IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 /. 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 .'«' 
 
 
 :/i 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 u lit 
 
 ^ IS HIM 
 
 2.2 
 
 U II 1.6 
 
 V] 
 
 A^ 
 
 '^ ^>' 
 
 
 a» .X' 
 
 '/ 
 
 /A 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut nanadien de microreproductions historiques 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes tochniquet at bibiiographiquas 
 
 Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat 
 original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa of thia 
 copy which may ba bibliographically uniqua, 
 which may altar a(>y of tha imagaa in tha 
 raproduction, or which may aignif icantly changa 
 tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Colourad covara/ 
 Couvartura da coulaur 
 
 I I Covara damagad/ 
 
 Couvartura andommagte 
 
 Covara raatorad and/or laminatad/ 
 Couvartura raatauria at/ou pallicui6a 
 
 I I Covar title miaaing/ 
 
 La titra da couvartura manqua 
 
 Colourad mapa/ 
 
 Cartaa giographiquaa an coulaur 
 
 □ Colourad ink (i.a. othar than blua or black)/ 
 Encra da coulaur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 □ Coloured platea and/or illuatrationa/ 
 Planchea et/ou illuatrationa en couleur 
 
 □ Bound with other material/ 
 ReliA avac d'autrea documenta 
 
 Tight binding may cauae ahadowa or diatortion 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reiiure aerrde peut cauaer de I'ombre ou de la 
 diatortion ia long de la marge intArieure 
 
 Blank iaavaa added during reatoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever poaaible. theae 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II ae peut que certainea pagea blanchea aJoutAea 
 lore d'une reatauration apparaiaaent dana la texte. 
 mala, loraqua cela Atait poaaible, cea pagea n'ont 
 pea At6 fiimtes. 
 
 Additional commanta:/ 
 Commentairea aupplAmentairaa.- 
 
 Thia item ia filmed at tha reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 L'inatitut a microfilm^ la mailleur exemplaira 
 qu'll lui a 4t4 poaaible de ae procurer. Lea ditaiia 
 de cet exemplaira qui aont paut-Atre unlquaa du 
 point de vue bibllographique, qui peuvent modifier 
 une Image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dana la mAthoda normale de filmage 
 aont indiquAa ci-deaaoua. 
 
 I I Coloured pagea/ 
 
 D 
 
 Pagea de couleur 
 
 Pagea damaged/ 
 Pagea endommag6ea 
 
 Pagea reatored and/oi 
 
 Pagea reataurtea et/ou peliicul6ea 
 
 Pagea diaculoured, atained or foxei 
 Pagea dice, jrtea. tachetiea ou piqu6ea 
 
 Pagea detached/ 
 Pagea d^tachiaa 
 
 Showthroughy 
 Tranaparence 
 
 Quality of prir 
 
 Qualiti inigaie de I'impreaaion 
 
 Includea aupplementary materii 
 Comprend du materiel aupplimentaire 
 
 Only edition available/ 
 Seule Mition diaponlble 
 
 I — I Pagea damaged/ 
 
 I I Pagea reatored and/or laminated/ 
 
 I I Pagea diaculoured, atained or foxed/ 
 
 I I Pagea detached/ 
 
 r^ Showthrough/ 
 
 I I Quality of print variea/ 
 
 I I Includea aupplementary material/ 
 
 I — I Only edition available/ 
 
 Pagea wholly or partially obacured by errata 
 alipa, tiaauea, etc., have been ref limed to 
 enaure the beat poaaible image/ 
 Lea pagea totalement ou partiellement 
 obacurciea par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure. 
 etc., ont 6t^ filmtea A nouveau de fa^on A 
 obtenir ia meilleure image poaaible. 
 
 Cede 
 10X 
 
 tcum 
 
 ante 
 
 atfll 
 
 me au tau 
 14X 
 
 xda 
 
 redu 
 
 ctlon 
 18X 
 
 indU 
 
 lue c 
 
 idea 
 
 aoua 
 22X 
 
 
 
 
 26X 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12X 
 
 
 
 
 16X 
 
 
 
 
 20X 
 
 
 
 
 24X 
 
 
 
 
 28X 
 
 
 
 
 32X 
 
 
The copy filmad hare has bean raproducad thanks 
 to tha ganarosity of: 
 
 Library of tha Public 
 ArchivM of Canada 
 
 L'axampiaira fiimi fut raproduit grica k la 
 g4n*roslt* da: 
 
 La bibliothAqua das Archivas 
 publiquas du Canada 
 
 Tha Imagas appaaring hara ara tha bast quality 
 possibla considaring tha condition and laglblllty 
 of tha original copy and in kaapinn with tha 
 filming contract spacif icationa. 
 
