"SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI."* 



[with apologies to Hood] 



T chanced, one day, by a woodland stream 

 That threaded its silvered way, a-gleam 

 With dancing sunlight's mirrored beam, 



Among its rocks and sedges ; 

 And canopied under a Maple's shade, 

 That sentinelled the forest glade, 

 I dreamily watched the ripples that played 



Along the river's edges. 



Idly dreaming and drinking in 



The breath of the woods — sweet Nectar's kin — 



Antidote for the fret and din 



That age the city craftsman, 

 When out on the river I heard the thrash 

 Of falling oars, with their rhythmic plash, 

 And the chanson's gay and joyous dash 



Trolled by some passing raftsman. 



At least I thought 'twas this I heard, — 

 But I give you my purest rhyming word, 

 Although you may doubt and cry "Absurd ! " 



On a pine-log there, a-straddle, 

 A Beaver sat with his household goods. 

 Like a chopper returning from the woods. 

 When work is done on the high spring-floods, 



Swinging his tail for a paddle ! 



Beating time with his paddle's sweep, 

 He chanted in tones both full and deep 

 A pitiful lay, 'twould make you weep 



To hear its doleful measure. 

 Seeing me beckoning on the bank, 

 He steered his raft through the sedges dank, 

 And beaching her there with a sounding clank, 



Demanded to know my pleasure. 



" Oh whither away, my friend? " I said ; 



" Can you not earn your daily bread. 



Here in your home, that your sails are spread 



In this truly emigrant fashion? " 

 He shook the wet from his jerkin buff. 

 And wiped away with his furry cuff 

 The tears that sprinkled his whiskers rough, 



And thus claimed my compassion : 



* At a session of "The Society for Historical Studies" held in Montreal, April ist, 

 1890, the chairman announced, on the authority of the " Herald's College," that the Beaver 

 and'the Maple-wreath had no part in the armorial bearings of Canada, and that their posi- 

 tion as commonly depicted in the so-called " Dominion Coat of Arms " was unwarranted. 



