Part 5

Canada has hunters many, Yet perhaps there is not any For skill and boldness can compare With our own Daniel Hebner.

In youth he was both tall and strong, And supple as a willow thong, He never fled from savage bear, Though bruin on hind legs would rear.

In hunting mink, or fox or coon, He was a second Daniel Boone, His rifle oft brought down the deer, Which to his table brought good cheer.

But through his life his highest aim Was to kill the savage game, To track the wild cat to its lair And see its eyes so fiercely glare.

But he oft longs for a cut ham, Sweet as from bear near to Putnam, For he waged his fiercest war In big swamp of Dorchester.

Now in the winter Dan he rides Warm 'mong his bear and coon skin hides, He lets the younger men now snare The beaver, muskrat and otter.

FIGHT WITH A BEAR IN THE NORTHWEST.

Two youths employed at the fur fort Resolved to have half day of sport, From Jasper House, in the far north, For game they joyous issued forth, The factor of the Hudson Bay Granted them a few hours play, And it was in cold winter time When thick on lake was glassy rime, But beneath, o'er all their route, They saw below big speckled trout, With hatchet ice they did clear, And the beauteous trout did spear.

Soon bear they saw and youths did skate, Resolved for to seal his fate, A pistol shot made bruin roar, And from him trickled drops of gore, They round him skate and fresh blood drew, When they at him the hatchet threw; He first chased one and then the other, For men on skates did him bother, But the bold Scottish lad McBeth Alas he nearly met his death, When he so boldly did press near To probe with the sharp fish spear.

They knew their game was no trifle, So they secured a trusty rifle, Returning he had fled to wood, But they traced him with his blood, They saw the elder bushes sway While he did force through them his way, They skated swiftly o'er the ice And were near brushwood in a trice, Full soon the savage beast is slain With rifle bullet in his brain, And now these hunters do take pride In skin as large as Buffalo hide.

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 becomes more near.

But his two friends so brave and true Row quick 'longside in a canoe, And fire in bruin leaden balls, Thus saving friend from bear and falls.

BROKEN RAFT ADVENTURE.

A man on Nova Scotian Bay On broken raft was borne away, Right out on the open sea Where the storm did blow so free, No shelter from the wind or wave He thought the gulf would be his grave, He had no food life to sustain, He laid him down there to remain, What happened he did know no more, But old man on Prince Edward's shore Saw raft drifting near his shed And thought the poor man was quite dead, He called for help and soon they bore His lifeless body to the shore, But old man he did them desire To place the body near the fire, And wrap it up in blankets warm, Which did act like to a charm, And soon the breath it did return, With gratitude his heart did burn, To think he was again restored Unto his friends whom he adored.

FIGHT OF A BUFFALO WITH WOLVES.

A buffalo, lord of the plain, With massive neck and mighty mane, While from his herd he slowly strays, He on green herbage calm doth graze, And when at last he lifts his eyes A savage wolf he soon espies, But scarcely deigns to turn his head For it inspires him with no dread, He knows the wolf is treacherous foe But feels he soon could lay him low, A moment more and there's a pair Whose savage eyes do on him glare, But with contempt them both he scorns Unworthy of his powerful horns; Their numbers soon do multiply But the whole pack he doth defy, He could bound quickly o'er the plain And his own herd could soon regain; His foes they now are full a score With lolling tongues pant for his gore, He hears their teeth all loudly gnash So eager his big bones to crash, On every side they him infest, The north, the south, the east, the west Fierce rage doth now gleam from his eye, Resolved to conquer or to die, 'Round him they yelp and howl and growl, He glares on them with angry scowl, They circle closer him around, He roars and springs with mighty bound, And of his powers gives ample proof, Felling them with horn and hoof, Though some lay dead upon the plain, Yet their attack was not in vain, For they have tasted of his blood, Resolved it soon shall pour a flood, He feels that they have torn his hide And streams gush from each limb and side, He rushes on them in despair And tosses them full high in air, But others rush on him and pull Down to the earth that glorious bull; On the flesh of this noble beast Their bloody jaws they soon do feast, Full worthy of a better fate Far from his herd and his dear mate, Who now do look for him in vain His bones do whiten now the plain.

