XIX.
Reading edition
JOSEPH was an old man, and an old man was he, When he wedded Mary, in the land of Galilee; When Joseph and Mary walked in the garden good, There was cherries and berries as red as the blood. O then bespoke Mary, so meek and so mild, Pluck me some cherries, Joseph, for I am with child; O then bespoke Joseph, with words so unkind, Let him pluck the cherries that brought thee with child. O then bespoke Jesus in his mother’s womb, Bow down then the tallest tree, that my mother may have some; Then bowed down the tallest tree, it bent to Mary’s hand, Then she cried, See, Joseph, I have cherries at command. O then bespoke Joseph, I have done Mary wrong, But cheer up, my dearest, and be not cast down; Then Joseph and Mary did to Bethlehem go, And with travels were weary walking to and fro. They sought for a lodging, but the inns were fill’d all, They, alas! could not have it, but in an ox’s stall; But before the next morning our Saviour was born, In the month of December, Christmas Day in the morn.
