142 THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

fering. He stopped, and told them to bring the man to
him. The people knew him; it was a blind beggar named
Bartimeus, who sat there every day, begging; and when
Jesus stopped and called for him to be brought, perhaps
the very men who had tried to make him still said, Be of
good comfort; rise! He calleth thee!"
 They had seen Jesus work before; they knew it was
comfort indeed when Jesus showed pity and stopped in his
way; they too could afford then to speak kindly.
 Bartimeus knew that he might be of good comfort;"
he had heard of other eyes that had been opened, and
a sudden joy made him need no more than one call to
come. He rose up, and in his haste threw off his coat or
cloak, that hid his rags and covered him from wind and
sun as he sat in the street; he came quickly, and Jesus
said, "What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?" Just
one thing the poor beggar wanted; not food, nor clothing,
nor friends, home, nor money; only one thing he asked
for-sight. Oh, what a pitiful, earnest voice of prayer it
was, "Lord, that I may receive my sight."
 Bartimeus saw the look of pity and love on the Sav-
iour's face, for as quickly as the prayer was said the an-
swer came, Receive thy sight, thy faith hath saved thee."
While the loving hand touched his head, immediately the
closed, blind eyes were opened, and the first sight he ever
saw was that beautiful face beaming on him while he had
prayed in faith.