,,the ,,boyhood ,,of ,,jesus ,illustration ,,published ,,by ,,david ,c4 ,,cook ,,publishing ,,company ,factory and ,shipping ,rooms1 ,elgin1 ,illinois ,try to be like ,jesus4 ,the ,bible tells of ,jesus1 ,so gentle and so meek2 ,i'll try to be like ,jesus ,in ev'ry word ,i speak4 ,for ,jesus1 too1 was loving1 ,his words were always kind2 ,i'll try to be like ,jesus ,in thought and word and mind4 ,i long to be like ,jesus1 ,who said 8,i am the ,truth20 ,then ,i will give my heart to him1 ,now1 in my early youth4 --,lillian ,payson4 ,,copyright1 #aije1 ,,by ,,david ,c4 ,,cook ,,publishing ,,company4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,baby ,,jesus4 ,the ,little ,lord ,jesus4 ,away in a manger1 ,no crib for a bed1 ,the little ,lord ,jesus ,laid down his sweet head4 ,the stars in the sky ,looked down where he lay-- ,the little ,lord ,jesus ,asleep on the hay4 ,the cattle are lowing1 ,the poor baby wakes1 ,but little ,lord ,jesus ,no crying he makes4 ,i love thee1 ,lord ,jesus2 ,look down from the sky1 ,and stay by my cradle ,to watch ,lullaby4 --,luther's ,cradle ,hymn4 ,the ,child ,promised4 ,illustration ,illustration ,,there was once a time when there was no ,christmas at all4 ,there were no beautiful ,christmas trees and happy songs and stockings filled with presents4 ,no one shouted 8,merry ,christmas60 or 8,christmas ,gift60 ,no one told the sweet story of ,jesus1 because ,jesus had not come into the world and so there was no ,christmas4 ,you see ,christmas is ,jesus' birthday1 and before he came1 of course people could not keep his birthday4 ,you have heard of how wicked and unhappy the people were long ago4 ,although ,god loved them and tried to make them do right1 they forgot about him and did so many naughty1 disobedient things that they were very miserable4 ,then ,god sent a wonderful message to them4 ,he told them that some day he would send them his own ,son1 who should be their ,king and teach them how to do right4 ,he said that his ,son would come as a little child to grow up among them to love and help them4 ,god even told them what they should call this baby who was to be their ,king4 ,god said that ,christ would be like a beautiful light showing them where to go4 ,it would be as though some people stumbling sorrowfully along a dark street should suddenly see a bright light shining ahead of them1 making everything cheerful and pleasant4 ,they would be joyful like people who gather in the harvest4 ,jesus makes his children happy1 and he wants them to shine out and make others happy4 ,these people who were so unhappy before ,jesus came1 were very glad to know that some day he would come4 ,they talked about him and waited a long1 long time before he came and brought ,christmas light into the world4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,babe ,,in ,,bethlehem4 ,the ,coming of ,jesus4 ,,long ago there lived a good man named ,joseph1 a carpenter of ,nazareth1 who built houses and made many useful things for people4 ,he also loved to read ,god's ,gift ,book1 and tried to obey its rules4 ,one day the king of the land where ,joseph lived ordered everyone to write his name in a book1 and pay a tax1 in his own city4 ,so ,joseph and ,mary his wife got ready to take a long journey to their old home1 ,bethlehem4 ,there were no cars for them to ride in1 so they must either walk or ride a donkey4 ,as the fashion was there1 ,mary wore a long1 white veil which covered her beautiful face4 ,the streets were full of people1 walking1 or traveling on mules1 donkeys1 or camels--all going to be taxed4 ,it was winter1 but in a warm country1 and they went through valleys of figs1 olives1 dates1 oranges and other good things4 ,illustration ,they must have been very tired when they reached ,bethlehem's gates1 for they had come a long distance1 and the dust of the road1 the bustle of traveling1 and the strangeness of it all1 seemed to add to their trials4 ,the people of ,bethlehem had opened their homes and welcomed the strangers1 until every house was full1 and still the people kept coming4 ,they could scarcely go up the steep hill1 they were so weary1 and ,joseph tried to get a place to rest1 but there was no kind invitation1 no welcome in any house for them1 and the inns were crowded4 ,the inns were not like our hotels for travelers2 they were flat-roofed stone buildings1 without windows4 ,there were no warm rooms with carpets1 and soft beds for tired travelers to lie on4 ,there were only bare floors1 and everyone had to bring his own bed and food4 ,the courtyard was full of animals--donkeys1 mules1 camels1 sheep and cows4 ,after ,joseph had tried and failed to get a resting place1 as there