Conrad's Christmas Day
It happened one day at the year's white end
- Two neighbours called on an old time friend,
- And they found his shop so meagre and mean
- Made bright with a thousand boughs of green,
- And Conrad was sitting with face ashine
- When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
- And said, Old friends, at dawn today
- When the rooster was crowing the night away,
- The Lord appeared in a dream to me
- And said, I am coming your guest to be.
- So I've been busy with feet astir,
- Strewing my shop with branches of fir.
- The table is spread and the kettle is shined
- And over the rafter the holly is twined.
- And now I will wait for my Lord to appear,
- And listen closely so I will hear
- His step as He nears my humble place
- And I open the door and look in His face.
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone
- As this was the happiest day he had known,
- For long since his family had all passed away
- And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas day.
- But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest
- This Christmas would be the dearest and best.
- So he listened with only joy in his heart
- And with every sound he would rise with a start
- And look for the Lord to be standing there
- In answer to his real earnest prayer.
- So he ran to the window on hearing a sound
- But all that he saw on the snow covered ground
- Was a shabby beggar with shoes outworn,
- And all of his clothes were tattered and torn.
- Then Conrad was touched and went to the door
- And said, Your feet must be frozen and sore,
- But I have some shoes in my shop just for you,
- And a coat that will keep you much warmer too.
So with grateful heart the man went away.
- But as Conrad noticed the time of day
- He wondered what made the dear Lord so late,
- And how much longer that he'd have to wait.
- Then he heard a knock and ran to the door,
- But it was only a stranger there once more.
- A bent old woman with shawl of black,
- And a bundle of sticks piled up on her back.
- She asked only for a place to rest
- But that was reserved for Conrad's great guest.
- Then her voice seemed to plead, Don't send me away.
- Let me rest for a while on this Christmas day.
- So Conrad made soup and gave her a cup
- And told her to sit at the table and sup.
Then after she left he was filled with dismay
- For he saw that the hours were passing away,
- And the Lord had not come, as he said he would,
- And Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood.
- When out of the stillness he heard a cry,
- Please help me and tell me, where am I?
- So again he opened his friendly door
- And stood disappointed as twice before.
- It was only a child who had wandered away
- And was lost from his family that Christmas day.
- Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad
- But he knew he should make this little child glad.
- So he called him in and wiped his tears
- And quieted all his childish fears,
- Then led him back to his home once more.
But as he entered his own darkened door
- He knew that the Lord was not coming today,
- For the hours of Christmas had all passed away.
- So he went to his room and knelt down to pray
- And he said, Dear Lord, why did you delay?
- What kept you from coming to call on me,
- For I so much wanted your face I could see?
- When soft in the silence a voice he heard.
- Lift up your head, for I kept my word.
- Three times my shadow crossed your floor.
- Three times I came to your lonely door.
- For I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet.
- I was the woman you gave something to eat.
- And I was the child on the homeless street.
-- Helen Steiner Rice