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It happened one day near december's end when two neighbors |
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Called on an old friend and they found his shop so meager and |
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Lean made gay with thousand bows of green and conrad was |
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Sitting with faces shining when he suddenly stopped as he |
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Stitched a twine and he said 'old friends, it dawned today |
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As the cock was crowing the night away the lord appeared in |
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A dream to me and said 'i'm coming your guest to be.' |
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So i've been busy with feet of stern strewing my shop with |
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Branches of fern. the table is spread and the kettle is shine. |
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And over the rafters the holly is twine. now i'll wait for my |
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Lord to appear and listen closely so i will hear his step as |
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He nears my humble place. and i'll open the door and look on his face. |
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So his friends went home and left conrad alone for this |
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Was the happiest day he had known. for long since his family had |
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Passed away and conrad had spent many a sad christmas day. |
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But he knew with the lord as his christmas guest this christmas |
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Would be the dearest and best. |
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So he listened with only joy in his heart and with |
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Every sound he would rise with a start and look for the |
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Lord to be at his door. like the vision he had had a few hours before. |
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So he ran to the window after hearing a sound but all he could |
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See on the snow covered ground was a shabby beggar whose shoes |
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Were torn and all of his clothes were ragged and worn. |
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But conrad was touched and he went to the door |
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And he said 'you know your feet must be frozen and sore. |
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I have some shoes in my shop for you and a coat that will |
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Keep you warmer too.' so with grateful heart the man went away |
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But conrad noticed the time of day and wondered what made the |
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Lord so late and how much longer he'd have to wait. |
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When he heard a knock he ran to the door but it was |
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Only a stranger once more. a bent old lady with a shawl of |
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Black with a bundle of kindling piled on her back. she asked |
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For only a place to rest but that was reserved for conrad's |
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Great guest. but her voice seemed to plead 'don't send me away, |
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Let me rest for awhile on christmas day', so conrad brewed |
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Her a steaming cup and told her to set at the table and sup. |
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But after she left he was filled with dismay for |
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He saw that the hours were slipping away and the lord hadn't come as |
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He said he would. then conrad felt sure he had misunderstood. |
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When out of of the stillness he heard a cry 'please |
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Help me and tell me where am i?' so again he opened his |
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Friendly door and stood disapointed as twice before. |
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It was only a child that wandered away and was lost from |
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Her family on christmas day. |
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Again conrad's heart was heavy and sad but he knew |
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He should make the little girl glad. so he called her in |
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And he wiped her tears, quieted all her childish fears. |
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Then he led her back to her home once more but as he |
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Entered his own darkened door he knew the |
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Lord was not coming today. |
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Well the hours of christmas had passed away so he |
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Went to his room and knelt down to pray and he said |
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'dear lord, why did you delay? what kept you from |
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Coming to call on me? for i wanted so much your face to see. |
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' when soft in the silence a voice he heard. |
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'lift up your head for i kept my word. |
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Three times my shadow crossed your floor |
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And three times i came to your lowly door. |
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I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet |
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And i was the woman you gave something to eat. |
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I was the child on the homeless street. |
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Three times i knocked, and three times i came in. |
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And each time i found the warmth of a friend. |
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Of all the gifts, love is the best. |
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And i was honored to be your christmas guest. |
