THE FIRSTBORN

So fair, so dear, so warm upon my bosom, And in my hands the little rosy feet.

Sleep on, my little bird, my lamb, my blos

som;

Sleep on, sleep on, my sweet.

What is it God hath given me to cherish, This living, moving wonder which is mineMine only? Leave it with me or I perish, Dear Lord of love divine.

Dear Lord, 't is wonderful beyond all wonder,

This tender miracle vouchsafed to me,
One with myself, yet just as far asunder
That I myself may see.

Flesh of my flesh, and yet so subtly link

ing

New selfs with old, all things that I have

been

With present joys beyond my former thinking

And future things unseen.

There life began, and here it links with heaven,

The golden chain of years scarce dipped adown

From birth, ere once again a hold is given And nearer to God's Throne.

Seen, held in arms and clasped around so tightly,

My love, my bird, I will not let thee go.
Yet soon the little rosy feet must lightly
Go pattering to and fro.

Mine, Lord, all mine Thy gift and loving

Mine

token.

yes or no, unseen its soul divine? Mine by the chain of love with links un

broken,

Dear Saviour, Thine and mine.

John Arthur Goodchild

BABY-LAND

"How many miles to Baby-Land?”

"What can you see in Baby-Land?”
"Little folks in white -
Downy heads,
Cradle-beds,

Faces pure and bright!"

"What do they do in Baby-Land?" “Dream and wake and play,

Laugh and crow,

Shout and grow;

Jolly times have they!"

"What do they say in Baby-Land?"
"Why, the oddest things;
Might as well

Try to tell

What a birdie sings!"

"Who is the Queen of Baby-Land?" "Mother, kind and sweet;

And her love,

Born above,

Guides the little feet."

George Cooper

MOTHER'S SONG

My heart is like a fountain true

That flows and flows with love to you.

As chirps the lark unto the tree

So chirps my pretty babe to me.

And it's O! sweet, sweet! and a lullaby.

There's not a rose where'er I seek,
As comely as my baby's cheek.
There's not a comb of honey-bee,
So full of sweets as babe to me.

And it's O! sweet, sweet! and a lullaby.

There's not a star that shines on high,
Is brighter than my baby's eye.
There's not a boat upon the sea,
Can dance as baby does to me.

And it's O! sweet, sweet! and a lullaby.

No silk was ever spun so fine

As is the hair of baby mine.

My baby smells more sweet to me

Than smells in spring the elder tree. And it's O! sweet, sweet! and a lullaby.

A little fish swims in the well,
So in my heart does baby dwell.
A little flower blows on the tree,
My baby is the flower to me,

And it's O! sweet, sweet! and a lullaby.

The Queen has sceptre, crown and ball,
You are my sceptre, crown and all.
For all her robes of royal silk,

More fair your skin, as white as milk.
And it's O! sweet, sweet! and a lullaby.

Ten thousand parks where deer do run,
Ten thousand roses in the sun,

Ten thousand pearls beneath the sea,
My babe more precious is to me.

And it's O! sweet, sweet! and a lullaby.

Unknown

CRADLE SONG

SLEEP, little baby of mine,
Night and the darkness are near,
But Jesus looks down

Through the shadows that frown,
And baby has nothing to fear.

Shut, little sleepy blue eyes;

Dear little head, be at rest;
Jesus, like you,

Was a baby once, too,

And slept on His own mother's

breast.

Sleep, little baby of mine,

Soft on your pillow so white;

Jesus is here

To watch over you, dear,

And nothing can harm you to

night.