A Treasury of Canadian Verse: With Brief Biographical Notes

By Theodore H. Rand

This book is a celebrated collection of delightful Canadian verses. It is filled with a variety of themes like natural beauty, the magnificence of spring, the glow of summer, the grandeur of autumn, and the frost of the winter. Poems are also dedicated to the subtle problems of man's life and existence. All these are described in all the verses with striking simplicity, purity of thought, and an authentic note. But the poems don't solely focus on Canadian themes as the thought and sentiment here are of a broad range. There is an excellent use of imagery in these verses, and nature is frequently humanized. These factors will keep the reader invested throughout. This collection contains many pleasant and absorbing verses like Grant Allen's Only an Insect; Elizabeth Roberts Macdonald's A Song of Seasons; Goldwin Smith's Flossy to her Mistress; Eva Rose York's I shall not pass this way again, and many more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sharp Ink
• Release date: Feb 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9788028231613

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Various

A Treasury of Canadian Verse

With Brief Biographical Notes

Sharp Ink Publishing

2022

Contact: [e-mail]

ISBN 978-80-282-3161-3

Table of Contents

PREFACE

AUTHORS AND SELECTIONS

THE WHITETHROAT

MARGARET H. ALDEN

MOTHER'S WORLD

JOSEPH ANTISELL ALLEN

From DAY-DREAMS

GRANT ALLEN

ONLY AN INSECT

WILLIAM TALBOT ALLISON

THERE SAT THE WOMEN WEEPING FOR THAMMUZ

THE MEN OF THE NORTH

VANISHINGS

SOPHIE M. ALMON-HENSLEY

CONTENT

SONG

THERE IS NO GOD

DUNCAN ANDERSON

THE DEATH OF WOLFE.

SPORT

ALICE M. ARDAGH

SIC PASSIM

ISIDORE G. ASCHER

BY THE FIRELIGHT

SAMUEL MATHEWSON BAYLIS

IN MATABELE LAND

THE COUREUR-DE-BOIS.

JOHN WILSON BENGOUGH

SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD

RESTITUTION

CRAVEN LANGSTROTH BETTS

IN MEMORIAM

CHAUCER

POPE

BLANCHE BISHOP

THE BRIDE O' THE SUN

WINTER FLOWERS

CHRISTMAS MORN

EDWARD BLACKADDER

ANNAPOLIS ROYAL

JEAN BLEWETT

THE TWO MARYS

SHE JUST KEEPS HOUSE FOR ME

AT QUEBEC

JOHN BREAKENRIDGE

THE TROUBADOUR

JOHN HENRY BROWN

THE PARLIAMENT OF MAN

A SUNSET

EDWARD BURROUGH BROWNLOW

THE WHIP-POOR-WILL

THE SONNET

GEORGE FREDERICK CAMERON

THE GOLDEN TEXT

IS THERE A GOD?

ON TIPTOE

WHAT MATTERS IT?

