[2 blank pages]

DAWN
EAST AND WEST

[illustration]

Illustrated by
W. Francis Casey

by
Charles A Barclay
[unnumbered page]

The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.

TO
THE PATHFINDERS OF CANADA
THIS WORK
Is Respectfully Dedicated
BY
THE AUTHOR.

TORONTO:

THE SOVEREIGN PRESS, PUBLISHERS
191 John Street
1914
[unnumbered page]

BEFORE CONFEDERATION.
[unnumbered page]
[blank page]

Lower Canada

The east arose in the morning, and looking afar to the West,
It found a land of pine tops, and fertile valleys blest,
And further than the Scotia shore, and from the Brunswick tree
Beheld a mighty river rolling forward to the sea.
Here and there along its brink
Clusters of hamlets rise and sink,
Homes of the hardy pioneer,
Sons and daughters around them dear,
Looking to forest and field for gain,
Drawing the fish from the sea by seine,
Satisfied in gain or loss
Happy to follow the sign of the cross.
The ear of the morning listens, there comes a welcome knell,
From hamlet unto hamlet, the ringing of the bell,
And forth from every fireside, and from each homestead pass
The parent and the children directed to morning mass. [page 5]

[unumbered page, includes illustration: “HOMES OF THE HARDY PIONEER.”]

Upper Canada

But shade your eyes ye morning, look further in the dawn,
And away in Upper Canada, just rest your eyes upon
The lakes that feed this river, and roll it on to the sea,
Propelled by mighty Niagara, from first to eternity.
The forests and the fields unite
To make this land a pleasant sight,
Log upon log the houses rise,
Barns with stacks near up to the skies,
Miller with mill beside the stream,
Birds and bees in each sunbeam,
Old countrymen on every hand
Barter the money of the land.
But early in the struggle, and first among the strife,
There came the man from southern clime, and each one with his wife,
Each family united they crossed Ontario’s sea,
To the land of the grand, each lent his hand, to become a patriot free. [page 7]

[unnumbered page, includes illustration: “ENGAGING IN BATTLE, WHENEVER HE CAN.” ]

Superior

As we rise with the dawn in the medium light, leaving the day behind,
A vision from out the West appears, with silver tinsel lined,
It is a sea within the land, the first of the Upper Lakes,
With rock bound shore the breakers roar, the peace of the morn awakes.
The squaw beside the tepee squats
And stirs a mixture in her pots,
Her papoose rolling in the sand,
Rattles a clam shell in its hand,
Chieftain, apart from the great war shout,
Hunts for the deer or fishes for trout,
Engaging in battle whenever he can,
Fearful from lies of the medicine man,
Forever driven westward, the Indian tribes recede,
Leaving behind their frontier war, and once in a while a breed,
A settlement complete in ruins, except for the scalp locks rare,
And family stones to mark the bones, from fire and worry and care. [page 9]

Hudson’s Bay Territory

But look still further in the West, and see the prairies roll
From out the South Republic to the snow of the Northern Pole,
Limits of woodland, patches of grass, far as the dawn extends,
And lonely quiet of solitude, with absent humanity blends.
Save here and there a barricade
With flag upon its pole,
Can you not read in the early light
The letters composing the scroll,
Prince Rupert’s Land with trading post,
Chartered by England’s kings,
To barter for furs in unknown land,
Trinkets, provisions and rings.
They took their name from Hudson’s Bay, with the Psalter in their hand,
They bade good-bye to the clan they loved, for solitude western land,
For the princely name of factor, and the yearly report from the post,
The man of the clan, forsook the ban, for the Company he loved most. [page 10]

British Columbia

Again, we look into the dawn, and the beams of morning light
Come back again reflected, with all the colors of sight;
From north to south a range extends, with glazier in the sky,
While peacefully in the land beneath, the hills and valleys lie.
Each mountain with its snowy head
Rises from out its canyon bed,
Each mountain mountains with the others strive
To find a place within the hive,
All together united attend
To spread their base, and then ascend,
Leaving beneath in canyon break,
Limited space for waters escape.
This is the land of the golden sand, in rock and in river shore,
Notice the colors in his pan, and ever getting more,
Hewing his way on the face of the cliff, digging his spade in the sand,
With a pluck inborn, or cause foresworn, to discover the gold of the land. [page 11]

[unnumbered page, includes illustration: “Notice the colors in his pan, and ever getting more.”]

