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 Edward Bugkadddr. 
 
OUa 
 
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 UCt'^lAjUl/'N-' 
 
 FAN0IES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 '/^. 
 
 \ 
 
 A Series of Poems, Origirjal and Translated, 
 
 EY- 
 
 ED WARD BLACKADDER. 
 
 HALIFAX: 
 
 NOVA SCOTIA PRINTING COMPANY. 
 1890. 
 
 
INDEX. 
 
 The Vision paoi 
 
 A Suicide 1 
 
 Glory once a Garland Made •* 
 
 A Song of f he Wind 6 
 
 Augustus' address to his daughter Julia * 
 
 iouth 7 
 
 On Habits 8 
 
 A Hymn ... 9 
 
 The Lost Child '. 10 
 
 The Fate of Bonstettin . . ^0 
 
 The Heroine of the Sierra Morena ^* 
 
 A Sfrange Tale of Love 19 
 
 The Parting ' 24 
 
 The Wandering Jew 29 
 
 The PoUio of Virgil..... ...' 31 
 
 Fragments ' 34 
 
 Epitaphs and Epigrams 37 
 
 OdeonDeathof John B. Finch ^* 
 
 Farewell to the School ^2 
 
 Ode on Death of Leslie Davison ^^ 
 
 Deuce tnke Old Time 44 
 
 Ragnanok, from Edda 45 
 
 Fragments , . . 46 
 
 To Stella 47 
 
 The Greatest Joy 48 
 
 Fragments from Illiad: " The Descent of Apollo S 
 
 On the First Snow Storm. .. '^0 
 
 Horace. Book L, Ode IV. ^ 
 
 Boat Song 51 
 
 Be Proud, ye Lordlings •'>2 
 
 The Prisoner of the Bastile 53 
 
 To the Moon 54 
 
 A Summer Sunset 56 
 
 Demon's Scmg 57 
 
 M.vrza's Song with Scene 58 
 
 I Caught a Pretty Bird called Love ^^ 
 
 The Flowers that grew on Mother's Grave ^ 
 
 Eclogue in Memory of Aubrey Jones *^ 
 
 Canada's Thermopylae 62 
 
 66 
 
 I 
 
PREF^ACHC. 
 
 Tl 18 a comn,on practice among writers, when they make their 
 
 1 appearance-especially for the first time-before the public 
 
 to offer some general remarks to their readers (if they have thi 
 
 good fortune to have any) on the subject of their productions ; and 
 
 the present author must, though the task l,e hard, follow the 
 
 prevailing custom. 
 
 •' 'Tis pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print, 
 A book's a book, although there's nothing in't'"— 
 says Byron, and some critics will probably give that Is the only 
 reason why the author of '« Fancies of Boyhood" saw fit to 
 pubhsh. The remark may be true in part, but not as a whole It 
 IS undoubtedly pleasant to see your name in print, that is providing 
 It be not printed in the criminal list of some newspaper : but the 
 pleasing sensation of seeing my name in print is not the only 
 reason that led me on to the present undertaking. As a certain 
 poet says : 
 
 " Lowly my lay, but yet, methinks, not wrong 
 To pen these stanzas with an idle hand ; 
 The grey bird twitters out his rugged song 
 Beside the robin with the note so grand ; 
 The heavens do not but for one songster stand. 
 The earth but for great bards was never made.' 
 To all wlio sing, her glorious realms expand, 
 Some in fame's sunlight stand, wliile some in shade 
 The last O may I claim its lesser realm to invade." 
 The writer strikes the point exactly. Altliough Acadia boasts 
 such favored cliildren of fame as Roberts, Vivien, Lockhart, Eaton 
 who occupy heights which the lowly author of these poor lines may 
 
-y J-.- T ;v 
 
 VI 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 never hope to gain, yet he pleads the excuse " That the grey bird 
 may twitter out his rugged song he ide the robin with the note 
 so grand," for both birds till tiiuir destined place in naturo. 
 
 As to the productions themselves, the title " Fancies of 
 Boyiiood " explain their nature. All were written between the 
 ages of twelve and nineteen, and excepting three, "The Lost 
 Child," " The Wandering Jew," and " Translation of the PoUio," 
 before the age of eighteen ; wliich early age will account for some 
 irregularities of metre and crudities of construction. As to the 
 worth of the pieces, I must of necessity leave the judgment of that 
 to the public, but will feel (Oh, sad resource ! ) that if they are 
 worthy of no praise, but possess at least a good moral character, 
 they deserve no censure, and thus left alone, will pass into oblivion. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 EDWARD liLACKADDER. 
 
 Wol/rUle, November IS, ISSO. 
 
 P. S.— I must not forget to tender my most sincere thanks to 
 H. Sidney Davison, of "The Acadian," for his many kindly 
 suggestions and friendly and instructive criticisms. 
 
T 
 
 F'ANGlEg 01^ BOYHOOD. 
 
 THE VISION. 
 
 The following piece ia supposed to be spoken In an Arabian— a 
 character in an unfiuishe.l poem-which thus explains th'j peculiarity 
 of thought and structure. 
 
 Oi FEARFUL dream \\\y soul oppressed. Methouc^ht 
 
 rht 
 
 <s(k I stood in a wide vale ; before rae strai<ri_ 
 t/ A mountain towered aloft, so far that sight 
 Grew dizzy gazing at his heavenly crown. 
 The sun had reached the summit of his course, 
 And o'er the mountain hung, whon suddenly 
 A voice, re-echoed by the fartherest orbs. 
 From heaven resounded : " No'.v the end has come. 
 And Truth and Justice o'er the earth shall reign." 
 The awful speaking ceased, when lo, the sun 
 Burst in ten thousand fragments, with a roar 
 So deep and mighty that from star oo star. 
 From great Orion to the northern Bear 
 And starry Hercules, it sv^riftly rolled, 
 Shaking the universe wi&h horrid jar. 
 Clashing together in destructive rage. 
 The stars fled back to chaos. From the moon, 
 
2 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 Hung in the empyrean, drops of blood, — 
 Red, fiery, ghastly, — 'gan to fall : and earth, 
 Quaking with fear, received the direful flood 
 Upon her heaving breast : the dying moon 
 Thus shed herself in tears, weeping in death ; 
 And th' impenetrable shroud of night came down. 
 And oh ! the silence that around did fall ! — 
 Silence so deep that Nature was appalled. 
 And but the quivering of a leaf had seemed 
 A sound as of a mountain overthrown. 
 Then as I stood in terror, lo ! a gleam 
 Of light, pale as the beam of the young moon, 
 Played round the summit of the mount, which now 
 Emerged to view ; and all the valley round 
 Was bathed in spectral light. So feeling dense 
 Had been the darkness, tiiat the change, tho' slight, 
 Mine eyes bore not, but closed ; and when again 
 My sight uncovered was, upon the heiglit 
 'Twas fixed, and in the pale sepulchral glare 
 Two forms appeared, so vast that each one seemed 
 As if a planet in her arms could rest ; 
 Of woman's form they seemed, their circling robes 
 Enormous thunder clouds. 
 
 An arm of each 
 Encircled other's form ; grasped by tlie hand 
 Unprisoned, one a miglity balance held 
 With Justice thereon blazoned, word of light. 
 The free hand of her sister held a book 
 High o'er her form, and Truth, a burning word, 
 Blazed from the volume. 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 8 
 
 lOwn. 
 
 I, 
 
 h now 
 
 se 
 
 slight, 
 
 ain 
 
 emed 
 [•obes 
 
 Tlion upon tlie face 
 Of each I cast mine eye ; how beautiful ! 
 From each the licrht came forth, whose gloaming beam 
 Had lighted hill and valley all around 
 With now increasing brilliance. Justice' face 
 Shone with a royal beauty, which repelled 
 The tyrant and oppressoi- ; and her eye 
 Gazed on the form of Truth with heavenly love. 
 
 On th' other's brow Frankness and Courage sat 
 
 A courage that defied both place and time— 
 
 While her bright eyes gazed outward o'er the world. 
 
 Upon the head of each a crown was set, 
 
 Inwove with purest gold and costliest pearls ; 
 
 And from beneath it downward streamed their hair, 
 
 In raven tresses to the middle zone. 
 
 O'ercome with fear, prone on the earth I fell, 
 
 And swooned, as if the cold embrace of death 
 
 Was round me ; and when motion once again 
 
 Returned, behold another universe 
 
 Was there ; on high a brighter sun the world 
 
 Bathed in a brilliance all unknown before. 
 
 The meadows smiled, in greener verdure clad. 
 
 And fairer flowers bloomed ; the lakes and seas 
 
 Were hushed in mirrored calmness, and the streams 
 
 Kept chorus with the birds ; the world was peace. 
 
 Justice and Truth dominion held o'er all. 
 
 With this I woke, and on my ears the song 
 
 Of birds fell soothing. Was't it all a dream ? 
 
 )rd, 
 
FANCIES OP BOYHOOD. 
 
 A SUICIDE. 
 
 T\ ARK gloomed the falling night, 
 IF The dreary wind howled wild, 
 The moon refused her light, 
 
 The river hoarse defiled 
 Between his rocky cliffs 
 
 In sullen grandeur down 
 Unto the sea, where lifts 
 
 Each wave his foaming crown. 
 
 Yet in that dreadful hour. 
 
 Beneath that threatening sky, 
 When the thunder roared its power, 
 
 And blasting lightnings fly, 
 A white-robed maiden stood — 
 
 Her hand stretched forth on high. 
 Thus to the raging flood 
 
 Rose her despairing cry : 
 
 " Ye roaring heavens, oh, where 
 
 May broken hearts find sleep 
 Save where the billows rear 
 
 Their crests along the deep ? 
 My love is false as Hell ; 
 
 My virgin honour stained — 
 Farewell all earth, farewell ! 
 
 My latest hour is gained." 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 6 
 
 Again a bHiulin;:^ flash 
 
 Tliat made the heavens glow — 
 A leaping form — a plash — 
 
 The waters closed below. 
 As from the cliff she sprang, 
 
 A deafening crash was given ; 
 Her spirit, as it rang, 
 
 Had winged its way to heaven. 
 
 GLORY ONCE A GARLAND MADE. 
 
 /gl LORY once a garland m.ade 
 \\ And merrily she chanted : 
 
 " The Thistle, Shamrock, Rose, have I, 
 But yet another's wanted." 
 
 For many years she searched in vain, 
 
 She could no flower discover, 
 Until she crossed with bold De Monts, 
 
 The stormy ocean over. 
 
 And there she saw the flower of May* 
 Forth from its covert peeking. 
 
 " Oh thei-e," right joyfully she cried, 
 " The flower I've been seeking." 
 
 She plucked, and soon the blossom sweet 
 
 It's fair companions greeted ; 
 And Glory cned right joyfully : 
 
 " My garland's now completed." 
 
 •The Mayflower, the well-known emblem of Nova Scotia. 
 
■I 
 
 ({ 
 
 FANCIES OP BOYHOOD. 
 
 A SONG OF THE WIND. 
 
 I'VE been to the land where the orange blows, 
 And the palm-tree fair in its beauty grows, 
 Wliere tlie flowers bedewed with their crystal tears. 
 Are sleeping at niglit from their noonday cares ; 
 Where the laughing streamlets sweetly sing 
 Away to their parent hurrying ; 
 
 Where the date-palm blooms and the camphor yields 
 It's incense sweet to the breathing fields ; 
 Where summer keeps his eternal reign 
 And the sun shines bright o'er the smiling plain, 
 And the fair earth, kissed by the rosy morn, 
 Sweet blushes her lovely face adorn. 
 I've been to the land of the frozen north 
 Where the frost king comes from his caverns forth ; 
 Where the wild deer bounds from his rocky home 
 And the snowy bear for his prey doth come ; 
 Where the ice-bergs float I coldly sweep. 
 While the sea gull sleeps on the lonely deep. 
 And the midnight sun shines cold and far 
 Like a shadow o'er the horizon's bar, 
 And the darkness drear of the endless night 
 Is painted wide by the northern light. 
 I laugh as I sweep o'er mount and glen. 
 Then back to my cave to go foi'th f rain. 
 
 i! 
 li 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 sd tears, 
 
 f yields 
 
 m, 
 
 brth ; 
 me 
 
 ' 
 
 AUGUSTUS' ADDRESS TO HIS 
 DA UGHTER JULIA. 
 
 [WRiriEN AT THE AGE OF TWELVE.] 
 
