CIHM Microfiche Series (Monographs) ICMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) li] Cwwdtan liwtltuM for Hhtorlcal MlerartpfoductioiM / Imtitut caiMdlm d* microraproductioiw Mttoriqiiw ©1995 riw ImtituM hM •tnmpMd to obnin th* ban erifiiMl copy •milaW* for IHmint. FtMm of Ail copy whMi iMy ht MWiOfrapMeally uniqiM, wMch may atar My of Mm imaiH in tha rapraduatlon. or whieli may litnificantly chanfi tha unial mallnd of fHmini, ara dMckad btlow. □ Colourad coMn/ Coinartura da eoiilaur □ Cowrt rt Mi m id/ □ Comrt raftorad and/or laminalad/ Cau>artiira wlaurta at/ou pilliadta D D Carm giographjqua) an aoidaur Colourad nk (i.a. othar dian Mua or Mack)/ Encra da coulaur (i.a. nitra qua Waua ou iwiral □ Colourad platas and/or illuitratiom/ Plandni at/ou iltunrationi an coulaur □ Bound with othar matarial/ Ralii aMc d'autras doeumanti □ Ti^t bindini may cauia thadoan or dbtortion akmg iniarior margin/ La laliura larria paut cauiar da I'omtara ou da la diitonion la Ion* da la maraa intiriaura D raitoration may appaar within tha taxt. Whananr ponitala. thaaa harailon Maitheed/ G«nirique (piriodiquei) de la livreiion lOX ux 1SX 22X 26X vx _i _ ^^^ i ■^Ml 1 r I^X 1(X 2DX _ 24X nx ^mmU L^ ■»i* Th« copy fllmad h«r« Hh bMn raproduead ihanki to Iha ganarotity of: National Library of Canada L'axamplaira film* fut raproduit griea i la g*ntroiit* da: Blbllotheque natlonale du Canada Tha Imagaa appaaring hara ara tha bait quality pouibia conaidaring tf i condition and lagibillty of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract apaclficationa. Original copia* in printad papor covare ara fllmad baginning with tha front covor and anding on tha lact paga with a printad or illuatratad impraa- cion, or tha back eovar whan approprtata. All othar original eopiaa ara filmad baginning on tha f Irat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraa- aion, and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or illuatratad impraaaion. Tha laat racordad frama on aach microficha shall contain tha symbol —^ (moaning "CON- TINUED"!, or tha symbol ▼ Imaaning "END "I. whichavar appllaa. Mapa, platas. eharu. ate. may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratios. Thosa too larga to ba antiraly included in ona axposura ara fllmad 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 imagas suivantaa ont ttt raproduiias avac la plus grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nanat« da l'axamplaira film*, at an cenformM avac laa conditions du contrst da fllmaga. Laa aaamplairaa origlnaux dont la couvartura an papiar aat lmprim«a sont fllmte an commangant par la pramlar plat at an tarminant soit par la darniAra paga qui eomporta una amprainta d impraaaion ou d'illustration. soit par la sacond plat, salon la eaa. Tous las autras axampiairas orlginaux sont filmts an commandant par la prami*ra paga qui eomporta una amprainta d'lmpraasion ou d'illustration at an tarminant par la darnitra paga qui eomporta una tails amprainta. Un das symbolaa suivants apparattra sur la darniira imaga da chaqua microficha. salon la cas: la symbola ^» signifia "A SUIVRE" la symbols ▼ signifia "FIN". Laa canaa. planchaa. tablaaux. ate. pauvant itra filmta i daa Uux da raduction difftranis. Lorsqua la documant aat trop grand pour iira raproduit an un ssul clich*. il est film* a partir da I'angla suptrlaur gaucha. da gaucha A droita. at da haut an bas, an pranant la nombra d'imagaa nteasaaira. Las diagrammas suivants illuatrant la mtthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MKtOCOrv MSOUJTKM TUT CHART (ANSI and ISO TfST CHART No. 2) la 12.8 14.0 2£ 1.8 ^N^ ^ -APPLIED IIVMGE I ^^ 1653 East Moin Street Sr^ Rochester, New York 14609 USA ^= (716) 482 - 0300 - Phone ^S (716) 288-5969 -Fax POEMS WRITTEN AT SPARE MOMENTS BY DAVID MILLS OTTAWA : Thk Kolla L. Chain Co., Limitkd, Printers and Binders 1. S t. Pfe, 145320 PREFACE. Tlie foilowing pieces were written at spare moments as a relaxation