Vancouver Island

Mountain from rock divided, by the eye of the morn behold
The valley of the Fraser, with its wonders yet untold,
List to the tide come rolling in, and the breakers wild and free,
Feel the warmth of the soft chinook, born in western sea.
An island rises in the sight,
Clothed in morning’s silver light.
Never were such trees before
Known to grow on any shore.
Down where the river meets the tide,
The fisher folk in their schooners ride,
Waiting with patience, the boom of the gun,
Sail all set for the salmon run.
Within the cosy harbor, almost hidden from the salt,
Lie a dozen British bull dogs, the pride of Esquimalt,
Guns all a’glittering from the port, the ensign on the mast,
Just to show to the world, a flag unfurled, for the Colonies we have passed. [page 13]

Meditation

Forward, we must not tarry, the land slips from our sight,
A day we leave behind us, ahead, the line of night,
Beneath, the rolling billow, home of the spouting whale,
And the merchant prince with its pennant, flying above the sail.
The Dawn continued with a thought
Which meditation homeward brought.
“The Colonies that I have passed,
Second to none on earth are classed,
The land for many thousand miles
Is good enough to grow just piles
Of wheat and corn and oats and peas
And clover reaching up to the knees.
True, rocky chains do happen, especially follow the shore,
But from the Dawn’s dim light I could see, they were filled with iron ore,
Limits of great white pine trees, with trunk both straight and long,
But a people distressed, by Britain oppressed, there is something certainly wrong. [page 14]

A Union Parliament

Think I’ve discovered a remedy, I’ve quite made up my mind.
When I arrive at England’s shore, her good Queen I will find,
Explain the want of her Colony, that her power may not fall,
A union of all the Provinces, the best thing over all.
To keep a Colony in place,
Divided by a different race,
Let each Province seek its best
Rulers at its own request,
Let each Province seek its best
Rulers at its own request,
Let each handle its affairs,
Soothe its worries, free its cares,
Speak whatever tongue comes best,
Independent of the rest.
Then a union Parliament, with one Premier to lead,
Compile the laws of Canada, and thereby sow the seed
Of satisfaction all around, and to cherish old Britain’s hand,
Appoint a man, from the Royal Clan, to govern the Colony grand. [page 15]

Governor, Executive, Legislative

The Colony really is oppressed, Britain is not aware,
That the system now adopted, exacts a double share,
The Governor and Executive, are not the least bit shy
To tell the Legislative, “keep your fingers out of the pie.”
Roads are cut around the stumps,
From mud to mire the wagon bumps,
Old log schools taught by such trash
As can be had for paltry cash,
All the creeds in the game to push
Their faith and church out into the bush,
And to the heart’s content, expound
Version of Scripture, never found,
Communities responsible, creating a common ground,
And a policy of union, leaving taxes in his rule
To cover a bridge, cut down a ridge, or build up a public school. [page 16]

For the Colony’s Sake

In the feathery Dawn of the early morn, when I shoo thenight away,
I shall visit Windsor Castle, in my very best array,
I will borrow from the morning sun, her choicest ray of light,
Appear in a dream to the noble Queen, if yet in the realm of night.
In thro’ the shutter I will peep,
Find the Queen mother fast asleep,
Peace in countenance divine,
Love for Her God, and Country entwine,
Prince and Princess, Her home desire
Become the person that all admire,
Mistress of State, Her hand on helm,
Beloved by all throughout Her realm.
With morning light upon Her face, my message in the beam,
To be transferred to the noble Queen, through medium of a dream,
I’ll tell Her the great, grand remedy, and when She doth awake,
Appear in the sunshine of Her home, and sing for the Colony’s sake.” [page 17]

[blank page]
CONFEDERATION
[unnumbered page]

Windsor Castle

The fog of the night has lifted, leaving a sky of blue,
Through the dew-laden trees of the Royal Park, the sun comes sifting through,
The deer awaken and scamper, to the song of the morning lark,
Old Windsor with its outline still, is partially in the dark.
Save here and there, the turrets gay
Throw slanting shadows far away,
Opposite facing to the morn,
Sunbeams, on golden wings are borne,
One, in the most majestic style,
Enters a window, remains awhile,
Shines right upon the lady Queen’s head,
Finds Her asleep in Her cosy white bed.
A comely, fair young maiden, maple leaf in her golden hair,
Conveys the dream to Victoria who, awakening finds her there
All clothed in the colors of sunbeam, and with twinkle in her eye
Says, “Good morning Most Gracious Majesty, I’m a visitor from the sky.” [page 20]

Queen Victoria

“Welcome my lovely sunbeam, you are the girl of my dream,
I saw my colony Canada, all in a golden gleam
Of sunshine, and with you along, I travelled from shore to shore,
I’m delighted with the Colony, and I thank God o’er and o’er
That He has given me the grace
To be His ruler of this race,
To rectify their wants complete,
I thank you sunbeam, for receipt,
At home we have not been awake,
We’ve ruled the Colony for our sake,
Couldn’t recognize abuse,
Nor realize the law, as loose.
I saw in my dream a Governor stand, I will not call his name,
Executive Council around him, Family Compact infame
Devising to rob the poor man, the spoils of the country divide,
Suppress education, and Godly relation, and over the Colony ride.” [page 21]

