FATHER MARTIN, A CHRISTMAS STORY
Father Martin A Christmas Story NOT long ago there lived in the city of Marseilles an old shoemaker, loved and honored by all his neighbors, who called him "Father Martin." One Christmas eve...
...You must eat some bread while you are getting warm...
...I am going to the hospital...
...He arose and-took from a shelf two little shoes...
...world tonight how I would serve and adore him- I know very well what I would give him...
...He must be very cold...
...Suddenly the room seemed full of the people whom he had aided during the day, and each one asked of him in turn, "Have you not seen me...
...When it grew dark the old man sadly began to prepare his humble supper...
...Well, take a cup of milk for the little one...
...The young woman went away full of gratitude, and Father Martin went back to his post...
...Then the little child pointed to the Bible on the table, and his rosy finger showed the old man this passage...
...Well, I did hope...
...After supper he fell asleep in his: chair...
...Suppose I offer him a cup of coffee...
...I hope they will take me in with my child...
...They fitted perfectly...
...Wait a minute...
...Whosoever shall receive one of these little ones reeeivcth me...
...When he awoke the next morning Father Martin, convinced that what he had dreamed would surely take place, hastened to put his shop in order, lighted his fire, drank his coffee and then seated himself at the window to watch the passersby...
...cried the shoemaker to all these visions...
...I am sick and haven't a cent...
...But' that night Father Martin had a dream...
...He hasn't any," sighed the woman...
...Does the Saviour need my poor shop and my shoes...
...replied the woman...
...Poor thing...
...My husband is at sea, and I've been expecting him home for three months...
...It was a dream," he murmured...
...Come, warm yourself and let me take the baby...
...He thought that the voice of Jesus himself said to him: "Martin, you have wished to see me...
...he continued, smiling...
...The first person he saw was a poor street sweeper who was trying to warm himself, for it was bitter cold...
...One Christmas eve Father Martin, who had been reading the story of the three wise' men who brought their gifts to the infant Jesus, said to himself: "If only tomorrow were the first Christmas day and the Saviour were coming to th's...
...I have a pair...
...After watching in vain for an hour Father Martin saw a young woman miserably clothed, carrying a baby...
...Here is what I would give him, my finest work...
...Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one ot the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me...
...From the French of De C'oppet...
...Poor man...
...He had often seen the picture of Jesus in the churches, so he felt sure he would know him when he went by...
...I was a stranger and ye took me in...
...said the old man...
...And the old man brought the shoes which he had looked at the evening before and put them on the child's feet...
...Watch the street tomorrow from morning "until evening, for I shall pass your window...
...But you must try your best to recognize me, for I shall not make myself known to you...
...said Martin to himself...
...But he has not come...
...But who are you...
...How pleased his mother would be' But what am I thinking of...
...She was so pale and thin that the heart of the poor cobbler was touched, and he called to her...
...You haven't put his shoes on...
...Hour after hour went by, and although many people passed the window the Master did not come...
...I was an hungered and ye gave me meat...
...You don't look very well," he said...
...He tapped on the window and called to the man, who did not have to be urged to accept the steaming coffee...
...I was thirsty and ye gave me drink...
Vol. 6 • December 1914 • No. 46
