'^iVADf/Ulk 
 
 f^OTHESAY 
 
 AND 
 OTHER 
 VERSES; 
 
 BY 
 a EG RUE EDWIN FAIR WEATHER. 
 
Njind |"ioly, joyful, calm evrjd clear, 
 A.nd happiiK'ss wihlioiit a tear, 
 '^e youi'^ withirj ttje coiijirjiJ year. 
 
Near by the base of yon smooth dift'. 
 
 Where svveejjs .sweet Kassis" fiowiii^ tide. 
 
 There broad'iiing shores large vohunegive 
 
 A harbor safe where fleets may ride. 
 
 Upon this wide and grand expanse 
 
 What sj)()rting scenes have met the eye ! 
 
 What nndtitud<'s along the shores 
 
 The struggle keen with interest spy ! 
 
 There they who i)ly their strength and power 
 
 In boats, -a willing task fulfil 
 
 Show power of limb and mind and nerve. 
 
 And manly lH>aring, tatt and skill. 
 
 Beneath the wave of that expanse 
 
 Full many a one has found a grave; 
 
 And sudden sipialls which theic abound 
 
 Have tried the skill of boatmen brave. 
 
 Far up the north, majestic scenes 
 
 Of mountain bold and forest free, 
 
 Of sloping shore and fields of green. 
 
 And distant views of marsh and tree 
 
 Show rural beauty grand, serene— 
 
 Which artists long delight to see - 
 
 Filling the poet's |)en with fire 
 
 To write as h<'art and soul inspiie. 
 
The j^«'iilU' slope? of southern slioie. 
 Bat'ked by the hilLs in grjindeur show 
 The lovely home and pleasant eot, 
 That wealth and taste and art bestow. 
 Up)on tbese hills which overlook 
 The matchless scene of stream and bay. 
 Stand ( 'hristian schools of that sonnd faith. 
 Where sure and firm foundations lay. 
 
 When early summer's foliage new 
 Adorns the trees in vale, on hill, 
 And fields are fresh and bright and green. 
 And birds are full of song and trill. 
 The happy throng may there be seen ; 
 That pleasant city homes forsake, 
 Content to dwell in humble cot. 
 So they of rural charms partake. 
 
 Let all who here find happiness. 
 Remember whence all blessings tiow. 
 And honor God, His law. His (i ly. 
 And strive His love, in fear, to know ; 
 S) shall He ever Rothesay bless, 
 And on her people good bestow. 
 
Ibol^ Btble, 
 
 (Published August, 1892.^ 
 
 God's Holy Word, that sacred book. 
 From which His servants ever took 
 
 Their faith and fear. 
 In every chapter, verse and line, 
 His mercy p:reat. His love divine. 
 
 Are plain and clear. 
 
 What power we there by faiih discern. 
 What lessons sweet and dear we learn 
 
 Of hop(> and peace ; 
 Our hearts within us glow and burn. 
 His constant love is our concern, 
 
 His cleansing grace. 
 
 It tells of great redoennng love, 
 
 Th(»ugh ( 'hrist who came from heaven above 
 
 Our sins to bear. 
 Aids us to sutfer and endure. 
 To nuike us holy, good and pure, 
 
 His triinnph share. 
 
 Most precious is that sacred word. 
 The life of C'hrist, our Saviour, Lord. 
 
 His death and shame. 
 That gives us hope of peace and rest 
 In mansions ready for the blest, 
 
 Through His dear name. 
 
Thy Word iH a lampuntu my feet, and light unto my path, 
 
 Ps. cxlx. 105. 
 
 To me how dear is Thy comniard, 
 
 How sweet the light in which we stand. 
 
 Tliy precepts high. Thy love so iu*>\). 
 
 Aid all to fear, Thy law to keep, 
 
 Suggests the prayer that's hreathed to Thee, 
 
 That we in all God's goodness see. 
 
 When trials come and doubts assail, 
 And every effort seems to fail. 
 Thy word a lanip clear shining, bright. 
 Shall flood the slippery path with light. 
 Then all Thy precepts I can read, 
 And Thou my Lord shall kindly lead. 
 
 Shall lead me up life's rugged hill, 
 My soul with happiness shall till, 
 Antl as my footsteps forward press. 
 Thy bean)s, O "Sun of Righteousness" 
 Shall brightly shine my years to close ; 
 Then clearer light, sweet peace, repose. 
 
