The Inn at Bethlehem
Husbands can be such a draw back
( A gossiping Inn Keepers wife , spoken rather loudly, as if to a neighbor. )
My husband will never be rich or famous, he’s too soft hearted,
He’s the living proof of “A fool and his money are soon parted”.
A heart-rending story and he’d give his bed away,
Here ! To show I’m not lying, take what happened yesterday.
We run this Inn for profit, right ? We’re packed , five to a room,
I was serving lunches, he was playing stable-groom,
When walks this young couple, She was pretty near her time:
I simply said “we have no room” you’d think it was a crime.
“My dear, you can’t turn folk like that away”, my husband whined,
“And her in that condition, it would be most unkind” .
I just turned my back on him and served at the next table :
Later on I learned he’d put them in our Stable !
He took out food and drink to them , all at no extra cost.
The blankets came from his own bed, I bet he turned and tossed !
I’m up at five each morning to get the fires lit,
We’re not in bed till nearly two, there’s not much time to sit.
But last night, would you believe it . he hardly slept at all
He was playing midwife in the stable . Oh he’s such a fool.
He let those thieving shepherds in “To see the little baby” .
He says he feels just wonderful. Well I say that’s as may be.
But we’ll make no money out of it, our Inn’ll get no fame,
We’re not like a Jerusalem Inn with guests in Herod’s name
No nothing will ever happens in this Inn in Bethlehem
We’ll know no fame or fortune or live it up like them.
‘ Cos my husband’s too soft hearted, I wed a silly fool,
He’ll always care for others, for himself just not at all.
( I publish this early for those who have to prepare well in advance
But it is not too early to ask God to Bless your coming Celebration of Our Lord’s birth )
Gerald Gossage .