 Las imagas suivantas ont AtA raproduitas avac la 
 plus grand soin, compta tanu da la condition at 
 da la nattatA da l'axampiaira filmA, at an 
 conformity avac las conditions du contrat da 
 flimaga. 
 
 Original copias in printad papar covars ara filmad 
 baginning with tha front covar and anding on 
 tha last paga with a printad or illustratad impras- 
 sion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All 
 othar original copias ara filmad baginning on tha 
 first paga with a printad or illustratad impras- 
 sion, and anding on tha last paga with a printad 
 or illustratad imprasslon. 
 
 Las axampialras originaux dont la couvartura 991 
 paplar ast imprlmAa sont filmte an commandant 
 par la pramiar plat at an tarminant solt par la 
 darnlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta 
 d'Imprassion ou d'lllustratlon, soit par la sacond 
 plat, salon la cas. Tous las autras axampialras 
 originaux sont filmAs an commandant par la 
 pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta 
 d'impraasion ou d'illustration at an tarminant par 
 la darnlAra paga qui comporta una talla 
 amprainta. 
 
 Tha last racordad frama on aach microflcha 
 shall contain tha symbol ^^^ (moaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or tha symbol V (moaning "END"), 
 whichavar appllas. 
 
 Un das symbolas suivants apparattra sur la 
 darnlAra imaga da chaqua microflcha, salon la 
 cas: la symbols — »• signifia "A SUIVRE", la 
 symbols ▼ signifia "FIN". 
 
 Maps, platas, charts, ate, may ba filmad at 
 diffarant raduction ratios. Thosa too larga to ba 
 antiraly Includad in ona axposura ara filmad 
 baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar, laft to 
 right and top to bottom, as many framas aa 
 raquirad. Tha following diagrams illustrata tha 
 mathod: 
 
 Las cartas, pianchas, tabiaaux, ate, pauvant Atre 
 fllmfo A das taux da reduction diffArants. 
 Lorsqua la documant ast trop grand pour Atre 
 raproduit an un saul cliche, 11 ast film* A partir 
 da I'angia supAriaur gaucha, do gaucha A droita, 
 at da haut an bas, an pranant la nombra 
 d'Imagas nAcassaira. Las diagrammas suivants 
 illustrant la mAthoda. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
r^ 
 
 ,,-;¥y*«r'i>V^'^'*?^''i?*^^^'*^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 ? 
 
 5 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 n 
 
 Ml 
 
 
 
 .£ 
 
 </) 
 
 
 1) 
 
 -D 
 
 ■o 
 
 -o 
 
 o 
 
 *" 
 
 
 
 TJ 
 
 o 
 
 (1) 
 
 o 
 
 t) 
 
 ii 
 
 m 
 
 n 
 
 </) 
 
 
 » 
 
 in 
 
 r 
 
 O 
 
 
 O 
 
 a) 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 QJI 
 
 < 
 
 c 
 
 
 o 
 
 a) 
 
 
 X 
 
 < 
 
 ■# 
 
A IvEGEND 
 
 OP* 
 
 GOAT ISLAND 
 
 Ascribed to FATHER LOUIS HENNEPIN, who visited 
 Niagara in 1678 
 
 BY 
 
 PETER A. PORTER 
 
 Sketches by C. BRBCKINRIOOB PORTBR 
 
 IMI •AIltlE Mlti, NUIMA FtUI, N. V. 
 
COPVRIQHT 
 
 PCTtl' «. PORTER 
 1900 
 
A LEGEND OF GOAT ISLAND 
 
 TT is told in Indian story, 
 *■ Dim tradition of the rriec, 
 How, to God's eternal glory, 
 And tbroiigli Ilis all-saving grace, 
 Many a warrior's heart w;is stirred 
 To belief in His ever-living Word, 
 And the I'aith that saves as .all. 
 By a I'riest, whose holy mission 
 Overcame their su|)erstition 
 About the Island, which divides 
 Niagara's tnmultnous tides, 
 At the brink of the mighty Fall. 
 
