The Shepherds in Search

      Of the Lamb of God

 “Hush, is that a lamb I hear

 Crying in the cold?”

“A lamb? No shepherd’s fire is near

 And neither pen nor fold.”

“If not a lamb what is it cries

Unhousen in the waste?”

“Perhaps it is the wind that sighs,

Now let us all make haste.”

  “Aye, aye, aye.”

“Look, the stars have left the sky

And nestle in the boughs.”

“Nay, but Bethlehem is nigh

And many a lighted house.”

“Haste, and let us turn within

And after Christus call.”

“Nay, he is not housed with men

But cradled in a stall.”

  “Aye, aye, aye.”

“Hush, I hear the lowing kine

Tread gently on the straw.”

“Haste, remember thou the sign

Given by him we saw!”

“See, the cattle stand and nod

Close by the Lady’s feet.”

“Look, the little Lamb of God

Cradled where oxen eat!”

  “Oh! Oh! Oh!”

        The Gifting

There was a giving once of gifts,     

And that was done in Bethlehem;   

The Magi gifted Mary there,   

And Mary gifted them.

The three were men of much account

Each was a king in his own country;

Mary she was a poor lady

And meek and mild was she.

The three came bearing costly gifts,

Each from his treasury could choose;

Mary gave the greatest gift

Of all, no matter whose.

The Wise men gave three gifts, all told,

Three gifts to Mary’s one,

Myrrh and frankincense and gold--

But Mary, Christ her Son!

    The Adoration

If I but had a little dress,

A little dress of the flax so fair

I’d take it from my clothespress

And give it to Him to wear,

        To wear,

And give it to Him to wear.

If I but had a little girdle

A girdle stained with the purple dye,

Or green as grass or green as myrtle

About His waist to tie,

        To tie,

About his waist to tie!

If  I but had a little coat,

A coat to fit a no-year-old,

I’d button it close about His throat

To cover Him from the cold,

        The cold,

To cover Him from the cold.

If I but had a little shoe,

A little shoe as might be found

I’d lace it on with a sheepskin thew

To keep His foot from the ground

        The ground,

To keep His foot from the ground.

If my heart were a shining coin,

A silver coin or a coin of gold

Out of my side I’d it purloin

And give it to Him to hold,

        To hold,

And give it to him to hold.

If my heart were a house also,

A house also with room to spare

I never would suffer my Lord to go

Homeless, but house Him there,

        O there,

Homeless, but house Him there!