Fiction
The Dismantlers
He was surprised to have a call from the Surgery to say that his Doctor wanted a word: surprised, because they had been incommunicado since lockdown began, doubly so now, since she had invited him [more…]
Jethro
Literature
Miss Procter’s Verses
An old friend of mine, who would eyebrow me, till I’d assured her the dangerous word referred to the length of our acquaintance only, has been for some time working on translations of verses she’s [more…]
Christianity
‘Deliver us from Evil’
The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And [more…]
Arts
For the Morning of Christ’s Nativity
The shepherds sing; and shall I silent be? My God, no hymn for Thee? My soul’s a shepherd too; a flock it feeds Of thoughts, and words, and deeds. The pasture is Thy word: the [more…]
Christianity
The Psalms
Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort [more…]
Animals
Arts
Where have all the Post Offices gone?
According to Touchstone in ‘As You Like It’, the seventh form of lie is “…the lie direct” (Act V, Scene IV): our Politicians do not often use this form – for instance, the late and [more…]
Christianity
Easter Day
Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast; Not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness: but with the unleavened bread of sincerity [more…]
Arts
The Organ (ii)
Wind The accompanying image is taken from Dom Bedos’ ‘ l’art du Facteur d’ Orgues’ (1776), and shows, among other things, a single organ-blower, operating one of three ‘feeders’ – or possibly, pumping two of the [more…]