North American Act

My humble apology lovely Queen, for I fear I have spoiled Your rest,
In taking You with me, in a dream, through Your Colony in the West,
I have given it light from day to day, since Earth developed a crust,
Consider I’m in a position to name, the men who are worthy Your trust.
John A. Macdonald and Geordie Brown
Popular fellows, men of renown,
Oliver Mowat and Edward Blake
Men who would die for their country’s sake,
George E. Cartier and Colonel Tache,
Depend upon these two any day,
Alex. Mackenzie and A. T. Galt
Will care for the keys of any vault.
There are a number of others, what I named will call the roll,
And here is the Constitution, I have drafted on the scroll;
Depend on Canada’s loyalty, you will find him a man of fact,
I will name this scene, Most Gracious Queen, “The North American Act.” [page 22]

The Dominion Over the Sea

Her Majesty received the scroll, and thanked the maiden kind,
And with the closest study, stored its treasures in Her mind.
“My Royal Council should have known, full thirty years ago,
A constitution such as this, would quell the bitter foe
Of discontent and cruel war,
Instead, the Governor foreswore
To hang the rebels by the neck,
Or send them forth on British deck,
For the good of the Colony’s very reason
To be tried in Britain for high treason,
Thanks for His wisdom, derived from above,
I pardoned their fault for the Country they love.
In future years should I appoint, a Governor to this place,
He must be a man of diplomacy, smooth out petty trouble of race,
I treasure the thought that my children, by the grace of His goodness may be
Received in a kindly spirit by, The Dominion over the sea.” [page 23]

The Men of Canada

Shadows came intervening, a cloud crossed the Eastern day
And with a hasty courtesy, the sunbeam faded away.
Off to the North Atlantic, throwing kiss to the Queen, I roam,
I require no Court introduction, I enter in every home.
Peek right into the very eye,
Secrets uncover, they cannot deny,
If dishonourable, eyes wont meet,
Droop to earth, examine the feet,
If deceitful, stare and wink,
Doubting the listener’s power to think,
Sometimes eyes are seen that weep,
Pleading sympathy, secrets keep.
Quite different the eye of the maiden, when she raises her head in prayer,
Or the sorrowful gaze of the mother, as she thinks of her child elsewhere,
Admire the men in Canada’s land, they are plentiful in both race,
In work or song, the whole day long, they can look me square in the face. [page 24]

[unnumbered page, includes illustration: “ADMIRE THE MEN OF CANADA’S LAND, THEY ARE PLENTIFUL IN BOTH RACE.”]
[blank page]
AFTER CONFEDERATION
[unnumbered page]

The Grand Trunk Railway

I’ve been watching the line of the Grand Trunk, and notice their trouble with freights,
By the time they arrive at the seaboard, from the town of the Western States,
A hungry band in a foreign land, these two little streaks of steel
Directed from London, official, until the mortgage appeal.
Men and money couldn’t survive,
Expected interest didn’t arrive,
London run the road alone,
Killed the traffic, dead as a stone,
Engines, proper name scrapheap,
Meat in bond that couldn’t keep,
Passenger starts a day ahead
Only arrives, to find them in bed.
The London Board assembled, and scarce was the mention of praise,
But in their sore adversity, they appointed C. M. Hayes
As General Manager of the road, the scrap he commenced to rend,
Threw it into a vat, skimmed off the fat, and declared a dividend. [page 28]

The Melting Pot

Installed a modern system, rebuilt both bridge and grade,
Put on a brand new rolling stock, competed for the trade
Both local and in transit, it was rather pleasant work,
When enjoying the fullest confidence, from brakeman to the clerk.
When I drive the night away,
Everything is running gay,
Roadbed solid as a rock,
Trains now running by the clock,
Who preferred the mud and rain
Give up walking, ride again.
Trains abandon former deal
Crossing on one line of steel.
Identical with the Grand Trunk, the people of Canada roam,
And perish through stringent measures, from Colonial Post at home,
Make scrap of the petty partizan, with blast of bugle and horn,
Cast race and rot, in the melting pot, and come out Canadian born. [page 29]

The Bench

The Dawn of Morn around the earth, preceding the golden day,
Is a most incessant visitor, in many a different way,
Examine last night memorandum, compiled in all cunning, to show
Dishonor to opposition, and the truth I readily know.
Worship, sitting on the Bench,
Council each his case entrench,
Clients, each on oath do seek,
Cover up the place that’s weak,
Evidence, with law rehearsed,
Showing other’s claim disbursed,
Still in the mind of the Judge belong
Feelings, that there is something wrong.
The sunbeam slants across the Court, it hastens with extra speed
To shine in the face of the evidence, who is sure of his case indeed,
His Honor repeats fatal question, his eyes in my light become shy,
And his worthy grace, turns over the case, to the man who scorns to lie. [page 30]

The National Policy

Look at the page of Parliament, the question to-day seems to be
A matter of grave perplexity, a railway to Western sea,
Is British Columbia worth it, will it pay for the grease on the wheel?
How can we pierce Superior’s shore, with two little bands of steel.
Government all in a funk,
Building little piece of junk,
Opposition rather worse,
Coveting the Allan purse,
Subsidy, and prairie grant,
Partizans just sweat and pant,
National Policy, tariff hub,
Sets them solid in butter tub.
It pleases me to throw my light, on a country, whose people are judge
To make or unmake Parliament, a Premier and Members who trudge
Along path of the people’s welfare, and for good of constituents cause
Turns him back to his work, instead of a clerk, with the spoon-feed in his jaws. [page 31]