 Here is the story, as 'tis told 
 In one of the ,.'hronicles of old. 
 
 5'T^WAS many a year ago, when o'er 
 A The land on Ni-a-gah-ra's shore 
 The Neuter tribe held sway. 
 On its western bank, above, but near, 
 
 Where rapids begin, in wild career 
 
 Toward the I'all, and down as low 
 
 As a bark canoe could safely go. 
 
 One of their villages lay. 
 
 In that village by the rivei'. 
 
 Late one eve, when bow and (|iiiver 
 
 Il.-id been laid aside, 
 
 And the warriors were sitting 
 
 In the silence, deemed befitting 
 
 To an Indian's pride, 
 
 A stranger in their midst appeared, 
 
 Whose hoary locks and silverv beard 
 
 Were to their vision strange and weird. 
 
 He was a man of giant size. 
 
 Which found him favor in their eyes, 
 
 As, at his priestly garb am.-ized. 
 
 In silent wonderment they gazed. 
 
 He wore his Sacred Order's gown, 
 A long hjose robe of reddish brown. 
 
 i 
 
Across liis slionlfltTs, liK'Hly IIuiik, 
 Till.' capo iinil cowl hackwdrd luiiiK, 
 Around his wnist a rope was twined, 
 A Kirdle and a scourge combined ; 
 While from it, hiinj,'in),' loose and free, 
 Suspended huuK the rosary. 
 He was the first of slrauKcr race 
 They e'er had nut with, face to face, 
 fhough they knew that such-frocked men 
 Had visited their brethren. 
 When they saw him, brave and s(iuavv 
 Viewed him with a reverend awe. 
 
 A wanderer, all alone he came. 
 
 He bore no weapons, gave no name. 
 
 He said his errand was to teach 
 
 The glories of the Life to be, 
 
 When, after death, men's spirits reach 
 
 The confines of Eternity, 
 
 And, as he spake in Indian siieech, 
 
 They listened most attentively. 
 
 For he had dwelt for many a day 
 
 Mid Indian tribes, far, far away. 
 
 And thus had learnt the Indian tongue 
 
 From those whom he had dwelt among. 
 
 So, sullenly, they let him share 
 
 Their fire's warmth and frugal fare, 
 And then they sutlered him to tell 
 His mission in the way he chose. 
 Though little c;ired tiiey what befell 
 Their souls, so they but feasted well. 
 And were victorious o'er their foes. 
 
 Later on, as they were sitting 
 
 In the fire's cheerful light. 
 
 Shadows round them weirdly Hitting, 
 
 As the moon rose into sight, 
 
 The stranger asked, in tunes of wonder. 
 
 Whence that sound of endless thunder. 
 
 That dull, reverberating sound 
 
 That seemed to shake the very gound? 
 
 For answer, came the Chief's command, 
 " Be patient, you shall understand." 
 And, knowing Indian nature well. 
 He waited till they chose to tell. 
 
 Later yet, when chill and hoaty 
 Lay th • frost upon the ground. 
 And the moon in all her glory 
 Bathed in light the scene around, 
 The Chieftain rose, around him drew 
 
Tlij l)isnn skin of t.'iwny liiii", 
 And si),'iic(l ti) the priest to follow. 
 lie led him through ;i (Iciise dark wood 
 Where many a lofty pine tree stood, 
 Then throiif^h a windinj; hollow; 
 Wiience, as they suddenly einerjjed, 
 The rushiii)^ rapids 'neath them surged 
 O'er many a roeky lcdj,'e. 
 Takini,', down stream, their silent way 
 Toward the risinj; eloiid of spray, 
 They re.'iehed the Cataract's edge; 
 And, from a jnttinf;; shelf of stone. 
 Saw Ni-a-jjah-ra, then unknown. 
 Save to the red niaf.'s i<aee alone. 
 Earth's grandest sight, coneeived to be 
 The emblem of (^lod's majesty. 
 
 Ne'er has the seenc which 'ncath them lay 
 Been ehronieled aright. 
 For no one, in a fitting way, 
 Uy pen, nor pencil, citii portray 
 The grandeur of that sight. 
 
 The Priest, as by the view amazed, 
 Long at the Falls and Rapids gazed. 
 But not a word he spoke. 
 
