Little King so Fair and Sweet

This gentle hymn is often used in devotions to the Infant/Child of Prague, and is most likely translated from a children's hymn in the Slovak language. The author and title of this, and the translator, are unknown.

The original composer is also unknown: it is included in the 1920 edition of "The St. Gregory Hymnal and Catholic Choir Book", attributed to "S.N.D" (perhaps a Sister of Notre Dame) with a tune from a Slovak hymnal arranged by "N.A.M".

The version below is written as a hymn suitable for a school, and presented in both traditional (thee/thou) and modernized languages. There are references on various websites to another more general children's hymn/poem, which is not school-specific, but the full text of this has not yet been located.

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides traditional text

PowerPoint slides modernized text

Examples

A children's choir with organ:

Instrumental - Midi-organ with on-screen melody line:

Lyrics

Traditional words

Little King, so fair and sweet,
See us gathered at thy feet:
Be Thou Monarch of our school,
It shall prosper 'neath thy rule.
We will be thy subjects true,
Brave to suffer, brave to do;
All our hearts to thee we bring,
Take them, keep them, little King.

Raise thy little hand to bless
All our childhood's happiness;
Bless our sorrow and our pain,
That each cross may be our gain.
Be thine own sweet childhood, Lord,
Sanctify each though and word,
Set thy seal on ev'ry thing
Which we do, O little King.

Be our teacher when we learn,
All the hard to easy turn;
Be our playmate when we play,
So we shall indeed be gay.
Keep us happy, keep us pure,
While our childhood shall endure,
All its days to thee we bring,
Bless them guard them, little King.

And when holidays have come,
Call thy children to thy home,
In that gentle voice of thine,
Which we know, sweet Child divine.
At the gate, oh, meet us thus,
As we loved thee—Child like us;
Stretch thine hands in welcoming
To thine own, O little King.

Modernized English

Little King, so fair and sweet,
See us gathered at your feet:
Be the Monarch of our school,
It shall prosper 'neath your rule.
We will be your subjects true,
Brave to suffer, brave to do;
All our hearts to you we bring,
Take them, keep them, little King.

Raise your little hand to bless
All our childhood's happiness;
Bless our sorrow and our pain,
That each cross may be our gain.
Be your own sweet childhood, Lord,
Sanctify each though and word,
Set your seal on ev'ry thing
Which we do, O little King.

Be our teacher when we learn,
All the hard, to easy, turn;
Be our playmate when we play,
So we're happy every day.
Keep us happy, keep us pure,
While our childhood shall endure,
All its days to you we bring,
Bless them guard them, little King.

And when holidays have come,
Call your children to their home,
In that gentle voice of thine,
Which we know, sweet Child divine.
At the gate, oh, meet us thus,
As we loved you — Child like us;
Stretch your hands in welcoming
To your own, O little King.