p. 1 | The Great Guest Came by Edwin Markham

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 1, 1909

The Great Guest Came

By Edwin Markham

While the cobbler mused, there passed his pane A beggar drenched by the driving rain; He called him in from the stony street, And gave him shoes for his bruised feet.

The beggar went, and there came a crone, Her face with wrinkles of sorrow sown; A bundle of fagots bowed her back, And she was spent with the wrench and rack. He gave her his loaf, and steadied her load As she took her way on the weary road.

Then to his door came a little child, Lost and afraid in the world so wild— In the big, dark world. Catching it up, He gave it the milk in the waiting cup, And led it home to its mother's arms, Out of the reach of the world's alarms.

The day went down in the crimson west, And with it the hope of the blessed Guest. And Conrad sighed as the world turned gray: “Why is it, Lord, that Your feet delay? Did You forget that this was the day? Then soft, in the silence, a voice he heard: “Lift up your heart, for I kept My word. Three times I came to your friendly door; Three times My shadow was on your floor: I was the beggar with bruised feet; I was the woman you gave to eat; I was the child on the homeless street.”

— Edwin Markham.