MAID MARY

Maid Mary sat at her cottage door

By the Lake of Galilee;

Tall and stately her lilies were,

But never was lily one-half so fair

Or half so pure as she.

( O Mary, Maid and Mother of God,

I pray you, pray for me. )

The shadows darkened along the shore

Of the Lake of Galilee;

What steps were those, as the twilight fell?

Lo, God's great angel, Gabriel:

“Hail, blessed of God!” spake he.

( O Gabriel, Prince of the hosts of God,

I pray you, pray for me. )

Maid Mary knelt on her cottage floor

By the Lake of Galilee;

And kneeling, dreamed strange dreams and sweet

Of baby fingers and dimpled feet,

And a Holy Thing to be:

( O Christ, the Virgin-born Son of God,

I pray You, pray for me. )

But she did not dream, as the night passed o'er

By the Lake of Galilee,

Of the weary ways that the feet should tread,

Of a thorny crown for a baby head,

Or a cross on Calvary.

( O Son of Mary, O thorn-crowned God,

I pray You, pray for me. )