The Friendly Beasts

Verse 1

Jesus, our brother, strong and good, was humbly born in a stable rude, and the friendly beasts around Him stood, Jesus, our brother, strong and good.

Verse 2

“I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown, “I carried His mother uphill and down, I carried His mother to Bethlehem town; I,” said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

Verse 3

“I,” said the cow, all white and red, “I gave Him my manger for his bed, I gave Him hay to pillow His head; I,” said the cow, all white and red.

Verse 4

“I,” said the sheep with curly horn, “I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm, He wore my coat on Christmas morn; I,” said the sheep with curly horn.

Verse 5

“I,” said the dove, from the rafters high, “I cooed Him to sleep that he should not cry, we cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I; I,” said the dove, from the rafters high.

Verse 6

Thus all the beasts, by some good spell, in the stable dark were glad to tell of the gifts they gave Emmanuel, the gifts they gave Emmanuel.