The Map of Canada

It is the earliest kind of a Dawn, So I borrow the twinkle of star,
And enter a room by the transom, that my presence should not mar
The flow of conversation, on a table before them lay,
With a bright red line across it, the Map of Canada.
Sketches, straight as steel could take,
Others, crooked as a snake,
Figures, from six to eight in a row,
Added together, the columns grow,
“Here’s all the money, we can get,
Look at the vouchers awaiting yet,
Land, to Britain doesn’t appeal
For blasting rock, or buying steel.
Well, the question is, now for the balance,” and the speaker is William Van Horne
Who has just returned from the Kicking Horse, both footsore, and boots all worn
A’climbing along the mountain side, where neverbefore was a soul,
But delighted the thought, when from pocket he brought, an elegant sample of coal. [page 32]

The Canadian Pacific Railway

“Yes, that is the question before us,” and Stephen is speaking now,
“Wives and children ahead of the steel, prairie under the plow,
Rushing their wheat by construction car, just half the spikes to the rail,
My goodness, we’ve got to have the stuff, a Scotchman cannot fail,
When once he quite makes up his mind
To tackle matters of this kind,
He’ll keep his counsel with a friend
Who, may be has the stuff to lend,
To strengthen his case, he has spawned his breeks,
Pleads for a loan when in this fix,
Or tells the story about the talent,
Gets double amount for being so gallant.”
The question was taken by Donald Smith, with a smile to his friend for the treat.
“I have just got back from Britain after, showing a sample of wheat,
They asked me—where this country lay—the waters crossed over to reach,—
I’m so weary asking for money that, I fear for the loss of speech.” [page 33]

The Dominion Pledge

“The Grand Trunk made them very sore, my jaws, I must save, to chew,
I will pledge my wealth to the very last cent, and so will Stephen too;
Or shall we make a prairie sale, try to create a demand,
Kill the steer for the hide and the tallow, get some money out of the land?
Or, shall we away, again to the East,
Bonds of the Company better greased,
Pin Dominion pledge, on our’s,
Lend to the Country, all our powers?”
Angus clapped his hands, out loud,
“That’s the solution for our crowd.”
When the thought entered Stephen’s mind,
Pleasanter face, t’would be hard to find.
The very first ray from the edge of the Sun, on John A. Macdonald fell,
He’d been snoring a but until the last break, but sign on his face foretell
That he is about to speak his mind, and with eager attention bent,
For in speech, or jest, he is always the best, in Canada’s Parliament. [page 34]

John A. MacDonald’s Dream

“Tired, and weary of figures, fell asleep in my chair, and dreamed,
Four fairies, in gold, flew around me, they asked, in my dream, it seemed,
Many millions, right out of my pocket book, and the central part of my farm,
Bade adieu, and showered both at them, I did’nt feel much alarm
Until the four came back, apace,
Consternation, on their face,
Land, too heavy to carry away,
Couldn’t turn it in gold, they say,
I saw them myself, try the magic switch,
Left them, in mud to the neck, in the ditch,
To help them out, they gave me no rest,
Until, I had gone, and pledged the rest.
As I turned away, I laughed in my sleeve, and brushing a fly from my nose,
In a solid mass, all over my farm, stood millions of geese, I suppose,
Ballot, marked John A. Macdonald, each one of them threw in a box,
On a stump near by, I was skinning my eye, in the person of Silver Fox. [page 35]

The Statue

Increasing in numbers, they came from afar, just covered the fields, in the West,
Over the lake, on the new land, where the wheat seemed to do the best,
They seemed so contented and happy, to feed, or to swim on the lake,
A look or a joke from myself and they, would do anything for my sake.
Wolf came up to the stump one day,
Never a chance to get away,
Left the stump for statue still,
Standing on my Parliament Hill,
All over the farm, they splutter and quack,
Flutter the ballots upon their back,
When they were quiet, the most of them say,
Cross with the color of Wilfrid Laurier,
All, except the far West field, way over beyond the hill,
They didn’t hear the quack of the rest, and they’re marking the same cross still.
—Here’s twenty-five hundred thousand, pay it back a year from this fall,
On the Premier’s side, to the Country wide, we have confidence in you all.” [page 36]

The Firmament

Farewell, the east cannot tarry, must away along its course,
Racing the morning swallow, beating the iron horse,
Looking into the firmament, watching the planets nap,
Thinking of the confusion, were only the strings to snap,
Gravity slips from out the base,
Things move around from place to place,
Oceans o’er the land doth roll,
Icebergs fly in air from the pole,
Water burns, like common oil,
Mountains twist and turn and toil,
Nothing where The Earth once lay,
A few more stars in the Milky Way.
The artist falls with withered hand, which color to canvas lent,
His Holiness droops with withered arm, reaching for sacrament,
The sinner dies with terrible oath, he wasted the time to mend,
For the pendulum stops between the tick, and all is at an end. [page 37]

