do but tickle,
They smile and you behold the nickel.
And where the landscape late has been
Covered o’er with forest green;
The fire has left charred stumps of pine,
And there too is the glittering mine.34
Mild Christmas
On Christmas Day of eighty-nine,
The sun all day did pleasant shine;
The cows they would not eat their hay,
But o’er the pasture lands did stray.
Such winter day is seldom seen,
Instead of white the fields were green;
Colts and young cattle they did play,
Happy as in the month of May.
But Canadians do delight,
To see the landscape robed in white;
To them the sweetest music dwells
In merry tinkle of sleigh bells.
And land doth more abundant yield,
When the snow mantle covers field;
And farmer quick can load his sleigh,
And cheerful drive o’er icy way.
For true Canadians love the snow,
And like to hear old Boreas blow;
For with just pride they all do boast,
They love the winter’s cold and frost.
The Steamboat
In early times the swift steamboat
O’er the broad ocean did not float,
But ships were wafted o’er the seas,
With sails inflated by the breeze.
In progress they could not prevail,
If ’gainst ship’s haad did blow the gale;
And oft times for many a day
Becalmed on ocean’s breast they lay.
But now the mighty monarch, steam,
O’er land and sea doth rule supreme;
Steamship proudly ploughs the ocean,
Independent of wind’s motion.
From Scottish hill when I was boy,
I cried out in my childish joy;
The thought which filled my heart with glee,
America, I plainly see.
Then I was told to my amaze,
That it was far beyond my gaze;
The chart to me was then unfurled,
To prove I could not see whole world.
The truth to me was great surprise then,
That world was greater than horizon;
Our views through life they thus expand,
Beholding God’s creation grand.
Duties of Life
Life is greatly what we make it,
Through good and ill we must take it;
And we should not troubles borrow,
But strive to banish all our sorrow.
Each man for life should choose a mate,
And true love should cultivate;
For women unto us are given,
To transform the earth to Heaven.
Abroad the men should never roam,
But make a Paradise of home;
Domestic bliss is truest joy,
With wife and little girl and boy.
But all need to be forgiven,
And to put their trust in Heaven;
The truest joys are above,
Obtained alone but through Christ’s Love.
While doing right if you seem to fail,
You must not for a moment quail;
But at once banish all your fear,
Press nobly on in your career.
More honor far then you will gain.
Because you strove right to obtain;
And as you have been dutiful,
You’ve won good, true and beautiful.
Great Fire in Michigan
Farmer’s Loss
Many a homestead it was burned,
And many a family sadly mourned,
The death of those were near and dear,
But fire the tangled bush did clear.
And soon our country was more wealthy,
Now already ’tis more healthy;
’Twas cheap way matted brush to clear,
But for the loss of friends so near.
We lost our houso and barn and corn,
But for long we did not mourn;
For there came quick to our relief,
The nation’s aid to soothe our grief.
It seems to me now but a dream,
How our lives were saved in a broad stream;
Our cattle and horse there we drove,
And bears and wolves were there, by jove.
Though all were huddled in a jam,
Each wild beast was as quiet as lamb;
And there we were for three whole days,
Surrounded by the furious blaze.
Worse than the fire the awful smoke,
To death by hundreds it did choke;
Many thought it was judgment day,
When Heaven and earth would pass away.
Horace Greely and Mrs. Staunton
During the late great civil war,
Which did the Grand Republic jar
From its circumference to its centre,
The grand old mnn he did venture.
While chatting with a lady freely,
I demand, said Horace Greely,
And do not think my question wanton,
But answer me, Mrs. Staunton,
Would you go South and fight to quell,
Those bold men who do rebel;
If you got woman’s suffrage,
Would you in deadly war engage.
Our country now wants every man,
And of women too all we can;
Each to shoulder trusty rifle,
So South with us no more may trifle.
You’re champion of woman’s rights,
And should take part like men in flights;
Said she, I never could delight,
To slay a man in bloody fight.
So my fair hands I’ll not imbue,
But I will stay at home like you,
And urge the others on to war,
And keep from battle field afar.
But Mistress Staunton she was really
More robust than Horace Greely;
And she possessed a noble form,
And even now would face the storm.
Reflections After Reading “The Coming Race” and “Looking Backward”
When the great Bulwer’s pen did trace
The history of the coming race,
His hero to us hath unfurled
The glories of his new-found world.
This bold traveller he did venture
Far below our world’s centre;
He entered through an ancient mine,
And to us doth new world define.
Once all was discord and fierce wars,
Continuous engaged in jars,
Till they discovered great Vril power,
Then wars did cease from the same hour.
Mighty bolts from it were hurled,
Would soon have laid waste the world;
So for world’s preservation,
At once they stopped desolation.
All wars by them ar now despised,
Unfit for nations civilized;
And peaceful glories they do sing,
And are not slaves to warlike king.
Bellamy describes a poor rose,
Where in cold swamp it feebly grows;
Transplanted to the heat and light,
Bush blossoms are a charming sight.
Raise high up the banner
O’er both school-house and manor,
For this glorious standard
Doth lead on in the vanguard.
Teach our children to honor
This grand old famous banner;
Triumphant in many a field,
Our freedom it doth ever shield.
Children sang in happy manner
At the raising of the banner;
They followed leader all so good,
For they were led by Underwood.
And our brave youths will man her,
This pure, unspotted banner;
Where the Maple Leaf entwines
And with Union Jack combines.
A Pleasing Illusion
I saw a pleasing sight this spring,
Seem’d like a hundred ducks on wing;
Fluttering o’er the crystal water,
I felt like rippling o’er with laughter.
When the