from official labors. Many of them were written to my grandchildren, and to interest them. They are printed to pre- serve them for future revision, if they should be thought worth other than an ephemeral exist- ence. 4th December, igji. D. M. s.iSSSI:£SSS-'» J MARJORIE AND HELEN. There are two little maidens at Maoimi Dreamin»t at niirht of r,._j ""P""' Dark-cv,^ „• I . Grandma and me, uark-eyed prl, jom them in play, Who jabber in Spanish all the day \Vhei th""" '■°""'' ^"" '» "'"ly'^iown T:l'::° '''"'''''" ''^'^'^^^''^ 1)^° ""''"«"■<"«»» when morn is come R-«e and diess and breakfast at home Tw, little maidens, I think, I see Oh'^H!^ T'"'' °''' '°*" ^"h '«="«'» tree Oh, do they ever make this remark- Id l.ke to be i., Grandpa's park. In ;., u'.'" * ''^'"'"ock restfully lie In the shade of the trees, till the day goes by. mV^w^fu^' '""""'^ I'O "ike to ,uy T^l the birds that s..? have flown away • When ^he season ,s by for the luscious p^ch ni bacK agam to a warmer dim.. "^ '^• Where the wmter is bright like a summer time THE BIRDS SONG. A pretty wn^.y^j „, An/flertJrrnX--'^- ^ • until du,k-Marjorie, Alarjorie "Two little n^dtn, ,': ?"' "" '^^- «»ow ..Helen and Marjorie? Marjorle" V/hen autumn cane h» fl-_ t H' -ted at nS'rH'fitX",::''' SS-d :„''"''••'*"''> 'he lark; ] THE LITTLE BROWN WREN. My dnreit little busy bird, Return in spring to mc, The nest you builded years ago. Is safely kept for thee. The landscape here is green again, The snow has gone away, The wild plum blossoms in the field And warm has grown the day. Come back to me, my little bird. And sing your pure, sweet song. Your notes I love, through all the day. Although the day be long. Come back to me, my pretty b. . Come with the length'ning day; Sing to your mate your sweetest notes, aing them sometime in May : Come back to me, sweet bird, again. Come with your voice in tune. Sing soft and clear her praises here. Sing on through leafy June, In the denie thom-bush let me hear. You sing your song again. Cheering your mate, near whom you wait, Thou loving little wren. And thou, dear quiet mother wren Thou patient httle bird ' Watchmg each leaf that's stirr'd Guarding from j, ""^• ^^^-«hout each i;"dar "'^^• p'^it^ar-^^™. ™y "ttle fnends depart Far from their leafy dwdling place But never from my heart, ' To distant friends, in other lands My visitants appear ' But wrens may come, and men may go, Nor hear their music more. And other ears their songs shall charm. As ours were charm'd before ; But wrens may come ,and sing, and go, But who that hears the wren- Will learn the meaning of his song— His sermon preach'd to men, The joyous notes from hearts so pure, Break on our ears in spring — May heaven give us loving hearts, That we like him may sing. THE TRUE STORY OF JACK AND JILL. Jack and Jill climb'd up the hill— "T'were wrong in them," I hear you say- Though these words you're saying still, I can but to them answer nay, — " T'was Turpin's will, that up the hill, They both should go for water. For Jack was Turpin's son, and Jill Was Turpin's only daughter." The bold chief and his hardy band, Car'd not to go to the brook below— The Monarch's troops were in the land. mi i! aILT.^ J'!' took up the hill, A pail to bnng down water ; Upon the pure spring's lofty brink J.1 danc'd-the old ram sought her- 5Vr P?°' J'" had time to think. Jack then began to laugh and dance To see poor Jill knock'd over ; ' The ram unseen did then advance And sent Jack, too, a rover. ' A vigrous butt, without an if- nJTuf't 'T •"= "™^' to run. He ™ght be thrown far down the cliff For Turpm's son there was no fun From which u might be death to run. ^tf 0-t;------wn- ?H::Sh^tdTi7iK'''■^r"' Shetripp.daLt2,e/;;,rw^™-- Adown the hill she came alone. I So ends the toils of both that day ; Jack and Jill no more climb'd the height. To bring down water to the glen— They never went up — day or night The water was brought by Turpin's men. Dame Turpin 'tended