 Then crossed himself, as if in nwc. 
 And 'twas a holy sight he saw. 
 At Inst he turned him to his guide. 
 Who stood, like statue, by his side 
 And thus the silence broke : 
 
 " For two years past I've often longed 
 
 This wondrous sight to sec, 
 
 And memory has oft been thronged 
 
 With stories told to me 
 
 By one, upon whose brow I traced 
 
 God's holy Cross, a chief 
 
 In whose narration 1 have |)laced 
 
 An absolute belief. 
 
 The glories, which I now behold, 
 
 In words, somewhat like these, he told: 
 ' Towards the Sun's ascending beam. 
 Whoe'er his journey takes. 
 Will reach a bro;ul and rapid stream 
 Which joins two mighty lakes. 
 Midway in this river's course 
 A wondrous fidl is found 
 Where, with !in overwhelming force 
 The waters, rushing in their might, 
 Plunge downward o'er a fearful height 
 With a stupefying sound. 
 
T 
 
 Ki},'lit nt the prccipici- so steep, 
 Wlieie llie river takes this awful leap, 
 Is phieed an Ishiiul, small in size, 
 Ihtt like an earthly paradise. 
 For lovelier spot is nowhere found 
 Than this, our Indian Inirinl }j;round; 
 Where none, unless with honor erowned, 
 Can ever be interred. 
 None 1)Ut hrave men e'er can reach 
 It's wooded shore and roeky beach, 
 Whereon the sound of human speech 
 Is scarcely ever heard. 
 For on this Isle deep-buried lie 
 The bones of m;iny a Brave, 
 And Indian chiefs invariid)ly 
 Ask this spot for their yrave. 
 Thus it h;is been, in days of yore. 
 And it is my e;irnest pra-ii , 
 That, when this mortal life is o'er. 
 And my soul is on the other shore. 
 My bones may be buried there. 
 That Ni-a-g;'ih-ra's mighty roar 
 So solemn, grand and deep. 
 May be my dirge forevcrmorc 
 As 'twi.\t its Falls I sleep.' 
 " Since he told me I've often pr.-iyed 
 
 That hither 1 might be led, 
 And to my vision be displayed, 
 In its scenic majesty arrayed, 
 The fairest spot liod ever made, 
 This Island of the dead." 
 
 The Chief assented, " All you heard 
 Was true to the minutest word ; 
 But one more fact I must iMif';ld 
 Kre all the Island's talc is Inld, 
 Note its wondrous situation, 
 'Tis our Spirit's dread abode ; 
 'Tis a spot that, since Creation, 
 Coward's foot li;is never trod. 
 None hut warriors can reach it. 
 Others, should they dare to try, 
 So our old traditions teach it, 
 As they touch its soil, tiicy die." 
 
 " All that is false," the I'ricst replied, 
 " Whoever taught you that has lied; 
 Stnmg words, I know, but justified. 
 For l)od alone, who gave us breath. 
 Has power over life and death." 
 
 The Chief declared, " His faith is best 
 Who dares to put it to the test. 
 
T 
 
 I judge men's taitli in lint oir' wiiy, 
 'Tis wliiil tlicv (Id, not wlinl tlicy say. 
 If yon Ijclicvc that yon'll survive, 
 I'll tiikf yon there tonight, 
 And, if yon tread its shore alive, 
 Will own that yon are right; 
 Then, I'll believe in what yon preaeh. 
 And worship Him of whom yon te.'ieli." 
 
 The I'riesl responded, " Now 'tis elenr, 
 
 Why 1 have heendireeled liere. 
 
 Your sacred Island is to lie 
 
 My nie.'ins of jiroving eoiielnsively 
 
 To Indian Tribes forevermore 
 
 The power of Mini whom 1 adore. 
 
 An early proof is all 1 crave, 
 
 I"or never yet did Indian brave, 
 
 Who'd traveled far to deal tiie blow 
 
 Of death to his relentless foe 
 
 With greater joy await the Iionr 
 
 That placed his victim in his power 
 
 Than I impatiently await 
 
 The moment yonder Isle I reach, 
 
 And thereby clearly demonstrntc 
 
 The holy prcce])ts th.'it I teach. 
 
