Poems (Kimball)/"The Sweetest Hymn that ever was sung"
"THE SWEETEST HYMN THAT EVER WAS SUNG."
THE sweetest hymn that ever was sung Was the Hymn of the Christ-Child's birth, When that night of nights over Bethlehem hung, And angels came thronging to earth To herald the Christ-Child's birth.
The brightest star that ever was seen Was the Star that led the way For the wise old kings to the cradle mean Where the Child Emmanuel lay,— The Star that showed them the way.
Still sweetly echoes that sweetest Hymn Once sung in the ages afar, And over the wide earth altars gleam Enkindled by Bethlehem's Star That led the sages from far.
And the Christ who came of old to His own As truly comes to them now, Where the faithful before His altar-throne With hearts believing bow,— Emmanuel, then and now.
O Son of Mary! O Love Divine! Whom the old kings hailed as King, All praise be Thine, and the fairest shrine, And the costliest gifts we can bring To Thee, Eternity's King!
The tribute-gold, as it was of old, Poured out, dear Lord, at Thy feet,And the incense of worship that will not grow cold, And the myrrh of penitence meet, All cast with ourselves at Thy feet!