THE FRIENDLY BEASTS
Author Unknown ~ Public Domain

Jesus our brother, kind 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 a bed;
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head."
"I", said the cow, all white and red.

"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.

"I", said the dove form the rafters high,
"Cooed Him to sleep that
He should not cry;
We cooed Him to sleep my mate and I."

"I", said the dove from rafters high.
"I", said the camel, yellow and black,
"Over desert, upon my back,
I brought Him a gift
In the Wise Men's pack."

"I", said the camel, yellow and black.
Thus every beast by some good spell,
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,
The gift he gave Emmanuel.