THE GRAVES OF MR. AND MRS. KEBLE.

No. 32.

"I trod the churchyard's winding path,

Begirt with many a heaving sod;
Where, like some sire of hoary age

Uprose the reverend House of God.

"The westering sun was sinking low,

And lengthening shadows marked the ground,

While not a distant echo broke

'The sacred calm' that breathed around.

"A solemn sense of inward peace

Was sweetly on my mind imprest,

And with its holy influence

Lulled every jarring thought to rest.

"Amid the swelling mounds that told

Where dust to kindred dust was laid,

Two grassy hillocks side by side

With kindling interest I surveyed."

(Kilvert's Remains, pp. 21, 22.)

WO little mounds of earth (at present simply but neatly covered with turf, and usually adorned with beautiful wreaths and crosses formed with flowers) in Hursley churchyard, mark the double grave of Mr. and Mrs. KEBLE. Their names are written

in the hearts of the poor who loved them. There are three graves side by side, and similar one to another: the body of the holy man is in the middle one of the three, and rests between those of his dear Wife and Sister. Mrs. KEBLE'S grave is on the south side of his, and Miss KEBLE'S on the north-nearest to the foot-path which leads from the Vicarage garden to the Church door. At the head of this grave there stands an ornamental stone cross (after a model of one of the celebrated Irish Crosses), about 4 ft. high, which was erected by Mr. KEBLE, who caused to be engraved upon it the following inscription :

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK.

ELISABETH KEBLE, BORN JULY 16, 1790;

DIED AUG. 7, 1860.

IN QUIETNESS AND IN CONFIDENCE SHALL BE YOUR STRENGTH.

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The former of these two texts is beautifully and touchingly expressive of her gentle, patient character, and the latter is the motto of "The Christian Year," being found in its title-page.

On the south side of Mrs. KEBLE'S grave is the little grave of a son of Sir William Heathcote, who was taken to rest in tender childhood, and has a small plain cross of pure white marble erected to his memory. Of all these four it may well be said :

"They dropped the last trace of earthly sinfulness and imperfection, crossing

"See the report of a speech of the Rev. W. Bright, at a meeting of the Oxford Branch of the English Church Union, in the "Monthly Circular" of the Union for March, 1867, p. 77.