seymoure

A long tome ago, in a small village far away lived an old shoemaker called Papa Panov. He was not very rich, all he owned was one room where he lived, slept and made shoes. Neither was he very poor, He had all his shoemaking tools, a cast iron stove, a table, a chair and a bed. There were many people who needed new shoes or old shoes mended so he always had enough money to buy bread, coffee and cabbage to make soup for his dinner.

Papa Panov was quite happy most of the time and his eyes would sparkle through his little round spectacles and he would shout a cheery greeting to people passing by. But this particular day was different. It was Christmas Eve and Papa Panov stood by his window thinking of his wife who had died many years before and of his sons and daughters who had grown up and gone away.

"Dearie, dearie" said Papa Panov pulling his moustache and shaking his head slowly from side to side.

He lit the oil lamp, picked up an old brown book and sat down to read. It was the story of Christmas and how Jesus was born in a cow shed because there wasn't any room at the inn where his mother and father had asked to stay the night.

"Dearie, dearie" said Papa Panov. If they had come here I would have found room for them, I would like some company.

He read how rich men travelled across the desert to bring wonderful presents for Jesus, gold and sweet smelling spices.

"Dearie, dearie" said Papa Panov. "If they came here I shouldn't have anything to give him." Then his eyes sparkled behind his little round spectacles as he lifted a tiny pair of shoes from a box, they were the best shoes he had ever made. He put the shoes back in the box and returned to his book. After a while in the warmth from the fire he fell fast asleep.

Suddenly he heard a voice in the room. He sat up startled but could not see who was there. "Papa Panov" said the voice "You wished that I should visit you and that you could give me a gift. Look out for me in the street tomorrow and I will come."

Papa Panov rubbed his eyes, the fire had burned low and bells were ringing to say that Christmas had come. "It was him" said Papa Panov "or perhaps it was a dream, no matter, I will watch for him, but I don't know how I will recognise him."

He did not go to bed that night but made up the fire and sat waiting for the dawn so he would not miss anyone. At last he saw a figure in the distance, he was very excited, perhaps this was Jesus coming to see him. Then he stepped back disappointed, it was the road sweeper, he had better things to do than watch the road sweeper. He looked again and saw the road sweeper rubbing his hands together and stamping his feet. Papa Panov felt sorry, the road sweeper did look cold and imagine having to work on Christmas Day. Papa Panov went to his door and called him. "Come and have a cup of coffee and warm yourself by the fire", the road sweeper gratefully accepted. As he drank his coffee Papa Panov told the road sweeper how he was waiting for Jesus to visit, the road sweeper wished him the best of luck, thanked him for the coffee and went on his way.

Later an elderly gentleman passed the shop. As he passed Papa Panov noticed one of his shoelaces had broken, Papa Panov quickly found a set of laces on his bench and hurried out to give them to him, the man was very grateful and offered to pay, but Papa Panov would not accept money on Christmas Day, that would be like working.

A short while later Papa Panov heard singing and watched as carol singers approached his door.

Papa Panov thanked the carol singers and gave them a mince pie, then he returned to his window wondering when Jesus would arrive.

He watched carefully as he saw two people approach. Then he saw they were two young ladies, each with a small baby, both babies were crying. Papa Panov remembered when his children had been babies and asked the ladies if he could help them, the mothers explained how they had to travel to see their family, but one baby was hungry and the other had lost her shoes and they still had such a long way to go. Papa Panov invited them in to rest. As he warmed some milk on his stove for the babies he told the mothers about his dream, if it was a dream. Then he had a thought, he tried to ignore it but it kept coming back, so he lifted the special pair of shoes from the box and tried them on the baby, they fitted perfectly. "I hope your dream does come true" said one of the mothers as they left "You deserve it for being so kind"

It was now afternoon and Papa Panov watched the excited children as they played in the street with their new toys, he waved and smiled to those who saw him.

As darkness fell parents called their children in and Papa Panov felt lonelier than ever as he left his place by the window and sat in his chair. He lit the oil lamp and picked up his book, but he was too sad to read. " It was a dream after all and I wanted to believe it so much, I wanted him to come." Two great tears welled up in his eyes.

At once it seemed as if there were people in the room, the road sweeper, the elderly man, the children the carol singers, the ladies with their babies, all the people he had seen that day seemed to be in the room. And they were whispering "Didn't you see me, didn't you see me Papa Panov"

Then he heard the voice he had heard the night before "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me water, I was cold and you took me in. These people you have helped today, all the time you were helping them you were helping me!"

Then everything was quiet. Papa Panov dried his tears and there was no-one to be seen. "Dearie, dearie" said Papa Panov pulling his moustache "So he came after all" Then he smiled and the sparkle came back behind his little round spectacles.