THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM
The fiddle sang a wandering tune of its own that
made her remember June's wild roses. Then it
caught up anotehr tune to blend with Pa's voice...
- Grace said softly, 'The Christmas star.' --
These Happy Golden Years, Chapter 25, "The
Night Before Christmas"
"The Star of Bethlehem" was originally a poem written by Henry Kirke White (1785-1806), a gifted poet. White was born in Nottingham, England, and died in Cambridge. While enrolled at St. John's College, planning to become a minister, he fell ill and died before graduation. "The Star of Bethlehem" was first published to music for the Handel & Haydn Society in the 1820s. Many versions of the hymn were published in the years following the Civil War. Today, the hymn is usually called "When Marshalled on the Nightly Plane."
In the existing manuscript for These Happy Golden Years, Laura Ingalls Wilder included Pa's singing of "The Star of Bethlehem" on Christmas eve, but it was Carrie, not Grace, who spoke when Pa was finished. "That means Christmas," Carrie said. "The Star of Bethlehem is the Christmas Star." Wilder misquoted some of the original lyrics, most notably mighty plane for nightly plane.
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THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM
1. When marshal'd on the nightly plain, The glittering host bestud the sky, One star alone, of all the train, Can fix the sinner's wandering eye.
Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks, From every host, from every gem; But one alone the Saviour speaks, It is the Star of Bethlehem.
2. Once on the raging seas I rode, The storm was loud, --the night was dark, The ocean yawn'd-- and rudely blow'd The wind that toss'd my foundering bark.
Deep Horror then my vitals froze, Death-struck, I ceased the tide to stem; When suddenly a star arose, It was the Star of Bethlehem.
3. It was my guide, my light, my all, It bade my dark forbodings cease; And through the storm and dangers' thrall It led me to the port of peace.
Now safely moor'd-- my peril's o'er, I'll sing, first in night's diadem, For ever, and for evermore, The Star!-- The Star of Bethlehem! |
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM (from These Happy Golden Years)
When marshalled [sic] on the mighty plane, The glittering hosts bestud the sky One star alone of all the train Can catch the sinner's wandering eye. It was my light, my guide, my all, It bade my dark forebodings cease, And through the storm and dangers thrall It led me to the port of peace. Now safely moored, my perils o'er, I'll sing, first in night's diadem Forever and forever more, The Star-- the Star of Bethlehem.
Use the navigation bar above to listen to "The Star of Bethlehem." This music is slightly different from the original. If you do not see the midi player above, click HERE to listen.
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