BLISS CARMAN

LOW TIDE ON GRAND PRÉ

THE GRAVEDIGGER

THE CRIMSON HOUSE

HACK AND HEW

PHILLIPS BROOKS

THE WHITE GULL

AMOS HENRY CHANDLER

WHEN DORA DIED

EDWARD J. CHAPMAN

A SUMMER NIGHT

ANNIE ROTHWELL CHRISTIE

THE WOMAN'S PART

AFTER THE BATTLE

WELCOME HOME

GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE

SKATER AND WOLVES

TO A BUTTERFLY

RESENTMENT

ECCLESIASTES

A CHILD'S EVENING HYMN

HUGH COCHRANE

IDEAL

HEREWARD K. COCKIN

THE DEATH OF BURNABY

SARA JEANETTE DUNCAN COTES

THE POET

ISABELLA VALANCY CRAWFORD

THE MASTER-BUILDER

THE AXE OF THE PIONEER

From THE HELOT

THE SWORD

THESE THREE

FRANCIS BLAKE CROFTON

THE BATTLE-CALL OF ANTI-CHRIST

JOHN ALLISTER CURRIE

MY MOTHER

MARGARET GILL CURRIE

BY THE ST. JOHN

SARAH ANNE CURZON

VISIT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES TO LAURA SECORD

INVOCATION TO RAIN

NICHOLAS FLOOD DAVIN

From EOS

A. B. DE MILLE

THE ICE KING

BALLAD

JAMES DE MILLE

From BEHIND THE VEIL

EDWARD HARTLEY DEWART

SHADOWS ON THE CURTAIN

ON THE OTTAWA

FREDERICK AUGUSTUS DIXON

A FEATHER'S MESSAGE

HINC ILLÆ LACHRYMÆ

WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND

THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE

JOHN HUNTER DUVAR

JOHN A'VAR'S LAST LAY

THE MINNÉSINGERS LIED

HOW BALTHAZAR THE KING WENT DOWN INTO EGYPT

ARTHUR WENTWORTH HAMILTON EATON

THE EGYPTIAN LOTUS

PURPLE ASTERS

DEEPENING THE CHANNEL

THE PHANTOM LIGHT OF THE BAIE DES CHALEURS

THE MEADOW LANDS

MY PUREST LONGINGS SPRING

I WATCH THE SHIPS

JAMES DAVID EDGAR

THIS CANADA OF OURS

CONSTANCE FAIRBANKS

THE JUNCTION

HALIFAX

THOSE FAR-OFF FIELDS

JOSEPH KEARNEY FORAN

THE AURORA BOREALIS

WILLIAM HENRY FULLER

A SONG OF THE SEA

ALEXANDER RAE GARVIE

From PHANTASY

PIERCE STEVENS HAMILTON

From THE HEROINE OF ST JOHN

S. FRANCES HARRISON

VILLANELLE

CHÂTEAU PAPINEAU

SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER

THEODORE ARNOLD HAULTAIN

BEAUTY

CHARLES HEAVYSEGE

MAGNANIMOUS AND MEAN

NIGHT

THE COMING OF THE MORN

THE MYSTERY OF DOOM

JOHN FREDERIC HERBIN

SIMON

THE DIVER

ACROSS THE DYKES

THE SONNET

ANNIE CAMPBELL HUESTIS

GENTLE-BREATH

THE LITTLE WHITE SUN

TWENTY-OLD AND SEVEN-WILD

WILLIAM EDWARD HUNT

GOLDEN-ROD

THE SEA'S INFLUENCE

THE PASSING OF SUMMER

RICHARD HUNTINGTON

SUNRISE ON THE TUSKET

LOUISBURG

JAMES COBOURG HODGINS

ONCE MORE

A GREEK REVERIE

JOSEPH HOWE

THE FLAG OF OLD ENGLAND

THE DESERTED NEST

CHARLES EDWIN JAKEWAY

AN UNFINISHED PROPHECY

E. PAULINE JOHNSON (TEKAHIOŃWAKE)

THE SONG MY PADDLE SINGS

AT HUSKING TIME

SHADOW RIVER

BRIER

PRAIRIE GREYHOUNDS

ROBERT KIRKLAND KERNIGHAN

THE SONG OF THE THAW

PEEPY IS NOT DEAD

WILLIAM KIRBY

THE MARQUIS OF LORNE'S VISIT TO THE NORTH-WEST

AT SPENCER GRANGE

From THE SPARROWS

MATTHEW RICHEY KNIGHT

JACQUES CARTIER

SOVEREIGN MOMENTS

THE MERCY OF GOD

ARCHIBALD LAMPMAN

THE RAILWAY STATION

OUTLOOK

AMONG THE MILLET

THE LOONS

THE SUN CUP

AFTER RAIN

JUNE

SEPTEMBER

THE GOAL OF LIFE

MARY JANE KATZMANN LAWSON

THE FACE IN THE CATHEDRAL

SOPHIA V. GILBERT LEE

THE BROOK

LILY ALICE LEFEVRE

IMPRISONED

INSPIRATION

R. E. MULLINS LEPROHON

THE HURON CHIEF'S DAUGHTER

WILLIAM DOUW LIGHTHALL

THE ARTIST'S PRAYER

THE SWEET STAR

MY NATIVE LAND

STUART LIVINGSTON

THE VOLUNTEERS OF '85

TO E. N. L.