was no room anywhere1 some kind friend told him of a cave on the hillside which was used as a stable1 and to this they gladly went4 ,sweet-smelling hay was all around1 and the floor was covered with straw2 possibly mild-eyed cows and gentle sheep were sleeping in their stalls4 ,along the walls were mangers1 or boxes to hold the grain and hay when the animals were fed4 ,here ,mary and ,joseph found a shelter and a sleeping place2 indeed1 they were thankful to be led there to rest upon the hay4 ,in the night a wonderful thing took place3 ,god sent the baby ,gift ,child into the world4 ,this gift had been promised long before to ,adam and ,eve1 and now it had come--the most beautiful and dearest ,baby ever held in a mother's arms4 ,the night grew dark1 the house-lights went out one by one1 and the people in ,bethlehem slept4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,,the ,,angels' ,,song4 ,the ,angels' ,joy4 ,,the happiest song that was ever sung was sung on the first and best ,christmas of all4 ,there was a time when there was no ,christmas4 ,can you think how glad you would be if you had no ,christmas1 and then one day all at once you had the first and best one of all8 ,this song was sung and the first ,christmas came one night long years ago1 far over the sea1 near a little town called ,bethlehem4 ,it did not come first to kings and great people1 but to some shepherds who were sitting up all night watching their sheep4 ,outside of the city were beautiful sloping green fields where the shepherds let their sheep run about and eat the grass4 ,the weather there is very pleasant at ,christmas time2 not at all like our weather4 ,the shepherds can sit out on the grass all night1 watching their sheep4 ,illustration ,did you ever see a sheep or a lamb8 ,do you know that your mittens and jackets and nice warm dresses are made of the wool which the sheep have to spare for us8 ,the shepherds have to stay out with the sheep all night because they are very gentle and timid animals4 ,they cannot fight for themselves1 and if they were left alone the wolves would catch them4 ,one night about #aijj years ago some shepherds were watching their sheep in those fields4 ,very likely the shepherds were some of the people who were hoping that ,jesus would soon come2 perhaps they were talking about him1 and wondering how they would know if he did come4 ,all at once a bright light shone about them1 and they saw an angel and heard him speak to them4 ,very kind and beautiful the angel looked1 but the shepherds were frightened4 ,the angel said to them1 8,fear not2 for behold1 ,i bring you good tidings of great joy1 which shall be to all people2 for unto you is born this day in the city of ,david a ,savior1 which is ,christ the ,lord4 ,and this shall be a sign unto you2 ,ye shall find the babe1 wrapped in swaddling clothes1 lying in a manger40 ,illustration ,as the angel was speaking1 the shepherds saw with him a great number of beautiful1 shining angels4 ,then was sung for the first time this grand song1 for ,christmas had come4 ,i do not know the tune1 but the very words are in the ,bible3 8,glory to ,god in the highest1 and on earth peace1 good-will toward men40 ,glory to ,god1 for the greatest gift that ever came2 peace on earth1 for all who love this ,savior4 ,as soon as the angels finished the song they went back to heaven1 and left the shepherds alone4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,,the ,,shepherds ,,visit ,,jesus4 ,the ,shepherds ,visit ,jesus4 ,,what would you do if you had been one of those shepherds to whom the angels brought the good news of ,jesus' birth8 ,i will tell you what they did4 ,they left their sheep to take care of themselves1 and hurried off to ,bethlehem1 for that was the city the angels meant4 ,illustration ,they went in the gate and at last found the right place4 ,it was called a stable4 ,they soon found the dear little baby ,jesus1 just as the angels had said1 lying in a manger1 and ,mary his mother and ,joseph taking care of him4 ,the little manger was in the stable1 and there the shepherds stood beside it and looked into the face of the babe4 ,do you think the dear little baby had a nice bed to lie in8 ,it looked like a block hollowed out4 ,it was the box out of which the cows ate4 ,it was warm and soft1 because his mother had put nice soft hay in it1 and wrapped him all up with a long strip of cloth4 ,they were in a stable because so many people were in the city that there was not a bit of room left4 ,i think it must have been a clean place1 with lots of nice1 sweet new hay4 ,when the shepherds saw the baby they knew that he was really ,jesus their ,savior4 ,they knelt at