It happened one day near December's end when two neighbors
called on an old friend and they found his shop so meager and
lean made gay with thousand bows of green and Conrad was
sitting with faces shining when he suddenly stopped as he
stitched a twine and he said "Old friends, it dawned today
as the cock was crowing the night away the Lord appeared in
a dream to me and said "I'm coming your guest to be."
So I've been busy with feet of stern strewing my shop with
branches of fern. The table is spread and the kettle is shine.
And over the rafters the holly is twine. Now I'll wait for my
Lord to appear and listen closely so I will hear his step as
he nears my humble place. And I'll open the door and look on His face.
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone for this
was the happiest day he had known. For long since his family had
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 at his door. Like the vision he had had a few hours before.
So he ran to the window after hearing a sound but all he could
see on the snow covered ground was a shabby beggar whose shoes
were torn and all of his clothes were ragged and worn.
But Conrad was touched and he went to the door
and he said "You know your feet must be frozen and sore.
I have some shoes in my shop for you and a coat that will
keep you warmer too." So with grateful heart the man went away
but Conrad noticed the time of day and wondered what made the
Lord so late and how much longer he'd have to wait.
When he heard a knock he ran to the door but it was
only a stranger once more. A bent old lady with a shawl of
black with a bundle of kindling piled on her back. She asked
for only a place to rest but that was reserved for Conrad's
great
