Here is a
variation on Leo Tolstoy’s story about Martin, the cobbler. Paul Thompson who
adapted it from Leo Tolstoy wrote this particular retelling. This old story has
become a classic Christmas tale in its various forms.
It was Christmas Eve. In a small Russian village, excited children
were playing in the streets. Down the street shuffled an old shoemaker. He
waved at the children as he made his way to his small shop on the corner.
Everyone loved the kind old shoemaker. He went inside and set to work
making and mending shoes.
The old shoemaster stopped and stood in the window of his shop. He
listened to the squeals of laughter as the children played, but his thoughts
were far away.
He did not have a family, and on Christmas Day he would be all alone.
He sighed, picked a big leather-bound book from a shelf, and rested in
his big old chair. He ran his fingers along the lines of the book. It was the
story of Christmas. He read how the Wise Men had brought gifts for Jesus-the
best gifts they could offer. He scratched his head, looked round his little
room and thought, "If Jesus visited me, what would I be able to give
Him?" Then he settled back in his chair, pulled up his favorite blanket and
before very long, the warmth of the fire made him drowsy.
Outside, the children returned to their homes. A small group of
children huddled together. They did not have a warm home to go to. They did not
have parents to care for them. They were orphans. Slowly they made their way to
the cold, empty orphanage and huddled together to keep warm.
Across the street from the orphanage, the old shoemaker was snoring
gently. Suddenly he heard a voice in the room. "Dear old shoemaster, you
were wondering what you could give Me. Tonight I am going to visit your
village. Look out for me. I shall not say who I am."
The old shoemaker jumped to his feet and rubbed his eyes. Jesus
was coming to visit! What could he give Him? He was sure Jesus would like a hot
drink on such a cold evening. So, he lit his stove and put a kettle of water on
to boil. He was sure Jesus would like something to eat.
He looked in the larder and there was a fresh loaf of bread and soup
ready for warming. When Jesus came, he could invite Him to sit in his chair,
with his warm blanket around Him, and give Him a hot drink, soup, and fresh
bread to eat.
Tomorrow would be Christmas Day and he so wanted to give Jesus a
special gift, but what could a poor shoemaker give Jesus? All of a sudden he
knew. He could make Jesus a pair of his finest shoes. But what size were Jesus'
feet? He would need to make a pair of his finest shoes in every size, and Jesus
could have the pair of shoes that fitted Him best!
He set to work at once. As he worked, the old shoemaster suddenly
heard footsteps. He rushed to the window. But it wasn't Jesus.
It was a young boy lighting lamps along the street. His coat was
threadbare and he shivered as he worked. "How cold he looks," thought
the old shoemaster, "I could give him my blanket, I still have other gifts
for Jesus." He shuffled outside with his blanket and wrapped it around the
shoulders of the young boy. The boy stopped shivering, smiled gratefully, and
went on his way.
The shoemaster returned to his shop and carried on working. Just then,
he heard voices outside. Had Jesus come? He rushed to the door. But all
he could see was a group of children singing carols.
"It's Christmas Day, goodwill on earth,
Let's celebrate The
Savior's birth.
God gave His love, what can I bring
That's worthy of a new-born
King?"
The old shoemaster smiled and said, "Thank you. You must be so
thirsty after your singing. I have hot drinks warming on my stove. I was saving
them for a special guest, but I'm sure He won't mind. I have other gifts for
Him." He poured them hot drinks and waved them goodbye.
No sooner had he gone back to his work than the old shoemaster heard a
different set of footsteps. It must be Jesus! He rushed out into the
street. But as the footsteps came closer, the old shoemaster recognized the
figure of a poor widow and her children. How hungry they looked. "Come in
and have some of my soup," said the kind old shoemaker, "I was saving
it for a special guest, but I'm sure He won't mind. I still have another gift
for Him."
The widow and her children went into the shop and warmed themselves by
the fire. The old shoemaster gave them soup and fresh bread to eat.
Meanwhile, across the street, the children in the orphanage were
getting ready for bed. They tucked themselves under the covers and fell asleep.
The poor widow and her children thanked the old shoemaster for his
kindness and went on their way.
The old shoemaster looked at his clock. It was getting late. He
must finish making his gift for Jesus.
Every so often he would look out of the window to see if Jesus was
coming down the street. But no one came.
Just before dawn he finished making the shoes. He had a pair in every
size, but Jesus had not come to collect His gift.
The old shoemaster stared out of his window. Tears streamed down his
face. Jesus had promised to visit him, but Jesus had not come. What would he
do with all the shoes he had made?
As the sun rose in the sky, he looked across the street at the
orphanage and wiped his tears away. He had a wonderful idea! He gathered up the
shoes into a sack. Then he tiptoed across the street and into the orphanage.
He placed a pair of his finest shoes by each child. Then he tiptoed
back to his shop, sat in his comfortable chair, and closed his eyes. As he
dozed, he heard the same voice he had heard the night before: "Thank
you kind shoemaster. I visited you last night and you gave me warmth. I was
thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was hungry and you fed me, and, kind
shoemaster, I was in the orphanage and you came to visit Me. Thank you for
giving me the finest pair of your shoes. Whatever you did for all these people,
you also did for me."
Christmas bells rang out across the village as the orphans woke to
find their gifts.
Excited children rushed out to play. The old shoemaster shuffled out
to join the Christmas celebrations. It was the happiest Christmas he had ever
had!
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