Part 1

Transcriber's Note:

Punctuation and possible typographical errors have been changed.

Archaic, variable and inconsistent spelling and hyphenation have been preserved.

Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

Inconsistencies in spelling and sequence of author names and poem titles in Table of Contents, body, Notes of Authors and Index of First Lines have been retained.

A TREASURY OF CANADIAN VERSE

For English natures, freemen, friends, Thy brothers and immortal souls.

_--Love thou thy Land._

A TREASURY

OF

CANADIAN VERSE

WITH BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

SELECTED AND EDITED BY

THEODORE H. RAND

D.C.L.

AUTHOR OF

'AT MINES BASIN AND OTHER POEMS'

NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO. LONDON: J. M. DENT & CO.

1900

_All rights reserved_

THIS ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH-CANADIAN VERSE

IS INSCRIBED WITH AFFECTIONATE ADMIRATION

TO

LOUIS FRÉCHETTE

LL.D., F.R.S. CAN.

C.M.G.

THE LAMARTINE OF CANADA

PREFACE

To one opening this book for the first time, it may be permissible to say that the verse included in the volume does not treat solely nor chiefly of Canadian themes. While Canadian environment and life necessarily supply the note of inspiration and impart its timbre and accent, the thought and emotion are of wide range, and seek response in the universal heart.

The practical energies of the Canadian people are abundantly attested by extensive systems of railways and canals, a wide commerce, systems of free public education in the several provinces and territories, liberal facilities for the higher education of men and women, and an enterprising and influential press. Thirty-two years have passed since the organization of the Dominion of Canada. These years have witnessed great progress in civil and social institutions, and no unworthy beginning of an adequate development of the illimitable material resources of Canada's vast domain. It is noteworthy, as marking the quality of life of the people, that from the earliest settlement of the several provinces there have not been wanting public evidences of the presence of the scientific and literary spirit. The latter has expressed itself both in prose and verse, and in these recent years there is an increased activity in literary production commensurate with the expanding life of Canada.

It has been my purpose to present worthy specimens of English-Canadian verse, selected from the entire field of our history. Such a collection should be of interest, not only to Canadians, but to all English-speaking peoples. Here are reflected the singular loveliness of our evanescent spring, the glow and luxuriant life of our hasting summer, the sensuous glory of our autumn, and the tingle of our frosty air and the white winter's cheer. Every form and aspect of natural beauty is, in some degree, caught and expressed--sometimes in homely, sometimes in classical phrase; often with striking simplicity, and generally with much purity of thought and an authentic note. A sane and wholesome spirit is characteristic of the verse, and its spiritual quality seems to me to be of a high order. The sympathetic reader will notice a marked pictorial use of nature in some of the specimens given, as well as a sensuous delight in nature itself, depicted, as it is, with true feeling and not infrequently with an almost flawless art. He will notice also that nature is often humanized, and tenderness, love and pity, and the subtle problems of man's life and existence, are enshrined in original and poetic similitudes to the melody of haunting music. Nor are there altogether wanting instances of that insight and vision which beholds the phenomenal and cosmic with rapt wonder as awesome beauty-gleams, radiant symbols, or sublime manifestations of the immanent and loving One in whom all things consist. Great personalities, high achievement, and noble character, also, have inspired Canadian song. From the earliest to the latest singer, a glowing devotion to native land and a loyal and loving reverence for our gracious Sovereign are characteristic notes. If it should appear that the abundant verse inspired by these latter motives is insufficiently represented in this anthology, it may suffice to say that such verse is already widely known and is not by any means the highest product of the Canadian muse. Room has been made for the less hackneyed and richer inspirations of our poets--the virgin freshness and promise of our country; the life and deeds of men everywhere; the yearnings of the individual soul; and the aspirations of a people after the noblest and the divinest. These, with domestic loves, have kindled our singers to beautiful expression that demands a wider appreciation, as supplying sustenance and stimulus essential to fulness of national and imperial life. It will be observed that not only in recent verse, but also in that of nearly fifty years ago, Canadian poets have given expression to Anglo-centric conceptions and aspirations, divining with poetic insight the coming good.

