Scripture Verse

Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2

Introduction

Words: Kate W. Patch (1870–1909), alt.

Music: Red­wood Ci­ty, Clare S. Reed (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Long years ago in Beth­le­hem,
The gen­tle mo­ther mild
Held close against her hap­py breast
The lit­tle Christ­mas Child;
From Heav’n the an­gels lean­ing sang
Good will and peace on earth!
And king and shep­herd, side by side,
Hailed the Christ-Child’s birth.

Ah, let the love which made that day
So won­drous sweet and pure,
Make glad and bless this Christ­mas tide,
Alike for rich and poor.
Then may we hear the an­gel song,
Which He, the un­de­filed,
Heard for His first sweet cra­dle song,
Jesus the Christ­mas Child.