Scripture Verse

She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Introduction

Words: Re­bec­ca J. Wes­ton, in Ho­li­day Songs and Ev­ery Day Songs and Games, 9th edi­tion, by A. Em­i­lie Pouls­son (Spring­field, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Mil­ton Brad­ley, 1911), page 92, alt.

Music: Lake Itasca Mar­ga­ret B. Mor­ton, 1911 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Wes­ton or Mor­ton (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

illustration
Nativity Window, Chapel of St. Werburgh, Chester Cathedral
Hystfield, Wikimedia Commons

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On Christ­mas day, Babe Je­sus
Within a man­ger lay,
While sheep and horn­èd oxen
Were feed­ing on the hay;
The lit­tle doves were coo­ing,
A-near the ho­ly Child,
While Ma­ry, bend­ing over,
Looked down on Him and smiled.

The star that led the wise men,
Was shin­ing ov­er­head;
The an­gels’ cho­rus ech­oed
Above His low­ly bed.
Now glo­ry in the high­est,
And on the earth be peace!
And may we love Babe Je­sus,
May good-will ne­ver cease.