 * 
 
THE BETTER PART. 
 
 Eternal Source of life and li^lit, 
 Of angol hosts, lioly and hiij^lit. 
 
 Of love and j)eace : 
 Gifts ji:reat and jj^ood Thou dost hestow 
 On each, on all. Thy saints helovv. 
 
 And every grace. 
 
 Still let Thy thoughtful care and love 
 Descend upon us from above 
 
 To warm the heart. 
 And make th<' life holy and pure, 
 Give faith and peace which shall endure 
 
 The better part. 
 
 Aid us to honor, love and fear 
 That gentle influence ever near. 
 
 The Spirit blest, 
 On whom with Father and with Sou, 
 Eternal Three, yet ever One. 
 
 Our hope we rest. 
 
 >!• 
 
 St 
 
PEACE AND REST. 
 
 The wave of time flows on apace, 
 
 And we upon its crest 
 Drift on towards the land unknown 
 
 in hope of peace and rest. 
 
 Peace through tlie hlood of our dear Lord, 
 
 Jesu the Prince of Peace, 
 Who has in a bright, liappy land 
 
 Prepared a dwelling-place. 
 
 A rest for all who seek by {)rayer 
 
 God's pardon, love and grace, 
 And in the daily walk of life 
 
 The Saviour's footsteps trace. 
 
 May it be ours that land to see. 
 
 Its peace and rest to gain, 
 Where sin and sorrow never c<inie, 
 
 Nor trouble, death, or pain. 
 
 «1 
 
Happy is the people, whose (Jod is the Lord. 
 Ps. cxliv, 15. 
 
 The scciet of our country's power. 
 Kept, blessed of God, each, every hour. 
 Is jariven by Him wht) will ne'er brook 
 Dishonor to Hit day. His Book. 
 That Holy Book — the sacred truth — 
 The prop of a^e the jjjuide of youth. 
 May we of Greater Britain, blest 
 With every ^ood. the Sabbath rest. 
 Strive earnestly within our ken. 
 As citizens, as Christian men. 
 To honor God. His word. His day. 
 And never cease with faith to pray 
 That He in mercy will maintain 
 Oiu- Queen, her Throiic, beyond the main, 
 And knit with sacred l)onds of love, 
 By constant inliuence from above. 
 The Greater Britain, Freemen all : 
 And .u^raiit that we may never fall 
 Fi'om jiifrace and favor, influence jj^ood. 
 But <'ver be the blest of (Jod. 
 
MAV. 
 
 The housed flock the fafinor frees. 
 
 For welcome pastures green, 
 When air is bahny, soft tlw breeze, 
 And swelling buds adorn the trees. 
 And swallows fleet are seen. 
 
 The mornings blight, the evenings long 
 
 Give day both w;irin and clear, 
 The birds awnke with cheerful song 
 And sound their praises all day long, 
 Telling of sunnner near. 
 
 That season dear to every heart. 
 When rural chai-ms abound. 
 In nature's work and boiuidless art. 
 And sport and exercise impart 
 Health, vigoi- in the round. 
 
 The c> de fleet with souje prevail, 
 While others cry "to horse," 
 On river broad the s}>reading s.-iil 
 Claims tribute of the passing gale. 
 And speeds on pleas\n'e's course. 
 
 The frail canoe and ce<bir boat 
 
 .\re still in favor found. 
 And as they gaily, lightly float. 
 We i-amiot fail to see and note, 
 
 There happy hearts alxunul. 
 
 These pleasures all are healthful, good, 
 
 Atui shoukl be still enjoyed. 
 Rut all our work and walks abroad 
 Should be on the blest day of C»od 
 In His honor employed. 
 
SNOW. 
 
 (PublisliedJanuary, 189flj 
 
 Lovely, spfukling, clear and bright, 
 Feathery, airy, pure and white ; 
 Glistening as the perfect saint. 
 Beauty, artists fail to paint ; 
 Free from taint of earth's defile 
 Only for a little while; 
 On the fields and lawns and hills. 
 Over nieadows. woods and rills. 
 Falling, drifting, whirling, driven, 
 Hy the varying winds of heaven. 
 
