THE CHRISTMAS TRAVELERS⁠[1]

To seek the Babe of Bethlehem, Three Kings of Orient came; Wise Baltasar and Melchior, With Gaspar, great in fame. Across the lonely desert They took their trackless way, To find their King and worship Him That wondrous Christmas Day. A heav’nly guide their Lord did send, A radiant jewel-star, Serene and bright it journey’d on, And sent its rays afar. Around the shepherds as they lay, It shed its glorious light; The angels came in multitude, And fill’d the sky of night. “Good-will,” they sang, “to ev’ry man And glory in the height.” II To seek the Babe of Bethlehem, We come this Christmas Day, A pilgrim band, our Promis’d Land, The Manger where He lay. No splendid robes enfold us, No regal gifts we bring, With simple faith we celebrate The birthday of our King. Oh, star divine, still shine on us, Still let thy radiance burn, Till into David’s city Our lowly footsteps turn! There, like the shepherds, wondering, We’ll worship, kneeling still; There, like the angel multitude, Our song the heavens fill, And tell the birth of peace on earth, To men of gentle will.