THE INFANT JESUS.

Who is that lady kneeling by,
And gazing on, so tenderly?
O, that is Mary, ever blest;
How full of joy her holy breast!

What man is that who seems to smile
And look so blissful all the while?
'Tis holy Joseph, good and true;

The infant makes him happy too.

Who makes the crib so bright and dear?
What voices sing so sweetly here?
Ah! see, behind the window-pane,
The little angels looking in!

Who are these people kneeling down,

With crooked sticks, and hands so brown?
The shepherds; on the mountain-top

The little angels woke them up.

The ox and ass, how still and mild
They stand beside the holy child;
His little body underneath

They warm so kindly with their breath.

Hail, holy cave! though dark thou be,
The world is lighted up by thee,
Hail, holy Babe! creation stands
And moves upon thy little hands.

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140

HYMN.

THE CHILDREN'S DESIRE.

I THINK, when I read the sweet story of old, -
How when Jesus was here among men,
He once called little children as lambs to his fold,
I should like to have been with them then.
I wish that his hands had been placed on my head,

That his arms had been thrown around me ;

And that I might have seen his kind look, when he said, "Let the little ones come unto me."

Yet still to his footstool in faith I may go,
And there ask for a share of his love:
And I know, if I earnestly seek him below,
I shall see him and hear him above,-
In that beautiful place he has gone to prepare
For all those who are washed and forgiven;
And many dear children are gathering there,
"For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

HYMN.

I WANT to be like Jesus,

So lovely and so meek;

For no one marked an angry word,
That ever heard him speak.

CHRIST'S LOVE.

I want to be like Jesus,
For I never, never find
That he, though persecuted, was
To any one unkind.

I want to be like Jesus,

Engaged in doing good,

So that it may of me be said,

"She hath done what she could."

Alas! I'm not like Jesus,

As any one may see;

O gentle Saviour, send thy grace

And make me like to thee!

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MELODIES FOR CHILDHOOD.

CHRIST'S LOVE.

SEE the kind Shepherd, Jesus, stands,
With all engaging charms;
Hark, how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms!

Permit them to approach, he cries,
Nor scorn their humble name;

For 't was to bless such souls as these
The Lord of angels came.

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COME TO ME.

He'll lead us to the heavenly streams
Where living waters flow,

And guide us to the fruitful fields
Where trees of knowledge grow.

The feeblest lamb amidst the flock
Shall be its Shepherd's care;
While folded in the Saviour's arms,
We're safe from every snare.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL HYMN-Book.

COME TO ME.

"LITTLE children, come to me;"
This is what the Saviour said;

Little children, come and see

Where those blessed words are read.

Thus ye hear the Saviour speak:

"Come ye all, and learn of me,

I am gentle, lowly, meek;

So should little children be.

When our Saviour from above

From his Father did descend,

Taken in his arms of love,

Children saw in him their friend.

LET THEM COME.

Jesus little children blessed;

Blest in innocence they are; Little children, thus caressed,

Praise him in your infant prayer!

LET THEM COME.

"LET them come, the little children,
To my fold and to my breast,"
Said the gentle, loving Saviour,
As the children round him pressed.

May we come, all false and sinning,
With our passions all aglow ?
Did he welcome thus the children?
Would he meet and bless us so ?

He can help us in our passion,
Teach us how to turn away
From the power of each temptation
That would lead our lives astray.

But to have his smile and favor,

To be called the Saviour's own, We must all be true and tender,

Seeking, loving good alone.

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FOLLEN.