Long Ago on Christmas

Once the lit­tle Christ-child lay

[or

Once a little ba­by lay]

Cradled in the frag­rant hay

Long ago on Chris­tmas.

Stranger bed a babe ne’er found

Wondering cat­tle stood around

Long ago on Christ­mas.

By the shin­ing vi­sion taught

Shepherds for the Christ-child sought

Long ago on Christ­mas.

Guided in a star­lit way

Wise men came their gifts to pay

Long ago on Christ­mas.

And to­day the whole glad earth

Praises God for that Child’s birth

Long ago on Christ­mas.

For the Life

the Truth

the Way

Come to bless the earth that day

Long ago on Christ­mas.