Memories of Canada and Scotland Speeches and Verses

Where the snow-world of the mountains

Fronts the sea-like world of sward,

And encamped along the prairies

Tower the white peaks heavenward;

Where they stand by dawn rose-coloured

Or dim-silvered by the stars,

And behind their shadowed portals

Evening draws her lurid bars,

Lies a country whose sweet grasses

Richly clothe the rolling plain;

All its swelling upland pastures

Speak of Plenty's happy reign;

There the bison herds in autumn

Roamed wide sunlit solitudes,

Seamed with many an azure river

Bright in burnished poplar woods.

Night-dews pearled the painted hide-tents,

"Moyas" named, that on the mead

Sheltered dark-eyed women wearing

Braided hair and woven bead.

Never man had seen their lodges,

Never warrior crossed the slopes

Where they rode, and where they hunted

Imu bulls and antelopes.

Masterless, how swift their riding!

While the wild steeds onward flew,

From round breasts and arms unburdened

Freedom's winds their tresses blew.

Only when the purple shadows

Slowly veiled the darkening plain

Would they sorrow that the Sun-god

Dearer loved his Alp's domain.

Southward, nearer to the gorges

Whence the sudden warm winds blow,

Shaking all the pine's huge branches,

Melting all the fallen snow,

Dwelt the Séksika, the Blackfeet;

They whose ancestor, endued,

With the dark salve's magic fleetness,

First on foot the deer pursued.

Gallantly the Braves bore torture

While their Sun-dance fasts were held,

While the drums beat, and the virgins

Saw the pains by manhood quelled.

As each writhing form triumphant

Called on the Great Spirit's might,

On his son, whose voice in thunder

Summons airy hosts to fight.