The Stranger

All night Hilda had been worried. Now she waited until Grandfather fastened the last buckle on his saddlebags, then she asked anxiously, “Are you going to be gone long?”

“Only long enough to make you glad to see me come back,” he teased. “No, honey, the trip will only take a few days. Mind Grandmother and your chores. Before you know it I’ll be back home again.

Hilda hugged her grandfather. She wanted so much to tell him that she was worried. But if she did she knew he would not go and leave her and Grandmother alone, and she had heard him tell Grandmother that this trip was very important.
Anyway, had she really seen someone at her window last night, or had it been only a dream?

Hilda and her grandparents lived a long time ago in a part of Germany where their neighbours were several kilometres away. There weren’t any automobiles, and Grandfather drove a wagon or rode a horse to town to get supplies. This time he wasn’t going after supplies. He had to board a train to go to the city on business.

The trip had been planned for weeks. All the extra chores had been done and Grandfather had cut a large supply of firewood. There were only the cow and the chickens to be cared for, and Hilda and Grandmother knew they could manage these until Grandfather returned.

Hilda watched Grandmother give Grandfather a basket of food. “You have a good trip and don’t worry about us,” Grandmother said. “Hilda and I will be fine.”

Hilda hoped they would be fine as they waved good-bye to Grandfather. When he had ridden out of sight, Grandmother put her arm around Hilda.
“What is upsetting my girl?” she asked.

Hilda was so surprised she jumped. She hadn’t meant Grandmother to know that she was worried, and she didn’t want to tell Grandmother about it until she knew there was actually something to tell. “May I tell you later?” she asked. “Of course,” Grandmother said. “You run along and play while I do some baking.”

Hilda nodded. She waited until she knew Grandmother was busy in the kitchen before she hurried to the back of the house. Her heart beat faster as she thought again of how she had been awakened last night by a strange sound.
The sound had been a kind of scraping noise like something sliding against the rough boards outside her window. Hilda had turned over quickly in bed, and for an instant she had seen a man’s face close to the glass. But the face had disappeared so fast that she wondered if she had been dreaming.

Now she would find out. If someone had stood outside her window the grass would be trampled.
Hilda trembled as she neared her window. Then she stood still. The tall grass by the house not only was twisted and bruised but a barren spot of damp ground showed the print-of a boot heel. Grandfather wore flat-heeled shoes. Some stranger had stood by her window!

Hilda turned to run inside and tell Grandmother. Then she stopped. What if the stranger had gone on his way by now? He could have been someone who only wanted to ask directions but hated to wake them. Maybe there wasn’t any need to worry Grandmother. “I won’t tell her yet,” Hilda decided.

But she couldn’t keep Grandmother from seeing how frightened she was. “Hilda, you are very troubled,” Grandmother declared, putting away her dough board as Hilda came into the kitchen. “Let us pray and ask Jesus to help us. Then we will get out the treasure chest.”
Hilda nodded. She was glad for the chance to tell Jesus her troubles, and she was always happy to look through Grandmother’s treasures.

As always, Grandmother and Hilda knelt before the low table where Grandfather kept the family Bible. Hilda did not pray aloud. She silently asked Jesus to keep her and Grandmother safe until Grandfather returned.

When the prayers were over, Grandmother rose. “Now, for the treasure chest,” she said and walked to the fireplace.
Hilda watched as Grandmother touched the mantel and a small door in the wall sprang open. Grandfather had worked a long time making the door and the little cabinet in the wall behind it. When the door closed, it couldn’t be seen.

Reaching inside, Grandmother took out a small battered wooden chest. As she turned around the outside door of the house flew open. “I’ll take that!” a rough voice rapped out.

“Oh – h – h !” Hilda screamed and ran to Grandmother.
But Grandmother was not surprised. “You probably are the one who has been frightening my granddaughter,” she said. “What do you want?”

The man came into the room. ‘That chest!” he snapped. “You said it was a treasure chest. So it must have something valuable in it.”

“Yes, there are valuable things in it,” Grandmother told him. Then she turned to Hilda. “Hilda, have you seen this man before?”

Hilda swallowed hard. “I thought I saw him at the window last night. But he was gone so quickly I thought I might be having a dream.”

“I’m no dream, little girl. Bring me that chest,” the man laughed hoarsely.
Grandmother handed the chest to Hilda. “Take it to him,” she said.

The man took the chest and opened it quickly. He rummaged around, pushing aside the faded pictures of Grandmother as a little girl. Then he took out a piece of cloth with the Lord’s Prayer embroidered on it that Grandmother had made when she was ten years old. Hilda saw a puzzled expression come into the man’s eyes.

“Lady, you said this was a treasure chest!” the man exclaimed. “Where is the money? There is nothing valuable here.”
Grandmother smiled a slow smile. “Oh, yes, there is. My granddaughter thinks a lot of those pictures and that piece of cloth with the Lord’s Prayer. And I do too. I plan to keep them always. My husband made the secret cabinet just for fun, but it is a nice place for my keepsakes.”

The man seemed dazed. “But I thought you had money in this box,” he insisted. “When I saw your husband ride away I knew it was my chance to rob you. Then I heard you tell the girl you were going to get the treasure chest. I was sure you meant money.”

Grandmother shook her head. “We have no money. My husband took what little we did have with him. There are many things in the world thai are much better than money. Do you need money badly?”

The man nodded. He fingered the Lord’s Prayer cloth and seemed to be reading it. Then he looked up at Grandmother. “I haven’t had a meal in two days, and I’m a long way from home. I tried to get work, but people don’t seem to need anyone at this time of year. I must have money for food.”

“No, you don’t,” Grandmother told him in a strong voice. “Not in this house. I’ll have a meal for you in a few minutes.” The man’s eyes widened. “You mean you will feed me after I tried to rob you?”
“Of course.” Grandmother put her hand on the Bible as she spoke. “Our Lord tells us in His Book never to turn a stranger away from our door.”

The man looked again at the Lord’s Prayer cloth. Then he laid it carefully on the table. “Is this from the Bible?” he asked.
“Yes,” Grandmother answered. “That is the Lord’s Prayer. Now, I’ll get you some food.”

The man ate hungrily while Grandmother packed a much larger basket of food for him than she had for Grandfather. When he has finished eating, he stood up and looked at Hilda. “I’m sorry I frightened you,” he smiled. “I never meant to hurt you or your grandmother.”

“We know you didn’t,” Grandmother told him and gave him the basket of food. “May you think of God’s blessings often.”

When the man had gone Hilda ran to Grandmother. “I wanted to tell about him, but I didn’t want to worry you or keep Grandfather from going on his trip.”

“I know.” Grandmother gave her a gentle hug. “I’m glad you didn’t say anything, and I’m glad the man came. Jesus kept us safe, and I think I gave the man something that may help him learn about Jesus.”
“What was that?” asked Hilda. ‘The food?”

“No,” smiled Grandmother, “my Lord’s Prayer cloth. Since he seemed to like it, I put it in the basket.”
Hilda smiled back at Grandmother. She had liked the cloth too. She would be sorry not to see it anymore, but she was glad the stranger had it to remind him of Jesus.