'zd ^t^>6^e^^;

Prairie

Born

AND

OTHER

POEMS

By

Robert

J.

C.

Stead

Authorof

'The _Empire Builders," "Songs of thePrairies.

Toronto William _Briggs

PS

ght,Canada,1911,by

TO

ANDEVERYCHILDMAN.

WHO

WOMAN

HAS

KNOWN THE LIFE OP THE

GREAT PLAINS THIS BOOK

IS DEDICATED BY THE

AUTHOR IN COMRADESHIP

CONTENTS

PAGE

PRAIRIE

BORN

13

We

"have heard th* night wind howling as we lay

alone in bed

THE OLD

GUARD

18

Knew you the men ofthe Old Guard? Men of the _{camp and} trail

THE MOTHERING

20

I had lain untrod _for a million _yearsfrom the

line to the Arctic sea

THE SQUAD

OF

ONE

23

Sergeant Blue of the Mounted Police vxis a so-so

kind of guy

THE

HOMESTEADER

TO

HIS

DOG

...

29

Well, sir, sitting there and winking

THE

SCHOOL-MA'AM

.

'

.32

No _{hope of worldly gain} is hers

A

RACE FOR

LIFE

...

35

Yes, Stranger, I hev trailed the West

viii

CONTENTS

PAGE

HUSTLIN'

IN

MY

JEANS

39

Yes, jTm holdin' down the homestead here an'

roughin' it a bit

LITTLE TIM

TROTTER

44

Little Tim Trotter was bom in the West

"A

COLONIAL"

46

OnlyaColonial! _{Only a} man _{of nerve} andheart

THE

HEALER

49

Yes,

Tm

lookin'for a preacher; say

ALKALI

HALL

53

When Lord Landseeker came out West to have a

look around

CLARENCE

AND

JOHN

59

I_{envy no} man what he fairly wins

DADDY'S

HELPER

64

Wearily over _{her ironing}

KID

MCCANN

67

Where the _farthest foothills flatten to a

circle-sweeping plain

RETROSPECT

74

Iwondered _why the fields were not enchanting as

in _{days gone by}

THE

TERROR

. . *. 76

The night is dark; the _{night wind moans;} the

CONTENTS

ix

PAGE

WHO

OWNS

THE

LAND

? 79

Who owns tfie land? The Duke replied, ' '_I

own

the land"

"OUT

WEST"

83

Yon _may read it in the papers, it is heard

throughout the East

THE

VOICE

86

There's a voice that is _{always calling}

THE

EARLY DAYS

89

Fes, times have _changed since the _{early days} and

things are different now

MAE)

OF

THE WEST-LAND

92

Heart that is_free as the _open air

MY

BELOVED

94

PRAIRIE

BORN

fa&%&Z*r-Prairie

Born

and Other

Poems

PRAIRIE

BORN.

We

have heard _{the night}

wind

_howling as

we

lay

alone inbed;

We

have heard the grey goose honking as he

journeyed overhead;

We

havesmelt the smoke- wraithflying in the hot

October _wind,

And

have fought

te

fiery

demon

that

came

roar-ing

down

behind;

We

have seen _{the spent}

snow

_{sifting through} the

key-hole ofthe door,

And

the frost-line _{crawling, crawling,} like a snake, along the floor;

We

have felt the storm-fiend wrestle with the

rafters in his_might,

And

the baflled blizzard _{shrieking through} the turmoil ofthe _night.

14 PRAIRIE

BORN AND OTHER

POEMS

We

have felt _{the April breezes}

warm

_along the

plashy plains;

We

have

mind-marked

to the cadence of the

fall-ing April rains;

We

have heardthecrashofwater

where

the

snow-fed rivers run,

Seen a thousand silver lakelets _{lying shining} in

the sun;

We

have

known

the resurrection of the

spring-time in the land,

Heard

the voice of

Nature

_calling

and

the

words

of her

_command,

Felt the thrill of _{spring-time twilight}

and

the vague, unfashioned thought

That

the season's _birthday musters

from

the

hopes

we

had

forgot.

We

have heard the cattle _lowing in the silent

summer

nights;

We

have smelt the _{smudge-fire fragrance}

we

have seen the _{smudge-fire lights}

We

have heard the wild

duck

_grumbling to his

mate

_{along the}

bank

;

Heard

the _{thirsty horses snorting} in the stream

PRAIRIE

BORN

15

Heard

the voice of

Youth and

_Laughter in the

long, slow-gloaming night;

Seen the arched electric _splendor of the Great

North's livid _light;

Read

the reason of existence felt the touch that

was

divine

And

in _{eyes that glowed responsive}

saw

the

End

of God's_design.

We

have _{smelt the curing} wheat-fields

and

the

scent of

new -mown

_hay

;

We

have heard the binders clatter _through the

dusty

autumn

day

;

We

have seen the _golden stubble _gleaming

through the misty rain;

We

have seen the plow-streaks widen as _they

turned it

down

_again;

We

haveheardthethreshers

_humming

in thecool

September night;

We

have seen their dark _{procession by} the

straw-piles' eerie light;

We

have heard the freight-trains groaning,

slip-ping, grinding, on the rail,

And

the idle trace-chains _{jingle as they jogged} along the trail.

16 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND OTHER

POEMS

We

havefelt the cold ofwinter cursed _by those

who

know

it not

We

have braved the blizzard's _vengeance, dared

its

most

_{deceptive plot;}

We

have learned that

_hardy

races

grow

from

hardy circumstance,

And

we

face_{a dozen dangers}to attend_{a country}

dance;

Though

our

means

are nothing lavish,

we

have

always time for play,

And

our social life

commences

at the _{closing of} the day;

We

have time for _thought

and

_culture, time for

friendliness

and

friend,

And

we

catch a broader vision as our _aspirations

blend.