The Glory of Life

I am the Majesty of the sky and the dawn is my silver veil,
The East, I lift up before me, from day to day never fail
In doing my Master’s bidding, standing right out to be seen,
Knowing the Holy Trinity, my sin, no endeavour to screen.
Every one of flesh and bone.
Should, to the Lord, his sins atone,
Rise right out of any slough,
Say five words and that’s enough,
Stand in the sunbeam, let them slip,
Pull out the scissors, start to clip,
Better thoughts and feelings sow,
Hoe out the thistles, the seed will grow.
Man, for years in a dungeon dark, comes out a terrible sight,
Would have been healthy, strong and well, had he only been in the light,
Man, who smothers his intellect, the Glory of Life cannot see,
Receives a shock, ’tween the tick of the clock, when seeking eternity. [page 38]

The Tariff

Intensely, I watch a new nation, I have looked at the old ones so long.
And sometimes become so disgusted, in watching their right and their wrong.
The silver tint of my sunbeam, just over a century since,
Shown over upon a new Colony, just wanting a wash and a rinse.
Tarriff from across the sea,
Wouldn’t stand for Boston tea,
Tarriff o’er prairie sent
By Canadian Parliament,
Deputation always fails
Majority in the House prevails,
Council all in desperation,
Waiting for an inspiration.
Have noticed the waves of the ocean, in a sixty mile wind with a tide,
And a ship without a propellor, endeavour the fury to ride,
If the crew can bale out the water, and the stays will hold up the mast,
Right will prevail, and with spreading sail, safe in the port at last. [page 39]

The North West Mounted Police

Frozen before they reach the Earth, are the ends of my straggling rays,
Rising with low and lazy slant, when the nights are much longer than days;
Riding in fury of blizzard, on thief or on murderer’s lease,
Empire’s favorite cavalry, The North West Mounted Police.
Fellow takes a foolish course,
Steals from farmer, favorite horse,
Hundred miles from anywhere,
Satisfied, he need not care,
Carbine looks him in the face,
“Up with your hands, stop the pace,
Where in the sun did you get that steed.”
Eyes shift a little, needn’t plead.
Britain applauded most heartily, it tickled Lord Roberts with Pride
To watch the Mounted Policemen, as over the veldt they ride,
Escort of gallant Royalty, from flagship at Quebec,
See them recross the Continent, Good Bye on Britannia’s deck. [page 40]

[unnumbered page, includes illustration: “Up with your hands! Stop that pace.”]

Immigration

Just look at the grand prairie, the people from every State,
And Country on the face of the Earth, are going in early and late,
By trainload, with their families, furniture, horses and cow,
Putting up shack on the homestead, to-morrow, commencing to plow,
Plants potatoes with the hoes,
Everything he touches, grows,
On the breaking, sows the wheat,
Next year, similar crops repeat,
Hasn’t a thing in the word to fear,
Twentieth century pioneer,
Sows the wheat with formelin test,
Looks to Sunshine for the rest.
When I peep into the school room and look in the children’s face,
All of them speaking English, although of a different race,
American and Canadian sons with the brawn of Europe reach
For the good of Canadian latitude, to adopt the English speech. [page 42]

Saskatchewan and Alberta

Majestic is the golden plain, rolling beyond the sky,
Swallowing up the cities, that on its bosom lie,
Trying to beat the railway, in greedy rush to yield
A thousand per cent. on its seed grain, from out of the harvest field.
Horses going all around,
Seeders pressing wheat in the ground,
Then self binder following soon,
Start to thresh to-morrow noon,
Puts the grain in a railway car,
Already sold for a dollar par,
Rather likes the looks of the loam,
Buys quarter section, before he gets home.
And this is the fertile Golden West, two Provinces more on the Scroll,
Throwing their millions into the East, or paying Canadian toll,
Paying the tax on the Yankee plow, prices the same from the East,
Sipping a cup of home made tea, both Country and millionaire greased. [page 43]

Wilfrid Laurier’s Dream

Peering among the shadows, cast by belated moon,
T’was almost as light on Parliament Hill, as though it were the noon,
On the side of the bank, Sir Wilfrid sits, resting himself on a perch,
Worry is seemingly present, so, I approach him in guise of The Church.
Good morning, Sir Wilfrid Laurier,
“Good morning Father,” quoth he,
You appear to be in some trouble,
“Oh trouble don’t worry me
Except, my mind in a bubble
A solution cannot see
And now, its just this way, Father,
It’s a dream that’s worrying me.”
I pray that the trouble may scatter, and sunshine may drive care away,
I will give my consent to assist you, if you tell me the dream while I stay,
Your duties are heavy as Premier, you’re in double demand when abroad,
The eyes of the world smile upon you, your counsel all statesmen applaud. [page 44]

