glad christmas bells

glad christmas bells, your music tells
the sweet and pleasant story;
how came to earth, in lowly birth,
the lord of life and glory.

no palace hall its ceiling tall
his kingly head spread over,
there only stood a stable rude
the heavenly babe to cover.

no raiment gay, as there he lay,
adorned the infant stranger;
poor, humble child of mother mild,
she laid him in a manger.

but from afar, a splendid star
the wise men westward turning;
the livelong night saw pure and bright,
above his birth place burning.