her boy in bed- It eas'd her mind to speak out so— Jack was ill with bruised head— " The ram should have perish'd long ago. " If Dick had read— as I have done,— I' What Abram did to please his wife— " He'd Slav the ram, and spare his son, And so have care for the better life." Turpin's men went up from the Glen, And slew the ram, with the Salaam, Ere in the night, the hour was ten. MY GRANDCHILDREN. My dear little rovers, What is better to say In the month of October, On its very last day — Than be thoughtful, be sober. In lands far away. ri For only He knoweth. What there may be to fear Twixt the end of October ' Which do not appear. M I While still then you linger. In a land little known. Which points to the throne i,ru ^"'*'" '" heaven. Who cares for his own. For his angels are with us- -I hey guard us with care And keep us from evil- ' At home and elsewhere. And when dangers come nigh us. Then of us He hath care When away from our home We carelessly stray, Ere the close of the day Lest darkness hide from u's. The only safe way. 12 Then guard us, dear Lord, Where e'er we may be, And when the day's over. May we think then of Thee. Then, do Thou care for us. Wherever we roam. And sing in our slumbers A sweet song of home. 30th October, igoa THE CHILD'S PRAYER. When I lay me down to sleep — The sun is down and ends the day. The light fades slowly from the steep The day is fading fast away, O'er all the land the night comes down, And darkness hides from sight the town. Valley and river disappear. No waters now gleam in the light, A far off murmur we may hear Of brooks well hidden by the night ; Angel of mercy come thou down. And guard the children of the town. 13 Guard me O 7 '''^P*'" ""-ong; Keep evils from me fl ''''^• SoforTh.ea"revt7r:r B^ '' And heaut.;:Lt:::d:"r^'^::r^'-- Then haste we on o so e th " °" "^^ ^ THeno.e.thehinsrh^ra'nirar.''^-'^'"- With alts'^s'^n^'tTe^^ZuVr'','?^^"^ '^"-•■■' Andchan«.dthe,andJeiSra^nti;iLr- "^'rs:d^-f:?s^'^^^"- Look you, what beauff;. u """'"^ ''^y- 22 Oer the broad landscape fragrant orchards bloom, Far in the morning of the quiet day— This side the heights-stands many a sleeper's tomb, Who never reached the hills, so far away. The bees humm'd for them many a restful tune, Ihe birds sang carols of another day ; And so they slept, far in the afternoon. And looked not to the hills, and far away. February 12th, 1893. IE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE. In early youth there's heard a cry- When evil struggles with the good, For each stands as the first man stood. This day, "ye shall not surely die." When passion tempts us from the way Which conscience holds that we should take ; Tis morning yet, it will not make A difference at the end of day." " 'Tis morning yet— why toil so soon— Not for ourselves, but others good ? We cannot help them though we should, And it is many hours till noon." iil We loiter-we should journey on, Obeymg the imperious call ; iheres work along the way for all We loiter, and a chance is gone. l.me idly spent, work left undone Are r.ts omitted from a whole. Are discords in the human soul. Whose notes through after ages run. I7il T*"'"^ ^''' "^^ ^'^^« «"> then, bo that some other may not slave ? Let each one his own troubles brave- Tis but the common lot of men." The work for us comes not again. What we omit we can't replace ; Our careless steps we can't retrace, And all regrets must be in vain. Throughout the universe we see. Whatever things concern our race ; The plan, the purpose, there we trace As It was first design'd to be. The types are set in every age And when they once are wrongly pfac'd. That wrong may be thereafter trac'd Recurring in each future page. 24 J The times have not one voice, one speech, For each takes up from days of yore. The faults of every age before— 'Tis so the ages ever teach. We look abroad, and vain desires Vvould turn us from the path of truth. And while we wear the bloom of