesaid，“andIwillwashyourfeet。““Hewhowouldbefirst，“hesaid，“lethimbetheservantofall；because，“hesaid，“blessedarethepoor，thehumble，themeek，andthemerciful。“’
Stepá；nitchforgothistea。Hewasanoldmaneasilymovedtotears，andashesatandlistenedthetearsrandownhischeeks。
’Come，drinksomemore，’saidMartin。ButStepá；nitchcrossedhimself，thankedhim，movedawayhistumbler，androse。
’Thankyou，MartinAvdé；itch，’hesaid，’youhavegivenmefoodandcomfortbothforsoulandbody。’
’You’reverywelcome。Comeagainanothertime。Iamgladtohaveaguest，’
saidMartin。
Stepá；nitchwentaway；andMartinpouredoutthelastoftheteaanddrankitup。Thenheputawaytheteathingsandsatdowntohiswork，stitchingthebackseamofaboot。Andashestitchedhekeptlookingoutofthewindow，waitingforChrist，andthinkingabouthimandhisdoings。AndhisheadwasfullofChrist’ssayings。
Twosoldierswentby:oneinGovernmentbootstheotherinbootsofhisown；thenthemasterofaneighbouringhouse，inshininggoloshes；thenabakercarryingabasket。Allthesepassedon。Thenawomancameupinworstedstockingsandpeasant-madeshoes。Shepassedthewindow，butstoppedbythewall。Martinglancedupatherthroughthewindow，andsawthatshewasastranger，poorlydressed，andwithababyinherarms。Shestoppedbythewallwithherbacktothewind，tryingtowrapthebabyupthoughshehadhardlyanythingtowrapitin。Thewomanhadonlysummerclotheson，andeventheywereshabbyandworn。
