Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him.
Exodus 2:5This is one of the Hebrew babies,
she said.
Words: Florence Hoatson, in Songs for Little People (New York: Abingdon Press, 1905), number 13.
Music: Carey Bonner, 1912 (🔊 pdf nwc). Some sources show the composer as Hermann von Müller, one of Bonner’s pseudonyms.
If you know where to get a good photo of Hoatson (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Who will take little baby?
I,
said the water deep.
Baby will float in his cradle boat
And I shall rock him to sleep.
Who will hide little baby?
We,
said the rushes tall.
Safely we’ll hide the baby inside,
That nobody sees him at all.
Who will watch o’er the baby?
Miriam whispers, I.
I’m sure to hear if the baby dear
Gives even a tiny, soft cry.
Who will guard little baby?
Out on the waters blue?
Silently sleep, baby, safely sleep,
For God will take care of you.