The Friendly Beasts

This sweek little Christmas song was recorded in the Christmas book we read when I was litte.  I also remember learning it in school, when I was in first grade. That was the year we got to paint Christmas pictures on poster board taped to our walls.  We used a kind of paint that was sweet for some reason.  The little boys used to try to get us girls to lick the paint brushes.  Silly kids.  

 I don't think any of my children ever learned this song, though, and I wonder if you know it? 

The Friendly Beasts

Jesus, our brother, strong and good,

Was humbly born in a stable rude,

And the friendly beasts around Him stood,

Jesus, our brother, strong 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 His 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, from the rafters high,

“Cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I,

We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I'

I,” said the dove, from the rafters high.

And every beast, by some good spell,

In the stable dark was glad to tell

Of the gift he gave Immanuel,

The gift he gave Immanuel.