 EAREW^aL ! farewell ! degraded child, 
 Oh ! must thou go from me ? 
 How can my heart be reconciled 
 In parting thus from thee ? 
 
 How wretched seems all earthly things 
 Since thou from bie must part ! 
 
 Oh ! why did sin her sable wings 
 Spread o'er thy youtliful heart ? 
 
 • 
 
 Oh ! would thy seed in* youthful days 
 
 Sown in life's garden been 
 Pure as the heavenly sun's bright rays 
 
 Cast on the earth so gi-een. 
 
 My prayer is answered not, ah ! no— 
 
 That thou should'st ever be 
 Pure as the newly-fallen snow 
 
 Or pearls beneath the sea. 
 
 These locks so hoary thou did'st make 
 
 By sorrow's bitter knife ; 
 Man's time is as the snowy flake — 
 
 Where are thy hopes, O life ? 
 
i 
 
 ! i 
 
 8 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 YOUTH. 
 
 OH, youth is tlie fane of ambition ! 
 V^uin fancies make captive the heart ! 
 Ami dreams of exalted position 
 And fame in the future, impart 
 A glow to our present condition, 
 
 That soothes with its balm Qvnvy smart. 
 
 How sundered are dreaming and being ; 
 
 How our gilded dreams melt into air; 
 What pictures we paint, never seeino- 
 
 Realities come to our share ; 
 What hopes have been broke by the fleeing 
 
 Ur moment on moment each year ! 
 
 Shall the dreams of my childliood have being ?■ 
 
 Their reality ever be mine ? 
 Shall my hopes for the future be springing, 
 
 Or fall withered and blasted by time ? 
 Shall greatness attend on mv cliuLdno- 
 
 1^ ame s shadowy mountain to climb ? 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 9 
 
 ON HABITS. 
 
 Tl ^^^'^'^^ ^^^^ cliaiicing hy a brook to rove, 
 ^ With careless fingers traced a narrow course, 
 «/ For it to flow in ; and tlie new-born stream 
 Scarce trickled throucrh its channel. Years on years 
 Rolled by ; the youth to manhood came, then age 
 Whitened his locks and weakened all his limbs ; 
 Then as it chanced again beside that stream 
 He wandered, and beliold its course was changed. 
 The channel he had made had wider grown 
 And wider — as the tiny wave crept through. 
 Until deserted was its ancient course. 
 The flowing stream is life ; the narrow way 
 Traced by the careless hand was Habit— grown 
 Until the current of our life is chauired. 
 
 1 
 
 A H YMN. 
 
 I IKE a rose in the wilderness blooming, 
 \\ As a spring in the desert might be. 
 As the sun to the heavens, sweet Jesus, 
 Thy bountiful love is to me ! 
 
 Though darkly the tempests are gathering 
 That threaten my soul with alarms. 
 
 Their terrors can never ap})all me. 
 Safe, safe in Thy sheltering arms. 
 

 i I III 
 
 10 
 
 FANCrHS OF DOYIIOOD. 
 
 A SONNET. 
 
 (On seeing a Spur worn by Napoleon, in Acadia Museum.) 
 
 CITRONG iron, emblem of tlie lieart of him 
 
 \\ Who once was thy possessor — him whose food 
 
 Was gloiy, tariiislied by tlie millions' Ijlood ; 
 And Europe bowed before his every whim, 
 Awed by the form of CoiKjuost fierce and grim. 
 The foot that bore thy massive form hath trod 
 O'er fallen nations with Destruction's flood, 
 Raging behind, o'erwhelming every rood 
 Of fallen fre(3dom ; filling every land 
 W^ith shapeless desolation, till the world. 
 Tired of bondage, grasped once more the brand. 
 And the dread tyrant from his height was hurled 
 To utter ruin, and on foreign strand 
 He died, attended by a stranger's hand. 
 
 THE LOST CHILD. 
 
 A TRUE STORY. 
 
 ON the sea beach one sunny afternoon 
 Two children sported ; one a happy boy, 
 With clustering sal)le locks hung round a face 
 Glowing with hues of health, and a dark eye 
 Full of wild frolic and of childish glee ; 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 11 
 
 A .sister, his companion, gold luu* liair 
 
 And blue lier eyes, as is the siininior sky 
 
 Cloudless at eve, j^et lier expression bore 
 
 A likeness to the other's. With the sand 
 
 They builcled towers and castles, and the shells 
 
 Served them for ornaments and stately walks, 
 
 And markinf^ ij^ardens round ; and now and then 
 
 Tlieir structures would be levelled as the tide 
 
 Rose onward up the beach ; then would the shout 
 
 And joyous laugh arise, and the fair boy 
 
 Would say unto his fairer mate : " Oh ! Nell, 
 
 What fun 'twill be to build them up again — 
 
 Up where the waves can't i-each them ;" then would she 
 
 Laugh too, and with her littlti apron filled 
 
 With pretty shells tread lightly after him ; 
 
 Then soon another structure rose on high, 
 
 Bedecked the same • and thus they played with hearts 
 
 O'erflowed with childish joy — a joy like Heaven's. 
 
 At last, with sudden start, cried Will: "Just think 
 
 What fun 'twill be to bring our Rover down 
 
 Upon the beach to play and romp with us ; 
 
 You wait here, Nell, and guard our castle ; I 
 
 Will just run home and bring dear Rover down." 
 
 " All right," cried little blue-eyes, " I'll stay here." 
 
 Away ran Willie, full of hope and joy 
 
 And expectation for the coming play 
 
 With much-loved Rover. Soon he reached his home 
 
 And called his pet, and they together both 
 
 Went bounding towards the shore. Short space it took, 
 
 But yet when there he came no child was seen, 
 
 Though still the castle stood as when he left. 
 

 12 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 But Willie smiled and said : " So Noll has hid 
 
 To try me, but I'll find her out for all," 
 
 He quickly searched behind the neighbouring rock, 
 
 And in the alders and the spicy fir 
 
 That grew upon the bank ; then where the tide 
 
 Kissed his feet numnuring ; but all in vain. 
 
 Fear seized his boyisli heart ; he cried aloud : 
 
 " Nell, oh ! dear Nell, my sister, answer me ; 
 
 Don't stay away so long ; 'tis time to leave 
 
 Our playing and go home to mannna now ; 
 
 Do please come home ?" 
 
 His pleading childish tones 
 
 Were answered by their echoes ; all was still. 
 
 ^liort space he stood, and then with burning tears 
 
 Wetting his glowing cheeks, he cried again : 
 
 " Oh ! Nell, come home to mamma, for the dark 
 
 Is coming quickly, and tho' I'm afraid 
 
 I'll wait if you'll come now ; oh ! come, do come." 
 
 Again with feeling deep and bated breath 
 
 He listened for her voice, but not a sound 
 
 Save the dull boom of waves along the shore, 
 
 Blent with the piteous whining of the dog, 
 
 That seemed to know the loss, fell on his ears. 
 
 And then with bursting heart he turned his steps 
 
 Towards his home, with Rover at his side. 
 
 He reached it, and in haste his mother sought, 
 
 And with despairing voice : " Oh ! mamma, mamma, 
 
 Nell's gone away — I left her on the beach 
 
 When I came home for Rover ; now she's gone, 
 
 I don't know where. Oh ! find her, mamma, do, 
 
 i^ 
 
FANCIEH OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 13 
 
 LS hid 
 
 iring rock, 
 
 lie tide 
 tin. 
 )ud : 
 no ; 
 ve 
 
 still. 
 
 ling tears 
 in : 
 le dark 
 
 lo come." 
 
 Ii 
 
 i 
 
 liore, 
 
 1 ears. 
 
 his steps 
 
 e. 
 
 )ught, 
 
 la, mamma, 
 
 h 
 
 s gone, 
 
 [ima, do, 
 
 For soon the night will come, and in tlio dark 
 
 Poor Nell will be so 'fraid ; oli ! find her, do." 
 
 Quick through the mother's heart tliere sped a shaft, 
 
 80 sharp it seemed of terror that lier child 
 
 Had fallen in the waves, and to her mind 
 
 There came a picture of a tiny corpse, 
 
 Swol'n and defaced, the little garments torn 
 
 By ruthless rocks, and washed to and fro 
 
 By angry tides within the slimy depths 
 
 Of cruel ocean. Then with hurried step 
 
 And words half-spoken she the fatlier told. 
 
 Soon he witli friends and neighbours off in search 
 
 Was hurrying toward the shore ; and every nook 
 
 Among the rocks surveyed they, and beside 
 
 The restless waters was the search renewed. 
 
 Then in the neighbouring wood, but all in vain ; 
 
 No trace of her was found ; and from that day 
 
 Nought more was heard, while the grief-stricken pair 
 
 Mourned their lost child, and thinking that she slept 
 
 Where pearls are sleej.ing many a fathom down ; 
 
 And little Willie grew from day to day 
 
 And played alone, and oft beside the sea 
 
 He wandered sadly, tracing out the place 
 
 Where last he saw her sitting, and her words, 
 
 " All right. Will, I'll stay here," rang in his elrs. 
 
 The last words slie had spoken. But old Time 
 
 Placed balm upon their sorrow as he passed. 
 
 Will grew apace and other voices filled 
 And other childish forms the vacant place. 
 
It 
 
 FANCIES OF HOYHOOI). 
 
 Yot Nell was not t'or^rotten tho' new joys 
 
 Li<(htene(l their ^I'iet' for lu^r. Years ])asseil away 
 
 Till twenty summers had flown by; the house 
 
 Still stood with ivy climhin;^ o'or its tVont, 
 
 And the old couple lived, their lo(*ks !)esj)rinkled 
 
 With the snow-Hakes of a^^^e; and Will liad ^rown 
 
 A stronf^, broad-shouhlered man, with honest heart, 
 
 His j)arents' cliief su|)j)ort, when news one day 
 
 Ca!ne that a ]>and of Indians with their ^oods 
 
 Had thither come to catnp; and word w«!nt I'ound 
 
 That a white woman dwelt amoni,^ the ti'ihe, 
 
 But merely a re[)ort which few believed. 
 
 Que day as Willie and the family sat 
 
 Around the table at their noon-day meal, 
 
 A fjentle tap upon the door was heard. 
 
 The kindly mother rose and oped the door 
 
 With generous haste, and on the thi-eshold stood 
 
 A woman fair in sylvan <(arments clad. 
 
 While two small children of a dusky hue 
 
 Clasped either hand. What makes the mother's blood 
 
 Chill in her veins as she the stranger bids 
 
 To enter and have food ? The woman came 
 
 Within, and as she pas.sed the kitchen door 
 
 Her eyes upon some scarce-.seen nuirks were fixed. 
 
 Marks made bv Nell and Willie loncf afjo 
 
 To know their yearly growth ; still, still she stood, 
 
 And to her mind a memory seemed to rise. 
 
 Long, long forgotten ; then in broken words : 
 
 " The — marks — I — made," she cried, and swooned 
 
 away. 
 Great God ! the parents knew their long-lost child — 
 
FANCfKS OP noVMOOI). 
 
 15 
 
 A wife, ft„,l H.otlKT t(, tl.cso ,luskv l.al.t.s 
 Oer,,.yo,l m-ro t\uy: Ua when th.: Inst .l.-ou.l thought 
 Can oor thon- nnn.Is they uhnost wishe.l tho sea 
 Hm won her ere th(. time. Soon she awoke 
 
 An, toM how, when that .hty n,.on the heach 
 Wil he and she ha.l phtye.l, an<l when that ho 
 titiil ^n,„o for Kovei-, a canoe so swift 
 Ha.1 landed, and its dusky oeeujiant 
 I)id seize her ere she knew, and Innrie,! her 
 Miflm^. iier screams, on lu.ard. and with the'oar 
 1 ht^l soon fnnn si.d.t, and ere the <lay was d.ne 
 Had joined the trihe and olf to distant clin.es 
 I hey all departed. All her wan.lerin.^s 
 And sobs and si^hin^rs for her distantJumie 
 She now remenihered, thon^rh forp,tten lonr'. 
 At last,— and here her voice a trenmr took — 
 An Indian hunter claimed her for his hride • 
 And as it hai,ped their trihal wanderings led 
 Back to the very home whence she was ta'en • 
 And the old marks upon the door recalled 
 The memories of her youth. Her utterance sank ; 
 Ihey pressed her with them ever more to stay 
 But with a ,i.lance upon her slwinking bal.es 
 She nuirmured : « Them I never can forsake ;" 
 Ihen with a faint, low cry upon the floor 
 Again she sank. Her parents raised her head 
 And bathed her brow, but all in vain ; the heart 
 Had ceased its beating and her eyes were glazed. 
 And her cold face a marble hue o'erspread— 
 Death's signet ; then they raised her lifeless form 
 And clothed it for the grave. Two days had passed 
 
16 
 
 FANCIES O^^ BOYHOOD. 
 