his feet and worshiped him4 ,they were so happy that they could hardly say what they felt4 ,they soon went away and told the good news to every one they met4 ,they were very glad because ,jesus had come4 ,he came as a little baby so he would know how to love and help all other babies and little children1 and be an example for them to follow as they grew older4 ,we are glad ,jesus came1 and we love to keep his birthday1 because he gives us joy and peace1 fills our hearts with love1 and helps us to be good and happy here and to get ready to be happy in heaven4 ,god1 our ,father in heaven1 sent to us this wonderful ,christmas ,gift4 ,think of the great love he must have for us1 to give us his ,son4 ,think of the great love ,jesus had for us1 that he could leave his beautiful home in heaven to come and help us and show us how to live4 ,let us thank him every day for his great love4 8,for ,god so loved the world1 that he gave his only begotten ,son0 to be our ,savior4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,baby ,,jesus ,,in ,,the ,,temple4 ,the ,child in the ,temple4 ,,joseph1 and ,mary the mother of ,jesus1 stayed in ,bethlehem for a while4 ,when ,jesus was only eight days old he received his name2 he was called 8,jesus10 as the angel had told ,mary4 ,it was the custom of the ,jews to take their first son to the temple and present him to ,god1 so ,joseph and ,mary went to ,jerusalem to present ,jesus to ,god in the temple4 ,illustration ,illustration ,at the time when ,jesus was born1 there was an old man1 named ,simeon1 living in ,jerusalem4 ,he was a good man and was looking and wishing for ,jesus1 the promised ,messiah1 to come4 ,god's ,holy ,spirit had told him that he should not die until he had seen ,jesus4 ,simeon went up to the temple to worship ,god every day4 ,one day while he was in the temple ,mary and ,joseph brought the child to present him to ,god4 ,when ,simeon saw them he knew that the infant in ,mary's arms was his ,savior4 ,he at once took ,jesus in his arms1 and with a heart full of joy he blessed ,god and said1 8,lord1 now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace40 ,he had seen the ,savior for whom he looked1 and had nothing more to wish2 he was perfectly satisfied to die1 now that he had seen ,jesus1 the ,savior of the world4 ,when ,jesus comes into our hearts we are satisfied1 and not only ready to die1 but we are ready to live and do with glad hearts all that ,god wishes us to do4 ,the best way to praise ,god for his wonderful gift is to live for him and lead others to praise him4 ,god's ,spirit was upon ,simeon1 and he rejoiced to see ,jesus his ,savior1 whom ,god had sent to his people4 ,do you wonder that ,simeon's heart was full of joy at seeing ,god's greatest gift to man8 ,should not we praise him for it8 ,at the time of ,jesus' birth1 the world was very dark and sinful4 ,people did not know much about ,god or what he wanted them to do4 ,in ,jesus1 ,simeon saw a great ,light which would lighten the world4 ,did you ever try to walk in a dark night where there were no lights to shine on the pathway8 ,if so1 you were sure to go the wrong road1 or to stumble and fall4 ,while you were walking in the darkness1 did a great electric light suddenly shine out1 making all light about you8 ,so into the dark lives of the people ,jesus came to be a ,light4 ,we are sure that ,jesus is a ,light to us and to all the world4 ,he lived a holy life1 so he made a right path for us to follow4 ,he showed us how to live and how to die1 so that we may live forever in heaven4 ,if we take his love into our hearts and do as he tells us1 we shall walk in the light4 ,just as a railway locomotive runs in the great light from the lamp that sends its bright rays along the track1 so ,jesus dwelling in our hearts shines his light just where we are to travel--that is1 he tells us by his ,spirit and by his ,word how we are to act and what we are to do4 ,illustration ,while ,mary and ,joseph and ,jesus were yet in the temple1 ,anna1 a prophetess1 came in and saw ,jesus4 ,then she1 too1 praised the ,lord because ,jesus had come to be a ,light to the world4 ,she told the people that ,jesus was the ,son of ,god who had come into this world to live in our hearts and be our ,light4 ,jesus in our hearts is like a torchlight which we carry with us always1 and which never goes out1 but gives us light wherever we go4 ,we follow this light when we do the things that ,jesus taught us to do1 and when we follow the example that he left us4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,,the ,,wise ,,men ,,visit ,,jesus4 ,the ,journey of the ,wise ,men4 ,,there were some very rich1 wise men living