It happened one day near December's end   Two neighbors called on an old friend   And they found his shop so meager and lame   Made gay with a thousand bows of green   And Conrad was sittin' with face ashined   When he suddenly stopped as he stiched a twine   And he said "Oh friends at dawn today   When the cock was crowin' the night away   The Lord appeared in a dream to me   And said 'I'm comin' your guest to be.'   So I've been busy with feet astir   And strewin' my shop with branches of fir   The table is spread and the kettle is shined   And over the rafters the holly is twined   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'd 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'd had a few hours before   So he ran to the window after hearin' a sound   But all he could see on the snow-covered ground   Was a shabby begger who's 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'll 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 ol' lady with a shawl of black   With a bundle of kindlin' piled on her back   She asked for only a place to rest   But that was reserved for Conrad's great guest   But her voice seemed to plead "Don't send me away   Let me rest for awhile on Christmas day"   So Conrad brewed her a steamin' cup   And told her to sit at the table and sup   But after she left he was filled with dismay   For he saw that the hours were slippin' away   And the Lord hadn't come as He said He would   And Conrad felt sure he'd 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'd wandered away   And was lost from her family on Christmas day   Again, Conrad's heart was heavy and sad   But he knew he should make the little girl glad   So he called her in and he 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   He knew the Lord was not comin' today   For the hours of Christmas had passed away   So he went to his room and he knelt down to pray   And he said "Dear Lord, why did You delay?   What kept You from comin' to call on me?   For I wanted so much Your Face to 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   And three times I came to your lonely door   I was the begger with bruised, cold feet   And I was the woman you gave somethin' to eat   I was the child on the homeless street.   Three times I knocked and three times I came in   And each time I found the warmth of a friend   Of all the gifts love is the best   And I was honored to be your Christmas guest."