Front matter
Reading edition
THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER·
A CHRISTMAS FAGGOT
BY
ALFRED GURNEY, M.A.
VICAR OF S. BARNABAS', PIMLICO
AUTHOR OF 'THE VISION OF THE EUCHARIST AND OTHER POEMS' ETC.
'The Darling of the world is come, And fit it is we finde a roome To welcome Him. The nobler part Of all the house here is the heart, Which we will give Him, and bequeath This hollie and this ivie wreath To do Him honour who's our King, The Lord of all this revelling'
Herrick, A Christmas Carol
LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, & CO., 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1884
(The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved)
TO MY GODCHILDREN
ETHEL, ALBINIA,
CYRIL, BASIL,
BERTRAM, WILFRID,
LOUISE, HELEN,
ARTHUR.
When the Angel of the waters With a gold and silver wing Gently stirred the wave baptismal, Heard ye not their carolling Who of old to Eastern shepherds Heralded their King? To the shepherds of His people Still those angel-voices tell How God's river feeds the fountain Opened by Emmanuel, Yielding the baptismal waters Of salvation's well. Children, you have passed those waters, Love-begotten from the dead; Will you make a gallant promise When my verses you have read— 'We will trace life's lovely river To the Fountain-head'?
Loch Leven: 1884.