The Western Deputation

Sitting in busy session, my membesr on every side,
A vision came out of my Golden West, and rising just like a full tide
And reaching almost to Ottawa, each blowing his music grand,
Coming onward in hundreds and thousands, a monster minstrel band,
Song from horns with the funny snout,
—We’ll have to have a bigger spout,
Brass horns toot and others play,
—Must have a line to Hudson’s Bay,
Bagpipes skittle and squirl and squall,
—Let her shoot, down with the tarriff wall,
All join the Chorus, with the bug brass drums,
—Take all the wheat but leave us the crumbs.
They swarmed right into the chamber, took the mace from off its seat,
Treated the good kind Sergeant so well, he could hardly stand on his feet,
Stopped the hands of the gallery clock, the chair of the Speaker they found,
No one could move the House adjourn, so they talked the day around. [page 45]

Reciprocity Advocated

Press gallery tried entertainment, in reading a Scottish poem,
But they asked them, if they had thot’ of their toys before they were leaving home,
Most of them carried a bushel of wheat, they caught running over the spout,
To establish a tarriff measure, and to help the railways out.
Had me solid up a tree,
Till I promised, duty free,
Then their horns and pipes with a will
All joined together on Parliament Hill,
—We’ve got our own way anyhow,
The West we shall not sever,
The duty now comes off the plow,
We’ll grow spring wheat forever.
Danced and carronned with pipes and horns, they made such a horrible bawl
I thot’ the Buildings would surely come down, crack came in the library wall,
But it really seemed in my foolish dream, that the sound so filled the air
And prevented it falling over, to block the Chaudiere. [page 46]

The Eastern Deputation

However we got the mall away, left most of the wheat behind
Lying around on the carpet and steps, but you couldn’t even find
Enough to make a square meal, there was barely enough to eat,
They had licked up all the drinkables too, was nothing left for a treat.
Sat right down in the dirty muss,
Laughed with glee, at the great big fuss,
When the West comes down to Town
Other shows might as well close down.
I’ll have the Navy, have the Docks,
They stand for Liberal ballot box,
Bonds of Union, drop all fears,
Grit is trump for a number of years.
Then I heard the noise of a whistle, the funniest of its kind
That I had ever heard in my life, and looking out, there was lined
All up and down, it seemed for miles, just like a big world’s fair,
Every kind and make of machines and the maker of each was there. [page 47]

The Tariff Wall

Sleek and shaved in their black coats, plug hats and their pants well creased,
All I could see from the windows were manufacturers from the East,
They started the implements running, the bells they commenced to ring,
The steam whistle blew its siren, and all with pianos sing,
O Tariff wall, high tariff wall,
Our hope is all in thee,
From every kind of Yankee rig
It is our remedy,
It was Macdonald’s pet belief,
So give us now our due,
To help the country in the East
And build up revenue.
They pasted the Ad’s of the different machines, on the side of the tariff wall,
Some of them grumbled about the space, and wanted it twice as tall,
Visited tariff Department they, discussed from a pin to a mower,
But some of them were so padded with bills, they couldn’t get through the door. [page 48]

The Crack in the Library Wall

A few of them came to my private room and started to howl and squeal,
T’was noon, and the sun from across the wall was cracking their automibile,
Wanted my fellows to tariff it up, I told them, ’twas coming away,
With that, every one of them packed his duds and left without saying Good Day.
Led by a big Toronto band
Each to the other gave his hand,
Every machine as it moved away
Started to toot and commence to play—
Tramp, tramp, tramp, we’ren early parching,
Cheer up, brothers don’t be daft,
Backs against the tarriff wall, it can never take a fall,
We’ll go Tory, let him hoe his roe with Taft.
As I seemed to enter the Chamber, by the door at the Speaker’s feet,
The whole thing looked to be turned around, and Borden was in my seat.”
I arose and walked out in the Dawn, Father, look up there, where the sunbeams fall.
And as I looked I could plainly see, The Crack in the Library Wall. [page 49]

The Father

Pray compose yourself, Sir Wilfrid, I see no inscription there,
Like the message to Beslhazzar, but instead, for your Country’s welfare
You have labored both late and early, in your world you are head of the class,
Do you make it your habit to always please, on the pole, do you carry the ass?
Troubles to the poor allow
Taxes take the only cow,
Rich may sweat and fume and reek
Title absent which they seek,
Disappointed maiden crys,
Absent lover, truth denies,
Parents worry when their child
Sows the oats, becomes too wild.
Recognized by our glorious Britain, a Knight by Her Majesty’s choice,
Elected Premier of Dominion, a man of this earth should rejoice,
I thought you were coveting kingdom, or some higher appointment to see,
But in knowing the cause of your worry, I must honor your modesty. [page 50]