 And toward the little church-yard might be seen 
 A funeral concourse wending, each one there 
 Witli solemn step, and eyes with sorrow bent 
 Upon the earth. Among the throng there walked 
 A dark-eyed Indian, and beside the grave, 
 When the rude coffin was in silence lowered. 
 Few were the eyes whose tears outnumbered his ; 
 Then when the earth was covered o'er, with steps 
 ;Slow and so sad he parted and was seen 
 No more, though many years have since rolled by. 
 'The stricken parents waited 
 Beside the grave till all were gone, and then 
 On a rude slab above her head they wrote : 
 " Our Long Lost Child." 
 
 THE FATE OF BONSTETTIN. 
 
 <( 
 
 D 
 
 ARK, secret, infernal, dread hag as thou art, 
 My fate through the blackest to me haste impart; 
 Pierce the clouds of the future, reveal to my sight 
 The doom that to mortals lies hidden in niijht : 
 But thou, who hast dealings with spirits malign, 
 Thro' the dark shroud of nature canst know her 
 
 design, — 
 Grim servant of Satan, my doom tlu^u shalt show, 
 Or reddening my dagger, thy heart's blood shall tiow." 
 "Haughty lord of Bt^nstettin," the witch then replied, 
 *' Mine would not be first that thy dagger hast dyed. 
 
 I 
 
 irr.!ii 
 
FANCIES OF BGVIIOOU. 
 
 17 
 
 be seen 
 
 lere 
 
 aerit 
 
 •e walked 
 
 •ed, 
 
 jred his ; 
 itli steps 
 
 rolled by. 
 
 len 
 
 ,e : 
 
 TTIN. 
 
 thou art, 
 laste impart; 
 ,1 to my sight 
 night : 
 malign, 
 it know her 
 
 lalt show, 
 d shall tiow." 
 lien replied, 
 r hast dyed. 
 
 •1 
 
 f 
 
 Remember the time when tlie green forest rancr 
 With the horns of the hunters, the clatter and dancr 
 Ot galloping steeds : from the chase parted far " 
 Ihe lord of Bonstettin and heir of Malar 
 Are met an.I a dagger is lifted in air- 
 Young Malar is pierced "- '< Hag of darkness forbear; 
 What power internal to thee <lid.st revoal 
 That vision, a deed that ne'er worked for my weal ? 
 Speak not of the future."-" Ha, ha ! thou wouhl'st 
 know, 
 
 Said the witch of the cave, " what my power can show ; 
 Yon mirror behold, and the forms that appear 
 Shall tell thee the future, proud lord, that is near " 
 From the face of the mirror dark clouds rolled away 
 And revealed a green forest, and gallant array 
 Ot hunters; before them a stag, bound on bound 
 Swept away like tho wind from the following hound. 
 Through the glades swept the cha.se, but e'er lon^ 
 ironi the rout ° 
 
 One horseman alone lags behind and falls out" 
 Li vain, all in vain, with both whip-stroke and heel 
 He urged his steed onward ; it totters and reels 
 And the rider is hurled from his saddl,^ afar 
 While the sound of the chase falleth faint on his ear 
 As he lay on the earth a blue suli)hurous flame 
 Arose an.I burne.l flercely, and from it there came 
 A form, grnn and threatening, gigantic in height 
 His eyes they were meteors, his brow it wns ni'-dit 
 Uose beside stood a youth, and his breast was all bare' 
 Where a red gaping wound streaming blood didappear,' 
 lo the horseman dismounted he pointed, whose frame 
 
18 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 The arcli deinon Imrried to regions of flame. 
 As the cloud on tlie landscape hides yellow and gold, 
 Dark vaporous mists o'er the mirror have rolled. 
 "Ha, ha! laughed the baron," well hast thou, old crone. 
 Revealed such a fate as would chill every bone : 
 But I fear not, I care not, come good or come ill 
 Bonstettin to meet it has courage and will." 
 From the cave rode the baron, and forth to the chase 
 With his vassals and hounds hath he taken his place. 
 The sun high in heaven, the green of the wood, 
 And horns sounding gaily as onwai"d they rode. 
 At length tVom a thicket a stag, bound on bovnid, 
 Started forth witli his feet proudly spurning the 
 
 ground. 
 Thro' the glades swept the chase, but ere long from 
 
 the rout 
 Bonstettin alone lags behind and falls out. 
 In vain, all in vain, with both whip-sti'oke and heel 
 He urged his steed onw^ai'd ; it totters and reels, 
 And the rider is hurled from his saddle afar, 
 While the sound of the chase falleth faint on his ear. 
 As he lay, dee})ly moaning, a suli)hurous flame 
 Arose and burned flercely, and from it there came 
 A form, grim and threatening, gigantic in height, 
 His eyes they were meteors, his brow^ it was night ; 
 Close beside stood a youth and his breast was all bare 
 Where a red gaping wound streaming blood did appear. 
 " Oh, spnre me ! oh, spare me ! " Bonstettin did say ; 
 " I meant not to slay thee ; dread ])hantom, away !" 
 But with Angers transparent he pointed, then spoke: 
 " Seize the traitor, to regions of Are and smoke 
 
FANCIES Of BOYHOOD. 
 
 19 
 
 flame. 
 
 low and ^old, 
 ,ve rolled, 
 liou, old crone, 
 iry bone : 
 V come ill 
 vill." 
 
 h to the chase 
 iken his place, 
 jlie wood, 
 ley rode, 
 on bound, 
 spurning the 
 
 3re long fiom 
 
 >ut. 
 
 ,roke antl heel 
 xiid reels, 
 ) afar, 
 
 int on his ear. 
 us flame 
 there came 
 ill height, 
 t was night ; 
 )t was all bare 
 )od did appear, 
 tin did say ; 
 om, away !" 
 d, then spoke: 
 id smoke 
 
 'And cataracts of sulphur and torrents of flame ' 
 Shalt thou bear him where demons shall rack all 
 his frame." 
 
 The arch demon seized him and vanished away 
 lo his home in Perdition forever and aye. 
 
 Hogg'8 tale of tl.e Witch of (iraytl 
 
 lorn suggested the al)ove. 
 
 T//B HEROINE OE THE SIERRA 
 
 MORENA. 
 
 A TALE OF SPAIN. 
 
 OH, Spain, thou la J of sunny skies. 
 What memories to the mind arise', 
 Whene'er we hear thy name; 
 When Arab foes pressed hard on thee, 
 Thine was the land of chixalry. 
 And heroes graced thee royally 
 And minstrels sang thy fame. 
 Great Carpio, that warrior bold. 
 And the brave Cid were thine ; 
 And Pulgar's frame of giant mould, 
 And (ionzalez, that Knight of gold 
 And Ferdinand, of counsel cold. 
 Within thine annals shine. 
 Nor less was Saragossa's maid 
 Who, when the walls were lowly laid 
 
20 
 
 FANCIES OV BOYHOOD. 
 
 By Gaul's unceasing cannonade, 
 
 Saw her undaunted lover die, 
 
 And seized tlie sword his blood had stained, 
 
 And waved it forth on high. 
 
 Around her form the meanest came 
 
 With hearts and courage all on flame, 
 
 Impatient for the fray ; 
 
 And France ne'er felt a fiercer blow 
 
 Than on her fell that . lay. 
 
 But listen to a tale of one 
 
 Less shone upon by fame's bright sun. 
 
 Although her deed and sacrifice 
 
 No less deserve fame than theirs, 
 
 But they are great in history's page ; 
 
 Few know, alas ! her hopes and cares. 
 
 Upon Morena's dusky height. 
 
 Where nature in her wildest mood 
 
 Has tuml)led cliff and mount, and flood 
 
 That head-long falls with foaming might 
 
 To some vast chasm's depths below, 
 
 A castle stood, long, long ago. 
 
 Rondello's lord his dwelling made 
 
 Here in the mountain's deepest glade; 
 
 His sole delight to chase the deer. 
 
 And drive the eagle from his lair 
 
 With fire-lock in hand, and bound 
 
 From crag to crag, where chamois found 
 
 A footing scarce more sure than he 
 
 And fell by his unerring shot ; 
 
 Then when the chase was done to see 
 
 His fire blaze bright, and food was brought 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 21 
 
 By Doretlia, the lithesome maid 
 
 Who made the castle bright with love, 
 
 Whose smiles like sunshine o'er him played. 
 
 A menial of his household she, 
 
 An orphan of unknown degree. 
 
 Now fifteen summers o'er her head 
 
 The bloom of womanhood had shed, 
 
 And she had grown to beauty's prime — 
 
 A flower of that southern clime. 
 
 A rose that in the wilderness 
 
 Had bloomed to brigiiten and to bless. 
 
 Bui not alone the fleet chamois 
 
 These dusky mountain caverns saw. 
 
 Nor yet the adventurous hunter trod 
 
 Alone the rugged mountain sod ; 
 
 For tierce banditti he 1 their lair 
 
 The unwary travellei-'s purse to share, 
 
 And many a robber chieftain bold, 
 
 As king within his mountain hold. 
 
 Claimed passage price from those whose need 
 
 To cross the Alpine heights decreed. 
 
 Of those bold chiefs, Lartando's name 
 
 Was foremost in the ranks of fame : 
 
 The peasant quaked within his cot, 
 
 The boldest hand refused the shot, 
 
 And wailing infants hushed their cry 
 
 When tierce Lartando's nanie was heard ; 
 
 And matrons swo(med with fear away 
 
 At the untimely word. 
 
22 
 
 FANCIES OP BOYHOOD. 
 
 One eve when brave Rondello's lord 
 Sat 'mid his vassals round the board, 
 A crash was heard against the door, 
 -A fearful voice this challenge bore : 
 " Ope to Lartando, or thy life 
 Shall pay the forfeit of the strife." 
 The bancjuet ceased in wild uproar; 
 The frightened vassels fled 
 And left their lord to face the band 
 The robber chieftain led. 
 Soon 'neath their blows the portal fell ; 
 Tlie fierce banditti with a yell 
 On through the archway tread ; 
 With cries of treasure and of blood 
 Through hall and chamber on they trod. 
 And terror round them spread. 
 The robber chieftain to the hall. 
 Where late the feast was set, 
 Advanced, and in the doorway tall 
 Rondello's lord he met. 
 With giant strength upon the floor 
 He hurled him, and with blazing eye 
 He cried : " Ha stripling hunter, now 
 Thy treasui-e yield or die! " 
 " No, never robber dog ! " " Then feel 
 The bandit chief's unerrinir steel." 
 But ere the dagger fell — " Forbear 
 And follow me ; your wish lies there." 
 The robber turned and saw the maid. 
 Sweet Doretha, with candle held 
 Within her lily hand. " What proof 
 
FANCIES OP BOYHOOD. 
 
 23 
 
 Have I ? " tlie darin^r robber cried. 
 
 "The proof of blood," the maid replied; 
 
 " Thou art my brother, and beside 
 
 My life is at thy will." 
 
 " Pass on, but still remember, maid. 
 
 If my soon trusting be betrayed, 
 
 Thoucrh thou my sister art, this blade 
 
 Thy traitor blood shall spill." 
 
 She led him to a stair of stone, 
 
 And up its winding length they've gone ; 
 
 The cobwebs hung their grimy dust, 
 
 The bats flew by with every gust 
 
 Blown through the loop-holed wall ; 
 
 Yet onward still their way they made 
 
 Till on the battlements they stayed. 
 
 Where the cold moon with silver ray 
 
 Kissed castle, crag and mountain gray. 
 
 " And see, Lartando," cried the maid, 
 
 " That moving object in the shade 
 
 Of yonder crag." He turned his sight 
 
 And trod three j)aces to the edge 
 
 Of the high battlements' steep ledge, 
 
 When quick beside her feet she dashed 
 
 The candle, and with sudden push 
 
 She hurled him from the lofty brow 
 
 Of the high wall. The stones below 
 
 Received his form with sickening rush 
 
 And crushed and torn, his life's warm blood 
 
 In pools upon the court-yard stood. 
 
 But draw the veil, for many a year 
 
 The flowers have waved above her tomb 
 
34 
 
 FANCIES OK BOYHOOD. 
 
