what was the matter
He poled his boat o’er the water.
And he looked down and there he found
That the eagle it was drowned,
And its wings in part outspread,
But alas it was quite dead.
With grappling hook he drew him out,
But attached to him was monster trout,
Eagle could not extract his claws,
And this the death of both did cause.
Captain’s Adventure
Three years ago my vessel lay
In a port of Hudson Bay,
I started off for the trading post,
But on the way back I then got lost.
And the thought soon gave me the blues,
Trudging along on my snow shoes,
Over the wastes of drifting snow,
While the wind it did fiercely blow.
I feared that I would be froze hard,
For it was a fearful blizzard,
I was growing faint and weary,
Not the slightest hopes to cheer me.
Without compass to bearing,
My yells were beyond crews’ hearing,
But at last to my loud halloo
There came a mournful ho, ho.
From creature white I thought ’twas ghost,
And that I was forever lost,
I heard horrid creature flutter,
As it those strange sounds did utter.
At last I found that all this howl
Was from a noble large white owl,
And a happy apparition,
So runs the Indian tradition.
It guides the lost one in distress
And leads him out of wilderness,
This strange bird I soon follow,
And it still kept up its halloo.
It seem’d that it cried to cheer me,
I thought the ship was now near me,
As I walked o’er the banks of snow
I kept up a feeble halloo.
And but a little ways beyond
From my own crew I got respond,
With joy I was received by crew,
So happy all at my rescue.
It must be that some gentle soul
Did then inhabit that strange fowl,
But O to me ’twas wondrous fair,
For it thus saved me from despair.
The man’s my foe who now doth growl
At the strange sounds made by the owl,
The sailors all they took delight
To feed this bird so pure and white.
But soon the poor bird was o’erfed,
Early one morn we found it dead,
And my breast it heaved with sighs,
And the tears poured from mine eyes.
But precious relic in glass case
I oft gaze on its kindly face,
And grateful memories it brings,
When I behold its glorious wings.
To stuff such birds I knew the art
On it I worked with my whole heart,
To preserve each grace and feature
Full of charms to me is creature.
Indian Romance
We know a hill is smooth and round,
Where Indian relics may be found,
This hill it hath a history,
Though enveloped in mystery.
All the youth do fondly glory
For to read an Indian story,
This hill was ancient camping ground,
In creek near by did trout abound.
And from hill top they caught a gleam
Of the river’s broader stream,
They came in their birch bark canoes
Into this place of rendezvous.
When States did Canada invade,
Great Indian host was here arrayed,
Here they rallied from near and far,
In eighteen hundred and twelve war.
Chief big Wolfe led them on to war,
And bade farewell to morning star,
He wedded her one year before,
And her he fondly did adore.
To him she never seemed so sweet,
Her dress had beads worked o’er so neat,
And her toilet to complete,
Grand moccasins upon her feet.
Tribe marches and they boldly fight,
Longside of Brock on Queenstown height,
With glory they do return crowned,
Into the hill so smooth and round.
Here big Wolfe drank much fire water,
And it led to his own slaughter,
His death alas did blast and mar,
And dimmed the light of morning star.
Origin of the Toboggan
I am a hunter by profession,
And when I make this confession,
Of what I saw with mine own eyes,
It may cause you some surprise.
But we at once now you do warn,
That this is not a made up yarn,
It happened in the interior,
Far north of Lake Superior.
When up the hill setting my traps,
I heard on trees peculiar raps,
It made me then attentive hark,
And then I heard pulling off the bark.
It was a bright and pleasant day,
The distance was three miles away,
And it caused me but slight alarm,
When they around bark placed each arm.
And threw the bark o’er their shoulder,
I being a distant beholder
Knew not what end they had in view,
But I must own my wonder grew.
When I saw those men were warm dressed
With good fur robe each one was blessed,
In single file they marched up hill
With strangest thoughts my mind did fill.
When each man in his robe began
With tough bark to make toboggan,
And quick as lightning down they slide,
It seemed to me a dangerous ride.
The spot was covered o’er with hairs,
And it seem’d mixed with blood of bears,
And my two dogs Bull and Daisy,
At sight and scent of it went crazy.
Could none of these been a true man,
Or was I gross deceived by bruin,
It was a long and glassy slide,
Reached far up the mountain side.
They had been first enjoying the fun
Of sliding down on their bare skin,
Until their hide was getting worn,
And their flesh was somewhat torn.
So Bear invented Toboggan,
Which is a blessing to young man,
And the fair maiden by his side,
For both enjoy the pleasant ride.
Bear and Falls
Strange incidents do happen ever
On the famed Niagara river,
This thought to mind it now recalls
Event three miles above the falls.
Thrilling ventures there abound,
A bear which weighed eight hundred pounds,
Hunters they do him discover
As he was swimming down the river.
They felt he would be glorious prize
This grand fat bear of mighty size,
Three men they jump’d into canoe,
A skilful and determined crew.
Soon alongside of him they row,
But kindly feelings he doth show,
Quick he scrambled o’er the boat side
For to enjoy a good boat ride.
And as o’er the side he straddles
They hit him on head with paddles,
But all in vain, so two of crew
A short time bade the bear adieu.
And soon they swiftly swam to shore,
But current down the river bore
Man, bear and boat, the sound appals
Of roaring mighty water falls.
But vigorous now he plys the oar,
In hopes to safely reach the shore,
But this made bear to grin and growl
And wear on brow a horrid scowl.
So poor man sore against his will
Finds that in boat he must keep still,
Or else be hugged to death by bear,
While sound of falls
