DING DONG! MERRILY ON HIGH Ding dong! merrily on high, In heav'n the bells are ringing: Ding dong! verily the sky Is riv'n with angels singing. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! E'en so here below, below, Let steeple bells be swungen, And "io, io, io!" By priest and people sungen. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! Pray you, dutifully prime Your matin chime, ye ringers; May you beautifully rime Your evetime song, ye singers. Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis! AWAY IN A MANGER Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus Laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky Looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus Asleep on the hay. The cattle are lowing, The baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus No crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky, And stay by my bedside Till morning is nigh. Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay. Close by me forever, And love me I pray. Bless all the dear children, In thy tender care. And fit them for heaven, To live with thee there.

WE THREE KINGS OF ORIENT ARE We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star. chorus: Star of wonder, star of night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect Light. Born a king on Bethlehem's plain, Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign. chorus Frankincense to offer have I. Incense owns a Deity nigh. Prayer and praising all men raising, Worship Him, God most high. chorus Myrrh is mine: its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom. Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb. chorus Glorious now behold Him arise, King and God and Sacrifice. Alleluia. Alleluia! Earth to the Heavens replies. chorus

OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee to-night. For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth. How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in. Where children pure and happy Pray to the blessed Child, Where misery cries out to thee, Son of the mother mild; Where charity stands watching And faith holds wide the door, The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, And Christmas comes once more. O holy Child of Bethlehem! Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!

~ GOOD KING WENCESLAS Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, Deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, Though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, Gathering winter fuel. Hither, page, come stand by me. If thou knowst its telling: Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling? Sire, he lives a good league hence, Underneath the mountain, Right against the forest fence, By Saint Agnes fountain. Bring me flesh, and bring me wine, Bring me pine logs hither. Thou and I will see him dine, When we bear them thither. Page and monarch, forth they went, Forth they went together, Through the rude wind's wild lament And the bitter weather. Sire, the night is darker now, And the wind blows stronger. Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer. Mark my footsteps good my page, Tread thou in them boldly: Thou shalt find the winter's rage Freeze thy blood less coldly. In his master's step he trod, Where the snow lay dinted. Heat was in the very sod Which the saint had printed. Therefore, Christian men, be sure, Wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing. ~

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