 And still at eve in many a vale 
 The peasant oft repeats the tale 
 That tells the outlaws doom ; 
 And how the maid one Christmas tide 
 Became Rondello's lovely bride. 
 
 A STRANGE TALE OF LOVE. 
 
 TlUT on the mask of jollity, oh muse, 
 1"^ And let thy smile extend from ear to ear ; 
 For so each reader will my verse abuse ; 
 But if thou smilest, I'll deride their jeer ; 
 
 For if the muse shall smile there is no harm in 
 All others smiling at my simple carmen. 
 
 Within a certain town, no matter where, 
 Upon a time that's past all finding out, 
 There dwelt a lusty ancient widower. 
 
 Three score and ten or somewhere thereabout, 
 Who, having led a single life for years 
 Fell, saith the phrase, in love head over ears. 
 
 One son this reverend patriarch possessed, 
 
 Some five and forty were the years he owned ; 
 Once with a loving wife he had been blest ; 
 
 But now for years her loss had deeply moaned, 
 For she had died and left his life to be 
 Lonely, besides a son just ten and three. 
 
FANCIES OF nOYHOOD. 
 
 25 
 
 'i'he time of which I write Imd brought him years 
 
 Just one-and-twenty and a little over, 
 When lo ! he found (I write it throufi^h my tears) 
 His widowed father had become a lover ; 
 With many sif^hs he moaned his abject lot, 
 And almost wished he'd long ago been shot. 
 
 But then he made resolve to be a man ; 
 
 His sobs, and sighs, and tears he'd (juickly smother ; 
 Then, oh ! the strangest since the world began ! 
 He lost his heart just as he found another ; 
 Thus oft in case of poisoning doctors give 
 A stronger poison, and the patients live. 
 
 Miss Jessie Smith, a name mayhap you've heard, 
 
 (The Smith, I mean), had cast a glamour o'er him, 
 Since first he met her, and 'tis not absurd 
 To say that cruel Cupid rent and tore him ; 
 
 These are the words he spoke, " Well, I declare ! 
 My heart gets crazy when I think of her." 
 
 One summer evening in the cozy parlor 
 
 Of old John Smith, the lovers sat and talked ; — 
 He who would frown at this I call a snarl or 
 
 Perhaps something worse, for love will not be 
 balked ; 
 Love laughs at locksmiths, so the poet says. 
 But John Smith laughed at love he thought of 
 youthful days. 
 
26 
 
 FANCIES OF UOYHOOD. 
 
 A word was treinldin^ on tlie lover's lip, 
 
 But yet he spoke not, tliough he blushed and 
 stammered. 
 While Jessie thou<,dit, " Why don't he let it slip, 
 For such a man deserves to be well hammered." 
 But he at last piin<*d courat^je from her look, 
 And thus with beating heart the word he took : 
 
 " Terrestrial Angel — will you be my bride ?" 
 
 For thus he ended not as he began ; 
 But she, (juite unabashed, right soon replied : 
 " Of course I will ; if you had been a man 
 
 You'd asked me sooner." " Hip-hurrah !" he said, 
 " This earth is heaven since with you I'll wed." 
 
 Then both were silent ; but at length she spoke : 
 
 " Oh ! Henry Jones, I've something strange to say, 
 Yourfatiier comes to court me." — " Well, I'm broke," 
 Said he ; " but stranger still," without delay 
 
 She said, " Your grandpa, too, has oft been here, 
 Now let us put a trick u2)on the pair." 
 
 " Your father's name is Henry, as you know, 
 
 And Henry is the name your grandsire bears, 
 That makes three Henry Joneses here below ; 
 So on the evening when each one appears 
 To ask my hand, I'll tell him just for mirth 
 That Henry Jones I'll wed, none else upon the 
 earth." 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 27 
 
 " A pood joke truly," said tlio wicked son ; 
 
 " So you're the iimid that all have come to see ; 
 Just serve3 tlieiii right, ha ! ha ! 'twill be such fun ; 
 But now 'tis late ; one kiss, sweet one, for me. 
 Oh ! speed the tenth of June, the ha})py day 
 When all my troubles will have passed away." 
 
 Another eve has come. The father lover 
 
 Has asked the youthful maiden for his bride ; 
 " To Henry Jones my heart is gone forever, 
 None else on earth shall wed me," Jessie cried. 
 " Oh ! name the day ;" " the tenth of June," .said 
 
 she, 
 " Farewell, oh ! may the days more swiftly flee." 
 
 And now the grandsire and the maid are met ; 
 
 " Be mine," said he, " be mine forever more." 
 " Oh ! none but Henry Jones my heart shall get," 
 Said she, " and him alone will I adore ; 
 
 The day the tenth of June," when he did hear, 
 For joy he danced a hornpipe then and there. 
 
 Of this most cruel joke quite innocent. 
 
 The elder lovers made due preparation, 
 And divers bundles to the tailor sent. 
 
 Each hiding from the other's observation, 
 
 Unknowing that, though strange the case may be, 
 The same young maiden was beloved by three. 
 
28 
 
 FANCIES OP BOYHOOD. 
 
 The (lay arrived ; the sire atnl ^randsiro hurrio<l 
 
 From (lirterent parts, each hi(lin(( from tlie other, 
 And to escape <letection was much worried, 
 And caused themselves unnecessary bother; 
 
 But cares, Imwe'er so ^rant, must have an ending, 
 ►Sobotli within tlie church tlieir way are wending. 
 
 And tliere they saw — oli ! furies, death and rage. 
 
 Their destined In'ide beside another person, 
 The son of one, the grandson of the sage ; 
 
 Both stood confounded, and then rose a curse on 
 The lips of both, but soon it died away 
 As " I pronounce them one " the minister did say. 
 
 Then shouted out the father, irritated 
 
 Beyond all measure : " Ha ! you prying rascal, 
 
 You've stolen my bride ; you'll be incarcerated 
 For life in prison ; and you, hateful mask all, 
 
 — ." Then the cfrandsire 
 
 I'll sue for breach of . ^ 
 
 roared : 
 " I'll have you all imprisoned by the Lord." 
 
 " She's mine, she promised to be mine forever ;" 
 
 " She's not, you mean old fraud," the father yelled ; 
 " She's mine, I'll never give her up, no, never ; 
 I'll have that youthful rascal straight expelled 
 The country ; burn the church above his head." 
 You're worse than he," the angry grandsire said. 
 
FANCIES OK BOYHOOD. 
 
 29 
 
 The uproar ceaso*! ; and tlien the hri<le bepm : 
 
 " 'TvvaH l)ut a joke, and hotli are well deceived; 
 I said I'd nuiriy Henry Jones ; the man 
 
 Is here " — she pointed to her lord. Believed 
 By all the futiny story was, and both 
 The elder lovers parted with an oath. 
 
 THE PARTING. 
 
 urse on 
 
 hnllEY were standing in the gloaming 
 I Close beside the heaving sea, 
 
 And the billows ever foaming 
 
 Sang of immortality. 
 In the distance faintly gleaming, 
 
 Sail the stately vessels past, 
 As huge sea-gulls onward streaming, 
 
 Out their snowy pinions cast. 
 As the billows onward fleeting 
 
 Gently lav< 1 the sandy beach, 
 In their bosom's rapid beating 
 
 Moves the gentle heart of each, 
 " Darling," said the gallant lover, 
 
 " Ere yon sun shall kiss the east, 
 Sails my ship yon ocean over 
 
 Borne upon her heaving breast. 
 Would'st thou weep if ought befell me ? 
 
 Would thy heart-strings feel the pain ? 
 Would thy memory e'er recall me 
 
 Should I ne'er return again ? 
 
30 
 
 FANCIEa OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 Cease, Clarissa, cease thy weeping, 
 
 Dim not tliose briglit eyes with tears ! 
 Be thy troul)le ever sleeping. 
 
 Wake not into life thy fears." 
 They have parted — sad the parting ; 
 
 Now he's on the swelling wave, 
 And Clarissa, lone and lovely, 
 
 Waits in vain for Albert brave. 
 
 Two long years are past and over — 
 Two Icng years of grief and pain , 
 
 But, alas ! her sailor lover 
 To her ne'er returned again. 
 
 When the sun was brightly shijiing, 
 
 On the beach one summer day, 
 W^here her lover from her parted, 
 
 Fair Clarissa chanced to stray. 
 On the waves lier eyes were gazing, 
 
 When upon a l)illow's crest 
 Sailed a bottle swiftly forward, 
 
 And beside her feet did rest. 
 " Omen strange," she gently whispered, 
 
 " Tell me, dost thou bear to me 
 News of him, my darling Albert, 
 
 Fr(Mn far climes bevontl the sea ?" 
 So(m her lily hand hath grasped it, 
 
 Then within it lo ! her eve 
 Sees a scroll all neatly folded. 
 
 By the waves untouched and dry. 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 31 
 
 Trembling now she hath unrolled it, 
 And her swimming sight can see : 
 
 " We are sinking in mid ocean, 
 Jesus help us ! Albert Lee." 
 
 Six long months this scroll had floated, 
 
 As the figures said above, 
 " He is drowned," she hoarsely whispered, 
 
 " Rolls the ocean o'er my love ; 
 I am weary, dizzy, fainting, 
 
 I must sleep though yet 'tis day." 
 While she slept a glittering angel 
 
 Came and bore her soul away. 
 
 THE WANDERING JEW. 
 
 I'V^E prayed for death, but God hears not my prayer ; 
 I've longed for death, but death comes not to me ; 
 I've sought out death, but death flies from me ever. 
 And for forgetfulness, I've prayed, and sought. 
 And longed, until despair has half avenged 
 My more than cursed lot. In desert wil.ls 
 When nought but nature (dear to me no more) 
 Shows but in blasted forms ; o'er mountains rude, 
 
 Snow capped and reaching to the very stars, 
 
 While down their sides the mighty torrents flow 
 
 And madly falling with a hideous roar 
 
 Seeming to shake the world, I've wandered there. 
 
 In lonely isles I've dwelt where the fierce sea 
 3 
 
32 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 All foamiiifr white comes thumlerinfj on the shore 
 
 As angry at the very sight of me ; 
 
 O'er oceans, continents, o'er lakes and isles, 
 
 From lands of sunset to the rising sun. 
 
 And where 'mong northern icel)ergs, the bright eye 
 
 Of heaven sails around the Nadir's line 
 
 For six long months, to where his southern beam 
 
 Gives equal day, I've wandered oh ! how oft. 
 
 Then from the lonely desert solitudes 
 
 My way was taken ; and in cities long 
 
 I've dw(;lt 'mong men and followed their pursuits. 
 
 But all in vain ! in vain ! my memory still 
 
 Is filled with pictures of the cursed past 
 
 That rise and overwhelm it ; and they live 
 
 As clear as when the Saviour bore His Cross 
 
 Tho' faint and bleeding to the fatal hill. 
 
 Panting and slow along the street He passed, 
 
 The angry rabble howling all around, 
 
 Until He came before my lowly door ; 
 
 Then stopping weak and faint, He cast His eyes 
 
 So full of suffering on my face and said : 
 
 " Brother, may I but rest beside your door ? 
 
 My cross is heavy and the way is long ; 
 
 Thy God will sure reward thee." His low voice 
 
 Had into tears disolved a stone, but my 
 
 Inhuman heart was harder far than that, 
 
 So with my hannner on The shoulder bare 
 
 I smote Him and I cried : " Pass on to death." 
 
 Then gazing on me with the same pale face 
 
 He said : " Pass thou until I come ajxain." 
 
 I left my tools and with the surging crowd 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 33 
 
 I saw Him crucified when the earth shook 
 
 And darkness came upon the face of day. 
 
 Then forth I wandered never to meet death. 
 
 How oft I've sought Him ! In tlie angry waves 
 
 I've leaped, but tlie dark waters heaved me soon 
 
 Upon the sliore again and woukl not be 
 
 Corrupted with my body ; in the flames 
 
 I've cast me, but the fire harmed me not. 
 
 Its power gone ; and wlien tlie Roman wrath 
 
 Poured like a storm on doomed Jerusalem, 
 
 I bowed my neck beneath the falling axe 
 
 Which passed and left me scatheless. Then I joined 
 
 The Roman ranks against ni}^ countrymen ; 
 
 Then gave them my captivity, that I 
 
 Might as a traitor meet a traitor's doom ; 
 
 But they forgave me, God ! to such as I 
 
 Say was forgiveness holy ? Nay ! 'twas not. 
 
 Then when the iron warriors of the west 
 
 Came to reclaim the Holy Saviour's tomb. 
 
