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And left their flocks a-feeding

In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessed babe to find.

"But when to Bethlehem they came,

Whereas this infant lay,
They found Him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay,
His mother Mary kneeling,
Unto the Lord did pray.

"Now to the Lord sing praise,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood,
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christinas
All others doth deface.

O tidings of comfort and joy!
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day.""

"And did Parson Dawes sing it all with the children? asked John.

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"Indeed he did," said Becky, warming with the recollection. "We just went from one house to another a-singing, and Parson Dawes he carried a stick and pounded on the ground when we sang. He was just daft-like, when we was a-singing and he took to his bed that very night, and so he died."

This was quite unexpected, and Peter began to cry.

"What made him die?" said he, whimpering. "What made Parson Dawes die? I didn't want him to die."

Little Jacob had said nothing, but his busy little head was trying to put together what nurse had said and sung.

"Nurse," said he, "do please sing that again. That part about the shepherds." So Becky sang again:

"The shepherds at those tidings

Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding

In tempest, storm, and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightway,
This blessed babe to find.

O tidings of comfort and joy!
For Jesus Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day.

"But when to Bethlehem they came,

Whereas this infant lay.
They found him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay,

His mother Mary kneeling,

Unto the Lord did pray.'”

“But what made them go to Bethlem?" asked John. "What's Bethlem?"

"Why, it's where the babe was," said little Jacob. "Don't you see?"

"The little babe that was born, was Jesus

Christ the Lord," said old Becky reverently, clasping her hands and lifting up her face. "And He was the Lord of glory who had come down on earth to live, and He was born a little babe in a manger, and when the shepherds they came, they found the little babe a-lying in the manger; and the little babe grew up, and He healed the sick, and He taught us about God and heaven, and then wicked men killed Him, and then He died for us poor little children," broke out old Becky, choking down her sobs; "and I wasn't to tell you, but I couldn't help it if I was to leave this night there!" And the old nurse threw herself down on her knees, and wept and prayed aloud that the good Lord would teach the little ignorant ones, and tell them about Jesus when Becky left.

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"O, don't go," said Jaky, " don't go, nurse. We don't want Good Lord;' we want you. I'm going to sing that over again," and he tried to sing the verse that had been sung last. He came pretty near it, and the other children took hold with great eagerness, and insisted on singing it too. They had sweet voices, and pretty soon old Becky with her cracked voice, and the three children, were all singing together.

But Becky began to be troubled, and said she must not stay any longer, and that the children must go to sleep. So she kissed them once more and went out softly. The children could not go to sleep, they were so excited.

"It was a secret," said John. "She said she wasn't to tell. I guess father and mother were keeping it for a surprise."

"I guess it was Somebody that was born," said Peter. "And then He died, just like Parson Dawes."

"I wish we could have heard them all sing," said little Jacob; "it must have sounded like what the shepherds heard."

"I say," said John, in a hurried whisper. "Let's us."

"What?" said little Jacob, starting up. "Let's us sing," said John.

"Well," said Peter, beginning, —

"The shepherds at those tidings'

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"No, no," said John, impatiently. "Peter, Peter, I don't mean here, but let's play we were Parson Dawes and the children. I'll be Parson Dawes and you be the children, and we'll sing, just as they did."

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"O do," said little Jacob eagerly, and he bounced out of bed. "Johnny, Johnny, we'l. put on our things and go out, and nobody will near us, and then we'll sing."

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