Jesus and the Virgin Mary (A)

On Yule night Christ to man was given,
Praised be Jesu's name!
A star that night was set in heaven,
From the Holy Spirit came.

In cradle Mary laid him down
Clad in his little linen gown.

A slumber over Mary crept,
And gone was Jesus, while she slept.

Mary, in tears and full of woe,
She sought him long through frost and snow.

She took a pilgrim's staff in hand,
And wandered forth to IsraeVs land.

Where first she trod on Israel's ground,
Joseph her own goodman she found.

"My goodman Joseph, answer me,
"Hast thou my Jesus chanced to see?"

"Aye! sooth, I've seen thy dearest son;
"He's not long since to his garden gone.

Ont to the garden Mary hied,
And Jesus mid the flowers espied.

"O tell me, thou, my son so dear,
"Why cause thy mother grief and fear?"

"Mother,' he said, "have I not need
"My flowers to tend, my beds to weed?

"I weed them all from first to last,
"And what bear thorns, away I cast.

"The thorns they go to a place of dole,
"I cast them into a murky hole."