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
Words: Ada T. Dawes, 1903. Appeared in Children’s Praise No. 1, edited by Isaac Meredith & Grant C. Tullar (New York: Tullar-Meredith, 1905), number 57.
Music: Isaac H. Meredith (🔊 pdf nwc). Some hymnals show the composer as Charles C. Ackley, one of Meredith’s pseudonyms.
If you know where to get a good photo of Dawes (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels), would you ?
Once a mother sweet and mild
Watched a little sleeping child,
Cradled in a bed of hay,
Long ago on Christmas day.
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Carol, children, carol!
Carol sweet and low!
The Christ Child dear
For us came here,
On Christmas long ago.
Opening His wondering eyes
Under starry Syrian skies,
Smiled this Baby as He lay,
Long ago on Christmas day.
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Love divine shone in His face,
Brightening all the humble place,
That rude stable where He lay,
Long ago on Christmas day.
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And today we children sing,
Hailing Him a heav’nly king.
In all hearts, O Christ,
we pray,
Be born again each Christmas day!
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