We

have hopes to others foreign,

aims

they

can-not understand,

We,

the"heirs ofalltheages,"we, thefirst-fruits

oftheland;

Though

we

thinkwith fondaffection ofthe shores

our fathers_knew,

And

we

honor all our brothers for a brother's

PRAIRIE

BORN

17

Though

we

stand with

them

_{for progress, peace,}

and

unity,

and

power,

Though

we

die with _them, if need be, in our

nation'sdarkest hour

Still the prairies call us, call us,

when

all other

voices fail,

And

thecall

we knew

in childhood is thecall that

THE OLD

GUARD.

Knew

you

the

men

of the

Old

Guard?

Men

of

the

camp

and

trail

;

Guard

ofthe

van

when Time

_began inthe land of

grass

and

gale,

Of

_{a sky-wide} land _they seized

command

where

the mightiest prevail.

Who

were the

men

of the

Old

Guard?

Giantsof

strength

and

will,

Trained in the school of hard-luck rule and

daring to die or kill,

Staking their _lives,

and

their _young,

and

wives,

on the road

_up

Fortune's hill.

Whence

were the

men

oftheOld

Guard?

Heroes

of _'Eighty-two,

From swamp

and

_ledge

and

ocean's _{edge they}

came

to see

and

_do,

And

theyfailed atfirst,

and

theland they cursed,

but _{they stayed}

and

_{struggled through.}

THE

OLD

GUARD

19

Hope

of the

men

of the Old

Guard?

Little but hope

was

theirs;

With

empty

hand

in an untried land _they

clutched at wheat

and

tares,

And

home

at _night

_by

the wood-fire light

was

answer

_{to their prayers.}

Way

of the

men

of the

Old

Guard?

What

of theirend

and

_way?

You

_may

find their bones _by the lime-white stones

where

thesun-driedsleugh-holeslay,

For

the Goddess

Trade

is a _{costly jade,}

and

_they

were the ones to _pay.

Joy

ofthe

men

ofthe

Old

Guard?

The

_joy ofthe

brave

and

true;

With

_{joy they paced}

where

Death

_grimaced

and

his icy vapors blew,

And

with _{steady tread they bore} their dead, with thefaith ofthe chosen few.

What

of the

men

of the

Old

Guard?

Ask

of the archingskies,

The

_{grass that} waves on _{their leafygravesis}

lisp-ing their lullabyes,

And

thelives _{they spent are} their

monument

and

THE

MOTHERING.

I

had

lain untrod for _{a million years}

from

the

line to the Arctic sea;

I

had dreamed

_strange

dreams

of the vast

un-known,

Of

the _lisping

wind and

the _{dancing zone}

Where

the Northland fairies' feet

had

_flown,

And

it all

seemed

_good to me.

At

the close of a thousand eons _{of sleep}

came

a

pang

that

was

_strange to

_me;

The pang

of a

new

life in

_my

_breast,

The

swell of a vast

and

a _{vague unrest,}

And

it thrilled

_my

soul

from

Eastto

West

As

itfluttered to be free.

But

I steeled

_my

heart to _{the biped thing;} of

vast_presumption he:

He

would

lure

_my

_{lonely thoughts away,}

He

would

_{sport himself}on the _{sacred clay}

Where

the dust ofthe prehistoriclay;

But

he scorned the soul of me.

THE[MOTHERING

21

So

I stretched niy plains for a thousand leagues

from

the mountains to the sea;

But

herolled

them

back with asteel-laid line,

And

_{he crumpled space}

_by

man's design,

And

he filled his life with the breath of _mine;

But

his love _{he gave} not me.

Then

I called

him

foes

from

the farthest

North

and

the snowflake fluttered free;

But

he took

him

trees I

had

_{given birth,}

And

hedelved

him

coal

from

_my

bowels _{of earth,}

And

he laughed at

me

ashe sat in mirth;

But

he cursed the cold ofme.

Then

I cut

him

off

from

his fellow-men that his

thought might turn to

me;

But

he strung

him

aline of_copper thread,

And

his fire-shod

words

_swung

_overhead,

By

the fiend of air his _thought

was

_spread

O'erhill,

and

plain,

and

lea.

Then

I _gave

him

_{hopes he} could not define

and

fears that hecould not flee;

And

he heard

_my

_cry in the long, still _night,

In

_my

_{spirit-thrall I} held

him

tight,

And

his blind soul-eyes craved for the light;

22 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND

OTHER

POEMS

So

Iheld

_my

_peacetill I

saw him

sitwith children

at his knee;

And

I sent

them

the sun

and

the

wind and

the

rain,

And

_{the ferny slope}

and

_{the flowery plain,}

And

the wet night-smell of the growing grain;

And

their love _{they gave} to me.

In thelastrace-birth ofthe sons of

men

a travail

holdeth

me:

But

out of _{the night} of _pain

and

tears

A

new

life

comes

with therolling years;

And

I fondle thechild of

_my

_hope

and

fears,

THE SQUAD

OF

ONE.

Sergeant

Blue

of the

Mounted

Police

was

a

so-so kind of_guy;

He

swore abit,

and

lie lied a_bit,

and

he boozed a

bit on the _sly;

But

he _{held the post} at

Snake

Creek

Bend

for

country

and

home

and

God,

And

he cursed the first

and

_forgot the rest

which wasn't the least bit odd.

Now

the life of the

North-West

Mounted

Police

. breeds

an

all-roundkind of

man

;

A

man

who

_{can jug a}

down-South

_thug

when

he

rushes the _{red-eye can;}

A

man who

_{can pray with a dying}

bum,

orbreak

up

a range stampede

Such

are the

men

of the

Mounted

Police, and

24 PRAIRIE

BORN AND OTHER POEMS

The snow

_lay deep at the

Snake

Creek _post

and

deep to east

and

_west,

And

the _Sergeant

had

made

his _{ten-league beat}

and

settled

down

to rest

In his _two-by-four that they called a "_post,"

where

the _flag flew _overhead,

And

he took a look at his

_monthly

mail,

and

this

is the note he read:

"

To

SergeantBlue, ofthe

Mounted

Police, atthe

post at

Snake

Creek Bend,

From

U.S. Marshal of

_County

_{Blank, greetings}

to_you,

_my

friend:

They's a

team

of toughs give us the slip, though

they shot

up

a couple of blokes,

And

we

reckon _they's hid in

Snake

Creek _Gulch,

and

_posin' as farmer folks.

