_answers_ NURSE MARY, he was just "Master John" then. Well,
when he was a very little boy, so that I could carry him upstairs to bed
without any trouble at all, he was the most beautiful boy you ever saw.
He had fat rosy cheeks, and fine big eyes, and stout little legs.

Was he big enough to walk, when you first took care of him? _asks_
POLLY.

No, indeed, _answers_ NURSE MARY; and the first time he ever went
to a Christmas tree, I had to carry him. I held him up to see the
candles.

Did he like it? _asks_ JACK.

I think that he was just a wee bit frightened, _says_ NURSE MARY,
but I'll tell you what he did like. You know the little figures of Mary
and Joseph and the Christ Child in the manger, that you always set out
on Christmas Day, with the cows and the sheep standing all about? _The
children both nod_. Well, when your father saw that, and heard your
grandparents and all the older brothers and sisters singing "The Carol
of the Friendly Beasts"--just as you will sing it again tomorrow--he
held out his hands and danced up and down in my arms. I tell you, I
could hardly hold him.

Nurse Mary, _says_ POLLY, won't you sing us "The Carol of the
Friendly Beasts" now?

In my old cracked voice? _says_ NURSE MARY. Well, if you will both
help me, I'll try.

_So the three of them together sing_:

THE CAROL OF THE FRIENDLY BEASTS[1]

Jesus our brother, strong and good,
Was humbly born in a stable rude,
And the friendly beasts around him stood.

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 camel, yellow and black,
Over the desert, upon my back,
I brought him a gift in the wise man's pack.

I, said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
I carried his mother uphill and down,
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town.

I, said the sheep, with the curly horn,
I gave him my wool for his blanket warm,
He wore my coat on Christmas morn.

I, said the dove, from my rafter high,
Cooed him to sleep that he should not cry,
We cooed him to sleep my mate and I.

And every beast, by some good spell
In the stable dark, was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Immanuel.

[Footnote 1: By Robert Davis.]

_When the carol is finished_, NURSE MARY _looks at the clock, and
says_, My dears, it is time we were all in bed, or Santa Claus when
he comes, will find us awake, and that would never do. So I must be
going home