 The lovely snow with mantle fold, 
 The roots protect from frost and cold. 
 And every flower and shrub and vine 
 Are kept preserved by care divine. 
 
 The mantle folds of love divine 
 The sacred trut hs forever shine 
 Preserved in every soul that lives 
 To (lod. and freely, warmly gives 
 A heartfelt service. faitJiful, strong, 
 By prayer and praise in hymn and song. 
 And ever shall God's mercy know, 
 Pure, gentle, white, like fulling snow. 
 
KVENINO. 
 
 Sweet evoning hour of breezes soft, 
 
 When tiif^ht-hawk takes its fliglit aloft, 
 
 When we can seek and find i-ejxxse 
 
 \\'it hin our own sechuled ck)se : 
 
 The sounds of busy effort cease, 
 
 Silence now i-ei^ns and all is peace. 
 
 Th.' western sky is all ap^Iow, 
 
 The fleecy clouds are drifting low, 
 
 xVnd seem to touch the lofty trees 
 
 As they float onward with the breeze. 
 
 The public road and pleasant walk 
 
 Kntice the younj? for friendly talk, 
 
 While youthful sports are heard and seen 
 
 Upon the spacious, well-kept j^reen. 
 
 Where order reigns and play is fair. 
 
 With best of feeling everywhere : 
 
 With well-iilled pouch the hunter now 
 
 lleturns fatigued w ith sun-burnt brow, 
 
 CharnuHl with his sport and toilsome quest. 
 
 Eager for lujme, refreslnnent, rest. 
 
 To God of all give reverence due. 
 
 To Him be cc^nstant, faithful, true, 
 
 And so enjoy all blessings given 
 
 That we may gain t)ie rest of heaven. 
 
 lU 
 
THH COMINCj year. 
 
 (Published December. 1890) 
 
 Another yeMr apj)rf» iches fast, 
 Pi 4^^iiMnt with hope, with joys and fears. 
 The present yeiir will soon be past, 
 Its memories sad, its pleasures, tears : 
 The span of time has marked the fall 
 Of death's cold hand, on many dear. 
 Who answerinj^ to the final call. 
 Have trod the lone way, without fear. 
 
 The joyous throng, the fareweUs said. 
 The liappy meetings, partings sad, 
 The hopeful view of plans well laid. 
 The hearty greetings, good and glad, 
 Aio in the memory iherished now, 
 And warm the heart or cloud the brow, 
 As peace is found or c(^mfort sought, 
 In tran(juil mind, in pleasant thought. 
 
 If we are spared to see the day 
 
 That ushers in the glad new year, 
 
 Wliat shall we ask, how shall we pray. 
 
 To him we love, obey and feai-. 
 
 O God, prevent and keep us pure. 
 
 In walk and way, in thought and word. 
 
 A steadfast iieart to fight, endure, 
 
 Grant us through Christ, Redeemer. Lord. 
 
 So shall we enter on the year. 
 That marks another jot of time ; 
 Trusting in God, who ever near, 
 Can make the life good and sublime; 
 Oh, fuay He guard our pleasant land. 
 Our rulers aid to serve with fear. 
 His people bless \\ ith generous h.ind. 
 And plenty send ovu- heai-ts to chi^er. 
 May peace pievail within our coast. 
 Our borders safe, from discoj'd free. 
 And may it be our lot to boast 
 Of happy homes beside th«' sea. 
 
 U 
 
•• And tin* youiiK uud the old. an : 
 Shall moulder to dust and tfi^ret i 
 
 Turiiinji: to dust 'ru^atli (Iw 
 The s|)()t whcic ill lif*' tln'x < 
 Wher<» snow aiul the rain .n 
 VV^iore many shall pause .mi 
 Whet'e daisies shall bloom. • 
 And soil}.? of the birds eiili\ 
 
 Tliey heed not the son^'- of i t. 
 Kov "dust untij dust " the>- n 
 \Vaitin.u: the end that shall - 
 When fifloi'ilied forms in bn-! 
 The (juiek and the d(»ad. tb<' . 
 From lands far and wide, f i . i 
 
 Hf)W blest is the hope, hou ji 
 Life everlasting l)y C'hris! lit 
 K(»r all who have rendered -. 
 In mansions of light eternal 
 .''.mid scenes eeU'stial. happ> 
 Where Jesus shall reign, bt • 
 
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