"

They's as full of sin as a _{barrel of booze,}

and

as quick asa catwith _{a gun,}

So

if

_{you happen}

to hit theirtrailbefirstto start

THE

SQUAD

OF

ONE

25

And

send out _{your strongest squad} of

men

and

round

_{them up}

if

_you

_can,

For

dead or alive

we

want them

here.

Yours

truly, Jack

McMann."

And

_{Sergeant Blue} sat back

and

_smiled, "_Ho,

here is a chance of

_game

!

Folks 'round here have been so _good that life is

getting

tame

;

I

know

the lie of

Snake

Creek

Gulch

where

I

used to set

_my

_traps

I'llblow _{out there to-morrow,}

and

I'll_bring

them

in _perhaps."

Next morning

Sergeant Blue, arrayed in farmer

smock and

jeans,

In a

_jumper

_sleigh he

had

made

himself set out

for _{the evergreens}

That grow

on the

bank

of

Snake

Creek

_{Gulch by}

a homestead shack he knew,

And

a

smoke

curled

_up

from the _chimney-pipe to

26 PRAIRIE

BORN AND OTHER

POEMS

"

Aha,

and

that looks _good to _me," said the

Ser-geant tothesmoke,

"

_For

the lad that

owns

this homestead shack is

Eastin his wedding-joke;

There are _{strangers here,}

and

I'll bet a

farm

against a horn of booze

That _{they are the}

bums

that _{are predestined} to

dangle in a noose."

So

he drovehis horseto the _{shanty door}

and

hol-lered a loud "_Good-day,"

And

_{a couple}of

men

with_{fighting-irons}

came

out beside the sleigh,

And

the Sergeant said,

" _I'm

a stranger here

and

I've driven a

_weary

_mile;

If

_you

don't _object I'll _just sit

down

_by

the stove

in the shack awhile."

Then

the Sergeant sat

and

smoked and

talked of

the

home

he

had

left

down

_East,

And

the cold

and

_{the snow,}

and

the price of land,

and

the life of

man

and

beast,

But

all ofa

sudden

hebroke it off _with, "

Neigh-bors, take a nip?

There'sa horn of _{the best you'll find} out there in

THE

SQUAD

OF

ONE

27

So

one ofthe

two went

out for it,

and

as soon as

heclosed thedoor

The

other one _staggered back as _{he gazed}

_up

the

nose of a _forty-four;

But

the _Sergeant wasted

no

words

with _him,

"

Now,

fellow, you're on the rocks,

And

a noise as loud as a

_{mouse from you and}

they'll take

you

out in a box."

And

he fastened the _{bracelets to his wrists,}

and

his legswith

some

_{binder-thread,}

And

he took _{his knife,}

and

he took his _gun,

and

herolled

him

onto thebed;

And

then as

number

two

came

in, he said, "If

you want

to _live,

Put up

your dukes

and

behave yourself, or I'll

make

_you

into a sieve."

And

when

he

had

_coupled

them

each to each

and

laid

them

out on the bed,

"It's cold,

and

I _guess we'd better eat before

we

go," he said.

So

hefried

some

_pork

and

he

warmed

some

beans,

and

heset out the best he_saw,

And

they ate thereof,

and

he paid for it, accord-ing to British law.

28 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND OTHER

POEMS

That

_night in _{the post} sat _{Sergeant Bine,} with

paper

and

pen in _hand,

And

this is the

word

he wrote

and

signed

and

mailed to _{a foreign land:}

"

To

U.S. Marshal of

_County

_{Blank, greetings} I

give to you;

My

squad has justbrought in _{your men,}

and

the

squad

was

"

Sergeant Blue."

There _{are things unguessed,} there are tales

un-told,in the life of thegreat lone land.

But

hereisa _fact that _{the prairie-bred}alone

_may

understand.

That a thousand miles in _{the fastnesses the fear}

of the law obtains,

And

the _{pioneers of justice} were the "Riders _of

THE

HOMESTEADER

TO

HIS

DOG.

Well, sir, sittingthere

and

winking,

Same's you'd like totalk to _me,

How'd

you

know

that I

was

_thinking

Of

the folks

_beyond

the sea?

How'd

_you

_{guess that}in the _gloaming

Of

thesnow-enshrouded _night

All

_my

_thoughts

had

_{gone a-homing}

To

the _days of old _delight?

Through

the light that leaps

and

glistens

In yoursoft

and

sobereyes,

I can see a soul that listens

To

the _harps of Paradise;

Snatched

from

me

when

thedevotion

Of

_my

heart

was

at her feet:

In a land_beyond the ocean

Life is hard

and

_incomplete. 2Q

30 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND OTHER

POEMS

Towser,

what you

know

of sorrow?

Nought

disturbs _{your sleep}

and

_play;

No

ambitions for _to-morrow,

No

_{regrets of yesterday;}

Yet your sympathetic fawning

As

_you

read_your master's

mind

Hints that

_you

_may

have a

_dawning

Of

the aches of

humankind.

Here

I sit

and

dream

and

_ponder

As

the _wintry blizzards roar,

And

_my

_starving soul

_grows

fonder

Thinkingof thefriends of _yore

;

You

alone of all creation

Throb

_responsive to

_my

heart;

In the building of a _nation,

Doggie,

you

have

done

_yourpart.

Though

I _pinethus _unavailing

For

the touch of

human

_hand,

Profitlessis

_my

_bewailing

Strange that I should love the land!