While the selections have been carefully made, it will be apparent that some verse has been included whose chief claim to recognition is found in local and popular associations. It should also be said that much popular verse has been excluded, in order that the volume be kept of usable form and size. It did not fall within the plan of this anthology to include sacred and devotional lyrics, otherwise not a few hymns must have found a place, notably Joseph Scriven's "What a Friend we have in Jesus," known as widely as the language is spoken.

The printing together of the selections from any author has been advisedly adopted, as affording a greater variety and interest than could be secured by an abstract or logical classification of the verse of the entire volume. The convenience of an alphabetical order of authors is apparent, while the dates supplied in the _Notes_ afford ample chronology. Here and there the reader may find unfilled dates of birth or death, or unexpanded initials of names, but all reasonable effort has been made to furnish complete and trustworthy information.

I wish to express my gratitude to Mr. Charles C. James, M.A., Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Ontario, who has given me free access to his valuable and extensive collection of the works of Canadian poets; to Mr. James Bain, Jr., of the Toronto Public Library, for special facilities for inspecting the excellent collection in his charge; and to Mr. E. S. Caswell, of the publishing house of William Briggs, for many courtesies, and specially for aid in procuring well-nigh inaccessible materials for examination. To the many persons who have so cordially responded to letters of inquiry, and whom I may not thank by name, I express my acknowledgments. The following special works have been of service: _Selections from Canadian Poets_ (1864), by Edward Hartley Dewart; _The Canadian Birthday Book_ (1887), by Seranus; _Songs of the Great Dominion_ (1889), by William Douw Lighthall, M.A., and Morgan's _Canadian Men and Women of the Time_.

Special thanks are rendered to the authors who have permitted the use of their poems, and to the various publishers for copyright permission. I regret that I was unable to secure permission to include any poems by Mr. William Wilfred Campbell. Perhaps the selections from my own verse should not appear in the volume. Their inclusion, it is proper to say, is in deference to the wishes of persons of acknowledged taste, rather than to any desire of my own.

A Canadian by birth, education, and life-service, as were my father and his father, my mother and her mother, I may be pardoned the expression of a feeling of national pride that the materials are so abundant from which to prepare a representative volume, much of whose contents will not suffer by comparison with the verse of older countries. I trust that this anthology may serve as an open door through which the voices of Canadian singers may vibrate yet more widely on sympathetic ears both at home and abroad.

T. H. R.

TORONTO, CANADA, _February. 1900_.

AUTHORS AND SELECTIONS

PAGE

THE WHITETHROAT (T. H. R.) 1

A

MARGARET H. ALDEN-- Mother's World 2

JOSEPH ANTISELL ALLEN-- _From_ "Daydreams" 2

GRANT ALLEN-- Only an Insect 3

WILLIAM TALBOT ALLISON-- "There sat the Women weeping for Thammuz" 6 The Men of the North 8 Vanishings 8

SOPHIE M. ALMON-HENSLEY-- Content 9 Song 10 There is no God 11

DUNCAN ANDERSON-- The Death of Wolfe 11 Sport 17

ALICE M. ARDAGH-- Sic Passim 20

ISIDORE G. ASCHER-- By the Firelight 22

B

SAMUEL MATHEWSON BAYLIS-- In Matabele Land 23 The Coureur-de-Bois 25

JOHN WILSON BENGOUGH-- Sir John A. Macdonald 26 Restitution 27

CRAVEN LANGSTROTH BETTS-- In Memoriam 28 Chaucer 30 Pope 30

BLANCHE BISHOP-- The Bride o' the Sun 31 Winter Flowers 31 Christmas Morn 32

EDWARD BLACKADDER-- Annapolis Royal 33

JEAN BLEWETT-- The Two Marys 33 She just keeps house for me 35 At Quebec 36

JOHN BREAKENRIDGE-- The Troubadour 36

JOHN HENRY BROWN-- The Parliament of Man 38 A Sunset 40

EDWARD BURROUGH BROWNLOW-- The Whippoorwill 40 The Sonnet 41

C

GEORGE FREDERICK CAMERON-- The Golden Text 41 Is there a God? 43 On Tiptoe 43 What matters it? 43

