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was not the Sabbath. Then Jesus asked: "Why do they not work?"

And one of the villagers said: "We should like to work, but we have no
tools. We want spades, ploughs, sickles, and axes, but our smith is
always making holiday. And it is just he who makes the best knives.
There are no other smiths here."

Our wanderers then went to the smith. The man was sitting in his room,
reading the Holy Scriptures and praying. One of the disciples asked
him why he was not at work although it was a week-day.

The smith replied: "Since I heard the Prophet it is always Sabbath with
me. For a man should not strive after material property, neither
should he take any care for the morrow, but seek the Kingdom of Heaven."

Then Jesus went to the entrance of the house, and told, so that the
smith could hear Him, of the man who made a journey. "Before he
departed he called his servants together and gave them money with which
to carry on the work of the house. He gave the first five heavy pieces
of gold, the second two, and the third one. They were to keep house
according to their own discretion. When after a long time the master
returned, he desired his servants to account for the way in which they
had employed the money. The first had increased it tenfold. 'I am
glad,' said the master, 'and because you are faithful in little I will
trust you much--keep the gold.' The second servant had increased the
money twofold; the master praised him also, and gave him both principal
and interest. Then he asked the third servant what he had done with
his money. 'Master,' replied the man, 'it wasn't much to begin with,
so I wouldn't risk losing it. I should have liked to gain a second
gold piece, but I might have lost the first. So I did not use it for
the housekeeping, but buried it in a safe place, so that I could
faithfully return it to you.' Then the master snatched the gold piece
from him and gave it to the fellow who had increased his money tenfold.
'The little that he has shall be taken away from the lazy and
unprofitable servant and given to him who knows how to value what he
has.'"

"Do you understand?" Matthew asked the smith. "The gold pieces are the
talents which God gives men--to some more, to others less. Whoso lets
his talents lie fallow, and does not use them, is like the man who has
strength and skill to work the iron, but who lays the hammer aside to
brood idly over writings he cannot understand."

"How is it t