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