away off in another country4 ,god wanted them to know about his ,son4 ,he did not send angels to tell them2 he took another way4 ,he put a strange new star in the sky4 ,these wise men spent a great deal of time studying about stars1 so when they saw this they were very much interested in it4 ,when they saw strange stars they thought strange things would happen4 ,they had heard that the ,jews were looking for ,jesus to come and be their king1 so they thought this star must mean that he had come4 ,they thought very likely that he had come to ,jerusalem1 for that was the great city of the ,jews4 ,so they started on their long journey4 ,they traveled on until they reached ,jerusalem4 ,then they went at once to ,herod the king and asked him where ,jesus was who was born ,king of the ,jews4 ,herod had not heard that ,jesus was born1 and when he heard this question he was troubled1 for he was not born king--he had been made king4 ,so he was very much afraid that ,jesus1 who was born ,king1 would take his place4 ,illustration ,he called in the ,jews1 who he thought ought to know1 and asked them to find out where ,jesus was to be born4 ,they looked in the ,bible and found that he was to be born in ,bethlehem4 ,when ,herod heard this he told the wise men to go to ,bethlehem and look for ,jesus1 and when they found him to bring him word so that he might go and worship him4 ,he wanted to kill ,jesus1 but he did not tell the wise men so4 ,they again started out1 and they were very much pleased to see the same star still shining in the sky4 ,illustration ,this star went before them to guide them to ,bethlehem4 ,they believed the star would guide them right1 so they followed it until it stood over a house in the city4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,,the ,,wise ,,men',s ,,gifts4 ,the ,wise ,men's ,gifts to ,jesus4 ,,when the wise men went into the house they found ,jesus there with ,mary1 his mother1 and ,joseph1 her husband4 ,illustration ,as soon as they saw him they knew it was ,jesus1 whom they had come so far to see4 ,they fell down before him and worshiped him4 ,they brought him rich gifts of gold1 frankincense and myrrh4 ,these gifts of gold1 frankincense and myrrh were costly and useful2 they must have been of great help to ,mary and ,joseph1 who were very poor4 ,these gifts from the wise men to ,jesus showed their love for him4 ,those who truly love ,jesus now will be glad to give of their money to help the poor and needy1 and to teach those who do not know about him2 and what we do for his sake he counts as done for him4 ,but the greatest gift that we can give ,jesus is the gift of our hearts4 ,while they were there worshiping ,jesus1 ,god was looking into the heart of ,herod1 reading his wicked thoughts4 ,he knew that if the wise men went back and told ,herod where ,jesus was1 he would come and kill him4 ,so when the wise men were ready to go away1 ,god warned them in a dream to go back another way and not to go near ,jerusalem1 where they would meet ,herod4 ,they believed ,god in this too1 and did as he told them to4 ,illustration3 ,,on ,,the ,,way ,,to ,,egypt4 ,the ,flight into ,egypt4 ,illustration ,,when the wise men were gone1 ,god sent an angel to warn ,joseph to take ,jesus and ,mary1 his mother1 and leave ,bethlehem4 ,he told him to take them to ,egypt and stay there until he told them they might return4 ,why do you suppose ,god told ,joseph to leave their home8 ,he knew that ,herod wanted to kill ,jesus1 and that it would be dangerous to stay there4 ,if they went to ,egypt they would be safe1 for ,herod had no power over ,egypt4 ,they would find friends there too1 for a great many ,jews were living in ,egypt then4 ,joseph loved ,god and believed him1 so he proved that he loved and believed him by obeying at once4 ,he did not wait until morning1 but at once arose1 got ready1 and took ,mary and ,jesus and they started in the night for ,egypt4 ,they did not go to some other place instead4 ,they went just when ,god told them to go1 and went just where he told them to2 and they were safe while they followed ,god's directions4 ,jesus was soon safe in ,egypt4 ,herod did not know this1 and was still making his plans to kill him4 ,he was a very wicked1 cruel man4 ,he was wicked enough to kill two of his own sons1 so you see he did not care much about killing a baby4 ,he did not know just how old ,jesus was1 but thought he could not be over two years old4 ,he did not know where he lived1 for the wise men did not go back to tell him4 ,but he was bound to kill ,jesus1 so he told his cruel soldiers to go into every house in ,bethlehem1 even into the houses near ,bethlehem1 and kill every boy baby