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Show UNAWARES. (Published by Request.) Thoy said, "Tho Master Is coming, To honor tho town today, And none can tell at what houso or fiomo Tho Master will chooso to stay." Then I thought, while my heart beat wildly, What If He should como to mine? How would I strive to entertain And honor tho Guest divine! And straight 1 turned to tolling, To tnako my home more neat; I swept and polished and garnished, And decked it with blossoms sweet! I was troubled for fear tho Master Might como cro my task was done, And I hastened and worked tho faster, And watched tho hurrying sun. Hut right In the mldstof my duties, A woman camo to my door; She had como to tell me hor sorrow, And my comfort and aid to Implore. And I said, "I cannot listen; Nor help jou any today, I havo greater things to attend to," And the pleader turned away. But Boon there came another, A cripple, pale, thin and gray; And said, "O, let mo stop and rest Awhllo in your home I pray; I havo traveled far since morning, I am hungry, faint nnd weak. My heart is full of misery, And comfort and help I seek. And I Bald, "I nm grieved and sorry, But I cannot, keep vou today; I look for a groat and noble Guest;" And the cripple went away. And the day wore onward swiftly, And my task was nearly done, And a prayer was ever In my heart That the aster to rao might como. And I thought I would spring to moot Him,' ,. v-?"-. And treat Him with utmost care, When a little child stood by me, With a face so sweet aud fair. Sweet, but with marks of tear-drops, And his clothes wero tattered aud old. A finger was bruised and bleeding, And his liltlo bare feet wero cold. And Isuld "Inm sorry for you; You nro sorely In need of care, But I cannot stop to glvo It, You must husten otherwhere." And ut tho words a shadow Swept over his blue-veined brow; "Some ono will feed and clotho you, dear, Hut I am too busy now.'" At last thu day was ended, And my toil was ovor and done. My house was swept and garnished, And I watched in tho duslrnlone; Watched, but no foot fall hounded; No ono paused at my gate. No ono eutored my cottago door; 1 could only pray and wait. I watted till night had deepened, And tho' Muptf'r had not come; "He hnx ut"rod some other door," I crfed, "And gladdened somo other home!" My labor had been for nothing, And I bowed my lioud and wopt; My heart wii soro with longing, Yet, spite of all, I slupt , Then the Maxtor stood beforo mc, And nis fuco was grave and fair; "Thruu times today.I cyimo to your door, And craved your pity aud care; Thrco times you aont mo onward, Unholped aud uneomforted; And the blosslng you might havo had was lost, And your ohaiico to sorvo has lied." "O, Lord, dear Lord, forgive mc; How could I know It was Thou?" My very soul was shamed and bowed In tho depth of humility. And he said, "Tho sin Is pardoned; But tho blessing Is lost to thee, For falling to comfort tho least of MIno YoU havo fulled to comfort Mc!" |