BLISS CARMAN-- Low Tide on Grand Pré 45 The Gravedigger 46 The Crimson House 48 Hack and Hew 49 Phillips Brooks 51 The White Gull 52

AMOS HENRY CHANDLER-- When Dora died 59

EDWARD J. CHAPMAN-- A Summer Night 60

ANNIE ROTHWELL CHRISTIE-- The Woman's Part 63 After the Battle 64 Welcome Home 66

GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE-- Skater and Wolves 67 To a Butterfly 68 Resentment 69 Ecclesiastes 69 A Child's Evening Hymn 69

HUGH COCHRAN-- Ideal 70

HEREWARD K. COCKIN-- The Death of Burnaby 70

SARA JEANETTE DUNCAN COTES-- The Poet 72

ISABELLA VALANCY CRAWFORD-- The Master-Builder 73 The Axe of the Pioneer 73 _From_ "The Helot" 74 The Sword 76 "These Three" 77

FRANCIS BLAKE CROFTON-- The Battle-Call of Anti-Christ 78

JOHN ALLISTER CURRIE-- My Mother 81

MARGARET GILL CURRIE-- By the St John 81

SARAH ANNE CURZON-- Visit of the Prince of Wales to Laura Secord 83 Invocation to Rain 85

D

NICHOLAS FLOOD DAVIN-- _From_ "Eos" 87

A. B. DE MILLE-- The Ice King 89 Ballad 91

JAMES DE MILLE-- _From_ "Behind the Veil" 92

EDWARD HARTLEY DEWART-- Shadows on the Curtain 96 On the Ottawa 97

FREDERICK AUGUSTUS DIXON-- A Feather's Message 98 Hinc Illæ Lachrymæ 99

WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND-- The Habitant's Jubilee Ode 101

JOHN HUNTER DUVAR-- John A'Var's Last Lay 104 The Minnesingers Lied 106 How Balthazar the King went down into Egypt 107

E

ARTHUR WENTWORTH HAMILTON EATON-- The Egyptian Lotus 109 Purple Asters 110 Deepening the Channel 111 The Phantom Light of the Baie des Chaleurs 112 The Meadow Lands 113 My Purest Longings spring 114 I watch the Ships 114

JAMES DAVID EDGAR-- This Canada of Ours 116

F

CONSTANCE FAIRBANKS-- The Junction 117 Halifax 117 Those far-off fields 118

JOSEPH KEARNEY FORAN-- The Aurora Borealis 118

WILLIAM HENRY FULLER-- A Song of the Sea 120

G

ALEXANDER RAE GARVIE-- _From_ "Phantasy" 121

H

PIERCE STEVENS HAMILTON-- _From_ "The Heroine of St John" 123

S. FRANCES HARRISON-- Villanelle 126 Chateau Papineau 127 September 128 November 128

THEODORE ARNOLD HAULTAIN-- Beauty 129

CHARLES HEAVYSEGE-- Magnanimous and Mean 131 Night 132 The Coming of the Morn 132 The Mystery of Doom 133

JOHN FREDERIC HERBIN-- Simon 133 The Diver 137 Across the Dykes 137 The Sonnet 138

ANNIE CAMPBELL HUESTIS-- Gentle-Breath 138 The Little White Sun 139 Twenty-Old and Seven-Wild 140

JAMES C. HODGINS-- Once More 145 A Greek Reverie 146

JOSEPH HOWE-- The Flag of Old England 147 The Deserted Nest 148

WILLIAM EDWARD HUNT-- Golden-Rod 141 The Sea's Influence 142 The Passing of Summer 142

RICHARD HUNTINGTON-- Sunrise on the Tusket 142 Louisburg 144

J

CHARLES EDWIN JAKEWAY-- An Unfinished Prophecy 149

E. PAULINE JOHNSON (Tekahiońwake)-- The Song my Paddle sings 155 At Husking Time 156 Shadow River 157 Brier 158 Prairie Greyhounds 159

K

ROBERT KIRKLAND KERNIGHAN-- The Song of the Thaw 160 Peepy is not dead 161

WILLIAM KIRBY-- The Marquis of Lorne's visit to the North-West 162 At Spencer Grange 163 _From_ "The Sparrows" 163

