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

portrait
Isaac H. Meredith (1872–1962)

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 & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Once a mo­ther sweet and mild
Watched a lit­tle sleep­ing child,
Cradled in a bed of hay,
Long ago on Christ­mas day.

Refrain

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.

Refrain

Love di­vine shone in His face,
Brightening all the hum­ble place,
That rude sta­ble where He lay,
Long ago on Christ­mas day.

Refrain

And to­day we child­ren sing,
Hailing Him a heav’n­ly king.
In all hearts, O Christ, we pray,
Be born again each Christ­mas day!

Refrain