 Where the grim fight raged fiercest, to the blow 
 
 I bent my form ; but even there that death, 
 
 So dark to others, but so bright to me. 
 
 Came not; and though I've sought in every form 
 
 To meet Him for a near two thousand years 
 
 Still I cannot ; but when the time shall come 
 
 When Christ, descending through the azure sky 
 
 By Angel choirs attended, l)rings with Him 
 
 Millennial brightness, shall I wander on 
 
 Hoping and praying for that glorious day. 
 
 The only excuse I have for writing on such a world-known 
 subject aa thig is the strong impression made upon me when reading 
 the old ballad in " Percy's Reli4ues." 
 
34 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 THE POLLIO OF VIRGIL. 
 
 RENDEREIJ INTO ENGLISH VERSE. 
 
 PilCILIAN muses to diviner strains 
 
 fN Inspire my song. The luimble Tamarisk groves 
 
 ^ Please not for all, and though the sylvan theme 
 
 Still numbers claim allow my verse to be 
 
 Fit for a consul's hearing. Comes the age — 
 
 The latest age told by Cumean song, 
 
 When the great order of the rolling years 
 
 Begins anew. The virgin Justice comes. 
 
 Old Saturn reigns once more, and from the skies 
 
 Another race descends. Lucina ])ure, 
 
 Prosper the infant's birth, with whom this age 
 
 Of iron terminates, and o'er the earth 
 
 A golden time begins — thy Phoebus reigns. 
 
 In thine, O Pollio, thy consulship, 
 
 This age begins, the glorious months go forth ; 
 
 Beneath thy leadership each trace of crime 
 
 Waits powerless and frees the land from dread. 
 
 This offspring of the gods shall live like them 
 
 And see divinely and with godlike souls 
 
 Shall intermix, and all the peaceful world 
 
 Shall with his father's wisdom rule forever. 
 
 To thee, O boy, the earth her earliest gifts 
 
 Spontaneous pours ; the ivy's twining wreath. 
 
 The sweet Acanthus, and all llowers that bloom. 
 
FANCIES 0^^ BOYHOOD. 
 
 35 
 
 The goats undriven to their homes shall bring 
 
 Udders with milk o'erflowing, and the herds 
 
 Fear not the lion fierce. For thee, O boy, 
 
 The flowers spring thy fragrant cradle round ; 
 
 The serpents die, the poisonous plants expire, 
 
 The Asyrian Pride shall blossom everjnvhere. 
 
 Yet still thou niayest praise ancestral deeds. 
 
 But, when thou knowest valour and shall hear 
 
 Of heroes, then the uncultivated field 
 
 Shall gleam as gold with yellow ears of corn ; 
 
 The blushing grape shall hang from every briar; 
 
 And dewy honey from the oak distil. 
 
 But yet some vestiges of ancient fraud 
 
 Shall still remain ; still some with restless oar 
 
 Shall tempt the sea, and some with mighty walls 
 
 Great cities fence, and some the furrow bid 
 
 To cleave the fertle earth ; another Typhus' hand 
 
 Shall steer another Arcfo o'er the sea. 
 
 Bearing her chosen heroes ; other wars 
 
 Arise, a great Achilles shall again 
 
 Go forth to strive against another Troy. 
 
 But when the years have brought thee manhood's 
 
 strength. 
 The trader shall desert the sea ; no more 
 The sailor pine exchangeth distant wares, 
 For every land shall bring forth every fruit. 
 The ground receive no hoe ; the growing vine 
 Know not the pruning blade ; and from the yoke 
 The sturdy farmer free the o'erlaljoured ox. 
 The wool no longer learnt to feign false hues, 
 Tne ram himself in verdant pastures fed 
 
36 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 Shall ^ive his floece a red and purple hue, 
 
 Then chanf:re to gold and scarlet, and the lambs 
 
 Glow with vermilion: thus the Fates concurring 
 
 In the fixed wheel of Destiny, have said 
 
 Unto their s[)indles, "On such ages run". 
 
 Claim, beloved offspring of the gods 
 
 And seed of Jove, thy mighty honors now, 
 
 For the great time is near. Behold the world 
 
 With convex mass is swaying to and fro. 
 
 And all the earth, the oceans broad expanse, 
 
 The lofty heavens and all things besides 
 
 Joy at thy coming with the sons of men : 
 
 If life exist to me until that time, 
 
 And inspiration in my breast remain. 
 
 How shall my song dilate upon thy deeds ! 
 
 Not Thracian Orpheus could o'ercome me then, 
 
 Nor Linus, though the parents aid their strains — 
 
 The first Calliope, the last Apollo. 
 
 E'en in Arcadia though with Pan I strove, 
 
 His own Arcadia gives the palm to me. 
 
 Begin, O infant, with thy smile to please 
 
 Thy happy mother, when the months shall bring 
 
 Thy form to light, which parent ne'er shall nurse 
 
 Nor god shall love, nor goddess entertain. 
 
 .st^^ 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 37 
 
 FRAGMENTS. 
 
 (Extempore on reading a description of the Battle of Hastings.) 
 
 TN cloudless skies the summer sun went down, 
 
 I Yet waged the desperate light for England's crown; 
 
 And as he slowly sank to rest, it seems 
 That England's hope fell with his dying beams ; 
 And when the night had veiled the field of dead. 
 The Island Crown did grace the Norman's head. 
 
 THE OPENING LINES OF ILLIAD. 
 
 The wrath destructive of Achilles sing. 
 Oh, heavenly goddess ! — wrath that to the Greeks 
 Brought woes unrunnbered, and to Hades hurled 
 The valiant soul of many a hero down ; 
 But to the dogs and gorging vultures gave 
 Their bodies on their shore (accomplishing 
 Jove's will). What time Atrides, king of men. 
 And brave Achilles tirst contendinfr, wroufifht 
 Dire discord. 
 
 What thousands have trod o'er the pathway of life 
 And left not a foot-print beliind ! 
 What thousands have smik in the billows of strife 
 And bequeathed not a thought to mankind ! 
 
 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 Those hapj)y days are past ; 
 
 Their sunlight falls but now 
 O'er scenes, where fancy bright 
 
 Plays round sweet memory's brow. 
 
38 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 ill 
 
 TO THE FIRST ROBIN. 
 
 How thy liquid notes are swelling, 
 
 Bidding us to learn, 
 Thou art from thy southern dwelling? 
 
 Joying thy return ! 
 Thrice vve welcome thee, sweet singer, 
 
 To thine ancient home again ; 
 Music floats around, above thee' 
 
 Summer follows in thy train.' 
 
 FROM SIMONIDES. 
 ON THE HEROES OF THERMOPYL^. 
 
 How glorious is the fate, how fair the doom. 
 Of those who died in famed Thermonyl.^ • 
 Their graves are altars. an,l for tears the; bear 
 An endless fame ; their dirge a chant of praise 
 Such winding sheet as theirs, nor rust, nor time 
 Shal bring to naught, and on theii sepulchres 
 The fame of Hellas has her temple built 
 lo witness which Leonidas hath left 
 A crown of .valor and a name undying 
 
 The present state of Art and Man 
 Hath naught to do with me ; 
 
 I love to tread the solemn halls 
 Of dim Antiquity. 
 
 m^^ 
 
FANCIES OF UOYHOOD. 
 
 39 
 
 MV CAROLINE. 
 
 Some count their wealtli in coin and land, 
 
 In houses, sheep and kine ; 
 But wiser far I count my wealth 
 
 In the love of my Caroline, 
 Her smile is worth a thousand pounds. 
 
 And lordly mansions nine ; 
 But the gift of a world could ne'er repay 
 
 The kiss of my Caroline. 
 
 CHARACTER. 
 
 Blind to the outer world ard only saw 
 Himself, and on the same mean subject thought 
 At all times and the theme of all his words. 
 
 EPITAPHS AND EPIGRAMS. 
 
 JTE lied in the cliamher, 
 Jl He lied in the hall, 
 
 He lied at the council. 
 He lied at the pall. 
 He lied to the noble. 
 
 He lied to the knave, 
 He lied all his life, 
 
 And lies still in the grave. 
 
40 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 A HOMEBODY. 
 
 Here lies a man w]io far from his home 
 And from Lis own fireside never did roam ; 
 Bu at last havin,. died, his sins hein,. forgiven. 
 Ihe first journey he took was his journey to h aven 
 
 A USELESS PERSON. 
 Beneath this pleasant grassy mound 
 Ihere lies a wretched sinner 
 Who while on earth a use ne'er found 
 JNor makes the worm a dinner 
 
 SHOE MAKER, 
 
 Thro' life my last received the sole : 
 
 Alas ! but life is passed ; 
 My pegging blows fell hard until 
 
 My soul received the last. 
 
 ON A POET. 
 
 Here lies a youth while in his pride 
 Fierce Pegasus he did bestride ; 
 But the fiery steed he could not check 
 So he soon fell off and broke his neck ' 
 
FANCIES OF DOYIIOOD. 
 
 41 
 
 ON A GREAT MAN, 
 
 The God-like form, once ^reat, lies low, 
 
 Its powers all are wasted ; 
 And the nii^dity brain that moved the world 
 
 The loathsome worms have tasted. 
 
 ANSWER TO A LADY 
 
 WHO PLAYFULLY ASKED THE AUTHOR "WHERE IS 
 
 PARADLSE ?" 
 
 " Oh, tell me where is Paradise ?" 
 
 The smiling maiden said ; 
 "That's easy," I replied; " Why, 'tis 
 
 Where'er thou art, sweet maid." 
 
 GRACE. 
 
 We render thanks for this good beef 
 That gives us all our dinners, 
 
 And may such l)lessings ever fall 
 Upon this crow<l of sinners. 
 
 WOMAN. 
 
 When man from the clay first was formed 
 
 His happiness seeme<l superhuman ; 
 God said ! " Lest his joy give him pride, 
 I'll mar it ;" and so he made woman. 
 
I 
 
 42 
 
 PAXCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 n 
 
 ODE ON THE DEATH OF JOHN 
 
 B. FINCH, 
 
 THE FAMOUS TEMPERANCE ADVOCATE, DIED OCT., 1887. 
 
 HOW the inif,'lity are fallen ; our leader lies cold 
 As the clay that encircles his form ; 
 Like an Atlas he fell, who the world did uphold 
 Unmoved by its sunshine or stt)rm. 
 
 He has toiled, he has suffered, our cause to proclaim 
 O'er the passions and hearts of mankind ; 
 
 But his sun now ^ ^loiy has set, yet his name 
 Like a beaco: 1 lingers behind. 
 
 Whose li^i^ht shall direct to that glorious goal 
 Our cause, when in triuni))h we'll sing : 
 
 "Intemperance has fallen ; the inebriate's soul 
 Is saved, and fair Temperance is king." 
 
 Oh, brother, with spirit as In'oad as the earth, 
 
 And with sympathies deep as the sea. 
 Mankind knows thy heart for its goodness and worth, 
 
 And in sorrow are weeping for thee. 
 
 Though thy spirit now soars to that glorious land 
 Where the throne of iX\ Eternal is set, 
 
 And thy voice now is heard in that heavenly band, 
 May thy spirit watch over us yet. 
 
 lii 
 
FANCih* OK DOYIKjOD. 
 
 43 
 
 rOHN 
 
 r, 1887. 
 
 cold 
 uphold 
 
 And when our cause triumphs, eiit^n^'ed for the right, 
 Which it shall, thou^di the time may be long, 
 
 May tlie Angelic choir their voices unite 
 To join in our triumphing song, 
 
 When the names are enjhlazoned of heroes who fought 
 
 To accomplish intem[)orance, fall, 
 Let there be for our love without one 'posing thought, 
 
 The name of Finch placed above all ? 
 
 claim 
 
 ^orth, 
 
 d 
 id, 
 
 FAREWELL TO THE SCHOOL. 
 
 READ ON THE AUTHOR's LAST DAY AT THE PUBLIC 
 
 SCHOOL. 
 
 EAREWELL to the school where in childhood's 
 bright hour 
 I first did embark on this ocean of life, 
 Where the fair sunlight falls, and the dark storm- 
 clouds lower. 
 And joy intermingles with sorrow and strife. 
 
 What changes lias time, in my short recollection. 
 Wrought o'er each remembrance to me now so dear; 
 
 How pleasant those scenes now, once viewed with 
 dejection ! 
 How often I wish tliat once more they were here I 
 
m 
 
 44 
 
 FANCIES OF B(JYH00D. 
 
