HOLIDAYS AND HOLY DAYS. GOOD TIDINGS. SAINT LUKE. AND there were in the same country Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid. And the Angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. "For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT. NAIIUM TATE. WHILE shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread "To you, in David's town this day, A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, "The heavenly babe you there shall find All meanly wrapped in swaddling bands, Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith "All glory be to God on high, Good-will henceforth from heaven to men CHRISTMAS CAROL. OLD ENGLISH. As Joseph was a-walking, "His birth-bed shall be neither "He neither shall be rockèd "He neither shall be washen With white wine nor with red, But with the fair spring water That on you shall be shed. "He neither shall be clothed As Joseph was a-walking, Was born to be our King. Then be you glad, good people, CHRISTMAS BELLS. JOHN KEBLE. EXTRACT. WAKE me to-night, my mother dear, The Christmas Bells, so soft and clear, How God the Eternal Son Came to undo what we had done. CHRISTMAS. ANONYMOUS. ONCE in Royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for His bed. Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ that little child. He came down to earth from Heaven, Who is God and Lord of all. And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall. With the poor and mean and lowly, And our eyes at last shall see Him Through His own redeeming love, Is our Lord in Heaven above; Not in that poor, lowly stable, A DESIRE. ADELAIDE A. PROCTER. ARRANGED. Он, to have dwelt in Bethlehem, When the star of the Lord shone bright! To have sheltered the holy wanderers On that blessed Christmas night; To have kissed the tender, way-worn feet Of the Mother undefiled, And with reverent wonder and deep delight To have tended the holy child! |