BEAR HUNT.

Two youths came over from York state, Bill Brown and Tom Dawes his mate, For many months they were wishing The sport of hunting and of fishing.

They rowed along the lake in punt, When tired of fishing they would hunt, At river's mouth they caught fine trout, In woods close by they saw bear's snout.

In front of her play little chubs, Fat and slick her darling cubs, Kind thoughts in their breasts they smother And cruelly they shoot the mother.

And bullet fearful tore her jaws, A bloody wound, but with her paws, Erect in air an awful sight, She was prepared for her young to fight.

But this did not daunt bold Bill Brown, With club he tried to knock her down, But she gave him an awful hug, With paws she at him fierce did tug.

He would been smothered but for Dawes, Who rescued him from her great paws, With club he knocked her on the crown And thus he saved the life of Brown.

She rose again with savage frown And quickly broke two ribs for Brown, His clothes were all torn with her claws, She smeared with blood both Brown and Dawes.

But Dawes now quick doth end the strife By stabbing her with hunting knife, And now around this hunter bold His bear skin coat keeps out the cold.

COON HUNTING.

Canadians oft by light of moon Love to go a hunting coon, But this our tale it is no yarn, While chopping down tree Henry Karn Found therein a hollow chamber Full of coons who there did clamber, It made them a home superior, Warm and snug in the interior.

And he did count therein eleven Who long had found it a safe haven, But it is sad to read their fate, For out of them he slaughtered eight. But trouble to him now occurs What shall he do with those fine furs, Shall he grand overcoat display Or make them into robe for sleigh.

SAILOR'S YARN.

While voyaging on northern seas For days we could not catch a breeze, But were held fast as if in vice Surrounded by the bergs of ice, We could not move the ship or boat But on low, flat iceberg we did float; Of provisions we took good store With big oars we rowed the berg to shore, And pride and joy each one feels When we had caught ten thousand seals, And our brave boys each one they dare To boldly capture great white bear; On floating berg we built with boards A storehouse for to hold our hordes, We had a stove and stock of coal, So we enjoyed this voyage droll, In centre of berg we dug a hole And erected a strong pole, The frost and ice soon held it fast And well it served us for a mast, On which we stretched out our sails And scud along before the gales, Until we came to an island And on its sides it seemed highland, And Britain being queen of seas, For her this island we did seize, To give her new coaling station For to benefit the nation, So when we had sailed landward We erected British standard On the highest mountain top, Which graceful down to sea did slope, We cast our anchor in its side So to explore it far and wide, But what was our astonishment Without the least admonishment, Our island soon away did float As if it was a mighty boat. Can you believe this wondrous tale? It proved to be a monster whale, And o'er the ocean quick it flew With our great iceberg and our crew, Until it came to Newfoundland, Where all did safe on the ground land; Poor whale was stranded on the beach And his sea home no more could reach, Our crew in great wealth each on shares, By selling whale and seals and bears, We hired steam tug to reach our ship, Now free from ice we had quick trip, And she being loaded down with seal, And we all shared in common weal, For joy each of us had reason, Making two trips in one season.

HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS.

Two hunters near to Hudson Bay, Their names John Grant and Tom McKay, Their skill and courage naught could daunt, The boldest one perhaps was Grant.

The winter was their busy time, When all was snow and frost and rime, It paid best then to pull trigger, For then furs were better thicker.

While setting trap Grant cut through boot And quick the blood gushed from his foot, The horrid scene, now who can paint, For loss of blood soon makes him faint.

But his kind partner Tom McKay The rush of blood he tried to stay, And when its flow did somewhat slack He carried him upon his back.

As homeward he doth slowly go, A track of blood is o'er the snow, But long and weary is the way And soon exhausted is McKay.

He feels assistance he doth want, For to rescue his dear friend Grant, He stood him up against a tree While the blood yet flowed quite free.

Now wolves had visited the trap And blood from snow they eager lap, Then tracked poor Grant, for on the snow The blood in heavy drops did flow.

He soon got help, then John McKay Doth hurry back without delay, And what a sight then met their gaze Filled them with horror and amaze.

The sight their minds will ever haunt, Mangled by wolves was their friend Grant, But round him several wolves were slain With bullet holes right through their brain.

