Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
Poems of Home: II. For ChildrenA Cradle Hymn
Isaac Watts (16741748)H
Holy angels guard thy bed!
Heavenly blessings without number
Gently falling on thy head.
House and home, thy friends provide;
All without thy care or payment,
All thy wants are well supplied.
Than the Son of God could be,
When from heaven he descended,
And became a child like thee.
Coarse and hard thy Saviour lay:
When his birthplace was a stable,
And his softest bed was hay.
Telling wonders from the sky!
There they sought him, there they found him,
With his Virgin Mother by.
Lovely infant, how he smiled!
When he wept, the mother’s blessing
Soothed and hushed the holy Child.
Where the hornèd oxen feed;
Peace, my darling, here ’s no danger,
Here ’s no ox anear thy bed.
Trust and love him all thy days;
Then go dwell forever near him,
See his face and sing his praise!
Hoping what I most desire;
Not a mother’s fondest wishes
Can to greater joys aspire.