The Christmas Coat Poem by Kim Barney

A young man had been shopping in a women's clothing store.
He'd bought his wife a Christmas coat, and was headed for the door,
when he bumped into a little boy that looked like he was lost,
who said, "Mister, can you help me find out how much something costs?
Here it's almost Christmas and the nights are getting cold.
Winter time is on us and my mom don't have a coat.
I've been workin' for the neighbors and been savin' for some time."
And in his tiny outstretched hand was a dollar and a dime.

His gaze went from that little boy to that pretty Christmas coat,
and he cleared away the lump that had gathered in his throat
and said, "Son, that's just what this coat costs. We're lucky that we found ‘er."
He turned around and gave a wink to the lady at the counter.
She put it in a pretty box and wrapped it up just so,
and went off to the back and found a big red Christmas bow.

The boy said, "Thank you for your help, sir, and thank you kindly, ma'am.
I hope you have a great Christmas, ‘cause now I know I am! "

The young man walked home broke ‘cept for the dollar and the dime,
thinking he'd just have to buy the coat another time.
He told his wife that this year Christmas wouldn't be much fun,
and he gently took her in his arms and told her what he'd done.
She said, "Why, you big softy, I wouldn't trade you for a farm.
I've still got my old coat and your love to keep me warm."
With tenderness she gazed at that dollar and that dime
and said "I'm going to keep this money for all time."
She put that money in a matchbox and placed it ‘neath the tree,
and said "That's the grandest gift you've ever given me."

The years went by; the couple now was really growing old,
and was not prepared one day for the message they were told.
The news they got that fateful day just filled their hearts with fright:
A doctor told the old man's wife that she would lose her sight.
He said, "There's an operation we can do, but it puts me on the spot,
because it's quite a complex procedure, and it's going to cost a lot."

The old man said, "Doc, we can't do it. I've made no preparation.
We just don't have the money for that kind of operation."

The doctor gave the strangest look and he sat there for a while,
and then he slowly nodded and he broke out in a smile.
He said, "Why, sir, you can't fool me. You're a very wealthy man.
You long ago invested in the world's best savings plan.
"I'll see she gets the best of care. She's going to be just fine,
and the total cost to you, old friend, is a dollar and a dime."

The old man stared in disbelief, then he recognized that smile,
the one he'd seen those years ago on a loving, thoughtful child.

He said, "What you gave that day was much more than a coat.
You gave me the gift of giving, and you gave my mother hope.
My mom had been mistreated, neglected and abused,
but she gave life just one more chance, and all because of you.
Now every year she takes that coat and lays it ‘neath our tree.
It represents to us the things that Christmas ought to be.
She says that when we leave this world for a better home someday,
the only things we'll take with us are the things we gave away."