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41 
 
 WHERE DWELLS 
 OUR LADY OF THE SUNSHINE?" 
 
2 - J i' 6 »^^. 
 
Where Dwells 
 ** Our Lady of the Sunshine ?^^ 
 
 THE aged and majestic figure of the 
 Nineteenth Century could be seen 
 through the portals of the Throne 
 Room, which opened ever and anon to admit 
 or to dismiss the innumerable visitors. I 
 watched them as they pressed in on their vari- 
 ous quests ere it was too late to obtain favours 
 from the beneficent hands of the Sovereign 
 whose reign had been so matchless in the an- 
 nals of the world's history, but whose heralds 
 were even now proclaiming that the time was 
 at hand when she would depart and be no 
 more known amongst us. 
 
 'Monarchs and statesmen, scientists and 
 poets, warriors and theologians all crowded in 
 
— all had some question to ask, some boon to 
 crave from one who had a>een as a mother to 
 them all, and in whose calm, grand counten- 
 ance there seemed to mingle infinite knowledge, 
 infinite love, and infinite faith in the future, 
 and at the same time an inexpressible longing 
 and yearning for the children whom she had 
 nurtured, and whom she must ere long yield 
 to the care of an unknown and untried ruler. 
 
 Even as I watched, the doors swung wide 
 open once more and there entered a train of 
 eager, bright-faced youths and maidens. I 
 followed to hear what these might have to seek 
 from the venerable age- worn Monarch. Me- 
 thought her face grew tender as she watched 
 the approaching troop, and she motioned those 
 around to stand aside whilst she gently wel- 
 comed them and said : 
 
 "What would ye, my children?'' 
 And making obeisance, they made answer : 
 "Ah Mother, great Mother of us all, we 
 come to thee who alone canst guide us to her 
 whom we seek. We have heard that through 
 
all the years of this century thou hast been 
 preparing a great gift for the children of thy 
 youth and that far away in the north country 
 over the seas thou hast been training and 
 watching over a fair young Queen whom thou 
 dost destine to bring light and beauty and 
 riches and hope to such who know how to 
 seek her aright. Tell us, oh tell us of * Our 
 Lady of the Sunshine ' and of how we may be- 
 come worthy to seek her. How shall we find 
 her? How shall we know her? And how 
 may we gain her favor ? 
 
 And as she heard these words, the great 
 Sovereign slowly rose and spoke : 
 
 "Children, and have ye indeed heard of her 
 in whom is my delight and would ye woo her ? 
 True it is that it has ever been to the golden 
 West that the nations of the world have pressed, 
 true it is that the sceptre of the North must 
 ever have pre-eminence ! 
 
 " But how shall I describe to you her whom 
 ye are seeking, and how shall I show you the 
 power by which her rule shall be made great ! 
 
" Think then of a broad, stately river whose 
 banks on one side can scarce be discerned by 
 those standing on the other, and picture wide 
 stretches of long cultivated fields clothed with 
 low white houses and tiny bright shining spires 
 all bathed with the rosy flush of sunlight pene- 
 trating and permeating long rounded pink 
 masses of clouds hanging close over the ranges 
 of mountains behind ! 
 
 "Think of battlements and citadels sur- 
 mounting an old time city of bright metallic 
 roofs clustered on cliffs over a broad sweep of 
 water and the whole heaven and earth and 
 river illuminated with a crimson sunset glow ! 
 
 " Think of wide provinces studded with 
 homesteads in the midst of smiling orchards 
 and harvest fields and pastures — a country side 
 which inevitably brings the thought of sun- 
 shine with it. 
 
 " Or, come further west, and see thousands 
 of acres of wheat ripening in a light all too 
 fierce for denizens of greyer climes, but which 
 
penetrating into the rich soil prepares food for 
 millions who dream not of iis power ! 
 
 "See the vast prairies blossoming into myriad 
 colors, see the grim mountain tops melting into 
 beauty, see the thick forests pierced by her 
 strength, see the unknown lands of the great 
 West yielding to the touch of « Our Lady of 
 the Sunshine ' and blessing the world with 
 their produce — and learn how to know her. 
 
 " But learn, too, to know her in yet another 
 garb. Behold her covering up her vast do- 
 mains in the warm folds of mothering snow 
 and then see our * Sunshine * come tripping 
 forth awakening the country with the music of 
 her sleigh-bells, and with the laughter of her 
 children as they gain health and strength and 
 prowess in the sports in which she rejoices. 
 You may shrink from her in her fierce con- 
 suming mid-summer mood, you may love her 
 as she prevails over you in her sweet spring 
 garb, you may rejoice over her rich handiwork 
 in the autumn, but you will see her m her 
 glory as you perceive that * Our Lady of the 
 
Sunshine * is also * Our Lady of the Snows ' — 
 It is then that she is preparing her plenteous 
 harvests, and it is then that she is training her 
 sons and daughters to endurance and to joyful 
 
 service." 
 
 She paused, and then bending tenderly 
 towards the entranced faces of the youthful 
 petitioners, she continued : 
 
 " Would ye seek her, my children ? Would 
 ye become her leal subjects ? 
 
 " Then hear somewhat more of what I would 
 require of those who enter her kingdom. 
 
 " Her realms are wide, her resources are 
 vast, and sown within her borders are the 
 seeds of a mighty nation. 
 
 *' There have I planted of the fairest and 
 boldest of my children from the old world, 
 and there in freedom are Celt and Saxon, 
 Frank and Teuton learning to live together in 
 unity. 
 
 " I would fain live to see the golden future 
 of the people reigned over by my daughter of 
 
 6 
 
the Sunshine. But beware ye of marring her 
 work — she will fill the land with plenty, she 
 will endue her subjects with strength of body 
 and strength of mind through her gracious 
 influences, but she needs loyal followers for 
 the perfecting of her work. Will ye serve 
 her ? Will ye toil for her, following loyally in 
 the steps of her noble p'oneers, winning her 
 lands for her by persistent labor ? Will ye 
 uphold her just laws ? Will you be fellow- 
 workers with her and spread her rule by the 
 influence of sunshine and love ? Will ye * lay 
 your hands in hers and swear to reverence her 
 as your own conscience and your conscience 
 as your Queen ? ' 
 
 "Will you uphold the Christ within that 
 realm ? 
 
 " If ye will do these things then go, seek 
 'Our Lady of the Sunshine' and take my bless- 
 ing with you, for even as the hour of my 
 departure grows near do I see the coming 
 fulfilment of the fair vision of which I have so 
 ofttime dreamt. 
 
"There yet may come — 
 
 A glorious company, the flower of men, 
 To serve as model to the mighty world 
 And be the fair beginning of a time 
 
 when the mighty peoples of the West shall 
 join with the sea-girt Island Empire to pro- 
 claim Peace throughout the world. 
 
 **Go, my children, I command you, bear 
 my benediction and your own to * Our Lady 
 of the Sunshine/'' 
 
 IsHBEL Aberdeen 
 
 8 
 
Toronto 
 
 <>eorKe N. Mnran;; 
 
 1898