 So come, tho' here I fain would stay 
 
 My livndH to tell ami jirayers to say, 
 I'll worship ("lod on the Isl.ind's shore 
 After the test yon name is o'er." 
 
 A look of wonder and surprise 
 Shone in the Indian Chieftain's eyes. 
 His sole reply, "So let it lie, 
 Vour death shall pay the penally." 
 
 In perfect silence liaclj they went, 
 liach <in the coining voyage intent. 
 When the village they had reached. 
 To where his bark canoe lav bejiched 
 The Chieft.Min turned aside. 
 (The bison skin, he Hung therein), 
 Quickly he launched it, in he leapt, 
 And, waiting till the I'riesl Inid slept 
 ItUo his place, he bade him kneel. 
 So the bark might ride on even keel, 
 Then pushed it out on the tide. 
 Swiftly it darle<l from the land, 
 I'rijpellcd by strong and fearless hand, 
 Over the dangerous eurrciU Hies, 
 As the Chief the p;uldle rapidly plies, 
 Until, the wildest portion crossed. 
 The frail canoe is no longer tossed 
 
Hv curling waves, Iml llonls, iiwIiiU', 
 (11 llie (jiiiil sliciiin al.ovc llir IxK'. 
 "...wnnls whnw l)Ciicli it slowly ^'lidis 
 |.-<.r woal or woe, an its voyage bcliiKs. 
 
 Tlic I'rii'st slcMid ail, almve liis lurid 
 riic holy Cross he raised, 
 . nd thJ words of llie " Misereri" said 
 ,\f. heaveawards lie),'azed. 
 
 Tlic l)ark aieanwliile, 
 
 Has reaelied llie Isle, 
 
 A inonieal more, 
 
 And the test is o'er. 
 
 The Priest slepiied boldly on the sod. 
 To prove the |)ower of his Cod, 
 And, kncelinK"" the shore, 
 I'oured forth .a psalin of praise to Ilini 
 VVlaan Cherid)im aad Seraphim 
 Continually adore. 
 
 Then, nsinj,', he addressed the Chief 
 Who, siltinK i" the hark eanoe, 
 I'olt more of wonder thnn of Krief 
 At seeinj; that his old belief 
 Was wholly I'dse, for now he knew 
 That all the Priest had said was true. 
 
 " I tread this Isle alive, and show 
 
 Your Spirit's boasted power 
 
 To be but falsehood; will you now 
 
 I'uirdlyours.demn Chieftain's vow. 
 
 And own that Cod, by whom I'm sent 
 
 To teaeh yo\i, is omnipotent. 
 
 In this auspieiouH hour?" 
 
 As by the issue sluprfu'd. 
 
 The Chieflain doublianly ''cpl'^'''' 
 
 " I little lli"U),dil you now would lie 
 
 .Mive toel.dm my fealty; 
 
 llul further proof you yet must give 
 
 llefore I eaii fully agree, 
 
 Although you tread the Isle, and live, 
 
 You have proved eonelusively 
 
 That the Spirit I've adored so hmg 
 
 Is powerless, and my worship wrong. 
 
 Perhaps that Spirit, seeing yon cared 
 
 So little for death, y-mr life has spared 
 
 Thus far. but if you long remain 
 
 On the IsW, you surely shall be slain. 
 
 So if you heed my advice, return." 
 
 Haughtily spake the Priest, "I spurn 
 
 Your advice, so artfully given. 
 
 Daring your Spirit, I have shown 
 
Till' power (if (K.itli liclcin^N nlonc 
 
 To lliiii. who oil till' xrciit wliili' Throni', 
 
 HwL'lli'tli l(,i r ill lli'iivi-n. 
 
 Now, pondii ■M'll licforr you upcak, 
 
 Thou U'll V hill riirtlii'i- |iroof vmi Meek." 
 
 Aiis' I' il the CiiicI, "11 i>i' you liiTi', 
 With none to lid y m, naiij,'ht to elieer, 
 And svlicMi tn\ .Mrrow'n Him 
 Ih lliiii ill ' lir luaveiis, I'll eonic nKaiii. 
 If, till II, I lliil you have not been Hiaiii 
 Hy my SpiritV ntiKht, 
 I'"oi' your act toni>;ht, 
 Your vietory will lie wmi." 
 
