The original edition of _A Book of Christmas Verse_ was issued
in 1895. At his death in 1919 Dean Beeching left a copy of the book
marked with deletions and corrections, and an amount of new matter for
insertion. This revision has been carried out, and both deletions and
additions have been a little increased. But substantially the book
remains the same; its editor’s divisions have been preserved, and the
omission of his own preface to the first edition is in accord with his
markings. A few poems by contemporary writers have been added.
Dean Beeching’s acknowledgements for permission to use copyright poems
are here reprinted from his notes:
For No. 54 to the authorities of Christ Church, Oxford; for No. 71 to
Messrs. Macmillan; for No. 112 to Mr. Robert Bridges; for No. 113 to
Messrs. Kegan Paul and Trench; for No. 133 to the Chiswick Press; and
for No. 114 to Mr. Davidson (with an omission specially sanctioned by
him). Nos. 78 and 79 (by Gerard Hopkins and Selwyn Image) appeared for
the first time in this book.
For poems now appearing for the first time acknowledgements are due as
follows: for No. 77, by Coventry Patmore, to Messrs. George Bell; for
No. 81, by R. L. Stevenson, to Messrs. Chatto & Windus; for No. 82,
by Mrs. Meynell, to Messrs. Burns & Oates; for No. 83 to Mr. Robert
Bridges; for No. 84., by Mr. Hilaire Belloc, to Messrs. Duckworth;
for No. 85 (from _The Wild Knight_) to Mr. G. K. Chesterton and
Messrs. Dent; for Nos. 86 and 87 to the Rev. R. L. Gales; for No. 88,
by Miss Sayers, to Mr. Basil Blackwell; for No. 89 to Mr. J. D. C.
Pellow; for No. 90 to Messrs. Macmillan; for No. 91 to Mrs. Chesterton;
for No. 92 to Mr. Francis Keppel.