THE KING'S FOOL

KEATS

ARTHUR JOHN LOCKHART

ACADIE

THE WATERS OF CARR

THE LONELY PINE

BURTON W. LOCKHART

From THE RETROSPECT

LOVE AND SONG

BY THE GASPEREAU

JOHN E. LOGAN

THE INDIAN MAID'S LAMENT

AGNES MAULE MACHAR

WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE

SCHILLER'S DYING VISION

LOVE AND FAITH

A MADONNA OF THE ENTRY

EVAN MACCOLL

THE CHILD OF PROMISE

GLENORCHY

ELIZABETH ROBERTS MACDONALD

A SONG OF SEASONS

JOHN MACFARLANE

THE TWO ANGELS

A GRAVE IN SAMOA

A MIDSUMMER MADRIGAL

KATE SEYMOUR MACLEAN

BALLAD OF THE MAD LADYE

BIRD SONG

ELIZABETH S. MACLEOD

ALEXANDER MACKENZIE

A. D. MACNEILL

THE SEA-GULL

DONALD M'CAIG

THE TRAMP

JAMES M'CARROLL

A ROYAL RACE

DAWN

THE GRAY LINNET

WILLIAM M'DONNELL

From MANITA

BERNARD M'EVOY

A PHOTOGRAPH IN A SHOP WINDOW

REVISED PROOFS

THOMAS D'ARCY M'GEE

OUR LADYE OF THE SNOW

WILLIAM P. M'KENZIE

MOONLIGHT

GABRIELLE

THE MOTHER'S SONG

LULLABY SONG

ALEXANDER M'LACHLAN

INDIAN SUMMER

BOBOLINK

THE MAN WHO ROSE FROM NOTHING

JOHN M'PHERSON

THE MAYFLOWER

IN THE WOODS

CHARLES MAIR

UNTAMED

THE VOICE OF THE PINES

THE HUMMING BIRD

INNOCENCE

GEORGE MARTIN

SHELLEY

TO MY CANARY BIRD

LALEET

HELEN M. MERRILL

THE BLUE FLOWER

AT EDGEWATER

THE PROMISE OF SPRING

SUN-GOLD

SUSANNA MOODIE

THE MAPLE-TREE

THE FISHERMAN'S LIGHT

MARY MORGAN

IN APPREHENSION, SO LIKE A GOD.