 The I'ricKt rc(i!ic d, "I'll ^^ive ain'w 
 This proof, that all my words are true; 
 Hut, do not come till another day 
 In its rapid llijjlit has |),iHHcd nway. 
 When, next, the rays of the settinj,' sun 
 Illumine the Falls, as the day is done, 
 Oo to the spot where timJKht we stood, 
 Close to the c(lj,'e of the lieadlonp; Mood, 
 At that hour, and at this edjre 
 Of that same l''all, on the roeky ledj,'e 
 Of the Island's shore, I'll take my stand 
 That you, and nil your warrior band. 
 
 May nee that I live; and then to sho'v 
 Thnt faith in your Spirit you ilinnvow, 
 Kneel down ard there, beside I he l'"all, 
 In the nan".' of (iod, I will bless voii all. 
 Then, at thin hour, tomorrow niijht, 
 In yonder moon's ('tTul>»ent liKlu, 
 Ilrinj; your bark to this spot once more, 
 And take me Imek to the other shore. 
 Now (,'(), and leave me, despite your fear, 
 Alone with my Maker, who led me here." 
 
 The Chief, where t' . i|uiet wa'. lay, 
 Up stream, pursued 'is homownrd w/iy, 
 To wait the close of another day. 
 The I'riesi, i'lieath those lofly trees, 
 In adoration fell on his knecH, 
 
 All iiiRht lonj;, on that wondcH'ul Hod, 
 Where never before li.id white man trod. 
 He wandered, ceaselessly praising God 
 For the mercies to him granted. 
 Oft, in worship lie bowed his head. 
 His beads he told, his prayers he said. 
 Ami, 'mid those graves o.f unknown dead. 
 O'er whom no burial rites were read. 
 The "Nunc Dimittis" he chanted. 
 
All next day, in the forest's shade 
 In solitude, he watched and prayed. 
 
 And that evening, at the hour 
 
 When, in lands where Christians dwell, 
 
 From each old cathedral tower 
 
 Rings aloud the Vesper bell , 
 
 The aged Priest his way did wend 
 
 Toward the sotting sun, 
 
 To where, at the Island's western end 
 
 The greater waves of rapids descend. 
 
 And the swifter currents run. 
 
 Adown the slope he made his way 
 
 •Mid bushes wet with driven spray, 
 
 Until he reached the rocky ledge. 
 
 Close to the Cataract's eastern edge. 
 
 While he stood there, in the blaze 
 
 Of the setting sun's departing rays. 
 
 The spray-cloud hovered low. 
 
 And, as it settled above his head, 
 
 Across it, in gorgeous colors spread. 
 
 Appeared the sign of the promise made 
 
 By God to man, as the Flood He stayed. 
 
 The evanescent Bow. 
 
 When the sun in splendor sank 
 
 Behind the fir trees tall, 
 
 Gazing toward the farther bank. 
 
 With a joy no pen can e'er describe. 
 
 He saw the Chief and warrior tribe 
 
 At the other end of the Fall. 
 
 The Chief, who saw him as he moved 
 
 From out the forest's shade, 
 
 And realiz-ed that again he'd proved 
 
 The truth of all he said. 
 
 Knelt, so the Priest might comi.rchend 
 
 That faith in his Spirit was at an end. 
 
 The warriors knelt beside their Chiel, 
 
 Thus emphasizing their beliel. 
 
 The Priest was there by God's own will, 
 
 A holy mission to fulfill. 
 
 Ills human voice, in th.t grand roar. 
 
 Could not have reached the other shore, 
 
 No matter how he had striven. 
 
 Yet he spake the Word, 
 
 Though it was not heard, 
 
 And he raised his hands. 
 
 As our God commands, 
 
 And lift<-d his eyes to Heaven; 
 
 Thus, in the way the Church decrees 
 
 T<, suppliants, tho' afar, on their knees, 
 
 Was the Benediction given. 
 

 The Priest was with emotion thrilled, 
 His itiintl with sacred thoughts instilled, 
 And, in imaginative mood, 
 Again in a holy Church he stood, 
 (It was three long years since he 
 Had stept within a Sacristy). 
 
 A wondrous Church it was, indeed, 
 By Nature's changeless laws decreed, 
 Tho' man reared not the structui-e fair. 
 All cluirchly attributes were there. 
 
 The gorge was the glorified N.-ive, 
 
 Whose floor was the einer.-ild wave. 
 