Love

its _{grand, grim} desolation;

Storms

that sift

me

like

a

sieve

Here, alone, of all creation

THE

HOMESTEADER

TO

HIS

DOG

What

althoughthe crust is_scanty,

And

the_{loneliness intense,}

You

and

I will _{share the shanty,}

Unconcerned

for

_why

or _whence;

Let the whining blizzard rattle

And

the frost-imps snap

and

bite

Come,

it's time to feed the cattle

THE

SCHOOL-MA'AM.

No

_hope of _{worldly gain} is _hers,

A

yokel's

wages

for her hire,

And

_{every throb} of self's desire

Resigned to childish _worshippers.

A

tiny school her citadel,

A

fenceless acre her _domain,

Her

life a _{sacrifice; her gain}

The

gain ofthose she serves sowell.

Though

little

more

than child _herself,

A

mother

she to

_many

sons;

In _{every vein the} child-love runs

And

_fondly floodseachlittle elf.

Though hampered by

theformal sense

Of

laws that check her usefulness

And

boards of rustic truthfulness

And

_{kindly-meant incompetence,}

THE SCHOOL-MA'AM

33

She

earns a _{price they} cannot _pay,

Obeys

a law they did not make,

Enduring

for their children's sake

The

_arrogance of

human

_clay.

Oh, hide _your littleness in

shame

Who

think ye

pay

for all she gives;

Within

her sacred circle lives

The

light of an eternal flame,

And

_growing

down

your

country's page,

The

beauty of hersacrifice

Shall _glow again inother _eyes,

And

_multiply

from

ageto age.

The

mothers of theraceto be

Shall live her tenderness _anew,

And

her devotion shall

imbue

The

sons

who

keep our country free.

She

_gains

no

_flagrant,

_pompous

prize,

But

men who move

theworld'saffairs

Shall snatch a

moment

from theircares

To

thinkofherwith moistened_eyes.

34 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND

OTHER

POEMS

The

_{conquerors of hostile lands,}

The

hearts the nation's burdens bear,

To-morrow's lords ofearth

and

air,

To-dayare

moulded

in her hands.

The

_lightest trifle

from

her lips

May

charge

some

soul withfertileseed

That

in the hour of direst need

Shall save_yournation

from

eclipse.

The

_{kings of action, speech,}

and

_brain,

The

men

your sons shall

mark

and

raise

To

shape the nation's _destinies,

Shall earn her salary again.

I count _{the paltry}dollars _spent

Pay

richerdividends than _gold

When

those

who

such_position hold

A

RACE FOR

LIFE.

(As related for the benefit of the New Arrival.)

Yes, Stranger, I hev trailedthe

West

Since I

wuz

akid on abob-tailed _nag,

I hev

known

the old land at its best,

And

_packed

most

_ev'rykind of _jag;

I hev rode fer life

frum

a _prairie fire,

An' tramped

fer life _{through a}

snow

blockade;

I hev

_crumpled

"

bad

men

"

by

the quire,

But

_only once hev I been afraid.

I hev lain alone while the red-men _crep'

Aroun'

me

in their fighting-paint;

I hev soothed the

widow

while she wep'

Because I'd

made

her

man

a saint;

I hev lassooed lobsters

from

the East

Till _{ev'ry j'int in} their _{system shook,}

An' I'd never

run

frum

man

or beast Until I run

frum

a chinook.

36 PRAIRIE

BORN AND OTHER

POEMS

The

chinook

had

his lair inthe Crow's Nest Pass,

An'

he _{foraged aroun' the PorcupineHills,}

But

he'dloafed so _{long that the ranchin' grass}

Had

a wool-white cover

from

the chills;

An' me, like a _chap that

wuz

not afraid

Of

_{anything with} hide _{an' hair,}

Went

out in a _{sleigh to} the hillsan' _stayed

Tillthe oldchinook might find

me

there.

At

last,

when

I thoughtI

had

_tempted fate

Enough

fer a

man

with _{a past} like mine,

I hitched the bronks an' struck a _gait

Along

the slopes of the _Porcupine;

An' the day

wuz

as cold as the Polar sea,

With

a _{nip as} keen as a she-wolf_fang,

But

frost

wuz

just like food to _me,

An' _{boldly over the} fields I _sang:

"

/

am

the

man

_from the

Hole

in _{the Hills,}

Where

the Great G. Whiliken _capers

'round;

I

am

the_gent that_pays thebills

When

_{they plant} a _greenhorn in the

A

RACE

FOR

LIFE 37

/

am

the Finish _{of folks that} think

They

can

run

a _bluff

on

_{the prairie-bred,}

Fer

I_{give their}vitals a_fatal kink

When

I_open

_up

with a shower_{of lead."}

An' the cold bit into

_my

nose _{an' chin,}

An' drilled itself to the _marrow-bone;

My

face

wuz drawn

in a frozen _grin,

An'

_my

fingers rattled like

_lumps

of stone;

But

_my

heart

wuz

asbrave as

an

outlaw stag,

An' I _{laughed though} thefrost cut likeaknife;

Till sudden I felt the hindbob drag,

An' I

knew

I

wuz

in fera raceferlife.

Out from

his lair the sly chinook

Had

hunted

me

withhis fatalbreath;

Idarednot turn aroun' to look,

Fer

to strand on thehillsidethere

wuz

death;

The

hot

wind

sizzled _along

_my

back,

An'

the sweat stood out on

_my

_{shoulder-blade,}

So I_{yelled at}the

team

_through the frozen crack

The

rollofthe_tongue in

_my

mouth

had

made

"Get out o' _here;

_by

the Polar star,

The

fiend ofthe South is on yourheels!"

An' I felt the old sleigh cringe an' jar,

38 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND

OTHER

POEMS

But

the_sleigh stoodstill as thehindbob stuck

In

mud

that rolled to thebolster-rail,

So

I _{slipped thetongue}an' cursed

_my

luck

As

I straddled abronk an' hit the trail.