CHARITY

LIFE

IRENE ELDER MORTON

BROWNING

COMPLETENESS

MY GARDEN WALL

IN JUNE

SONG OF THE PAGAN PRINCESS

SONG

CHARLES PELHAM MULVANEY

POPPŒA

GEORGE MURRAY

THE THISTLE

M. H. NICKERSON

A RECOLLECTION

CORNELIUS O'BRIEN

ST CECILIA

THOMAS O'HAGAN

RIPENED FRUIT

THE SONG MY MOTHER SINGS

GILBERT PARKER

I LOVED MY ART

IT IS ENOUGH

THEIR WAVING HANDS

AMY PARKINSON

THE MESSENGER HOURS

FRANK L. POLLOCK

AD BELLONAM

THE TRAIL OF GOLD

ANDREW RAMSAY

JEPHTHA'S DAUGHTER

I WILL NOT TELL

ATKINSON'S MILL

THEODORE HARDING RAND

THE DRAGONFLY

BEAUTY

LOVE

THE HEPATICA

I AM

THE VEILED PRESENCE

THE GHOST FLOWER

GLORY-ROSES

THE CARVEN SHORES

WALTER A. RATCLIFFE

WANTED

JOHN READE

RIZPAH

PICTURES OF MEMORY

IN MY HEART

TO LOUIS FRECHETTE

KINGS OF MEN

DOMINION DAY

ROBERT REID

POESIE

A SONG OF CANADA

CHARLES GEORGE DOUGLAS ROBERTS

A NOCTURNE OF CONSECRATION

A NOCTURNE OF SPIRITUAL LOVE

AN ODE FOR THE CANADIAN CONFEDERACY

CANADIAN STREAMS

THE SILVER THAW

EPITAPH FOR A SAILOR BURIED ASHORE

THE TRAIN AMONG THE HILLS

A SONG OF GROWTH

SLEEPY MAN

NIGHT IN A DOWN-TOWN STREET

THE FALLING LEAVES

AN EPITAPH FOR A HUSBANDMAN

ORIGINS

THE WRESTLER

RECESSIONAL

ASCRIPTION

THEODORE ROBERTS

THE SPEARS OF KAN-MAR

COLD

THE MEN OF MY HEART'S DESIRE

THE CHASE

WILLIAM CARMAN ROBERTS

HISTORY

AN EASTER MEMORY

MY COMRADE CANOE

GEORGE JOHN ROMANES

I ASK NOT FOR THY LOVE, O LORD

CARROLL RYAN

From MALTA

CHARLES SANGSTER

ENGLAND AND AMERICA

A LIVING TEMPLE

THE ILLUMINED GOAL

LOVE'S RENEWAL

'TIS SUMMER STILL

DUNCAN CAMPBELL SCOTT

THE FIFTEENTH OF APRIL

ABOVE ST IRÉNÉE

OFF RIVIÈRE DU LOUP

THE END OF THE DAY

A FLOCK OF SHEEP

MEMORY

HOME SONG

LIFE AND DEATH

OTTAWA

GEORGE FREDERICK SCOTT

A REVERIE

EASTER ISLAND

A DREAM OF THE PREHISTORIC

DAWN

VAN ELSEN

CHARLES DAWSON SHANLY

THE WALKER OF THE SNOW

FRANCIS SHERMAN

THE BUILDER

BETWEEN THE BATTLES

From A PRELUDE

A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE THE FALL WAS DONE

GOLDWIN SMITH

FLOSSY (WITH HER OWN PORTRAIT) TO HER MISTRESS

LYMAN C. SMITH

CANADA TO COLUMBIA

From A DAY WITH HOMER

WILLIAM WYE SMITH

THE CANADIANS ON THE NILE

ALBERT E. S. SMYTHE

THE FORGOTTEN POET

DEATH THE REVEALER

HIRAM LADD SPENCER

THE RIVER

A HUNDRED YEARS TO COME

EZRA HURLBURT STAFFORD

CHINOOK

THE STRANGE VESSEL

THE LAST ORISON

ALEXANDER CHARLES STEWART

From THE WANDERER

PHILLIPS STEWART

HOPE

From CORYDON AND AMARYLLIS

From DE PROFUNDIS

BARRY STRATON

LOVE'S HARVEST

CHARITY

AMERICA

ARTHUR J. STRINGER

A SONG IN AUTUMN

BESIDE THE MARTYR'S MEMORIAL

CANADA TO ENGLAND

BEETHOVEN

ALAN SULLIVAN

VENICE

THE WHITE CANOE

BERTRAM TENNYSON

GORDON

EDWARD WILLIAM THOMSON

A DAY-DREAM

THE SONG-SPARROW

THE BAD YEAR

JOHN STUART THOMSON

THE VALE OF ESTABELLE

EVEN-TIME

LATE AUTUMN

FRANCIS L. DOMINICK WATERS

From THE WATER LILY

ARTHUR WEIR

A SNOWSHOE SONG

VOYAGEUR SONG

THE LITTLE TROOPER

LITTLE MISS BLUE EYES

A CHRISTMAS LULLABY

AGNES ETHELWYN WETHERALD

THE HOUSE OF THE TREES

AT THE WINDOW

TO FEBRUARY

THE HAY FIELD

WILLIAM HENRY WITHROW

OCTOBER

CLOUD CASTLES

R. WALTER WRIGHT

EASTER MORN

A STILL SMALL VOICE

G. F. W.

SENSE AND SPIRIT

EVA ROSE YORK

I SHALL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN

PAMELIA VINING YULE

THE BEAUTIFUL ARTIST

WARBLE THY LAYS TO ME

INDEX OF FIRST LINES

PREFACE

Table of Contents

TO one opening this book for the first time, it may be permissible to say that the verse included in the volume does not treat solely nor chiefly of Canadian themes. While Canadian environment and life necessarily supply the note of inspiration and impart its timbre and accent, the thought and emotion are of wide range, and seek response in the universal heart.