 But the ills of the schoolboy, so numerous and trying, 
 Have passed like a dream with the years vanished 
 long ; 
 
 But their memories return each naw pleasure descry- 
 ing- 
 Like the pleasing impression of some vanished song. 
 
 Some youthful companions, alas ! now are sleeping 
 Forever within their cold shroud, the dull clay ; 
 
 One breathed forth his spirit where billows are 
 keeping 
 Their songs ringing loudly in yon sunny bay. 
 
 Oh ! scenes, now departed, departed for ever, 
 
 A long, sad farew '1 to thy dear vanished forms ; 
 
 And time, as I sail dcnvn thy dark rolling river, 
 Those memories return as a sunburst in storms. 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
 ODE ON THE DEATH OF E E. 
 DA VI SON, 
 
 JOLD, cold ho is sleeping; the flowers shall grow 
 From the earth where in silence and darkness 
 below 
 
 His form is forever reposing. 
 
 The summer shall smile and the autumn winds sigh, 
 And the fierce blasts of winter sweep freezingly by, 
 But no change to Leslie disclosing. 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 45 
 
 Oh ! 'tis sad tliat tlie young and the pure and the fair 
 Must be pierced like the blackest by Death's cruel 
 
 spear, 
 To ashes and dust back returning ; 
 But God has decreed tlie dominion of death 
 To extend over all that existeth by breath, 
 And end all their passionate yearnino-. 
 A rose from our garland has fallen, not torn 
 By a blast of the whirlwind and sudden uptorn 
 On the wings of the tempest ascending ; 
 But fading and fading as slowly each day 
 As the gold from the cloud slowly fadeth away, 
 When day to her sister is bending. 
 
 DEUCE TAKE OLD TIME, 
 
 L, 
 
 T\EUCE take old time ! how fast he flies ! 
 \j His coat-tails slip my lingers ; 
 Why can't he be a gentleman 
 
 Of leisure where he liuirers ? 
 Why can't he stop and take a nap. 
 
 And cease his hours Hying ; 
 His naughty boys, the minutes, too 
 
 The lightning's sj)eed defying ? 
 Why can't he k\ , person rest. 
 
 Not keep him always trying. 
 And frown upon him all his life, 
 
 Then smile to see him <lying. 
 Why can't he leave our heads alone, 
 
46 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 
 Not alwn.ys koep a-tearing, 
 Until he loaves no hair at all, 
 
 Or else 'tis gray we're wearing ? 
 Why don't he let our bodies be, 
 
 Become a little eivilled. 
 Not throw them here and throw them there, 
 
 Then leave them parched and shrivelled ? 
 Why can't he let our limbs be strong, 
 
 Our hand for work ne'er failing. 
 Not sap our blood, then leave us here 
 
 Our fallen strength bewailing ? 
 
 RAGNANOK, 
 
 TRANSLATED FROM THE SCANDINAVIAN EDDA. 
 
 ^REMBLES Ig.basil's oak, 
 I Groaning while standing, 
 Loke is loosed ! 
 And on the ways of Hel, 
 Groan the dark shadows 
 Till burnt is the tree 
 By the tire of Surt. 
 Rhym from the east comes, 
 Rise the black waters, 
 And coiled in !iis Jotun rage, 
 Ghires the earth-girdling snake 
 Into white foam the while. 
 Lashing the water. 
 Loud screams the eagle. 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 Tearing the carcasses, 
 
 Nanr-far sails forward. 
 
 Surt from the soutli comes 
 
 With flames of destruction, 
 
 And from his sword, shines 
 
 The sun of tlie Val God. 
 
 Dashed are the stony liills 
 
 Fiercely together, 
 
 Totters each giantess. 
 
 Men tread the path to Hell, 
 
 Heaven is clov^en ; 
 
 Dark grows the sun, and earth 
 
 Sinks in the ocean 
 
 And from the higji heaven, 
 
 Falls every hi-ight star; 
 
 While the all-nourishinfr tree, 
 
 Fire beneath assails. 
 
 And rising high from earth 
 
 Flames 'gainst the heavens. 
 
 47 
 
 FRAGMENTS. 
 
 JTE who would fain attain to greatness, must 
 
 X| Attempt great things. Not wish to I.e among 
 
 The gloi-ious stars and grovel in the dust. 
 Lot thy whole thought and eflbrt urge thee on. 
 Be every act a step ui)on the way 
 To that desired goal ; and not as he 
 Who fain would yonder lordly mountain climb, 
 Spends his time toiling up the puny hills 
 Kaised by the industry of swarming ants. 
 
48 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 [^IND deeds and words though small have never 
 
 yet, 
 
 Though thrown at random, failed to reach some 
 mark, 
 However aimless sent ; and as a seed 
 Thrown by the wayside in a careless mood, 
 Hath grown into a goodly tree, which bends 
 Laden with fruit delightful to the taste 
 Which now we pluck with joy, so with kind deeds, 
 Though sown with careless hand, will spring into 
 A golden harvest and with joy we reap 
 The gathered blessing. 
 
 STELLA. 
 
 ^ilD'ST e'er attempt at highest noon 
 If To gaze upon the glorious sun ? 
 Thy sight is blasted ere his orb 
 
 By keenest vision can be won. 
 And thus whene'er I fain would sing 
 
 Of beauteous Stella, lo ! my mind 
 Doth dwell in awe upon the theme 
 
 And equal words I cannot find. 
 Though all the world were sleeping cold 
 
 But thee, and thou art near to me, 
 I'd miss thee not, but live in joy, 
 
 My hope, my joy, my life, in thee. 
 
 ws? 
 
 iiiiiiiil 
 
FANCIES OP BOYHOOD. 
 
 49 
 
 ive never 
 ach some 
 
 deeds, 
 into 
 
 THE GREATEST JOY, 
 
 ni GAYSOME throng of youths and maids 
 y^ With farmer Green and wife, sat round 
 «/ The old oak-tree, the young all mirth, 
 The old folks listening to its sound. 
 
 rong, 
 
 When Jessie, brightest of the thrc 
 
 Said : " Let us cease our mirth and say 
 
 In turn, what gives us most delight 
 Of all the things that make us gay ; 
 
 I think a dance." Then Annie cried 
 (Annie most gentle maid of all) : 
 
 " Why mamma's praise for what I do 
 For me the greatest far I call." 
 
 Id 
 
 " A swing," said May ; " A horse," cried John ; 
 
 " Give me," cried Doll, " a flower plot ;" 
 But Albert looked at Fan and blushed, 
 
 Then bowed his head and answered not. 
 
 " Now farmer Green/' they all did cry, 
 
 " Tell what most pleases you." " ' (Ms thi.s," 
 
 He answered, and with loving grace 
 He gave his aged wife— a kiss. 
 
50 
 
 FANCIB8 OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 FROM ILLIAD, BOOK I. 
 
 I 
 
 PRAYING he spoke ; and Phcebus heard his 
 prayer ; 
 Then from Olympus' lofty hei^^hts lie came, 
 Enraged in heart. Upon his shoulders hung 
 His bow and mighty (juiver ; as he moved, 
 Rattled the arrows of the god enraged. 
 Like to the night he came ; then from the ships 
 Aj)art he sat, and hui'led a dreadful shaft 
 Amid them, and the fatal silver bow 
 Clanged terril)le. First on the nmles and dogs 
 He shed, then man received his deadly bolt. 
 And frequent funeral fires were blazing round. 
 
 ON THE FIRST SNOW STORM. 
 
 rflHE cold wind blows, 
 I The wintry snows 
 
 Around our path are flying. 
 No more is seen 
 In robes of green 
 The landscape round us lying. 
 
 The naked trees 
 
 Sway to the breeze 
 For their lost glories sighing. 
 
 The l)irds that sung 
 
 The groves among, 
 To southern climes are flying. 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 51 
 
 HORACE. BOOK /, ODE IV. 
 
 TOOSEi:) is the winter so keen, by the genial 
 JJ sj)ring and the west wind, 
 
 Arruin tlie vessels tempt the bounding billows. 
 No longer the flocks now enjoy their stalls; nor the 
 
 fanner his fire. 
 Dressed now in white no longer gleam the meadows. 
 Cytherean Venus now leads forth the dance 'neath the 
 
 moon o'erhanging, 
 
 And the sweet nymi)hs have joined the beauteous 
 Graces, 
 
 Shaking with alternate foot the earth, while the fiery 
 Vulcan 
 
 The flames rekindles in Cyclopian forges. 
 
 Becoming the shining head be adoi-ned with green 
 
 garlands of myrtle, 
 Or every flower which the fi-eed earth beareth. 
 Becoming in shady groves to Faunus us a sacrifice 
 
 offered, 
 A lamb or tender kid if he desire. 
 Pale death with equal foot now knocks at the hut of 
 
 the pauper 
 And monarch's palace. Oh, most happy Sestus, 
 Short is the span of our life that forbids us on long 
 
 hopes relying ; 
 Soon, night shall claim thee and the fabled Manes 
 And Pluto's most dreary domain : when as soon as 
 
 thou shalt have arrived, 
 
52 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 None choose the die for the sweet flowing nectar, 
 Nor Lycidas wilt thou admire — for whom all the 
 
 youth's bum with love now, 
 And soon the virgins be enamoured of him. 
 
 BOAT SONG. 
 
 T IGHT glides our boat o'er the bounding bay, 
 JJ Blithely the boatman sings ; 
 
 For his arms are strong and his heart is gay 
 As the spray from the oar he flings. 
 
 Soft falls the twilight, the sun's going down, 
 
 The sea gulls are flown to their nest ; 
 Yon mountain stands out, there is gold on his crown, 
 
 While darkness envelopes his breast. 
 
 Soft o'er the billows the song ringeth clear. 
 Oh ! sweet 'tis to glide through the foam. 
 
 And think of the faces of kindred so dear 
 Tliat smile as they welcome us home. 
 
 Chorus — 
 
 Then row for the darkness is coming apace, 
 
 Tlie night rises up from the east ; 
 While the stars peep out from the depths of space, 
 
 And the day of toil has ceased. 
 
 iii 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 53 
 
 BE PROUD, YE LORD LINGS, 
 
 ON THE PREVAILING PRIDE OF DRESS. 
 
 TIE proud ye lordlings and look down 
 [) Upon your fellow-nian ! 
 
 Know not thy mother's son if he 
 
 Be in the bonds of poverty 
 
 Or neath the social ban. 
 
 If e'er thou meetest one whose coat 
 
 Is not as new as thine, 
 
 Let scorn be in thy lordly eye, 
 
 And pass that man unheeded by 
 
 A blot in Grod's desicm. 
 
 Or if thou meetest one who toils 
 
 To earn his daily bread, 
 
 Regard him as a low-born knave ; 
 
 Not fit to hll a decent grave, 
 
 Nor on the earth to tread. 
 
 See yonder poor but honest man 
 
 Along the highway toil ! 
 
 Move quick ! or else his homespun grey 
 
 May touch your garments l)right and gay, 
 
 And straight their beauty soil. 
 
 The scriptures say John Baptist's robe 
 
 Of camel's hair was made ; 
 
 Ye deem it strange the Hebrews then 
 
 Like you mine honored brother men 
 
 Should mock him when he prayed ? 
 
54 
 
 FANCIES OP UOYIIOOD. 
 
 And Clirist, tlie Saviour of mankind, 
 
 Nor silks nor jewels knew, 
 
 But humble was His ^rur)) uiid fare 
 
 For ^'ods to eat, for ^ods to wear, 
 
 But not for such as you. 
 
 So when I meet a man whose pride 
 
 Swells, on his robes to gaze, 
 
 That tale upon my mind will ])ress 
 
 The jackdaw in the peacock's dress 
 
 Found scorn while seekinfj' praise. 
 
 THE PRISONER OF THE BASTILE. 
 
 ** /^H ! take me back to yonder livinfr tomb ! 
 If My soul is bin-sting with the light of heaven ! 
 So long my years have passed in utter gloom. 
 My thanks I give not for this freedom given. 
 
 I yearn once more in yonder prison dim 
 
 To end my life ; a few short fleeting hours : 
 
 Within those walls rjrown aged has each limb, 
 
 And welcome o'er my path death's shadow lowers. 
 
 Full thirty years have passed since yonder walls 
 Enclosed me from this outer world of light, 
 
 As in a living tomb: whose gloom ajialls 
 
 The blithest spirit tilled with earth's delight. 
 
FANCIES OF IJOVIIOOD. 
 
