Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.
Matthew 25:40
Words: William J. Irons (1812–1883), alt.
Music: Arthur H. Brown (1830–1926) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Irons (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
O, sing we a carol all blithe and free,
And fit for our Christmas morn,
For the world is as cold as the cold can be,
Though its Lord on this day was born;
Though its Lord on this day was born:
’Tis a wintry time for the rich and poor,
And who should be driv’n from a Christian’s door?
Refrain
’Tis a wintry time for the rich and poor,
And who should be driven from a Christian’s door?
And who should be driv’n from a Christian’s door?
For the angel’s song at the birth of Christ,
With tidings of joy began;
And it rang with a glory to God in the highest,
And a brotherhood true for man;
Yet ’twas winter time for rich and poor,
When the shepherds came to the stable door.
Yet ’twas winter time for the rich and poor,
Refrain
True sages were they who to Bethlehem led,
Brought frankincense, myrrh, and gold,
Which they offered to Christ on His manger bed,
With a reverent love untold.
Yet ’twas winter time for rich and poor,
When the wise men knelt at the stable door.
Yet ’twas winter time for the rich and poor,
Refrain
Cannot we make our offerings now to Christ’s need,
When His poor all around we see?
Inasmuch as to them we have done the deed,
He will say, Ye have done to Me.
He will say, Ye have done to Me.
’Tis a wintry time for the rich and poor,
And who should be driv’n from a Christian’s door?
Refrain