“Do you remember one time when Jesus was on the earth, a man, clothed and in his right mind, sat at Jesus’ feet? He had so much to be thankful for; no man ever had so much. And he sat at Jesus’ feet, near him because he loved him, and looked up into his face and listened. That was all he wanted on the earth, to be with Jesus; to follow him everywhere, to obey every word he said, to always see his face, to serve him. Did not the Lord care for such love when so many were scorning him and ashamed to be his disciples? When he came to his own, and his own received him not. When the man found that Jesus was going away, that his countrymen were sending him away, beseeching him to go, he besought Jesus, which was more than one asking, that he might go with him. That was all he wanted: just to go with him. Just as all you wanted was to be with him and do something he said, _and be sure he said it_. But Jesus sent this man away. He refused him; he denied his prayer.” “That was very hard,” said Judith. “Very hard. It was like giving him a glimpse of Heaven—it was Heaven, and then shutting the door in his face as he prayed.” “Yes,” said Judith, who understood. “But he did speak to him; he told him what to do: ‘Return to thine own house.’ If he had father, mother, brother, sister, wife, children, go back to them and tell them how good God had been to him. When I look at you, Deary, stepping about the house, so pretty and bright, I think of how glad your mother must be if she sees you. How glad to know the little girl she left was taken care of. And in church when you play the organ, and in Sunday School, and at the Lord’s own table, and doing errands all around the village, you are a blessing in your ‘own house.’” Judith’s head went down on Aunt Affy’s knee. “This man went through the ‘whole city’ beside; his own house grew into the whole city. Your life isn’t ended yet; to old folks like Uncle Cephas and me, it seems just begun. Your own house is only just the beginning of the whole city. I’ve only had my own house and Bensalem, but I seem to think there’s a whole city for you. The Lord knew about the whole city when he denied his prayer and sent him to his own house.” Judith did not lift her head; her tears were tears of shame and penitence. “Now, here come the men folks,” roused Aunt Affy, cheerily; “and supper they must have to keep them good-natured.” “I am only in my ‘own house’ yet,” said Judith, as she moved about setting the supper table as she had done when she was a little girl. XXXIII. NETTIE’S OUTING. “Does the road wind up hill all the way?” “Yes, to the very end.” “Will the day’s journey take the whole, long day?” “From morn to night, my friend.” —Christina G. Rossetti.