they could find two years old or less4 ,so they went around killing all the baby boys4 ,they would go into a house1 snatch the baby out of its crib1 or out of its mother's arms1 and kill it right before her eyes4 ,that was a sad time in ,bethlehem2 for many poor mothers were weeping for their children4 ,it was very sad for the mothers1 but the little boys were safe in heaven with ,god4 ,illustration ,god was still watching over and taking care of his ,son2 so when at last ,herod was dead1 ,god again sent an angel to ,joseph1 telling him to take ,jesus and ,mary and go back to the land of ,israel1 or the land of the ,jews4 ,so ,joseph again set out on a journey4 ,but he heard that ,herod's son was king1 and he was afraid to go back to ,bethlehem1 so he went to ,nazareth4 ,illustration ,illustration3 ,,the ,,boy ,,jesus ,,in ,,the ,,temple4 ,jesus in the ,temple4 ,,when ,jesus was a very little baby1 his mother took him to the temple1 their church1 and gave him to the ,lord4 ,i suppose they wrote down his name1 as we do our ,cradle ,roll babies4 ,if they did1 ,i think we may call ,jesus a ,cradle ,roll baby4 ,i am sure that ,mary and ,joseph did all they could to help the baby to grow up a good1 wise1 loving boy4 ,the dear little babies do not stay babies long2 then their toys go and they want books1 for they must learn a great deal before they are grown-up men and women4 ,so ,jesus' toys were soon put away1 and he began to study just as you do4 ,he grew bigger and stronger every day4 ,at last he was as big as you2 then bigger1 until he was as big as your brother or sister4 ,illustration ,do you know someone who is twelve years old8 ,at last ,jesus got to be so old4 ,at that age a boy was no longer a ,cradle ,roll baby1 nor even a child4 ,jesus' mother said that now he could go with her and ,joseph and their friends when they went up to ,jerusalem to church4 ,did you ever go on a journey8 ,how did you go8 ,on the cars4 ,were you glad to go8 ,you got tired1 ,i know4 ,a picture of ,joseph and ,mary and ,jesus on their way to ,jerusalem would show you that they all walked4 ,it was a long1 hard journey1 for they not only had to walk all the way1 but they had to carry all their bundles4 ,they went in a company1 so they had a nice time talking with their friends as they walked4 ,then when tired or hungry1 they would stop by the way in the shade of some great rocks--for in that land rocks are found oftener than shade trees4 ,you can make a picture of this journey in your mind4 ,think of the wall of the city of ,jerusalem and the open gate2 inside the wall is the church1 or temple2 there is a road of sand1 and on both sides of the road are a few trees and a good many rocks4 ,at last they all reached the city1 and slept and rested and ate their food1 then bathed and dressed in their best clothes1 and went to the temple to worship ,god and hear about his law out of the ,bible4 ,all this was very wonderful and beautiful to ,jesus4 ,he began to understand that ,god was his ,father1 and that he had some very great work to do in the world4 ,he was so interested that when it was time to start for home he stayed after all the rest left1 and went back to the temple4 ,perhaps he had been allowed to go by himself and did not know they had started home4 ,illustration ,mary did not miss ,jesus for some time4 ,she thought he was with his young friends having a good time4 ,at last she became frightened1 for she found that he was not with any of these friends4 ,oh1 how frightened she was6 ,her beautiful boy that she loved more than her own life1 was lost6 ,i once knew of a very lovely boy who was lost all night4 ,how his mother cried1 and how we looked for him all night6 ,in the morning his mother was the one to find him1 then her sorrow was changed to joy4 ,mary and ,joseph left their friends and went back to the city4 ,in her heart ,jesus' mother knew where to look for him4 ,can you think where he was8 ,they found him in the temple talking with the teachers4 ,they were talking about ,god's law4 ,they had their books1 reading and studying together4 ,these books were made of strips of parchment or paper fastened at both ends to round sticks and rolled up4 ,illustration ,when ,jesus saw his mother and knew how she had grieved about him1 he left the teachers at once and went back home with her and ,joseph4 ,he told them that he knew ,god was his ,father1 and that he must be about his work4 ,but quickly and lovingly he obeyed his mother and went with her1 even though he longed to stay4 ,do you think ,jesus was about his heavenly ,father's business when he obeyed ,mary and ,joseph and went home so lovingly with them8 ,he surely was1 