Well,

we

beat itout _by halfa neck,

But

the broncho's tail

was

scorched a _sight,

An' I

wuz

a _{blistered, parboiled wreck,}

An' _nearlydead o' heat an' fright;

An' I _squatted

down

ina_{shady spot,}

An'

_{fanned myself with} a _wisp o' _hay,

An'the_{boys on}the_{lower ranches thought}

They

heard avoice in the chinook _say:

a_I

_am

_the

dope that

was made

to _feed

To

fresh down-Easters just

come

out;

They'll swallow it all in their _greenhorn greed,

An'

sendit_{home, beyond a doubt;}

I

am

the caricature _{an' bluff}

That

is _{part of} the _{play of} the Western

men

"

What's

that?

You

say you've

had

enough?

HUSTLIN'

IN

MY

JEANS.

Yes, I'm holdin'

down

the homestead here an' roughin' it

a

_bit,

It seems the onlykind o' life that I

was

built to

fit,

For

it's _{thirty years} last

summer

since I staked

my

first preserve,

An'

I reckon on the whole I've _prospered

more

than I _deserve;

An'

_my

friends kep' naggin' at

me

for to_quit this

toil an' _strife,

An' to settleinthe_{city for}the balanceof

_my

_life,

An' I ain't_compelledtolabor I'vecacheda

wad

ofbeans

But

_{I'm happier}

when

I'm hustlin' on the

home-stead in

_my

_jeans.

I've tried to loaf an' like it, an' I've triedtoswell

about

Where

the boozey run to red-eye an' the _greedy

run

_{to gout,}

40 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND OTHER

POEMS

An' I've tried to

wear

a collar an' _{a fancy} fly-net vest,

An' I've tried to think it _{pleasant just} to sit

around

_{an' rest;}

An' I've _{mingled with} the nabobs an' hee-hawed

withother _guys

That

were just assick as I

was

of a life oflivin' lies;

I've _mingled in _society an' _{peeked behind} the

scenes

An'

_{I'm happier}

when

I'm hustlin' on the

home-stead in

_my

_jeans.

Then

I _{got the} lust for _roamin', an' I

_rummaged

round

the earth,

An' I_{got a big experience}an' _{correspondin'girth,}

But

the

more

I rovedan' rambled theless I cared

tolive,

An' I _onlykep' on goin' cause I'd

no

alternative;

I learned _{throughtips an' tickets an'} the_jostle of

the cars

That

I wouldn't trade a homestead for a

HUSTLIN' IN

MY

JEANS 41

An'I _{bid good-bye}toFashion an- hersocial_kings an' _queens,

An' I filed

_my

second homestead an' I _bought a

pair of jeans.

'Course it's sometimes kind o' _lonely on the

prairie here alone,

When

_{the night-time} settles

_{round you}

an' _your

thoughts are all _{your own,}

An' old facesflit before

_you

likea flock o' homin'

birds,

An' your heart swells with emotion that no

man

can put in _words,

An' you

ponder on the Why-for, the Beginnin',

an' the _End,

An'

you

know

the only things worth while are

Family

an' Friend

From

the trifles of existence _your better

judg-ment

weans,

An'

_you

get the right perspective on the home-stead in _your jeans.

There are _days the sweat-drops glisten on this

sun-burned

hand

of mine,

Thereare nights the jointsgo creakin' asI crawl

42 PRAIRIE

BORN AND OTHER

POEMS

But

I hear the horses' _stampin'

and

the _rap of

Collie's tail,

An' it

minds

me

of the_Eighties an' the

Old

Com-mission Trail

Of

the _days

we

pledged our future to a land

we

hardly knew,

An' the

men

whose

brave _beginnings

made

pros-perity for you;

Thereare

men now

worththeirmillionsI

remem-ber in _{their teens,}

An' _they

made

their start

_by

hustlin' on the

homestead, in _{their jeans.}

There aretimes

when

most

folks figure thattheir

life has been a blank;

You

_may

be a homeless hobo or director of a

bank,

But

the thought will catch

_you

_nappin' catch

you

sometime

unawares

That

_yourlife has been a failure,

and

that

no

one

really cares;

That

the world will roll without

_you

till the

Kesurrection morn,

An' that no one

would

have missed

you

if

_you

HUSTLIN' IN

MY

JEANS 48

An' I _give

_you

_my

conclusion all that livin'

really

means

Isrevealed to those

who

hustle on the homestead

in their jeang.

Some

_day

I reckon I'll cash in an' file another

claim

Where

the wicked cease

from

troublin' an' the

good get in the

game;

Where

the

_pews

arenot allotted

_by

thefashion of

your dress,

An' _{the only thing that} figures is inherent

man-liness;

Give

me

no

silk-spangled horses an'

no

silver-plated hearse,

But

let

some

student_preacherread abitof

Scrip-ture_verse,

An' find a

_sunny

hillside

where

the water-willow

screens,

An' plant

me

onthehomestead

where

I hustled

LITTLE TIM TROTTER.

Little

Tim

Trotter

was

born in the_West,

Where

the _prairielies

_{sunny and brown}

;

Never

_{was, surely,} so

welcome

a _guest In the stateliesthalls of the

town

;

For

Little

Tim

Trotter

was

thoughtful

and

brave,

And

alover of

summer

and

_shower,

And

Little

Tim

Trotter took less _{than he gave}

To

thehearts thatwere underhis _power.

Little

Tim

Trotter

would

_playin thesun,

Or

lie in the buffalo _grass,

And

in _{fancy he}

saw

the wild buffalo run

And

_{the brave-riding} Indians_pass;

And

with_{eyes that were deep} as the infiniteblue,

He

would

_{picture himself} at their _head,

For no

one so

_young

as thishunter-man

knew

That

the herds

and

the riders were dead.

