Scripture Verse

They came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. Luke 2:16

Introduction

portrait
Harriet E. Jones (1823–1915)

Words: Harr­iet E. Jones, in Green Pas­tures for the Lambs by Alon­zo Ab­bey & Mer­ritt J. Mun­ger (Cleve­land, Ohio: S. Brain­ard’s Sons, 1886), num­ber 37.

Music: Alon­zo J. Ab­bey (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ab­bey (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Jones,

Lyrics

Hear the mer­ry Christ­mas bells,
Sounding o’er the hills and dells;
Men re­joice, and an­gels sing,
’Tis the birth­day of our king.

Refrain

Hear the bells, the mer­ry bells,
Clear and sweet the mu­sic swells;
Let them ring, oh, let them ring,
’Tis the birth­day of our king.

Little eyes are shin­ing bright,
From the heart’s in­most de­light;
As the an­gels kind­ly bring
Gifts this birth­day of our king.

Refrain

Youths and maid­ens gai­ly glide
O’er the snow at ev­en­tide;
Hear them chant and gai­ly sing,
On the birth­day of our king.

Refrain

Older hearts re­joice today;
Well they may, yes, well they may:
Every fear doth near­er bring,
The glad com­ing of their king.

Refrain