The Rivulet

Streamlet that rises in valley, ripples onward to river side,
From lakelet to rapid water, then joining the ocean tide
Loses its essence forever, the thirst for relief cannot bring
Any purer recollection, than when drinking the valley spring.
House assembles, few to spare,
Handles matters with great care,
Popularity pleasant lure,
More to spare and more impure,
Now our hive is strong within,
But honeycomb as bitter as sin,
Someone says, of the former set,
Let us go back to the rivulet.
I admire the height, Sir Wilfrid, in Canada’s fresh water sea,
Kept for the thirst of the people and for general prosperity,
Should the dam refuse its duty, and the level of sea, they get,
They may drink from America’s sewer, or go back to the rivulet. [page 51]

Missions

Cathedral bells are sounding the chime, and calling the children to prayer,
With a look and a blessing extended, I hasten away in the air,
Taking with me the vibration of the chimes of the Church of Rome,
Sparing a slant of my sunbeam, for the Sisters in convent home.
Everywhere on earth, my light
Shows the woman, forehead white,
Save the children to the last,
Days of crusade, never past,
Is the little Indian girl
In the midst of any peril?
Hasten, never mind the miles,
Cold and blizzard, stepping styles.
Joining its hand with the sister Church, far into the northern West,
The work of the Master advances, each mission doubly blest
With the local help of the mother, and a joy that the children see,
In a way secure, from any lure, from time to eternity. [page 52]

The Magistrate of the Earth

Not for a love of conquest, as Rome in triumphant cause,
The people of vanquished nation, made subject to slavery laws,
Nor with a lust like Napoleon, led on by a passion of thirst
To taste the blood of a neighbour and add to his list of cursed.
British born, the world around,
Know the value of a Pound,
If, by foreign power’s request,
Sum of money he invest,
People quiet, ruler kind,
Finest loan that he can find,
Quarrel and fight, and start to kill,
Gunboat just collects the Bill.
For the cause of a nation’s humanity, that oppression be not endured,
That a Briton may roam this whole world o’er, with life and freedom insured,
That rebellion be not permitted, all trouble must die in its birth,
Is the story of conquest by Britain, the Magistrate of the Earth. [page 53]

The Merchant Fleet

A nation once lived in a single room, its limit, the closet door,
Unable to find them chairs enough, some had to sit on the floor,
Some of them wanted to read or sleep, while others preferred to sing,
To please this lot with a code of laws, was a very difficult thing,
Some of them started to build a fleet,
Rigged it up to be very complete,
Over the sea at the risk of their lives,
Traded the spinning of their housewives,
Many arose from the dire and dearth,
To live in the sunniest places on earth,
Fleet interchanges their needs complete,
Look at the Colony grow with the Fleet,
Now, the room is relieved of congestion, with chairs to go all around,
And a loom, a ledger or printing press, ahead of each chair is found,
They read and sleep to the heart’s content, and sing till the day is done,
Of a Merchant Fleet, of the Colonies sweet, or the best King under the Sun. [page 54]

Governors-General of Canada

Incense that rises in early morn, meets me from over the sea,
I have barely left Old England’s isle, when it comes in the air to me,
Wafted from thousands of pine tops, intermixed with each forest perfume,
Reminding me of a fairy land, with the roses all out in bloom.
Less than fifty years of age,
Canada has a fairy page,
History reads since thirty-seven
Experiences from hell to heaven,
Wisdom bought on Nation’s part,
Gave to the Colony, proper start,
Governor Generals, very best,
Royalty, with full power possessed.
I love to see a Dominion, whose Queen Mother chooses to grace
In permitting Her Royal Daughter, to be Princess and Queen in Her place,
A people was never more favored, when in wisdom and kindness and thought,
His Majesty’s choice in His person, The Duke and Duchess of Connaught. [page 55]

Canada’s Royal Court

The standard of etiquette rises, good manners and morals increase,
Knighthood with all its attainments, the vulgar methods release,
When King holds Court in a Country, and introduction ensues,
The charm of the courtly personage, the homely manner subdues,
Hammer the drums and up with the blade,
Blow good and strong, don’t be afraid,
Southern colored, guns in line,
Now, you Orangemen flags up fine,
Caluthumpian rig, with national text,
President’s auto drop in next,
Plate glass cracks and signs fall down
But it’s not every day that he comes to town.
A ruler depending on ballot, that his next term be not squeezed,
Must be a jolly good fellow, and submit himself to be pleased,
But Prince of the Princes of Britain, a brother of King and of Court,
Command’s a soldier’s attention, and manners of highest report. [page 56]

The Canadian Northern Railway

In the frosty Dawn in the tie camp, a man sat and figured awhile,
In regard to the number of ties to a rail, and the number of rails to a mile,
And the number of miles from the Fraser, to the port of Montreal,
Pitched up a copper, heads I win, I’ll either rise or fall.
Large ideas never thrive
Unless they fly outside the hive,
Lest success should crown event,
Selfish jealousies prevent,
Ideas to person, the very best,
Financing ideas require the test,
For money to build from shore to shore,
Useless to ask at a grocery store.
The success of a private venture, its merit can best be named,
In the pledge fom every Province of the Bonds and the titles as framed,
In guarantee from The Dominion that from sea to sea as it ran
It would sing out the glory of Canada, in Mackenzie and Donald Mann. [page 57]

