’Twas not a palace proud and fair br He chose for His first home; br No dazz’ling pile of grandeur rare, br With pillar’d hall and dome; br Oh no! a stable, rude and poor, br Received Him at His birth; br And thus was born, unknown, obscure, br The Lord of Heaven and Earth. br br No band of anxious menials there, br To tend the new-born child, br Joseph alone and Mary fair br Upon the infant smiled; br No broidered linens fine had they br Those little limbs to fold, br No baby garments rich and gay, br No tissues wrought with gold. br br Come to your Saviour’s lowly bed, br Ye vain and proud of heart! br And learn with bowed and humbled head br The lesson ’twill impart; br ’Twill teach you not to prize too high br The riches vain of earth— br But to lay up in God’s bright sky br Treasures of truer worth.