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INTRODUCTION.

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FAITHFUL friend, best boon of heav'n,

Unto some favour'd mortal given,

Tho' still the same, yet varying still,

Our each successive want to fill,

Beneath life's ever-fitful hue

To us he bears an aspect new.
Round childhood's path a happy charm,
In age a tried, supporting arm:

A chastening drop in cup of gladness,
A light to paint the mists of sadness;
To cheer, to chide, to teach, to learn,
Sad or severe, serene or stern.
Whatever form his presence wears,
That presence every form endears.
Till faith descries in that dear love
The messenger from one above,
Faint emblem of a better Friend

Who walks with us till life shall end."

(The Cathedral, p. 93.)

THE following brief Memoir and Notes are not intended to supply the place of a Life of the Author of "The Christian Year;" but it is felt that everything connected with such a saintly man as Mr. KEBLE

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must be of deep interest to all who are looking forward with hope to that rest into which he has entered; and it is thought that the Photographs will not only be looked at with real interest as faithful representations of the places most intimately connected with the much-loved name of KEBLE, but will also help the reader of any life of the great Christian poet to represent more clearly to his mind the events recorded about him.

In the imperfect outline of the life of Mr. KEBLE here presented to the reader, much has been gathered from letters in "The Guardian" newspaper by an old and well-known friend of the Poet. Some of the events mentioned have come under the personal observation of the author of these fragmentary notes, whose apology for undertaking this work at the request of the Artist whose Photographs he writes about, is that he has intimately known and reverently loved for many years the holy man of whom, with much diffidence and with deep veneration, he ventures to speak, and that it has been his high privilege to have been placed by him in various offices of trust".

The writer of these notes presents his best thanks to all the many kind friends who have helped him in making them; amongst whom he ventures to name Sir William and Lady Heathcote; the Rev. the Provost of Oriel College, Oxford; the Rev. Alfred Kent, M.A., Vicar of Coln St. Aldwyn; the Rev. J. W. Richards, M.A., late Curate of Hursley; the Rev. Philip Hedgeland, M.A., Incumbent of Penzance; W. Basevi Sanders, Esq., of the Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton; the Rev. G. C. Harris, M.A., Prebendary of Exeter, and Minister of St. Luke's Church, Torquay;

Such as Executor, Trustee, &c.

the Rev. J. Sidney Tyacke, M.A., Rector of St. Levan, Cornwall; the Rev. A. M. Bennett, M.A., Incumbent of Bournemouth; and the Rev. W. H. Bliss, M.A., Incumbent of North Hinksey; as well as the members of Mr. KEBLE'S own family.

Some of the information here given has been derived from "Memoranda of the Parish of Hursley," by the Rev. John Marsh, some from "Domesday Book," and many other works, to several of which references are given, and many of the facts stated have been verified by reference to parish registers, college papers, and other documents; still, if there should be any inaccuracies (which it is difficult to avoid in a work of this kind), it is hoped that they will be pardoned by the indulgent reader.

For various poetical quotations in the notes, the author of them is indebted not only to Mr. KEBLE's own works, but to those also of the Rev. Isaac Williams, to the remains of the Rev. Francis Kilvert, to the poetry of Wordsworth, Longfellow, &c., and to "The Book of Praise."

"Tis hard, when by affection led,
To speak of the long-cherish'd dead,
Lest haply they should linger near,
And human praise should pain the ear
Of them who Christ's own Face behold,
Or hide them 'neath His garment's fold.
It is enough that where they sleep,

The Angels still their watches keep,
Which round them in this world of sense,

Shed once their calming influence."

(The Baptistery, p. 233, 8vo. ed.)

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