Before you go to sleep, my friends, and dream of Christmas morn, I wish to tell you of a legend that was to have happened around the shortly after Christ was born.

In haste from Bethlehem,

And heard the tread of soldiers

Coming in pursuit of them.

♦

There wasn’t any time at all

To find a hiding place,

For Herod’s men approached them

At a swift and steady pace.

♦

So Marry took her Little One

And with a whispered prayer,

Hid Him beneath a holly bush

With gentle, loving care.

♦

The wintered holly put forth leaves

To hide the Infant King,

And grew a guard of slender thorns

About Him in a ring.

♦

King Herod’s soldiers hurried past,

And all were unaware

The Infant whom they sought was safe

Within the holly’s care.

♦

The Christ Child blessed the holly then

So it would always be

Forever green— a sign of hope

And Immortality.

♦

So now, at Christmas, holly plays

A very special part

Because one night it gently held

The Christ Child in its heart.

A Special Christmas Eve…