 55 
 
 The ^low of youth was then upon my brow 
 
 Elastic was my stop, my spirit saw 
 Nothing hut joy ; no sorrow came as now. 
 
 Till fell that man.late of tyrannic law. ' 
 
 My bride of but one day ! Oh God • can e'er 
 My soul for^ret the partin^r l<,ok she gave ? 
 
 Which seemed to say, " Nnu^^ht's I.ft us but despair, 
 Soon shall I sink within the sihnt grave." 
 
 They tore her from my arms, and dragge<l me forth 
 With rufhan hands, to yonder loathsome cell • 
 
 My brain seemed dust ; oh then was welcome death 
 How welcome then no human toncrue can tell. 
 
 Three days thus pas.sed, it seeme.l as in a clream • 
 ^ 1 lay exhausted, loaded down with care. 
 No mortal face I saw, no golden gleam 
 Of sunlight came to pierce the^darkne.ss there. 
 
 Oh God ! pent in these gloomy walls of stone 
 For long years thirty and my dwelling now ' 
 
 Oh ! take me back to rest once more alone. 
 And heaven's blessing rest upon thy l.row." 
 
 They led him back into his narrow cell ; 
 
 Feeble his step and labouring was his' breath; 
 And with a joy no human lips can tell 
 
 He shuddering sank claspe.l in the arms of death 
 
 if 
 
56 
 
 FANCIKa OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 ODE TO THE MOON. 
 
 [Tlie followiii)^ was written at the age of fourteen, and was 
 printed in the Aca(H(iH.\ 
 
 I 
 
 LL lieuvoiily moon, roful^ent lamp of ni^ht, 
 Softly thou sliin(5st over land and sea, 
 
 The whole earth^laddenin^with thy ^dorious light, 
 Ah in thy course thou roUest silently. 
 
 Brif^ht is thy face, as when the Creator's word 
 From darkest chaos bade tliy form appear, 
 
 And on the (»arth thy lovely beams first poured. 
 In heaven plac(Hl a new born rollin<^ sphere. 
 
 When first the flowers came forth iu bless the light, 
 And man first trod upon this earthly mould ; 
 
 When evening came, rejoiced he at the sight. 
 To see thee rise from out where ocean rolled. 
 
 When sinks the sun behind the western hills. 
 And rests the day, her labours all are done. 
 
 The place of fiery Sol thy radiance fills, 
 
 And bright thy beams o'er earth and sea are thrown. 
 
 Thou art the image of God's lasting word. 
 And like His word shall last till time is o'er, 
 
 And th' trumpet's call for judgment shall be heard. 
 And earth, and heaven, and man shall be no more. 
 
 
FANCIES OF nOYHOOD. 
 
 67 
 
 A SUMMER SUN SET. 
 
 [MHE clouds drawn out in slender threads of ^old 
 ^ Or i)iled in banks of deeper jasper, tinned 
 With puri)le fire, turne<l sunset to a smile 
 Which else were ^rloon.-; and made the farewell seem 
 Fair as the ^vvi^imvr of the hiashin^r morn. 
 Then lost the clouds their lu-iljiant tints, then changed 
 Into a sullen ^^rey. And the fair jasper then 
 Lost its jnirpureal blush and sudden ^^rew 
 A mass of dreary vapour, Hoatin^r wide 
 Like some dim phantom on the soulless air. 
 Then faded all the beauty from the skies 
 As fades a dream ; when in our shunber deep 
 We dream of beauty and of happiness, 
 And of fair fields wherein are ^ro],len fruits 
 Embalmed in crystal dew and tended by 
 A band of auf^els clad in rainbow hues; 
 And neath the coolin^^ shades, fair crystal streams, 
 Flowing o'er beds of amber, gaily sing 
 Hymns that none but angel choirs produce, 
 And timing chorus to the birds o'erhead ; 
 Then, as thou seemest to see far brighter fields. 
 And hear a sweeter chorus, lo ! thy dream 
 Vanishes ; and the glories pass away, 
 Leaving the stern reality. Thus fades 
 The dying glory of the sinking sun. 
 Leaving the gold and blood-red jasper all 
 Change to dull gray : and o'er both earth and sky 
 Comes the sad gloaming ; then in silent train 
 
58 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 But one by one tlie stars come peeping forth, 
 " Those thousand lamps of heaven," and make the sky 
 Gleam like a crown with jewels studded o'er. 
 Then in the pause while twinkling out their rays, 
 The stars now busy, in the east appeared 
 A sudden light, and the majestic moon 
 Rose crowned in splendor, and in royal state 
 Rode over all, the heavenly Queen of Night. 
 
 [The following song and scene belong to an nnprinted poem 
 called the Lovers of Mjsore.] 
 
 DEMON S SONC;. 
 
 rilHE lightning is flaslung, 
 I The thunder it roars, 
 
 And tierce waves are dashing 
 On suif -beaten shores, 
 The ocean is rollinef 
 Its billows along, 
 But our might is controlling 
 Their <leath-teaching song. 
 The hoarse winds are sweeping 
 From yoii sa))le clouds. 
 And mortals are weeping 
 O'er friends in their shrouds. 
 Great Brahma we fear not. 
 His might we defy, 
 His menials they dare not. 
 Our dwelling come nigh. 
 
 'HGJ 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 59 
 
 Come cast our spell over 
 Young Azirn, our foe, 
 And Myrzu his lover 
 Shall view him with woe. 
 
 MYRZAS SONG, WITH SCENE. 
 
 mHE scene is changed ; tne dying ray 
 \^ Of sunlight tells of fading day ; 
 
 The earth wibh heavenly beauty fills 
 Ere yet he touched the western hills. 
 His slanting rays of burnished gold 
 Cast lengthened shadows o'er the wold, 
 And, stealing soft the leaves between 
 Of stately palms that flourished green. 
 Like molten di-ops of gold they fell 
 Upon a cottage, shaded well. 
 While scenting all the listless air. 
 Grew many a flower of beauty rare. 
 But on those flowerets reclined 
 One lovelier than all cond»ined, 
 When flrst thine eyes behold her there, 
 She seemed not of this earthly sphere, ' 
 But seemed as come from Bralima's shrine— 
 A goddess ; face and form di\'ine. 
 She listless lay, her fairy lute 
 Lay by her side, as if too mute 
 To breath the things she longed to say, 
 To wait her aljsent lover's stay. 
 So the dim foj-est glades along 
 Re-echoed faint her plaintive song. 
 
^■' 
 
 60 
 
 FANCIES OF ROYHOOD. 
 
 SONG. 
 
 When shall we happy be 
 
 By my love's blessing ? 
 When shall he come to me 
 
 Sweetly caressing ? 
 When shall these stormy days 
 
 Part and forever ? 
 When shall life's brighter rays 
 
 Come parting never ? 
 
 / CAUGHT A PRETTY BIRD 
 CALLED LOVE. 
 
 I 
 
 CAUGHT a pretty bird called Love, 
 And thought it a harmless plaything; 
 
 So sweet it seemed to dote upon, 
 It gave my soul a dayspring. 
 
 And so to keep it from the cold, 
 (Of cold it could bear " naething ") 
 
 I placed it in my bosom warm ; 
 Alas ! the harmless plaything ! 
 
 For suddenly with steely claws 
 It rent my heart, that gay thing, 
 
 And thus that pretty bird to me 
 Proved not a harndess plaything. 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 61 
 
 THE FLOWERS THAT GREW ON 
 MOTHERS GRAVE. 
 
 WRirrEN AT THE REQUEST OF A FRIEND. 
 
 Tl CLUSTERED wreatli of daisies wliite 
 jr*Y Within my hand I lightly hold ; 
 
 The simplest flowers kissed by the light. 
 
 More sweet than Ophir's wealth of gold. 
 Beside my path bedecked w^ith smiles, 
 
 The rose and lily sweetly wave ; 
 But fairer far those daisies seem ; 
 
 The flowers that grew on mother's grave. 
 
 Oh ! simple flower, that in the field, 
 
 Or by the brooklet loves to bloom, 
 Oh ! fair and joyous is thy face, 
 
 Though thou didst blossom on the tomb. 
 I love thee as the light of day — 
 
 Not for thy smiles the storms that brave — 
 So full of beauty, but because 
 
 Ye grew on mother's lonely grave. 
 
 While on this earth she loved your forms 
 
 And many a garland hath she wove, 
 And on her breast we laid the last. 
 
 Her now cold silent heart above. 
 She loved your simple form, and you 
 
 Mayhap, returne<l the love she gave, 
 And still, as guardians of her dust. 
 
 Ye grew upon her lonely grave. 
 
62 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 ECLOGUE. 
 
 [In memory of Aubrey H. Jones, who was drowned in Minas 
 Basin in August of the year 1885. He and the author were class- 
 mates in the public school of Wolfville for four years, and were 
 alwaj's firm friends.] 
 
 AMYNTAS. CERINTHU8. 
 
 Amyntas. 
 Ti / HY pon.sive by the babbling brook dost thou, 
 iV- Cerinthus, thus reclining, sob and moan, 
 
 Witli thy (hirk eyes, so wont to gleam with joy, 
 Blinded by tears ? Hath some sweet nymph deceived 
 Thee loving, and with cruel strokes abused 
 Thy heart given to her keeping ? Or hast thou 
 A tender lamb torn ))y the wolves that howl 
 Nightly around our I'old { Rise ! dry thy tears ! 
 See ! lo ! thy Hock has wandered to the hills 
 Reft of thy care, where haply dangers lurk. 
 
 Cerinthus. 
 Amyntas, Oh Amyntas, stifling .sobs 
 Do choke the words that tell thee of my grief. 
 Alas ! my eyes so wont to glow with joy 
 Sliall ne'er again be dry ; but no sweet nymph 
 Deceiving, neitlier land) by wolves devoured 
 Has torn away the tiood-gates of my tears. 
 O let my Hocks be strayed, for ne'er again 
 Shall I them gather on the vtu'dant meads, 
 And with my ti. leful reed Hll up the hours 
 Else vacant, till the car of Phoebus sink 
 In western seas, and leavi» the gentle shade, 
 For oh ! sad time, loved Lvcidas is dead. 
 
 D| 
 
 \\1 
 
 Pil 
 
 I 
 
 All 
 
 Aij 
 
 To 
 
 An 
 
 Th 
 
 An 
 
 All 
 
 W] 
 
 Th( 
 
 For 
 
 . .....a.^ «^««i^ifa««,-i^»te*iii a.rf ■oiJid'jiatwaiUha .miiMig 
 
^mt^mt' 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 63 
 
 Amyntas. 
 
 Dead ! didst thou say ? What ! Lycidas is dead ! 
 
 Why yester eve I saw him \>y this brook 
 
 Pi|)ing liis iiiia] lay ; all unawares 
 
 I came and stood beside him oi"o he knew. 
 
 And, when he saw me, he did o-rasp my hand 
 
 And said : " Amyntas, overjoyed am I 
 
 To meet thee here ; the morrow eve do thou 
 
 And loved Cerinthus, when the foMs receive 
 
 Tlieir fleecy dwellers, come and leather here. 
 
 And we will play upon the tuneful reed, 
 
 And sing our songs for mutual delight, 
 
 While verdant hills re-echo back our strains." 
 
 Then we did part ; and coldly now he sleeps 
 
 Forever ! Say, Cerinthus, how he died. 
 
 Cerinthus. 
 
 The task is hard, Amyntas, and my tears 
 
 In greater floods rush forth when I would speak. 
 
 Wo worth the time when e'er a god conceived 
 
 A jealousy for youths of godlike mould. 
 
 And sought out their destruction ! Lycidas, 
 
 As well thou knowest, was of manly foiin 
 
 And nature gentle. Neptune, — whom the floods 
 
 Obey, sole ruler, filled with strong desire 
 
 To place the youth within his court and wed 
 
 Some lovely Nereid to him, on a morn, — 
 
 A summer morn before the early sun 
 
 Had dried the tear drops which at night the flowers 
 
 Had shed in sorrow for tlie parted day, — 
 
 I 
 
 • v:r^- ^^.^»if^L ; .'^^ESSiS&^B»SSFT^'^;an£^Si^5iS^i£J^x;iiSi£ii^^ 
 
64 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 Made all his waves with scintillating liglit 
 
 Quiver and playfully caress tlie shore, 
 
 Inviting Lycid as he passed that way 
 
 To bathe his liniljs witliin tlie azure wave. 
 
 Long Lycid stootl him by tlie bank and gazed 
 
 Upon the curling rip})les as they kissed 
 
 His snowy feet: then tempted by the sight 
 
 He cast his rol)es aside and inward plunged. 
 
