VIII

THE MANGER

And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.-Luke II: 12, 16, 7.

He came down from heaven to earth,
Who is King and Lord of all;
And His shelter was a stable,

And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and mean and lowly,
Lived on earth our Savior holy.

ANON.

Long time ago the dawn of day

Streamed through the low roof thatched and torn, Where in the straw-clad manger lay

The Christ-child, of the Virgin born.

ANON.

And the prophets of old,
In their visions have told
Of the place, and the birth,
Of the Lord of the earth,-
Of the wonderful Babe,
In the manger low laid,-
Of the King that is born.

On this good Christmas morn.

REV. J B. STEELE

O Virgin Mother! couldst thou find
No fitter cradle for thy Son,
Than the mean and lowly one
Where the infant head reclined?

The Lord of All! Was there on earth
No palace, crowned with stately dome,
Where thou couldst feel thyself at home
To give the great Redeemer birth?

O Virgin Mother! thus it was,

Thy Son was born to suffer shame; To bear our sins and woes He came, Left His high throne to bear the cross!

The poor and lowly of the earth

He loves with a peculiar love, Who, now in glory throned above, Remembers well His lowly birth.

ANON.

Cleanse the streets! Ply all thy care!
Slack not, for God's bells are chiming!
Palace chamber quick prepare!

Up the hill poor Mary's climbing!
Shame! Her to a stable bring!
Manger-cradle for a King!

Patience! Babe of wondrous birth!
Bear awhile these degradations!
Time shall be when, e'en on earth,
We'll proclaim thee King of Nations!
Low before thee bowing down,
Million-millions cast their crown!

W. P. BREED, D.D.

How bright thy lowly manger beams!
Down earth's dark vale its glory streams.
The splendor of thy natal night

Shines through all time in deathless light.
From ST. AMBROSE, by Franck

Uor M