 The mighty Fall 
 
 Was the Keredos tall. 
 
 The Altar, tlie pme while fo.im, 
 
 The azure sky. 
 
 So clear and lii^li, 
 
 Was simply the vaulted Dome. 
 
 The column of spray. 
 
 On its upward way, 
 
 Was the smoke of Incense burned ; 
 
 The Cataract's roar. 
 
 Now less, now more. 
 
 As it rose and fell, 
 
 Like an organ's swell 
 Into sacred music turned. 
 While, like a Baldaeliin, o'erhead 
 The spray-cloud, in its glory, spread 
 Its crest, by the setting sun illumed. 
 The form of a holy Cross assumed. 
 
 The vision gone, the Priest once more 
 Stood, simply on the Island's shore. 
 Slowly he climbed the bank again. 
 And into the forest passed, 
 His body weak with cold and pain 
 From his long and sleepless fast. 
 Little he cared for the food and rest 
 His mortal being craved. 
 He only thought, how, at his behest, 
 The Chief and warriors had confessed 
 lielief in God, and had been blest. 
 And their souls might thus be saved. 
 
 Again, amongst the trees he knelt, 
 Expressive of the joy he felt. 
 In worship, loud, his voice he raised, 
 His tones through the forest rang. 
 As the ever-living God he praised, 
 And the "Jubilate" sang. 
 
The twiliRht passed, but the aged Priest 
 From his adorations had not ceased ; 
 The darkness came, but his only thought 
 Was praise of Him whose word he taught ; 
 The moon arose, and found him there, 
 Still in the attitude of prayer. 
 Rut when in the Heavens, higli and elear 
 She stood, and midnight's hour was near. 
 He rose and went to the rocky beach, 
 Where alone the Island one may reach. 
 
 Soon the Chief, in his birchen bark. 
 Came swiftly over the waters dark. 
 And reaching the Island's shore 
 Cried, " .\s God's follower, receive 
 An erring man. I now believe 
 In Him, forcvcrniore." 
 
 As the Priest to meet him came 
 
 He said, " Paptize me, in His name." 
 
 The Priest bent down to the river's bed 
 
 And dipped his hand in the wave, 
 
 Then bade him kneel, and on his head 
 
 Poured the water, and joyously said, 
 
 " Your soul I hereby save. 
 
 First convert of the Neuter race, 
 
 Upon your forehead, thus, I trace 
 
 The Cross's holy sign ; 
 
 And thereby, as you now believe 
 
 In God's omnipotence, receive 
 
 You into Ilis Church divine. 
 
 And, in the Faith you have confessed, 
 
 I bless you, and you shall be blest." 
 
 Put meanwhile many a bark canoe. 
 Bearing those Xeuter warriors true 
 Was rapidly coming down the tide, 
 Along the path, where the waves divide. 
 
 As the Isle these warriors reached, 
 Tiieir fiail canoes they safely beached, 
 Then stepped to the Chieftain's side; 
 Beneath that grand primeval wood 
 In awe-felt silence, there they stood. 
 It was a noble sight, and good. 
 For the Priest, in his holy pride. 
 
 For of the bravest of the laiul 
 Was that converted warrior band, 
 All firm in their new Belief; 
 And, on this wondrous Island's sod, 
 Before that holy man of God, 
 Knelt their baptized Chief 
 
 T 
 
 I 
 
 
T 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 ■ • • • ■ The Island, wliicli divides 
 Niagara's tLinuiltuous tides, 
 At the brink of the mighty Fall." 
 

 Aful, from a jutting slielf of stone, 
 Saw Ni-n-gali-ra, then unknown, 
 Save to the red man's Race alone. 
 
The Priest stood up, above his head 
 The holy Cross he raised," 
 

 »r 
 
 i^ittMl^lMI^^ 
 
 " Thus, in the way the Church decrees 
 To suppliants, tho' afar, on their knees. 
 Was the Benediction given." 
 
' While, like a Baldachin, o'erhcad 
 The spray-cloud, in its glory, spread. 
 
... On this wondrous Island's sod 
 Before that holy man of God, 
 Knelt their baptized Chief." 
 
Of this "Legend" 100 copies were printed for private distri- 
 bution only. This copy is No , and is presented to 
 
 j 
 with the compliments of 
 
 coupled with the suggestion that it is not intended 
 for general publicity.