The practical energies of the Canadian people are abundantly attested by extensive systems of railways and canals, a wide commerce, systems of free public education in the several provinces and territories, liberal facilities for the higher education of men and women, and an enterprising and influential press. Thirty-two years have passed since the organization of the Dominion of Canada. These years have witnessed great progress in civil and social institutions, and no unworthy beginning of an adequate development of the illimitable material resources of Canada's vast domain. It is noteworthy, as marking the quality of life of the people, that from the earliest settlement of the several provinces there have not been wanting public evidences of the presence of the scientific and literary spirit. The latter has expressed itself both in prose and verse, and in these recent years there is an increased activity in literary production commensurate with the expanding life of Canada.

It has been my purpose to present worthy specimens of English-Canadian verse, selected from the entire field of our history. Such a collection should be of interest, not only to Canadians, but to all English-speaking peoples. Here are reflected the singular loveliness of our evanescent spring, the glow and luxuriant life of our hasting summer, the sensuous glory of our autumn, and the tingle of our frosty air and the white winter's cheer. Every form and aspect of natural beauty is, in some degree, caught and expressed—sometimes in homely, sometimes in classical phrase; often with striking simplicity, and generally with much purity of thought and an authentic note. A sane and wholesome spirit is characteristic of the verse, and its spiritual quality seems to me to be of a high order. The sympathetic reader will notice a marked pictorial use of nature in some of the specimens given, as well as a sensuous delight in nature itself, depicted, as it is, with true feeling and not infrequently with an almost flawless art. He will notice also that nature is often humanized, and tenderness, love and pity, and the subtle problems of man's life and existence, are enshrined in original and poetic similitudes to the melody of haunting music. Nor are there altogether wanting instances of that insight and vision which beholds the phenomenal and cosmic with rapt wonder as awesome beauty-gleams, radiant symbols, or sublime manifestations of the immanent and loving One in whom all things consist. Great personalities, high achievement, and noble character, also, have inspired Canadian song. From the earliest to the latest singer, a glowing devotion to native land and a loyal and loving reverence for our gracious Sovereign are characteristic notes. If it should appear that the abundant verse inspired by these latter motives is insufficiently represented in this anthology, it may suffice to say that such verse is already widely known and is not by any means the highest product of the Canadian muse. Room has been made for the less hackneyed and richer inspirations of our poets—the virgin freshness and promise of our country; the life and deeds of men everywhere; the yearnings of the individual soul; and the aspirations of a people after the noblest and the divinest. These, with domestic loves, have kindled our singers to beautiful expression that demands a wider appreciation, as supplying sustenance and stimulus essential to fulness of national and imperial life. It will be observed that not only in recent verse, but also in that of nearly fifty years ago, Canadian poets have given expression to Anglo-centric conceptions and aspirations, divining with poetic insight the coming good.

While the selections have been carefully made, it will be apparent that some verse has been included whose chief claim to recognition is found in local and popular associations. It should also be said that much popular verse has been excluded, in order that the volume be kept of usable form and size. It did not fall within the plan of this anthology to include sacred and devotional lyrics, otherwise not a few hymns must have found a place, notably Joseph Scriven's What a Friend we have in Jesus, known as widely as the language is spoken.