LITTLE TIM

TROTTER

45

Little

Tim

Trotter

would

liein his bed

While

the fire-light played low on the floor,

And

_strange were the _thoughts that in Little

Tim's head

Played lowlike thefire at the_door;

The

hopes that were _his,

and

the

wonders

he

knew,

And

the_{yearning he}

had

in _{his heart,}

With

the _{glimmering light of} the future in _view,

And

Little

Tim

_{just at the start}!

Little

Tim

Trotter has heard _{the long call,}

And

has answered with _joy

and

_surprise,

And

the _thoughts

and

_{the things that are hid}

from

us all

To-dayare revealedto his_eyes;

And

herides in the

van

of his _{buffalo herd,}

Or

in

_camp

with his Indians brave;

But

Little

Tim

_{Trotter speaks never a}

word

"A

COLONIAL."

(Insomecirclestheterm "Colonial" isstillallowedto

implyinferiorityanddependence.)

Only

a Colonial!

Only

a

man

ofnerve

and

heart

Who

has spurned the ease of the life

"at

home,"

Only

a

man who

would

play his _part

In a

new

breed-birth on a distant _loam;

Only

a

man

of sense

and

worth

Who

is not afraid of the ends of earth.

Only

a Colonial!

Only

a

man

who

hascornered Fate

And

matched

his _strength with the

Un-attained;

Only

the

_guard

at the Outer Gate

Who

holdsfor

_{you what}

he hasgained,

That

_your children, seized of abetter sense,

May

sharewith

him

Toil's_recompense.

"A COLONIAL"

47

Only

a Colonial!

Only

a

man who

has_{bridged the deep,}

And

stained the

_map

a British_hue,

Who

builds

_{an Empire}

while_yesleep

And

deeds the_ownership to _you. "lis the_Viking blood _{which gave}

_you

birth

That has driven

him

to the ends of earth.

Only

a Colonial!

Wherever

the flag thatye think is_great

Isflown tothefarthest

winds

_{that blow,}

Wherever

the colonists_yeberate,

In their blind faith-vision

onward

go,

Ye may

find _{ye hearts that are British} still

In your self-conceit

do

_ye count

them

nil?

Only

a Colonial!

Rough

as thebark of his forest tree

His ways

may

seem to the fat

and

_sleek,

But

_ye

_{owe your Empire}

to such as he,

Though

thehoar-frost glisten on his cheek;

He

hascarried _yourflag

where

ye dared notgo,

48 PRAIRIE

BORN AND OTHER

POEMS

Only

a Colonial!

No

doubtheis

raw

on your_{social laws,}

And

_{grateson your} senseofcaste

and

_creed,

But

helives toonear to Facts

and Cause

To

_{study heraldry}

and

breed;

And, knowing

man

in his primal state,

He

scorns the claims of the _{social great.}

Only

a Colonial!

The

name

in _{cheap contempt ye fling}

Isnot the

whim

of birth _{or chance,}

We

well ignore the flippant sting,

Or

_charge itto _{your ignorance;}

The

_colonist,

and

sons of his,

Have made

the

_{Empire what}

it is.

THE

HEALER.

Yes, I'm lookin' for a preacher; say,

You

know

ofone

around

this

_way?

What, him?

More

like a hustler

On

a

cow

_ranch, cattle _rustler,

River _driver, or such creature,

But

I _guesshe's _{not a preacher.}

Straight? Well, Boss, you've got

me

guessin

One

_{can never judge by} dressin';

But

you

don't

wear

no hoss-collar

Showin' _{you're a Scripture scholar;}

Still,you'll

maybe

do theservus

If

_you

ain't too scared or nervous. There's a

_guy

fell in thefurrow

Of

asteam

_plow

;

had

to

burrow

Under

sods to _get

him

out;

He's _{all in,} I _{guess, about.}

50 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND OTHER

POEMS

Packed

_{a quite a jag} o' sin;

Scared St. Pete won't let

him

in_;

Asked

me

if I'd_try

and

rustle

Some

one _{to give sin} a _tussle;

Comin'? Well, then, climb your cayuse;

Seeif

_you

can _{get this}

_guy

loose. . .

Well, sir, seein' is believin',

What

_you

think that_preacher

_guy

did?

Looked

beneath thevictim's_eyelid,

Listened to _{his respiration,}

Made

a churchly exclamation:

"

_He

needs neither_{prayer norpurgin'}

What

_{you want}

here is a surgeon!"

Not

within awhole day's canter

Could

we

find a doc. Instanter

That young

preacher

drew

his knife,

Said, "He's just one chance of life

Bring

some

bandages

and

liquor;

THE HEALER

51

Then

helaid

him

on thebed,

And

went

carvin' at his_head,

Cut

_apart

some

broken tissue,

Stopped theblood's "alarmin' _issue,"

Spreadtheskull

where

it

was

_dented,

Said, "He'd sure have been demented,"

Added

then, the patient scanning, "

It's

_my

first stab at _trepanning."

Say, I've rode

_among

the rangers Since a _gaffer;

know

the dangers

Of

the foothills

and

theprairie;

Laughed

atdeath;

was

never scary

Till I

saw

_{that preacher kid}

Openin'

up

a

human

lid.

Surgeon

came

along next day,

Said, "

Who

carved

him up

that

way?"

Pointed out the little_preacher,

"

Shake," he said,

"_I'm

glad to _meetcher;

Pretty goodfor_{a beginner};

Savedhis life, or I'm a sinner;"

Clapped the preacher on the shoulder;

"

52 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND OTHER

POEMS

Never

was

much

on _religion

;

Been

a kind of_rustypidgeon

;

Never

_thought of heaven or hell

'Cept asthings to swear _{by. Well,}

Took

a _{sudden change} that

_day

When

I heard _{that preacher pray.}

Didn't

know

what

he

was

sayin';

Only

knew

a

Man

was

_prayin';

No

soft-suited

_Sunday

_doper,

No

theologizin' groper,

But

a

man

_{of strength}

and

worth

Spanned

the gulf 'tween heaven

and

_earth;

Never

realized till then

ALKALI

HALL.