For he had fought hard for his life, And some he slew with hunting knife, And he is still quite surrounded, While fierce brutes are badly wounded.

Now clubs doth soon dash out their brains And then they gather Grant's remains, They cut two saplings both same size, With twigs they lace them acrosswise.

So it then made for the poor dead A good soft and pliable bed, Now to his home remains they bear, Where his poor wife is in despair.

WILD GOOSE SHOT AT MIDNIGHT, NOV., 1888.

From the regions of the north Where the waters now are frozen, Towards the south they issue forth A flock of wild geese of four dozen.

But when they flew o'er the river Thames They swooped down to take a dive, But sport with shot gun at them aims And one at least did not survive.

And he now says it tasted fine, And that it was both fat and big, A hungry man did on it dine, Satisfied with just one leg.

He was sorry fowl to kill, But they awoke him from his slumber, The air with cackle they did fill, And thus they lost one of their number.

ADVENTURES WITH BEARS.

I bought of land two miles square, I knew not it contained a bear, I never thought there would be any, But alas, I found many; The bush was thick and mat and tangle, It made it a perfect jungle, But one mile square of good dry land Was enough for me to take in hand; Swamp I could reach but when frozen, Then I saw bears by the dozen, Thick as monkies in Africa, And many a strange trick I saw, Gamboling with the greatest ease, High up the trunks of the big trees, While some were swinging from branches And hanging on them with their haunches; But quietly I then tilled my farm, The bears at first done me no harm, Till one night I was roused by dogs, And found a bear was at my hogs, He threw a pig across each shoulder And there I was a sad beholder, But to the house I quickly run For to procure my loaded gun, And as he could not run but slow, So heavy laden through the snow, I him full soon did overtake, And his courage quick I did shake, For by the leg my good bold dog He bravely caught the thievish rogue, And this move made him soon fork o'er To me at once the largest porker, For moment squeeze it did pig stun, But up he rose and quick he run, The bear now scared his only hope, To let at once the other pig drop, I shot the bear right through the eyes And secured a valued prize, There's nothing I love so to eat In winter time as the bear's meat, So a victory I soon won And sold for high price grease and skin; The bears on honey love to thrive, One morn was wrecked my best beehive, That day I was to sell the honey For to raise some ready money, But bear my views he did despise And proudly carried off the prize; That night I set a good spring gun, With rails I built for him a run, Open all way to hive of bees, He tried again a hive to seize, But all his efforts were in vain, He sprung the gun and he was slain, O'er the fact I felt quite funny It well repaid me for my honey; One bear was playing on me joke, Carrying off all my young stock, I set my trap, built round it fence, Resolved he ne'er would get from thence, But at the first he did me hoax, For he was cunning as a fox, He dug under and stole my bait, But I next sunk trap and sealed his fate, My good iron trap again it caught A great bear but it came to naught, Breakfast he had at my expense And he then showed wondrous sense, Trap he picked up with greatest ease And dashed it to pieces on the trees, But blacksmith soon did it repair For I was bound to have that bear, I attached to trap a heavy clog, It was like lifting a small log, I drove in it some sharp iron spikes Which would cut deep each time he strikes, He tried again to steal my bait And break my trap at the old rate, But he soon dashed out his own brains, His carcass it brought me great gains; A neighbour man who would not work I thought that he did steal my pork, But at last I found long black hairs, Then I knew it was the bears, I put through barrels rods of iron So they a bear neck would environ, And rods together they would snap, I found him choked quite dead in trap, Since then my strife with bears did cease, Now many years I've lived in peace.

QUEEN'S JUBILEE ODE, 1887.

Canada proves her devotion To her who rules o'er land and sea, For loyal thoughts do hearts inspire, To make more glorious empire.

'Tis fifty years since Queen was crowned, Her brow with golden circlet bound, She was a girl, graceful, fair, And has felt joy and anxious care.

Happy years of married life She enjoyed as Albert's wife, But Albert died, the wise and good, And she was left in widowhood.

In her reign the power of steam On land and sea became supreme, And all now have strong reliance In fresh victories of science.

For man doth lightning now employ And uses it for message boy, And when he wants a brilliant light, Electric orbs do shine most bright.

