May I come to your side, dear Mistress?
I am only a dog, you see,
And the Christmas joy and gladness
Perhaps are not meant for me.
Yet I think the Master would let me,
If I only begged to eat
The crumbs that fell from His table,
And to lie at His blessèd feet.
I have heard the wonderful story
Of the sleeping flocks by night,
Of Bethlehem and the angels
And the one Star, shining bright;
And I’ve longed, when I heard the story,
A shepherd-dog to be,
For then it might seem that Christmas
Was partly meant for me.
But I only look up at the Master
With a life that is veiled and dumb,
Content to share with the sparrow
His love, and the falling crumb.
May I lie at your feet, dear Mistress?
I am only a dog, you see,
But if I may serve you and love you,
Why, that is Christmas for me!