youth. Quench in the mind its heavenly fires. " 'Tis morn," we say, we walk abroad. And turn we from the narrow gate. " There is strong love, there is no hate Towards us in the mind of God." "'Tis morn," so we may wander far From deeds of love, fror.i thoughts of truth ; The way is broad ,and in our youth. The faults of youth will leave no scar. So forth we go, in freedom's name. To do the deeds that make us slaves ; To take our way to early graves. And brand the soul with marks of shame. So forth we go, in early youth. To find the pleasures youth can bring. To waste on many an evil thing, \'/hat we should use to buy the truth. 25 I a We know that every evil thought, That every heartless deed we do, Corrupts the mind, shuts out the true. So ruin to the soul is wrought. For true it is, just as we think. t.o, m our hearts, we are to be In time, till others plainly see The lives we live, the dregs we drink. Vve're fakhioned to the ill we think. Were moulded by the ills we do Till we are cowards for the true, And m the moral scale we sink. The soul is dark, the heart is hard We reap in kind what we have sown And by this fruit our worth is known, It .neasures our deserv'd reward. Be ye courageous, be ye strong In standing always for the right ; Be ready, valiant in the fight, And fear not to oppose the wrong. Stand by the right, though it be weak. The right has in it life, at length l^l !^'^'" "''" ^'"°^' ^"'' S*'" in strength- Will bring the good for which men seek 26 Come to the aid of trutli, and free All men from mean, ignoble strife- Raise high the objects, aims of life. And so a better time shall be. In ages after men are gone, Who struggle for the true, the good. Though baffled oft— misunderstood, I'heir thoughts, tncir deeds, shall still live on. For here the conflict shall not cease. Between the evil and the good. Through years of strife, and years of blood. Till Perfect Goodness brings us peace. London, July 9th, 1896. LIFE. Life's a failure for the idle. Who here never learn to toil. Nor their baser passions bridle. Though an honoured name they soil. Life's a failure for the coward. Who'll not join in manly strife,— With the chances of a Howard, Shuns the struggles here of life. Life's a failure to the evil, Who remain impure in heart And in its pursuits, though civil, Chooses e'er the worser part Then they hotly charge on others, Failures that are all their own ; wf **!;* '"'"'*'' '"''*« "°t "'*«" brothers. When the wrong is theirs alone. Prizes hire, go to the stable- Honest toilers they, in life ; He that's upright, he that's able. Are the winners in the strife. Life's a triumph to the worthy- He who fights against the wrong ; Who IS faithful here to dutj, Though he waits for payment long. For he knows that he must labour. Labour ever, labour long ; Always just towards his neighbour. Doing right, avoiding wrong. Then, be ever up and doing. Hoping, toiling while you may. Always here the right pursuing, ' Boldly in the light of day. 28 I Hwe be upright, here be truthful, Keep your troth with God and man ; Now you are no longer youthful. And the young walk in the van. Oft there came the gifts of fortune Oft you threw them all away ; S"" way then hereafter shun you— The remainder of your day. Let us make of life a blessing. Facing calmly storm and flood • Urly dawn I hear her say. And meet me m the land ot day. And flcat toward this land of light, A"l°"'"*»* 'he tolling knell. Drift downward to the realm of night. All from their natal land must go. And from its shore put out to sea Th.s much full well I know, I Jo^' B:tt whither shall the voyage be ? March, igoi. THE TOLLING OF THE BELL. There is heard far around, The melancholy sound Of the old Church Bell— Of the ding dong, ding dong Bell- What a, ad tale to many does^ . el? Don t you hear it? Do you fear it ? That sorrowing of the Bell That sighing of Farewell, That crying for the dead, by the Bell It sighs over hill and dal