MATTHEW RICHEY KNIGHT-- Jacques Cartier 166 Sovereign Moments 167 The Mercy of God 167

L

ARCHIBALD LAMPMAN-- The Railway Station 168 Outlook 168 Among the Millet 169 The Loons 169 The Sun Cup 170 After Rain 170 June 172 September 174 The Goal of Life 177

MARY JANE KATZMANN LAWSON-- The Face in the Cathedral 177

SOPHIA V. GILBERT LEE-- The Brook 180

LILY ALICE LEFEVRE-- Imprisoned 180 Inspiration 181

R. E. MULLINS LEPROHON-- The Huron Chief's Daughter 182

WILLIAM DOUW LIGHTHALL-- The Artist's Prayer 184 The Sweet Star 186 My Native Land 186

STUART LIVINGSTON-- The Volunteers of '85 187 To E. N. L. 188 The King's Fool 189 Keats 192

ARTHUR JOHN LOCKHART-- Acadie 192 The Waters of Carr 193 The Lonely Pine 194

BURTON WELLESLEY LOCKHART-- _From_ "The Retrospect" 196 Love and Song 197 By the Gaspereau 197

JOHN E. LOGAN-- The Indian Maid's Lament 198

M

AGNES MAULE MACHAR-- William Ewart Gladstone 199 Schiller's Dying Vision 200 Love and Faith 202 A Madonna of the Entry 202

EVAN MACCOLL-- The Child of Promise 204 Glenorchy 205

ELIZABETH ROBERTS MACDONALD-- A Song of Seasons 205

JOHN MACFARLANE-- The Two Angels 206 A Grave in Samoa 207 A Midsummer Madrigal 208

KATE SEYMOUR MACLEAN-- Ballad of the Mad Ladye 208 Bird Song 210

ELIZABETH S. MACLEOD-- Alexander Mackenzie 211

A. D. MACNEILL-- The Sea-Gull 212

DONALD M'CAIG-- The Tramp 213

JAMES M'CARROLL-- A Royal Race 215 Dawn 216 The Grey Linnet 216

WILLIAM M'DONNELL-- _From_ "Manita" 217

BERNARD M'EVOY-- A Photograph in a Shop Window 218 Revised Proofs 218

THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE-- Our Ladye of the Snow 219

WILLIAM P. M'KENZIE-- Moonlight 224 Gabrielle 224 The Mother's Song 225 Lullaby Song 226

ALEXANDER M'LACHLAN-- Indian Summer 227 Bobolink 229 The Man who rose from Nothing 230

JOHN M'PHERSON-- The Mayflower 231 In the Woods 232

CHARLES MAIR-- Untamed 233 The Voice of the Pines 234 The Humming Bird 236 Innocence 236

GEORGE MARTIN-- Shelley 238 To My Canary Bird 238 Laleet 240

HELEN M. MERRILL-- The Blue Flower 241 At Edgewater 243 The Promise of Spring 243 Sun-Gold 244

SUSANNA MOODIE-- The Maple Tree 244 The Fisherman's Light 247

MARY MORGAN-- "In apprehension, so like a God" 247 Charity 248 Life 248

IRENE ELDER MORTON-- Browning 249 Completeness 250 My Garden Wall 251 In June 252 Song of the Pagan Princess 254 Song 254

CHARLES PELHAM MULVANEY-- Poppœa 255

GEORGE MURRAY-- The Thistle 256

N

H. M. NICKERSON-- A Recollection 260

O

CORNELIUS O'BRIEN-- St Cecilia 261

THOMAS O'HAGAN-- Ripened Fruit 261 The Song My Mother Sings 262

P

HORATIO GILBERT PARKER-- I loved my Art 264 It is enough 264 Their Waving Hands 265

AMY PARKINSON-- The Messenger Hours 265

FRANK L. POLLOCK-- Ad Bellonam 268 The Trail of Gold 269

R

ANDREW RAMSAY-- Jephtha's Daughter 270 I will not tell 271 Atkinson's Mill 272