Classic Poem

As it fell out one May morning,
And upon a bright holiday,
Sweet Jesus asked of his dear mother
If he might go to play.
" To play, to play, sweet Jesus shall go,
And to play now get you gone;
And let me hear of no complaint
At night when you come home."

Sweet Jesus went down to yonder town,
As far as the Holy Well,
And there did see as fine children
As any tongue can tell.
He said, " God bless you every one,
And your bodies Christ save and see!
And now, little children, I'll play with you,
And you shall play with me."

But they made answer to him, " No!
Thou art meaner than us all;
Thou art but Asimple fair maid's child,
Born in an ox's stall."
Sweet Jesus turned him round about,
Neither laughed, nor smiled, nor spoke;
But the tears came trickling from his eyes
Like waters from the rock.

Sweet Jesus turned him round about,
To his mother's dear home went he,
And said, " I have been in yonder town,
As after you may see:
I have been down in yonder town,
As far as the Holy Well;
There did I meet with as fine children
As any tongue can tell.

" I said, " God bless you every one,
And your bodies Christ save and see!
And now, little children, I'll play with you,
And you shall play with me. "
But they made answer to me " No " ;
They were lords' and ladies' sons,
And I the meanest of them all,
Born in an ox's stall."

" Though you are but a maiden's child,
Born in an ox's stall,
Thou art the Christ, the King of Heaven,
And the Saviour of them all!
Sweet Jesus, go down to yonder town,
As far as the Holy Well,
And take away those sinful souls,
And dip them deep in hell."

" Nay, nay," sweet Jesus smiled and said;
" Nay, nay, that may not be,
For there are too many sinful souls
Crying out for the help of me."
Then up spoke the angel Gabriel,
Upon a good set steven,
" Although you are but a maiden's child,
You are the King of Heaven!"