The Christmas Story

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Long ago, in Bethlehem's manger

Author: Julia H. Johnston
Tune: [Long ago in, Bethlehem's manger]
Published in 2 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Long ago, in Bethlehem's manger,
Christ was born, the Saviour King;
Angel voices shout the welcome,
Hark, the glad hosannas ring.
In the East, a star appearing,
Herald of his wondrous birth,
Shed its beams of light and glory
O'er the sinning, sorrowing earth;
Shed its beams of light and glory
O'er the sinning, sorrowing earth.

2 By its clear and radiant shining,
Wise men from the East were led;
"Where is he, the heaven-born ruler?
We have seen his star," they said.
Herod's heart was deeply troubled,
But the wise men from afar,
Found the lowly Bethlehem cradle,
Guided by the wondrous star;
Found the lowly Bethlehem cradle,
Guided by the wondrous star.

3 With no shining star to guide me,
I can find my Saviour King;
He is near and he is waiting,
Willing gifts a child may bring.
Lord of life and King of glory,
Christ a little child was born;
Tell again the Christmas story,
Bring him gifts on Christmas morn;
Tell again the Christmas story,
Bring him gifts on Christmas morn.

Source: Bible Study Songs: for junior societies, junior and primary Sunday schools #127

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Author: Julia H. Johnston

Julia Harriet Johnston, who was born on Jan. 21, 1849, at Salineville, OH, in Columbiana County. Her father was a minister and he mother was a poet. She began writing when she was nine years old but really started writing verse in high school. She lived in Peoria, Ill. Dianne Shapiro, from "The Singers and Their Songs: sketches of living gospel hymn writers" by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel (Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company, 1916) Go to person page >

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