The printing together of the selections from any author has been advisedly adopted, as affording a greater variety and interest than could be secured by an abstract or logical classification of the verse of the entire volume. The convenience of an alphabetical order of authors is apparent, while the dates supplied in the Notes afford ample chronology. Here and there the reader may find unfilled dates of birth or death, or unexpanded initials of names, but all reasonable effort has been made to furnish complete and trustworthy information.

I wish to express my gratitude to Mr. Charles C. James, M.A., Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Ontario, who has given me free access to his valuable and extensive collection of the works of Canadian poets; to Mr. James Bain, Jr., of the Toronto Public Library, for special facilities for inspecting the excellent collection in his charge; and to Mr. E. S. Caswell, of the publishing house of William Briggs, for many courtesies, and specially for aid in procuring well-nigh inaccessible materials for examination. To the many persons who have so cordially responded to letters of inquiry, and whom I may not thank by name, I express my acknowledgments. The following special works have been of service: Selections from Canadian Poets(1864), by Edward Hartley Dewart; The Canadian Birthday Book(1887), by Seranus; Songs of the Great Dominion(1889), by William Douw Lighthall, M.A., and Morgan's Canadian Men and Women of the Time.

Special thanks are rendered to the authors who have permitted the use of their poems, and to the various publishers for copyright permission. I regret that I was unable to secure permission to include any poems by Mr. William Wilfred Campbell. Perhaps the selections from my own verse should not appear in the volume. Their inclusion, it is proper to say, is in deference to the wishes of persons of acknowledged taste, rather than to any desire of my own.

A Canadian by birth, education, and life-service, as were my father and his father, my mother and her mother, I may be pardoned the expression of a feeling of national pride that the materials are so abundant from which to prepare a representative volume, much of whose contents will not suffer by comparison with the verse of older countries. I trust that this anthology may serve as an open door through which the voices of Canadian singers may vibrate yet more widely on sympathetic ears both at home and abroad.

T. H. R.

Toronto, Canada,

February. 1900.

---

AUTHORS AND SELECTIONS

Table of Contents

---

A TREASURY

OF CANADIAN VERSE

THE WHITETHROAT

Table of Contents

SHY bird of the silver arrows of song,

That cleave our Northern air so clear,

Thy notes prolong, prolong,

I listen, I hear—

"I—love—dear—Canada,

Canada, Canada."

O plumes of the pointed dusky fir,

Screen of a swelling patriot heart,

The copse is all astir

And echoes thy part!...

Now willowy reeds tune their silver flutes

As the noise of the day dies down;

And silence strings her lutes,

The Whitethroat to crown....

O bird of the silver arrows of song,

Shy poet of Canada dear,

Thy notes prolong, prolong,

We listen, we hear—

"I—love—dear—Canada,

Canada, Canada."

---

MARGARET H. ALDEN

Table of Contents

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MOTHER'S WORLD

Table of Contents

EYES of blue and hair of gold,

Cheeks all brown with summer tan,

Lips that much of laughter hold,

That is mother's little Man.

Shining curls like chestnut brown,

Long-lashed eyes, demure and staid,

Sweetest face in all the town,

That is mother's little Maid.

Dainty room with snow-white beds,

Where, like flowers with petals curled,

Rest in peace two dreaming heads,

That—is mother's little World!

---

JOSEPH ANTISELL ALLEN

Table of Contents

---

From DAY-DREAMS

Table of Contents

AH, what if the mind,

By sense-law confined,

In time, 'neath this stratum of stars,

Secretes by her spell

This fair, wondrous shell

Self-substanced, till bursting the bars

Of chrysalis time,

Free, joyous, sublime,

She mounts the blue space, winged with light,

Where, deep in the soul,

Is mirrored the whole,

As in a calm lake the pure night!

And what, if the whole

Are things of the soul,

This frame, Earth, bright Moon, garnished Skies,

If from the great Sun

Of spirit are spun

All systems which gravity ties

To their focal