ic as he meditated the meaning of the text and
the supreme need. He walked faster, and trod the snowy walk
emphatically.

"What a splendid text!" he thought. "If I go to the mission to-night
perhaps I shall speak from it. 'Labor not . . . but for'--ah! that
word 'labor,' as applied in the second phrase needs explaining also,
and Jesus did explain it. '_This is the work of God, that ye believe
on Him whom He hath sent_.' That is 'labor' for the living bread--to
believe on Him!"

But he returned to his former consideration. "'Sell that ye have and
give alms.' I wonder if the principle in the other text will apply to
that? Did He mean, not literally that they were to sell all and give,
but rather to emphasize the supreme importance of the treasure in
heaven? Did He push aside one and bring forward the other, saying,
'Look at _this_! Let go the other, and lay hold of this. Lift up your
eyes to the kingdom it is your Father's good pleasure to give you.
Take stock in that. Little flock, you are so very rich yonder, you can
afford to give up what you have here. Give to the poor that have no
treasure here, and perhaps none yonder.' Ah, but my paraphrasing has
not led me far from the literalness of the text! And how beautiful it
is! That Man of Glory, 'Heir of all things,' poor for a little while
for our sakes, counseling His little flock to follow for a brief season
in the steps of His poverty, laying up more abundant treasure in His
eternal kingdom!"

By this time Hubert had reached his place of business and was stumbling
over the office boy in the hall. When alone in his office, at his
desk, he leaned his head upon his hands and prayed:

"O Lord, teach me what those Scriptures mean that I may obey them.
Save me from the bias of self-interest. Help me to live by the
understanding I had with Thee at the outset of our walk together. What
may I do to please Thee? My time and my energies are Thine, for I am
bought with a price. Thou seest my possessions. What shall I do with
them?"

He lifted his head with a lightened heart. "He will show me what to
do," he thought.

That day at lunch Hubert propounded a question to his father.

"Father," said he, "what do you think Jesus meant by saying, 'Sell that
ye have and give alms?'"

Mr. Gray reflected. "Hm!" he observed, "eh--well--" then, with a sly
twinkle as though rather enjoying a coat that fitted tightly, "it
doesn't sound very obscure, does it? T