“Look! I stand at the
door and knock. If you
hear my voice and open
the door, I will come
in, and we will share a
meal together as
friends." Rev.3:20 (NLT)
Once
upon a time there lived
a great Duke. He had a
large estate, was very
rich, and had everything
in this world to make a
man happy, if that were
possible, so far as
worldly things was
concerned. He was a
widower, had an only
child, a beautiful girl,
who had a very sweet
disposition, was very
kind to the poor, and
was beloved by all
around. When she was 20
years of age her father
said to her, "My
daughter, next year you
will become of age, and
I intend to ask to the
castle here, for a
week's festivities, all
the young nobles of the
land. I expect that many
of them will be asking
your hand in marriage,
and I beg of you to see
that you make a good
choice, for your
happiness afterwards
will depend on the
choice you make. I might
also say that, in case
anything should happen
to me, I have made my
will, and everything I
possess in this world at
my death will belong to
you."
The time
soon came for the
celebration of her 21st
birthday, and while her
Ladyship was in her room
with her maid dressing,
in preparation for the
reception of the guests,
a loud knocking was
heard at the back door
of the court. One of the
men-servants, on going
out to see who was
making such a noise,
found a beggar man on
crutches. The
man-servant ordered him
to go away. "Don't
trouble her Ladyship
today," he said, "she is
very busy, and a great
many guests are coming
shortly to the castle."
But the beggar answered
that he would not go
away until he saw her
Ladyship. Thereupon the
door was slammed in the
beggar's face; but he
took up one of his
crutches and laid on to
the door, making such a
noise that it brought
back the servant, who
threatened to put the
dogs on to him if he did
not go away. To this the
beggar only replied that
the dogs would not
frighten him, and he
would not go away until
he had seen her
Ladyship.
To try
and frighten him the
servant went to the
kennels, and at once the
dogs set up such a
terrible howling that
the noise reached her
Ladyship's ears; and she
sent her maid to find
out the meaning of it
all. The maid returned
with the information
that it was a poor, lame
beggar man who wanted to
see her Ladyship, and he
would not go away until
he saw her. "Very well,"
replied her Ladyship, "I
will be down presently.
Tell him to wait till I
come."
Shortly
afterwards her Ladyship
went down (followed by a
retinue of servants, in
case any harm might come
to her). Seeing the
beggar, she asked him
kindly, "Well, my good
man, what do you want?"
He bowed, and then said,
"I have come to ask your
hand in marriage today."
Her Ladyship looked at
him steadfastly for a
moment, then stepping
forward, said "Very
well. Here it is." The
beggar approached, bowed
low, and taking her hand
in his, kissed it,
adding "And on what day
will you marry me?" To
which her Ladyship
replied, "This day
twelve months hence." On
hearing her reply, the
beggar gathered up his
crutches and hobbled
away, greatly to the
relief and delight of
the servants standing
around, who thought that
she had got rid of the
beggar very quickly and
easily.
During
the week of the
festivities many of the
young nobles asked her
hand in marriage, but
all of them got the same
reply, "I am betrothed
already." Many began
asking who the 'lucky
fellow' was, but no one
could tell. The
servants, overhearing
the conversations
amongst the guests,
began to wonder among
themselves if it were
really true that she had
given away her hand in
marriage to the beggar.
At last it came to her
father's ears that she
had been asked by many,
and all had been given
the same refusal, and
that she had already
given her hand in
marriage to a beggar,
with a promise that it
should take place in a
year's time. Her father
was heart-broken.
"Is it true, my
daughter, that you have
given your hand in
marriage to a poor
beggar man?" "Yes,
father, it is quite
true, and it will be
alright." The week of
festivities ended rather
abruptly, everyone being
greatly disappointed at
the news of her
betrothal to the beggar.
During the year her
father time after time
called her to his side,
saying "Oh, my daughter!
oh my daughter! comfort
me. Tell me it is all a
mistake." But her answer
was always the same, "It
is quite true, and it
will be alright." At
length the year passed
by. No preparation was
made for the marriage,
and on the day appointed
her father sent for her,
and said "You see, my
daughter, there is no
one coming."
"Oh,
but he will come!" she
replied.
One
o'clock chimed, yet no
appearance of anyone
coming. About two
o'clock in the
afternoon, however, a
great noise was heard
coming over the hill
towards the castle.
Everyone in the house
rushed to the windows,
and what they beheld was
a wonderful procession
of pipers, drummers and
horsemen, in large
numbers. Up to the front
door of the castle came
a guard of prancing
horsemen, who lined both
sides of the avenue.
Wheeling around, they
drew up, each horse
facing the other and
forming a guard of
honour. Then, last of
all, came a beautiful
prancing steed, with a
noble rider on its back.
On reaching the steps
leading to the doorway
of the castle, this
rider threw himself from
the saddle, ran up the
steps, and embraced his
beloved.
Who was
he? The King's son!
That morning twelve
months before he had
disguised himself as a
poor beggar, and came in
that way lest he should
be too late.
Recognizing his eyes,
she knew who he was, and
kept his secret. So all
were glad at the end.
Who is
standing at your heart's
door and knocking. A
beggar! One of Whom it
was said, "The foxes
have holes and the birds
of the air have nests,
but the Son of Man hath
not where to lay his
head." A Man whose faced
was more marred than
that of any man. A
beggar knocking at your
heart's door, seeking
admission. Open the
door, for He is the King
of Kings and Lord of
Lords!
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