She asked for only a place to rest, But

She asked for only a place to rest, But that was reserved for Conrad's Great Guest! But her voice' Beamed to plead, “Don’t send me at’ay, Let me rest for awh;le on Christmas Day.’ IX “So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup ? And told-her to sit at the table and sup. i< Bat after she left he was filled with dismay For he saw that the hours were slipping away, And the Lord had not come, as1 Me said He would, And Conrad felt sure he had misunderstood: X “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 v And stood disappointed as twice before. It was only a child who had wandered away 1 And was lost from her family on Christmas Day. XI “Again Conrad's heart was heavy and sad, But he knew he should make this little girl glad So be called her in and wiped her tears And quieted all her childish fears. Then he led her back to her home once more. But as he entered his own darkened door XII “He knew that the Lord was not coming today, For the hours of Christmas had 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 wanted so much Your face to see?’ XIII “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. And I was the woman you gave to eat, And I was the child on the homeless street.' ”