4 Sleep, Holy Babe; ah, take Thy brief

repose;

Too quickly will Thy slumbers break,
And Thou to lengthened pains awake
That Death alone shall close.

54

I BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the

morning,

Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid,

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our Infant REDEEMER is laid. 2 Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies His head with the beast of the stall;

Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,

MAKER and MONARCH and SAVIOUR of all. 3 Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, Odours of Edom, and offerings divine, Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

4 Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favour secure ;
Richer by far is the heart's adoration,
Dearer to GOD are the prayers of the poor.

155

I

IN

the ending of the year

Life and light to man appear;

And the Holy Babe is here,

De Virgine;

And the Holy Babe is here,

De Virgine Maria.

156

I

2 What in ancient days was slain,
This day calls to life again;
GOD is coming, GOD shall reign,
De Virgine;

GOD is coming, GOD shall reign,
De Virgine Maria.

3 From the desert grew the corn,
Sprang the lily from the thorn,
When the Infant King was born,
De Virgine;

When the Infant King was born,
De Virgine Maria.

4 On the straw He lays His head,
Hath a manger for His bed,
Thirsts and hungers and is fed,
De Virgine;

Thirsts and hungers and is fed,
De Virgine Maria.

5 Angel hosts His praises sing,
Three wise men their offerings bring,
Ox and ass adore the King,
De Virgine;

Ox and ass adore the King,

De Virgine Maria.

6 Wherefore let us all to-day,
Banish sorrow far away,

Singing and exulting aye,

Cum Virgine;

Singing and exulting aye,

Cum Virgine Maria.

GOOD King Wenceslas looked out

On the Feast of Stephen;

When the snow lay round about,
Deep, and crisp, and even :

Brightly shone the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gath'ring winter fuel.

2 Hither, page, and stand by me, If thou knowst it, telling

Yonder peasant, who is he?

Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes' fountain."
3"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,
Bring me pine logs hither.
Thou and I will see him dine,
When we bear them thither."
Page and Monarch forth they went,
Forth they went together,

Through the rude wind's wild lament,
And the bitter weather.

4 "Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how ;
I can go no longer.

"Mark my footsteps good, my page;
Tread thou in them boldly :
Thou shalt find the winter's rage

Freeze thy blood less coldly.'

5 In his master's steps he trod,
Where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod

Which the Saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing.

157

O'ER

'ER the hill and o'er the vale,
Come three Kings together,
Caring nought for snow and hail,
Cold, and wind, and weather;
Now on Persia's sandy plains,
Now where Tigris swells with rains,
They their camels tether;

Now through Syrian lands they go,
Now through Moab, faint and slow,
Now through Edom's heather.

2 O'er the hill and o'er the vale,
Each King bears a Present:
Wise men go a Child to hail,
Monarchs seek a peasant;
And a star in front proceeds,
Over rocks and rivers leads,

Shine with beams incessant.
Therefore onward, onward still!
Ford the stream and climb the hill :
Love makes all things pleasant.

3 He is GOD ye go to meet :
Therefore incense proffer.
He is King ye go to greet:
Gold is in your coffer.
Also Man, He comes to share
Every woe that man can bear.
Tempter, Railer, Scoffer :
Therefore now against the day,
In the grave where Him they lay,
Myrrh ye also offer.

Short Morning Prayers for Children.

As soon as you are awake say—

Glory be to the FATHER, and to the SON, and to the HOLY GHOST. Amen.

Stand for a moment before you say your prayers and think of the great and holy GOD into whose presence you are now entering, then kneel down and say reverently

LORD, have mercy upon me!
CHRIST, have mercy upon me!
LORD, have mercy upon me!

Our FATHER, &c.

Almighty GOD, Who has guarded me through the night past and brought me safely to another day, I thank Thee for all Thy goodness to me, teach me to love Thee with my whole heart, and to try to please Thee in all that I do this day, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

Amen.

Bless, O LORD, I beseech Thee, my dear (name all for whom you ought to pray), keep them from all evil and give them grace to love and serve Thee, through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Amen.

The grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, &c.