When

Lord

Landseeker

came

out

West

to have a

look around,

And

_spend alittle

_money

if the right thing could

be _found,

He

hadn't breathed the _{prairie air}

more

than a

day or

two

Until he

was

the centre of _{a philanthropic} crew

Who

sought to

show

_{His Lordship} all the

short-cutsto success

(Though

why

they should have troubled, His

Lordship couldn't _guess,

For

each

was

losing money, as he candidly

con-fest,

Which

seemed tobe a fashion with the dealers in

the_West).

Thus His

_Lordship

_grew

_suspicious that his friends

would

turn

him

_down,

And

he_{quietly bought} a ticket to a littlecountry town;

54 PRAIRIE

BORN AND OTHER

POEMS

But

hedidn't

know

the _message that

was

flashed

along the wire

To

a _{simple country} dealer in the land of his desire;

-And

itread:

"Look

outfor _Goggles, he'll be with

you

thisa.m."

And

the

crowd

around

the station _well, he

merely smiled to them.

And

thought it _jolly decent they'd assemble,

don'tcherknow,

And

file _{along behind}

him

_{as they followed, in} a

row.

The

snow had

fallen softly allthe calm

November

night,

And

the

_morning

foundthe prairieswith a

cover-ing of white;

But His

_Lordshiptook acitizen

who

"

_happened

" in his _way,

And

_theydroveintothe_country forthe

most

_part

ofthe

_day

Until they reached asectionthat

was

flat

and

free

from

stone,

And

the citizen

remarked

about a fellow he

had

ALKALI

HALL

55

Who

offered thirty dollars for this section in the

fall,

But

the

owner wanted

forty, or he wouldn't sell

atall.

Then His

_{Lordship drove}across it,

and

it seemed

to catch his eye,

And

he whispered to the _driver, "That's the

sec-tion I will _buy;"

So

in

town

_they found the _owner,

who

was

very

loathto_sell,

But

he _{finally consented,} if

His

_Lordship

^wouldn't tell

That

the price

was

fortydollars

by

the acre; this

agreed,

A

lawyer

drew

the papers

and His

Lordship got

the deed,

And

hesailedacross theoceanwiththesatisfying

thought

That

he'd followed his

own

_judgment

in the

bar-gain he

had

bought.

The

winter

snows had

_vanished,

and

_{the spring}

was

_growing late,

When

Lord

Landseeker

came

again to view his

56 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND

OTHER

POEMS

And

hedrove out in a

_buggy

towhere hissection

lay,

And

hisheart

was

_very

_happy

ashe

smoked

_along

the

_way

Till the section burst

_upon

_them,

and

he scarce

believed his _sight,

For

theland lay in _{the sunshine, flashing} back a

snowy

white

....

And

his _{Lordship stooped}

and

felt it,

and

he

heaved alittle _sigh,

As

the_knowledge

dawned

upon him

thathis land

was

alkali.

His Lordship did

some

_{thinking as theyjourneyed}

back to _town,

And

his

wonted

_happy

features were

o'er-shadowed

_{with a frown;}

But

he neither crawled nor blustered, neither

bluffed nor swore nor kicked

(For the

men

from

little

_England

never

know

when

they are licked),

But

headvertised fortenders for construction on

the land,

And

_{the buildings} he erected were the best he

ALKALI

HALL

57

With

a

hundred

rooms

for students,

and

_quarters

forthe staff,

And

the

workmen

often

wondered

what

made

His

Lordship laugh!

In the _papers of

_{Old England}

there _appeared a

little ad,

For

the benefit of_parents

whose

sons were _going bad:

"

Teach your boystheart of_farming in _{the great}

Canadian

West

;

Our

instruction is _unrivalled, our curriculum the best;

There's a _grate in _every

chamber

and

a bath in

every hall,

And

afull dress-suiteddinner _{every evening, free}

to_all;

Thereis_{tennis, polo, marksmanship,}

and

halfthe

day

in bed,

And

we make

them

into farmers for a

hundred

pounds

a head."

58 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND OTHER

POEMS

His_{Lordship'scollege prospers,}

and

is

crowded

to

thedoors

With

"students" _{playing poker} while the "

ser-vants" do the chores;

What

they do not

know

of_{farming they}

make

_up

in other lines,

They

are judges of tobacco

and

connoisseurs of

wines;

They

are expertsat theraces

and

at _sundryother

games

Though

they couldn't tell _{the breeching} of the harness

from

the

names

Though

they're far

from

home

and

kindred they occasion

no

alarm,

That

was

ivhat their _parents

wanted

when

_they

CLARENCE

AND

JOHN.

I _{envy no}

man

what

he_fairly wins;

In Life'shardbattle each

must

fight his fight;

But

some, methinks, are honored for their sins

And

some

_{ignored because they}do theright;

Some

seem

to findtheir _{fortune ready-made,}

And

others miss it, howsoe'er desired

The

man's afool

who

thinks that _{he can grade}

Society

by what

it has acquired:

The

noblest souls are often least

renowned

;

In

humble homes

God's _greatest

men

are found.

I.

Clarence

and

John

were brothers; sons

Of

honest,workingpioneers; Together, in their_{early years}

They

chased the _gopher in his _{furrow-track,}

And

herded_cows,

and

forked across the stack,

And

_{bravely shouldered muzzle-loading guns,}

And

crouched

where

rushes

_grew

beside the

60 PRAIRIE

BORN

AND OTHER

POEMS

Till silver stars

came

out o'er all the sky;

Whatever

one did,

would

the other try;

Wherever

onewas,

was

theother near;

And

_neighborssaid, "

The

boysare verydear

To

oneanother."

Such

as these

would seem

Inseparableinwalksof later life.

