Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, And we greet in his cradle our Saviour and

King.

Josiah Gilbert Holland

A LITTLE CHILD'S HYMN

THOU that once, on mother's knee,
Wast a little one like me,

When I wake or go to bed

Lay thy hands about my head;
Let me feel thee very near,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear.

Be beside me in the light,

Close by me through all the night;
Make me gentle, kind, and true,
Do what mother bids me do;
Help and cheer me when I fret,
And forgive when I forget.

Once wast thou in cradle laid,
Baby bright in manger-shade,

With the oxen and the cows,
And the lambs outside the house:

Now thou art above the sky:
Canst thou hear a baby cry?

Thou art nearer when we pray,
Since thou art so far away;

Thou my little hymn wilt hear,
Jesus Christ, our Saviour dear,
Thou that once, on mother's knee,
Wast a little one like me.

Francis Turner Palgrave

He came all so still

To His mother's bower,

As dew in April

That falleth on the flower.

Mother and maiden

Was never none but she!

Well might such a lady

God's mother be.

Unknown.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX

TILDEN FOUNDA IONS