Canada Before The Confederation Of The Provinces.

        Canadian provinces they lay
        Divided by river and by bay,
        Many a separate division,
        Among them there was no cohesion.

        But statesmen saw that a great nation
        Could be formed by federation,
        And soon they led public opinion
        To favor forming this Dominion.

        North-West with its streams and fountains,
        With sources in the Rocky Mountains,
        It was all a great mystery,
        Hunting for furs its history.

        Though North-West is filling slow
        Yet soon there will be mighty flow,
        Millions to North-West will hurry
        In last decade of century.

        For therein is an opening grand
        In great fertile prairie land,
        For there the choicest wheat it grows
        Near where the Saskatchewan flows.

        And on many a river's branch
        There is found great grazing ranch,
        Favoured districts therein abound
        Where cattle graze all the year round.

        Protected from the stormy blast
        By the Rocky Mountains vast,
        Through canon blows no storm terrific,
        But balmy breezes from Pacific.

James McIntyre

James McIntyre was a Canadian poet, most notable for his poetry concerning cheese, cheese-making, dairying, and dairy products. Often referred to as 'The Cheese Poet,' McIntyre's work is celebrated for its earnestness and unintentional humor, making him both a beloved and an infamous figure in literary circles. He emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1851 and settled in Ingersoll, Ontario, where he became a successful businessman and community leader.

James McIntyre

Port Stanley.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

Lines On Woodstock.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

Jackal And Child.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

Providential Escape.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

English

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Canada's Future.

        Canada is a young giant,
            Has not yet acquired its strength,
        On the arts of peace reliant,
            Throughout its vast breadth and length.

        Though 'tis not famed for orange bowers
            Nor for the products of its vines,
        Though other lands have fairer flowers,
            Yet it to nobler gifts inclines.

        It doth produce the golden grain
            And few lands can with it compete,
        They often try but all in vain
            To produce such splendid wheat.

        Our geologists divine,
            That ere long we will behold
        Many a rich glittering mine
            Of copper, silver and of gold.

        But we sing more glorious theme,
            It is ou...

James McIntyre

United States.

        The United States is wondrous land,
        Within its mighty borders grand,
        They are a world unto themselves,
        In South the Negro plows and delves.

        Raising tobacco, sugar, cotton,
        Grapes and rice too may be gotten,
        The west for corn, cattle and swine,
        On which millions o'er the world dine.

        The silver hills of Colorado,
        Equaled only by Nevada,
        And o'er the world you can't behold
        Aught like California's mines of gold.

        To vast extent her exports reaches,
        Of grapes and oranges and peaches,
        And Florida the land of flowers
        Is famous for its orange bowers.

        Pennsylvania's hills environ
        Wondrous mines of co...

James McIntyre

Canada Our Home, 1883.

The following response to Canada our home was given at a banquet of the Caledonian Society, Ingersoll:

In responding to the sentiment Canada our home perhaps it would be appropriate to point out the prominent and distinguishing characteristics between the land of our nativity and the land of our adoption. In this Canada of ours we have no bonny blooming heath, no banks and braes covered o'er with daisies and gowans, no fragrant hedges showering down white spray in the May time, no whin and broom prodigal in their gaiety of yellow flowers, no hills nor glens where fairies gambol in pleasant and harmless sport, no grand ruins of ancient cathedrals and castles, no feathered songsters like the mavis and blackbird.

        Full oft we did enraptured hark
        To heavenly song of the skylark.

But Canada ...

James McIntyre

Birth Of Canada As A Nation, July First, 1867.

        Hail Britannia's noblest daughter,
        Who is surrounded by the water
        Of many a lake and broad sea,
        Land of beaver and of maple tree.

        Her lofty brow is wreathed with smiles,
        For from the far Atlantic isles
        In pomp have come their delegates,
        All seeking to unite their fates.

        With Canada great northern queen,
        And now throughout the land is seen,
        High festival and stately dance,
        Triumphant nuptials to advance.

        And soon shall Red River valley
        And distant Vancouver rally,
        To form this Empire gigantic
        From Pacific to Atlantic.

James McIntyre

United By Steel Rails.

        When Indian tribes in the Northwest
            Rebelled against the Eastern laws,
        Canadian courage it did test,
            All were united in the cause.

        But how shall volunteers proceed
            Such distance, several thousand miles,
        Will they in their dark hour of need
            Ask Uncle Sam with pleasant smiles

        For to allow our volunteers
            To pass o'er their north railroad,
        Perhaps subject to doubts and fears,
            Where British soldiers never trod.

        But there went up a glad hurrah
            When it was found that in our land,
        Almost finished was railway,
            And trains do wait for word command,

        To bear away our volunteers
 ...

James McIntyre

Canada's Resources.

        Small Scotland nobly held its own
        Against the might of England's throne,
        And shall this land with its vast bounds
        Shrink with fear ere the trumpet sounds.

        While British blood doth course each vein,
        Proudly this heritage maintain,
        With fertile acres by the billions,
        Future homes for two hundred millions.

        Each son could have a fertile farm,
        Brave men who ne'er will feel alarm,
        And they have both the nerve and skill
        To work land with a right good will.

        And she has got within her shores
        Renowned mines of many ores,
        While her furnaces and forges
        Iron in useful shape disgorges.

        Her mighty forests they do yiel...

James McIntyre