A CHRISTMAS FAGGOT

[Pg ii]

[Pg iii]

A CHRISTMAS FAGGOT

BY

ALFRED GURNEY, M.A.

VICAR OF S. BARNABAS', PIMLICO

AUTHOR OF 'THE VISION OF THE EUCHARIST AND OTHER POEMS' ETC.

Herrick, A Christmas Carol

LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, & CO., 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1884

[Pg iv] (The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved)

[Pg v] TO MY GODCHILDREN

ETHEL, ALBINIA,

CYRIL, BASIL,

BERTRAM, WILFRID,

LOUISE, HELEN,

ARTHUR.

Loch Leven: 1884.[Pg vi]

[Pg vii]

PREFACE.

Most of the following poems have appeared in the 'S. Barnabas' Parish Magazine.' For my godchildren and my people I have made them up into a little bundle of sticks—a Christmas faggot to feed the fires in the winter palace of our King.

It is the Incarnation that justifies all joy, and song is the expression of joy. The Gospel Songs all celebrate the Great Nativity. Birth[Pg viii] and marriage are the occasions most sacred to mirth and music among men; and Christmas is at once the Birthday and the Marriage Festival of Humanity.

Glad and thankful shall I be if any song of mine should help to fan the flame of rejoicing love in any Christian heart at this holy and happy season.

[Pg ix]

CONTENTS.

[Pg 1]

YULE TIDE.

Tennyson, In Memoriam.

[Pg 6]

THE MADONNA DI SAN SISTO.[1]

'The Lord Himself shall give you a sign; behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son.'

Dresden: 1883.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] See Note A, page 69.

[Pg 11]

BETHLEHEM GATE.

A Picture by Dante Gabriel Rossetti.[2]

Loch Leven: 1884.

FOOTNOTES:

[2] See Note B, page 71.

[Pg 16]

S. JOSEPH.

Ballachulish: 1884.

[Pg 18]

A CRADLE SONG.

Loch Laggan: 1884.

[Pg 23]

A CRADLED CHILD.

(To E. A. G.)

Tyntesfield: 1884.

[Pg 26]