Expectation Corner Emily Steele Elliott (1892)

WHEN THE KING COMES TO HIS OWN!
for them, how much more for the One who
says, ‘Behold, I come quickly!’”
“I want to, John, I want to. It helps me
when I see you stand so firm down in the
servants’ hall, when they laugh at you for
your country notions and for ‘setting up
for a parson,’ because you won’t play
cards and go out to places like the others
do. When I see you so steadfast, and
answering back friendly, and helping all
round, and so happy about your work, doing
it all so carefully through and through,
I want to be at one with you in it all, John,
and I am trying. Oh, John, it’s grand to be
serving the King, as our teacher used to
say, in all the dusting and brushing and
sweeping and housework, and to know
that doing it with all one’s heart is doing it
for Him, and getting ready for Him when
He comes! But see! there’s the carriage!”
And Mary is out of sight, while her brother
runs down the steps to be in waiting in a
moment.
We must not stay. It is well to know
that amongst the busy crowd of servants in
the gay and busy city there are those who,
in their everyday life and in their common
duties, are looking and making ready for
THE APPEARING, and for the “Well done,
good and faithful servant!” when the King
comes to His own.
Hark! there is a clatter in the streets; a
rush, a roar; people are falling back on to
the footway; carts hastily backing up sidestreets.
There, there in the distance you
may see the red glare, which tells us what
it is all about. The fire-engines are coming
along! See the galloping of the horses!
Hear the cheering of the crowd!
Oh, how well I remember the sound
when I saw our own hospital on fire and
when for a few moments there was a lock
in the street, until the soldiers came up and
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cleared the way! There is a minute’s
pause now at this narrow corner. Here are
two of the firemen on the tumbrels; listen
to what they are saying as we pass by.
“Hot work to-night, Bill!”
“Looks likely, Tom; we’ll be in for it
in another five minutes. Grand to be ready,
anyway, Tom, living or dying!”
“Aye, ‘With you alway’ now, and ‘Well
done!’ when He comes: that’s about worth
while having got hold of!” And the way is
cleared, and off rush the horses; and
“Let our hearts be true, brothers,
To suffer and to do, brothers,”
comes back to our ears as we know
that in all the danger and roar, and in the
possible death call of the fire, there are
some of the “King’s own” among the noble
band of the fire-brigade, who have a
thought in their bravest of all brave callings
of the One who ere long will come
with a “Well done!” for His own.
But stop where these glittering lights
are seen. This is a busy store indeed! In
one part sparkling Christmas presents; in
another toys to delight the little ones; in
another fine dresses, wreaths, flowers, all
manner of dazzling finery for the rich and
gay. Come upstairs to the thronged workroom,
heated with gas, where busy fingers
are toiling before the work of the day can
be finished. Here are dresses, one after another,
of every color and form. Two or
three young girls are busy putting the last
touches to a robe for some unknown
young beauty, who is to dance away
Christmas hours in that light gauze with its
flowery wreaths.
“It does seem hard sometimes that
there should be such a difference between
the rich and poor,” murmurs to her companions
one of the three whose heads are