’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。