Britain's empire is extending, Truth and justice ever blending, May strife and discord ever cease, And jubilee inaugurate peace.

WARS IN QUEEN VICTORIA'S REIGN.

We will now sing in thoughtful strain Of wars in Queen Victoria's reign. The Russian bear did ages lurk, All ready for to spring on Turk, For Russian statesmen did divine That they should conquer Constantine, But like a greyhound after hare The Lion did drive back the Bear, And made it feel the British rule At gates of strong Sebastopol. Then insolent was Persia, Till Lion had to dictate law, And while engaged in scenes like these He was attacked by the Chinese, And for this outrage all so wanton He then resolved to seize on Canton. But soon there came a dismal cry Of slaughter'd Britons from Delhi, The Bengal Tiger sick with gore Did tremble at the Lion's roar, But Britain got a serious shock By losing of brave Havelock, But Campbell 'mid a numerous foe Full quick these armed hosts did o'erthrow, In Abyssinian dungeons vile Lay captives of Great Britain's isle, But soon the tyrant Theodore Lay sadly weltering in his gore. The savage tribes of Ashantee From British troops did quickly flee, In Afghan and Zulu wars Many did find their deadly scars; In the land of the Pharaohs The Christians suffered cruel woes, Till in Alexandria Bay The British iron clads did display, The mighty power they did wield, While their steel sides from harm did shield, And British army on the land Marched bravely o'er the burning sand, And Arabi found 'twas useless labor, His strong trench of Tel-el-Kebir, Egyptians did not wish to feel In their breasts cold British steel, Their great power was soon laid low And Wolseley entered Grand Cairo. Egyptians now no more revile The Christians on the banks of Nile. We have sung three heroes' names. Havelock from the land of Thames, And Campbell from the banks of Clyde, And Wolseley from Liffy's side, When rose, thistle, shamrock unite They do prove victors in the fight, Now Britain once more does command Respect alike on sea and land, But now may wars forever cease And mankind ever live in peace.

CRIMEAN WAR.

At the announcement that Britain was to declare war Kossuth the Hungarian Patriot declared in an address in England that the British Lion was a sea dog but helpless on land.

When the British Lion offered aid to the Turk, Round many lips a sneer of serious doubt did lurk, They said he was at home on sea, but when on land He would be as a ship wrecked upon the strand, Or like some huge ungainly crocodile Upon the marshy banks of sluggish Nile, Who could move gaily on the deep But on dry land could scarcely creep, But up the Alma heights he rushed like greyhound after hare, And in a moment by the throat he seized the Russian bear, Which begged so hard for mercy his life he did it spare, And closely now it is confined within its native lair, For its strong fortress of Sebastpol Was forced to submit to Great Britain's rule.

INDIAN MUTINY.

British infants who were nobly born Were from their bleeding mother's bosom torn, And with the bayonet dashed upon the street There left to lie for native dogs to eat.

But the British Lion he quick o'erthrew, Both the high and the low Hindoo, Now they respect the Christian laws For fear of British Lion's paws.

BEAR AND WHALE.

A fable of the British and Russian dispute of 1885.

Russians suffer sad distress For lack of freedom of the press, But oft' times they are full able To enlighten with a fable.

And they enjoy a humorous tale Of a bear and monster whale, The bear he went to the sea shore The mighty ocean to explore.

And this it quick enraged the whale Who beat the ocean with his tail, With foaming words he told the bear That he would strip his hide and hair.

If he ever found him more Encroaching on his sea shore, The bear replied I will not quail At frothing words of any whale.

For you are a lump of blubber, Whale rejoined you are land lubber, Thus bandying epithets so vile, Of bear grease and of whale oil.

Sharks and fishes of the ocean Were thrown into great commotion, The hawks and eagles of the air, Lions and tigers gathered there.

Bear he wished the whale to slaughter, But he was afraid of water, The great whale feared that he might strand If he ventured on the dry land.

So at last great Russia Bear Went back again to his own lair, And British whale content to be Greatest monarch of the sea.

GORDON AND BURNABY, 1885.

When the Chinese did rebel, Gordon alone he could them quell, With justice they his name revere, The man who bullets did not fear.