Nor help you any to-day;
I have greater things to attend to."
So the pleader turned away.

But soon there came another--
A cripple, thin, pale and gray--
And said, "O let me stop and rest
Awhile in your home I pray."
I said, "I am grieved and sorry,
But I can not keep you to-day;
I look for a great 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 Master to me might come.

I thought I would spring to meet Him,
And treat Him with utmost care,
When a little child stood by me
With a face so sweet and fair--
Sweet, but with marks of tear drops--
And his clothes were tattered old;
A finger was bruised and bleeding,
And his little bare feet were cold.

And I said, "I am sorry for you:
You are sorely in need of care,
But I can not stop to give it;
You must hasten other where."
And at the words a shadow
Swept over his blue-veined brow.
"Some one will feed and clothe you, dear,
But I am too busy now."

At last, my toil was over and done,
My house was swept and garnished,
And I watched in the dusk alone;
I waited till night had deepened,
And the Master had not come;
"He has entered some other door," I cried,
"And gladdened some other home!"

Then the Master stood before me,
And His face was grave and fair;
"Three times to-day I came to your door,
And craved your pity and care.
Three times you sent Me onward,
Unhelped and uncomforted;
And the blessing you might have had was lost,
And your chance to serve has fled."

"O Lord, dear Lord, forgive me;
How could I know it was Thee?"
My very soul was shamed and bowed
In the depths of humility.
And He said, "The sin is pardoned,
But the blessing is lost to thee,
For failing to comfort the least of Mine,
You have failed to comfort Me."

226

John Paul, of Siena, was always very liberal to the poor. On his
deathbed he exclaimed, "What I have kept, that have I lost, and what I
have given away, that I have yet, what I have refused I now regret."

Anot