December 17, 2023
From my childhood...I remember the gentle tune to this, which matched the kind, quiet message.
The Friendly Beasts
Jesus, our brother, strong and good,
Was humbly born in a stable rude,
And the friendly beasts around Him stood,
Jesus our brother, kind and good.
“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
“I carried His mother up hill and down,
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town,
I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.
“I,” said the cow, all white and red,
“I gave Him my manger for His bed,
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head,
I,” said the cow, all white and red.
“I,” said the sheep with the curly horn,
“I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm,
He wore my coat on Christmas morn,
I,” said the sheep with the curly horn.
“I,” said the dove, from the rafters high
“Cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I;
We cooed Him to sleep, so He would not cry;
I,” said the dove, from the rafters high.
And every beast, by some good spell,
In the stable dark was glad to tell,
Of the gift he gave Immanuel,
Of the gift he gave Immanuel.
An old English carol, possibly from 12th century France