for some of his work that he came to earth to do was to show children how to treat their parents4 ,one of the great laws of ,god is1 8,children1 obey your parents40 ,jesus loved to be in the temple1 but he quickly and cheerfully went home with his mother and ,joseph4 ,i think that as he and his parents were with many of their dear friends1 he was allowed to go around among them and with them when they went to the temple1 so when his parents left he perhaps did not really know when his mother started4 ,do you think she was careless to go off and leave him8 ,no1 ,i am sure she was not2 she no doubt thought he was coming along with his aunts or cousins or his little friends in the company4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,boy ,,jesus ,,in ,,his ,,home4 ,jesus in ,his ,home4 ,,do you like cold1 dark1 stormy days8 ,how do you feel when you get up and find the sun shining in your window8 ,you cannot help feeling good--some of it gets into your heart and makes you feel happy4 ,you make us think of sunny days4 ,sometimes children are cross1 and they make us think of stormy days4 ,the gloomy1 naughty1 selfish child makes everything in the house seem sad4 ,but how about the bright1 happy1 laughing1 helpful child8 ,when he comes into the room1 it seems as if he brought some sunshine in4 ,he is a sunshiny boy4 ,do you know ,i am thinking of a boy who ,i believe was the sunshiniest one among all the sunshiny children in the world4 ,who was he8 ,he was ,jesus1 the dear boy who was so ready to obey his parents4 ,he started home with ,mary and ,joseph1 perhaps telling ,joseph all about how it happened that he was left behind them4 ,illustration ,after their long1 hard journey1 how glad they were to get home6 ,i am sure ,jesus did all he could to get everything ready4 ,first he helped ,joseph bring in all the things they had with them1 and ,mary stood at the door of the little house1 looking at the boy she loved so much1 and feeling so glad and thankful that he had not really been lost4 ,illustration ,then when they were all settled and rested and ,joseph had to go to his carpenter work1 ,jesus would do such little things as he could to help him1 while ,mary was doing her work4 ,joseph was a carpenter4 ,what do you think he made8 ,what tools did he use8 ,then ,i think ,jesus must have learned to use them1 too4 ,perhaps sometimes ,mary was sick1 and then ,i am sure he did all he could to help and comfort her and make her forget her pain4 ,he would bring the jar of fresh water1 bathe her head and give her a cool drink4 ,if your mamma was sick1 what could you do to be a blessing to her8 ,i knew a little boy who was a real sunshine boy4 ,when mamma was sick he would set the table for papa1 and hand mamma a cup of tea1 and give her a smile and a loving kiss4 ,we can all do so much1 and many other things4 ,think of some of them4 ,you can pick up your toys and books and keep them tidy1 without waiting for mamma to talk about it2 you can always run to her with a loving kiss when you wake up and when you go to bed2 you can be very gentle and kind to your little brothers and sisters2 you can try every day in every way to make sunshine in your home--to make your home the most beautiful place in the world4 ,boys and girls who do that can make their homes next to heaven4 ,illustration ,jesus did that even when he was very small4 ,as he grew older he grew wiser and better4 ,he helped ,joseph more and more in his shop1 and what he did not know1 ,joseph taught him4 ,he did not spend all his time in the shop4 ,he perhaps went to school1 for he loved to study4 ,i think ,mary loved to teach a boy who was so ready to learn4 ,he would stand beside her while she read to him4 ,illustration ,he liked to play like other boys1 but he always did the things that other children should do1 so they would know just what was right4 ,that is why ,i tell you so much about him4 ,perhaps children would not know just the right way1 if ,jesus had not been a boy and lived with his mother and loved and obeyed and helped her4 ,around the ,throne4 ,around the throne of ,god in heaven1 ,thousands of children stand1 ,children whose sins are all forgiven1 ,a holy1 happy band4 ,what brought them to that world above1 ,that heaven so bright and fair1 ,where all is peace and joy and love8 ,how came those children there8 ,on earth they sought the ,savior's grace1 ,on earth they loved his name2 ,so now they see his blessed face1 ,and stand before the ,lamb4 --,annie ,h4 ,shepherd4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,obvious punctuation errors repaired4 ,page #bg1 repeated word 8him0 removed from text4 ,original read 7we praise him him for7