Page:Dreams and Images.djvu/205

The sheep in near-by pastures browse,
  Some bleat as if in pain;
The youthful shepherds watch and drowse,
  Then drowse and watch again;
When lo! a light from Heaven appears
Which makes them huddle in their fears.
  Gloria in excelsis Deo.

God's glory shone around them there,
  And then an angel cried—
"Fear not, for I good tidings bear
  To you, and all beside.
For unto you is born this day
A Savior, Christ the Lord." We pray—
  Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Then swinging from the skies there came
Groups of the heavenly host,
  Praising the Lord in sweet acclaim—
  The burden of their toast—
"Glory to God on High," again—
His "Peace on earth, good will to men."
  Gloria in excelsis Deo.

Within a stable sweet with hay,
  And warm with breath of kine,
The Baby and His Mother lay,
  O, mystery divine!
The bed of straw a cloud appears,
We hear the music of the spheres.
  Gloria in excelsis Deo.