25 December 2009

The Feast of Stephen


December 26th is known as Boxing Day, but also as the Feast of St. Stephen. The English Carol, Good King Wencelas tells us the story of St. Wenceslas and his page.

We have taken liberties with the lyrics here to honor our pal Wally the Corgador, a saint among dogs and benevolent ruler of his pack.


Good King Wally, he looked out,
On the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Tho' the frost was cruel,
When a poor dog came in sight,
Gath'ring winter fuel.


"Hither, Ethel, stand by me,
If thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder canine, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"


"Sire, he lives a good league hence,
And his name is Oscar;
Right against the forest fence,
By Saint Agnes' fountain."


"Bring me flesh, and bring me bones,
Bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I will see him dine,
When we bear them thither. "


Walls and Ethel forth they went,
Forth they went together;
Thro' the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.

"Wally it is getting dark,
And the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I fear to bark,
I can go no longer."


"Mark my footsteps, good my page;
Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."


In her master's steps she trod,
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.

Therefore, all ye dogs, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing.

This is also in honor of Wally's ma Ape, who does so much with the SPCA, for Khyra's mom and the Bumpass' mom and dad, for Mackie's Mom and Bussie's Mom and all the rescue volunteers. And special thanks to foster families who help doggies find their furever homes. Thank you very much.

12 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Ahhhh!

A pawesome post fur many reasons! My OTHER Unkhle is STEPHEN!

Mom smiled when she woo pawed fur her too! She's flattered to be inkhluded amongst such pawesome khompany!

She's doing a run on Saturday AND Sunday - I wonder if she'll hum this ditty as she khruises up and down on I81!?!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

Deborah said...

That was a pawesome post!
Thank you and enjoy your Christmas week!
Deborah and her pack!

wally said...

Thank you so much for the lovely song and it is true that I helped the dogs who are less blessed such as my brudder who is not so much blessed in the intellectuals department.

I hope you had a wonderful pawliday. I am still eating my feast of plenty.

wally t.

wally said...

ps. I should also note that it is true that I clear a path in the snow because my barrel like body plows deep trenches that the peppy sheppys can then wander through.

Dexter said...

Foresooth or something like that. What a splendid song.

Slobbers,
Mango

Jackson and Patrick said...

Dude - that dog is CUTE abd tiy fyts are cleverf!

D.K. Wall said...

We love the sentiment in your post. As rescue pups, we thank all of the people who pulled us from shelters, transported us, fostered us, and then made sure we made it to our forever homes. Thanks to all of you!

Moco said...

What a great tribute to the one and only WALLY.

Eric said...

Aw Gussie. Honouring the leggeds who do the rescues was truly wagging. Just like they are. The bestest.

Hope you had a wickedly good Christmas. And a feast. A really really big one.

Wiry loves and kisses Eric xx

Princess Patches said...

Gussie and Teka, please by on the look-out for a missing Aire-boy in Mayhemphis! He slipped his leash on Christmas day and may have been hit by a car. His name is Mitch and he has been shaved. Looks more like a Saluki than an Airedale right now. He's terrified of people so even when he's spotted, they can't catch him. If you see him, please pee-mail us at airedaleheaven@comcast.net. I will get word to the rescuers!

Thanks and Aire-hugs,
Poppy, Penny & Patches

Asta said...

Gussie
What a wondewful twiboote to Wally and all those wondewful hoomans who help ouw fuwwfwiends who don't have the love and wawm homes that we have..Thank you to all of them and thank you fow youw twiboote
smoochie kisses,ASTA

Patience-please said...

A most wonderful song for a most wonderful Walleye and his most deserving ma ape.

wags from the whippets