 When, oh ! dread time, how may my tongue relate ? 
 
 The hoary god in triumph seized and drew 
 
 Our dearest comrade to his watery home, 
 
 Wliile slowly o'er his head the billows rolled. 
 
 Changing to tears at this most cruel deed. 
 
 Amyntas. 
 
 Cerinthus, whilst thou spoke, it seemed a voice 
 Said to me : " Weep no more, for Lycid treads 
 Elysian fields of ever-blooming flowers, 
 Happy with spirits that have gone before !" 
 
 Cerinthus. 
 
 In vain, Amyntas, never may my heart 
 Assuage its sorrow ; never shall my eyes 
 View with delight the brooklet, plain and hill, 
 For all the world is dark since Friendship's lamp 
 Is quenched by the icy hand of Death. 
 Oh, Death, thou art the measure of our love. 
 
Z^Ar-^J^M 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 65 
 
 CANADA'S THERMOP YL/E. 
 
 Ti I HY, O Canadian bards, for themes pursue 
 iV The annals of a foreif^n race and shore ? 
 Wliy sin<T the glories to the strani^er due, 
 And thine own land's immortal deeds ignore ? 
 Hath she no names that in the ranks of war 
 Heroic proved and wrapped in glory fell ? 
 Amid the dying groan and battle I'oar 
 That shook the land, can non8 a story tell 
 Of valor proved, none raise the harps heroic swell ? 
 
 Seek not the annals of a foreign land ; 
 Search through the page historic of thine own ; 
 There themes for poet meet on every h.and 
 Lie all unsung ; and heroes, now unknown, 
 Await the rising of the minstrel tone 
 To give to them that innnortality 
 O'er valour by poetic numbers thrown ; 
 And though the deed be all unmeet for me, 
 Still Canada, will I sing thine own Thormopyhe. 
 
 Eastward the sun his shadows Hung, 
 Though high in heaven his orb still hung, 
 
 And made the landscape glow, 
 Where, girdled by her forest pall, 
 Arose the town of Montreal 
 
 Two huntlred years ago. 
 
66 
 
 FANCIES OF UOYIIOOD. 
 
 Tluit clay upon tlie villarce street 
 
 An eager jL^roup was met, 
 And wot'ul tidings tilled tlie ear, 
 That made tlie boldest (]uake with fear 
 Pale cheeks and pallid lips were there. 
 
 And eyes with sorrow wet. 
 For 'mid the tln-oiiir a hunter told 
 
 Twelve hundred red 
 
 fier( 
 
 d bold 
 
 men 
 
 Advanced, who deejdy swore 
 That every town should siidc in thime, 
 And all who bore the Fraidvish name 
 
 Should tread the earth no more. 
 Nor seven suns with glowing ray 
 Should light the orient tires of day, 
 Ere many a swift canoe woukl chide, 
 Dark Ottawa, thy mighty tide, 
 Bearing the forest chieftains down 
 To ravage Mary's sacred town. 
 This news in Champlain's city late, 
 Showing the future big with fate, 
 Told, writhing in the fires of death. 
 The dying Wolfe with latest breath. 
 The message ended, from the throng 
 A youth of active form and strong. 
 Whose manly looks revealed his worth, 
 Clad in a martial garb stepped forth. 
 Within his breast the patriot ire 
 Kindled his dark eyes' slumbering fire. 
 And as in clarion t(mes he spoke, 
 No other voice the silence broke. 
 
KANUI!J« OF BOYIIOOU. 
 
 67 
 
 "My countryinoii, you all have heard," 
 He said, "this warjiini^rs timely word. 
 Nor yet alone tliis Tnessa<,^e tells 
 The futuj'e ^reat with horror swells. 
 A comet hla/itii^ in the sky 
 Portendin<x death and ruin nii,di. 
 Throuf^h li(niid air a Hamintj bark 
 Careers alon<j^, an omen dark, 
 And mif^dity voices echoinijf loud 
 As thunder fVom the rolliuir cloud, 
 Burstini:^ the silence of the sky, 
 
 ' Mortals destruction cowers nii^di.' 
 Thus God ahove and man helow 
 Have warned you of tlie comincf foe. 
 Now shall ve tamelv stand and see 
 
 * ■ 
 
 All perish that are dear to thee ? 
 Your sons ifo down beneath the blow 
 Of savarje blade: youi* dwell inc^s low 
 In aslies siidv, your dau£;'hters, wives, 
 Condemned to live tlii'ice cur.sed lives ? 
 Frenchmen ? and will ye now behold 
 A foe's approach nor yet b*^ l)old ? 
 Kindle anew vour martial fires. 
 And emulate your valient sires. 
 Who ? who ? will follow me to save 
 Our land or win a hero's ijrave ? 
 The time draws near, the Mohawk foe 
 Is nigh ; let him who fears to go, 
 Scorned by the valiant and the free, 
 Sink to a dark eternity ; 
 
68 
 
 KANCIKH OK BOYHOOD. 
 
 Wliile saints lic^foro tlie ^ato of heaven 
 Welcome the soul for country given." 
 He ceased, and o'er the listeniiifj crowd 
 
 Fell silence as of death. 
 Mute every ton<,Mie, awed every heart, 
 
 And l)ated every breath. 
 Then rose a shout of wild acclaim 
 
 That echoed to the sky : 
 " Brave Daulac, we will win with thee 
 
 Or with thee we will die." 
 And from the throng brave men came forth- 
 
 A l)and of seventeen. 
 Oh ! ne'er since war fii-st crimsoned earth 
 
 Moi'e valiant hearts were seen ! 
 They grasped their leader's hand and swore 
 To victors live or death so sure 
 
 Their dark defeat should hide. 
 And many a foeman's corse around 
 Encumb'ring close the battle ground, 
 
 Bear witness where they died. 
 Amid that band were men whose feet 
 
 Trod sundered paths of life. 
 The smith, the trader, had their place, 
 The follower of the foi-est chase. 
 
 The soldier nursed in strife. 
 Youth burned on every hero's brow, 
 A score and ten to soothly vow, 
 But one the passing years allow. 
 Yet what mean years when freedom's strife 
 Demands the sacrifice of life ? 
 
FANCIKH OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 69 
 
 Anotlier day. Tlu; solemn bell 
 
 Has tolled as it' of death a kiuill, 
 
 And in the house of Ciod foj' aid 
 
 The white rohed ]n*iest the mass has said. 
 
 And 'mid farewells the sacred band 
 
 Embarked has sundered from the strand, 
 
 And soon their restless oars are plied 
 
 Within St. Anne thy ra((in^ tide. 
 
 Then o'er their l)ows the heroes saw 
 
 The darkliufr stream of Ottawa. 
 
 Two Mountains Lake is swiftly crossed, 
 
 And now upon the rapids tos.serl, 
 
 Slowly they strive a<,'ainst the dashinfif 
 
 Of torrents in their fury clashing. 
 
 Then spent with toil they sout^dit the shore, 
 
 Where Lon^ Sault's troubled water's roar. 
 
 Here whei'c the shore with mild incline 
 
 All tree-clad met the river line, 
 
 A welcome sif^ht their eyes surveyed ; 
 
 Built lon^ befoi'e, a jialisade 
 
 Of rufjfTfed tj'unks built tier on tier 
 
 With sapliiifi^s fi^uardinf^ front and rear. 
 
 But ruined now by time, at lenrjth 
 
 No more arose in pristine strength. 
 
 Here while they stayed a friendly band 
 
 Of valient Hurons came ; 
 By Aunabataka led on, 
 And Mitumcf]!', to victory won 
 
 Or death in endless fame. 
 Here brothers thoufijh of different race, 
 When evening shadows grew apace, 
 
70 
 
 FANCIES OK HoYlKJOl). 
 
 In mutual frifwidship stood. 
 Their sacred sti-aius the vvai-riors sunf?, 
 And evenintT liymns in vai-ious tonf,nie, 
 Adown the ^k'ainin<if river run,"", 
 
 AmiI ('hariiiud tlie listciiin^^ wood. 
 Few days hav<? passed. 'I'lie heroes scan 
 Adown thy rapids, fi(!rce St. Anne, 
 
 Full many a linj-ht canoe, 
 Laden with warriors drawinj^ near. 
 Horrid with paint and axe an«l spear, 
 
 And arrows swift and true. 
 
 They land and form ; while like the hail 
 That mttles down December's ^ale, 
 
 The shafts shoot whistliiifr forth. 
 While some with cracklincr Hames advance, 
 To shed upon the sons of France, 
 
 Destructions tiery breath. 
 Oh ! what a sound was there ! loud roared 
 The f^uns that from embrasures i)0ured 
 
 Their blasts of unseen death, 
 And minn^led witli the direful hiss 
 Of shafts o'erhead, anil HauK^s that kiss 
 
 The barriers dark beneath. 
 But all in vain the fierce attack ; 
 The foemen, wearied, halt, fall back 
 
 And breathe from tight once more. 
 And thrice their valour thus was tried, 
 But victory thrice to them denied 
 
 Her mantle as before. 
 
FANCIKS OF UOYHOOI). 
 
 71 
 
 'l'lu'\' now rctiHsit to wait tlu- uid 
 Of it'iiilorcoiueiitH lonf]f (Icluyod, 
 Jjiit with close m^frr tliu t'urt invest, 
 Nor let th(? wearied heroes rest. 
 Hun^a'r and thirst and sleep delayed, 
 Dread havf)e in the stren«;th hud made 
 Of Danlae's hand; hut, still undaunted, 
 Each at his post of danger planted, 
 Stood ready on the foe to cast, 
 Frau<,dit with icd death, the tiery blast. 
 
 The fifth day came; new foes appeared, 
 And twice five hundred brrves }»repared, 
 'Mid barbarous dance and savage breath. 
 To wake anew the work of death. 
 Within the fort for heavenly aid 
 A soul outjKniring ])iayer is made 
 By every tongue, for in that hour 
 What ti'ust Init in Jehovah's power ? 
 Shoit lime for prayer! for now the foe 
 
 Advances to the storm. 
 As nund)erless as sands tluit sleep 
 Beside the hoarse resounding deep. 
 
 Or fallen leaves, they swarm. 
 And the loud shouts that rose around, 
 Swadled like reihnihleil thunder's sound. 
 Triumphant first, but then the moans 
 Of stricken life, and dying groans. 
 Till changing oft, now low, now high. 
 Deepened to one confused cry. 
 
 ^S^"TS5! 
 
 •^■^■madu^^ 
 
72 
 
 FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 They come. The first by mighty shield'.' 
 • Of plank were hidden all, 
 And cliosen l)y the lot's award 
 
 Have sworn to win or fall. 
 Horrid the front their lines present; 
 In vain, no bullet outward sent, 
 
 May pierce those manth'irS tlirough. 
 Reeling from thirst and many a woand, 
 The band of heroes held their ground, 
 And fought and prayed in turn around, 
 
 While death fast nearer drew. 
 The foenien reach the ])alisade, 
 And furiously with gleaming blade 
 
 Hav( lie wed the piles away. 
 A breach is made ! — the demons gain 
 An entrance ! — the defenders spring 
 To guard it, and the foremost foes 
 
 In deatli are weltering. 
 Brave Daulac falls ; like madmen now 
 Rush the survivors on the foe ; 
 With fury fired they cleave and thrust, 
 And many a red man bites the dust : 
 No lieart betrays his country's trust ; 
 
 But one ]>y one they fell 
 Beneath the shafts that poured like rain. 
 Till all lay d(U)d upon the plain 
 
 Aniid their slaughterers' yell. 
 
 The fight was o'er, the work was done, 
 And slowly sank the evening sun, 
 
FANCIES OF BOYHOOD. 
 
 73 
 
 Kissing the scene witli farewell ray 
 Where death's destructive hibours lay ; 
 And Ottawa still flowed along, 
 Unchanged the tenor of her song, 
 Though crimson drops bedimmed her wave 
 Shed by the bravest of the brave. 
 
 The above is a description of a comparatively well-known 
 event in Canadian history. In the year 1660, Canada, being invaded 
 by the Iroquois, seveiieen young men of Montreal, led by Daulac 
 Des Ormeaux, resolved to drive back the foe or perish in tlie 
 attempt, and sheltered by a palisade built of trunks of trees near 
 Long Sault for eight days they repulsed the Ii>.dian8, but at length 
 were all slain. This show of courage daunted the savages and 
 saved Canada. 
 
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