When

nearingdeath the father

summoned

John,

And

_said, "

My

boy, to you,

when

I

am

_gone

Your

mother

looks for comfortin _{her age;}

See that she lack it not; her love your

wage

;

I

am

_your father. _Wiselytake a wife

Of your

own

station; toil as I have tried,

And

lift the _mortgage

when

_{the crops are good};

Be

to _your brother all

a

brother should,

And

send the _{boy to college}if

_you

_can,

He

hasthefibreofa business

man,

But

_{you must}

be a farmer."

Thus

he died.

So

Clarence

went

_{to college;}

John

remained

And

_wrought

_{a scanty living}

from

the soil,

For

times _{were backward,}

and

his toil

Though

well he toiled

from

dawn

till stars

awoke

CLARENCE

AND JOHN

61

And

_hoped

_{the extra acreage he gained}

Would

raisethe_mortgage; ofthis

mother

lay

In _{deadly illness,}

and

thedoctor's fees

And

cost of Clarence _{at college these,}

With

bills for wife

and

children of his _own,

Well-nigh

submerged him

; he

had

older

grown

By

more

than _years; his hair

was

grey;

His youth

was

_gonewhilehe

was

still a_youth;

But

still he toiled,

and

strove to

pay

the debt,

And

people thought

him

cold

and

_stern,

and

_yet

They

knew

him

for an honest, toiling man.

From

years of self-denial his health _began

To

fail beneath

him

; all his faith

and

truth

Had

left the

farm

more

mortgaged than atfirst;

And

then in _{middle age he}stared at _Death,

And

_wept,

and

_prayed the

Man

of Nazareth

Why

itshould bethat he should fail inlife,

And

leave _{his helpless} children

and

his wife

In _ignorance

and

poverty. . . .

II.

Unversed

In all of Hardship'sschool, the_{younger son}

62 PRAIRIE

BORN AND OTHER

POEMS

For

_{a cigar house,}

and

the skill he

showed

In loading

men

with _{stock they} didn't need

Brought

him

some

good commissions, which,

indeed,

He

spent as freely as they came, for fun

And

worse.

One

day he bet his _ring

Againsta lotin

some

farwestern

town

Upon

the races;

when

thedust

was

down

He

found himself _{a winner,} but _forgot

About

_{the thingfor years,}

and

when

_{he thought}

Of

it _again he found that it

would

_bring

A

fortune in the nation's _currency.

He

shortly took to wife_{a wealthy}jade

Whose

wealth alone

commended

_her,

and

made

A

home

if

homes

bebuilt of brick

and

tile

And

sethimself to live his life _{in style,}

But

never _{thought nor} troubled to _display

An

interest in the brother he

had

known

In _{loyal days.}

He

_freely gave

To

hospitals

and

charities, and, save

To

those

who knew

his inner life, he seemed

A

man

to be respected

and

esteemed.

CLARENCE

AND JOHN

63

With

_money

came

ambition; Clarence sought

Such

honoras his _{country could bestow,}

And

honor

came him

_quickly; in the glow

Of

_middle-agehefound himselfadmired

By

such as_{might have been}

_by

_money

hired

To

soadmirehim.

Clarence _bought

The

best the world could offer for his sons;

He

_put

them

inthe

_way

of_{growing wealth}

;

His wife he sent to

Europe

for her health

His daughtersare the centre of aset

Of

_gaiety,

and

_yet

and

yet

/ _envy

no

man

what

he _fairlywins;

In _Life's hard battle each

must

_fight his _fight;

But

some, methinks, are honoredfor their sins,

And

some

_{ignored because they}do theright;

Some

seem to _{find their fortune ready-made,}

And

others miss _it, howsoe'er desired

The

man's afool

who

thinks that hecan grade

Society by

what

ithas _acquired:

The

noblest soulsare often least

renowned;

In

humble

homes

God's greatest

men

are

DADDY'S

HELPER.

Wearily over her ironing

Labored a

woman

in _grey;

The

settingsun through the

window-pane

Litwith

an

amber

ray

The marks

of toil on theyoung-oldface,

Of Beauty by

Caredenied,

And

_{she glanced at the waiting supper,}

And

_sighedto_{her playing} child

"

Daddy's a long time _coming,

Strangethat heisn't home."

Daddy

had

_goneforthecattle

Over

_{the plains away,}

Daddy

should _{be returning}

Now,

at the close of _day;

And

thelittle lad

from

the

window

Looked

for the

coming

herds,

Then

quietly stole _throughthe _open door,

Murmuring

low

the

words

"

Daddy's

a

longtime coming,

Baby

will bring

him

home."

DADDY'S

HELPER

65

Quicklythe darkness gathered,

Quickly the night

came

on;

Brave

little _{boy-feet travelled}

Where

_theyshould not _{have gone};

Weirdly

blew the west

wind

;

Stealthily stretched the plain;

Onward

he

went

in _{the gloaming,}

Murmuring

therefrain "

Daddy's

a

long time coming,

Baby

will _bring

him

home."

Darkly

the river windeth

Deep

in its

narrow

_bed;

Cruel are the rocks beside it,

Sharp

are the rocks o'erhead;

Slyly the night beast lurketh,

Broadlythe great plain lies

Only

the stars of heaven

Know

how

a

_young

life dies.

Frantic they search the _prairie,

All of his_{day-time nooks,}

Placeshe playedat _cow-boy,

All _through the fields of stooks;

PRAIRIE

BORN

AND OTHER

POEMS

Frantic they seek his _footmarks,

Frantic they call his

name

;

Back

from

_{the depthsof distance,}

Seeming, an

answer

came

"

Daddy's a long time coming,

Baby

will _bring

him

home."

Years that have lost their _pleasure

Sullenly shamble past;

Grey

are the heads with sorrow,

Bearingittothe last;

Still in the

autumn

_evenings

They

sit in the silent _air,

When

a

sound

from

the gateof

Heaven

Falls likea breath of _prayer "

Daddy's

a

long time coming,