A Sermon in St. Barnabas; Consecration Volume. Editor's Preface to the Works of Hooker, two editions (108 pages, Svo.) Oxford University Press, 1841. Volume of Sermons: two editions, with long preface. 1847. Three Sermons in St. Saviour's, Leeds : Consecration Volume, Nos. 4, 5, and 6. Parker. 1845. Sundry Plain Sermons. “The Strength of Christ's Little Ones" a Sermon preached at Coggershall. Three editions. Masters, 1849. Lyra Innocentium. 1846. Many Letters in the “Guardian” Newspaper. All the most important of the above were published by Messrs. Parker, Oxford and London, of whom the greater part of them may be procured. “Servant of God, farewell ! Be ours to trace The reflex image of thine every grace, (Kilvert's Remains, p. 31.) THE PETITION OF THE WILD FLOWERS. . A POEM BY THE REV. JOHN KEBLE. HIS characteristic Poem has been mentioned in the foregoing Memoir as having been composed by the Author of “The Christian Year,” and addressed to Sir William Heathcote, with special reference to certain alterations proposed to be made by the Baronet, near the picturesque hamlet of Ladwell, which were not accordant with the poetic taste of the Vicar. The verses seem to harmonize well with a saying of the Author of them, that he wished that those persons who grubbed old hedgerows and substituted straight fences "might never hear a Nightingale, see an Anemone, nor smell a Violet.” They strongly mark his love for the beauties of nature, and his great dislike of straight dead fences, which (with pleasant humour) he said that the Winchester boys did well in destroying. In these pretty verses the Poet speaks in the name of the Wild Flowers in which he delighted, and of which he had much knowledge. He always looked with true pleasure at the poetry shewn in the works of Creation. The Bishop of Brechin has truly said of him :-“ His love of nature came out in much that he said. I recollect his taking up a fern-leaf, and, as he pointed out the regularity of the fronds, he said, It is such perfect music.' The Park at Hursley and the forest-land beyond it were sources of unceasing delight to him ?." He once composed a sonnet on “Spring Flowers,” beginning with the words : “ The loveliest flowers the closest cling to earth, And they first feel the sun 6:” shewing how he noticed and loved the humble flowers of the fields and hedges, and could draw from them holy lessons of great Christian virtues. The Poem here given is of a more playful character. Special thanks are respectfully and gratefully tendered to the Rev. THOMAS KEBLE, Jun., for kindly permitting this beautiful little Poem to be published here with the accompanying illustrations. “The Church Magazine for the Diocese of Brechin,” 1866. No. vii. • Published some time ago in “The Casket.” |