The Development of the West

When a thousand Western threshers, six hours without a stop
Fill a thousand common railway cars, from the bottom to the top,
With a thousand different saw-mills, two cars a day or more,
And a thousand more demands for cars, from coal mine to a store.
Bushels of letters, deep regret,
Cars on order hav’nt come yet,
Orders arrive by wire and phone,
Prayer meeting talk in far different tone,
Railway doing all it can,
Can’t remember when rush began,
Steaming ahead two and three to the block
From the rolling plain, to the storage dock.
When the country just unfolds itself and calls for further lines,
When the Board of Railway officer calls around for double fines.
When the storage house runs over and the ice has blocked the bay,
Then the anxious time of finance, just begins some other way. [page 58]

Combine

The West is only a young man, but he’s leanred how to write and to read
And to figure the good and the bad in the land, since he saw the buffalo feed,
Schooled in the methods of combine, importations of graft and greed,
Destroying his perfect freedom, that a nation in bondage succeed.
Talking business, cracking jokes,
Around one table a nation smokes,
“Should the oil of my heart, no sympathy feel
A people would squawk like a wagon wheel,”
Another one says, on the toast of his grog,
“My price includes all but the breath of a hog,”
Another regrets he has been in a slumber,
“The country must double the prices in lumber.”
All laughed when one of the number, when lauding the nation’s weal,
When asked the spelling of a simple word, said steal, was the way, not steel,
They stamped the piece on commodities, that millions and millions must pay,
Roll the millionaire ball and the tariff wall, when a people eat three times a day.  [page 59] 

The Merger

Shall a fatal mistake be reported, shall the colony recognize gain
For a limited number of wealthy men, for the balance starvation and pain,
Keep the brook trout in the streamlet, hammer the carp on the head,
Remember the clan in the Highlands who, for country and liberty bled?
King once ruled in absolute state,
Embittered his people both early and late,
Extorted the taxes in various tricks,
Soured his subjects in making bricks,
Then came a whisper from every hand,
Down with oppression throughout the land,
Rose like the Dawn and with permanent sway,
Took both the King and his power away.
Both kingdom and government easy displaced in a spirit of troublesome age,
Massing of arms or the ballot box, and a commonwealth on the next page,
When a whole country is capitalized, and you beg for a crust, on your knees,
There’s a figure on every hole in the bread, and you pay the price or freeze. [page 60] 

The Race

The East has made a good quarter mark, since starting from under the Scroll,
Hugging a track that is very fast, with the tariff wall and the poll,
Tying a strap to its British mate, watching the Western colt,
Hoping he cannot steal the poll, or jump the wall in a bolt,
Tie strap slackens, running fast
Got the colt in a pocket at last,
Wall on the one side solid and stout,
Mate on the other, he can’t get out,
Drop back a length and cut out a horse
Or hurdle the wall and cut off the course?
Ten to one, what a foolish boast
To stake on the East at the quarter post.
I’ll shine in the eyes of the Premier judge and watch them around the course,
For there’s many a hurdle and water jump, in deciding the winning horse,
The East is backed by the guinea, the West is betting in wheat,
From the Royal stand, to the Yankee land, all watch the Canadian heat. [page 61]

A Helping Hand

Forever and ever onward, sunbeam of joy and delight,
Kissing the lips of the lily, dividing the day from the night,
Casting the light that is needed, to the planets that follow my train,
With a constant eye to my duty, that my service be not in vain.
Birth and death on my bosom lie,
Secret and mystery of the sky,
Where is the land beyond the sod?
Trust in the mystery of God,
What is the orbit my course doth run?
Trust in the mystery of the sun,
From over the mountain, the Dawn in its birth,
Is one of the mysteries of the earth.
Could my Beam, in the voice of a trumpet, speak out in the birth of a day,
The sorrow and worry and trouble, of man, would be carried away,
From the King and the Queen of Old England, to the loneliest man in the land,
From East to West, it is God’s request, to hold out a helping hand. [page 62]

The Cross of Red

History of Dawn and Sunbeam, since the birth of this present world,
Is knowledge of nation’s motives, in my banner their secrets furled,
Except in the cause of the righteous, so I whisper a dream or a prayer,
Trusting the brain to grasp the truth, as a straw that flies in the air.
Murmerings of discontent
To a power’s ruler sent,
Mirth and laughter all around,
Finds consignment, in the ground,
Little troubles not entrenched,
Little fires easy quenched,
Smokeless smolder unconsumed
Up with the wind, the town is doomed.
How anxious in my study, have I watched the Cross of Red
Encircle the Earth ten thousand times, in the Centuries that have sped,
How I watch the gallant troop-ship, from Britain to further Zone,
Leaving the Boss, with the Royal Cross, for the power of Britain’s throne. [page 63] 

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