Laura Secord, the Heroine of 1812

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Title: Laura Secord, the heroine of 1812.
A Drama. And Other Poems.
Author: Sarah Anne Curzon
Release Date: January, 2005 [EBook #7228]
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Edition: 10
Language: English

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0. START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LAURA
SECORD, THE HEROINE OF 1812. ***
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LAURA SECORD, THE HEROINE OF 1812: A DRAMA AND
OTHER POEMS.
BY SARAH ANNE CURZON

"And among them all move the majestic, white-robed bards, striking
their golden harps, and telling the tales of the days of old, and handing
down the names of the heroes for ever."--JUSTIN H. MCCARTHY
"The soul of the book is whatever beautiful and true and noble we can
find in it."--KINGSLEY'S "HYPATIA."

TO ALL TRUE CANADIANS,
OF WHATEVER DERIVATION,
THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED
BY
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
The drama of "Laura Secord" was written to rescue from oblivion the
name of a brave woman, and set it in its proper place among the heroes
of Canadian history. During the first few years of her residence in
Canada the author was often astonished to hear it remarked, no less
among educated than uneducated Canadians, that "Canada has no

history;" and yet on every hand stories were current of the
achievements of the pioneers, and the hardships endured and overcome
by the United Empire Loyalists. Remembering that, as soon as she had
conquered the merest rudiments of reading and grammar at school, she
was set to learn English History, and so become acquainted with the
past of her country, it seemed to the writer that there was something
lacking in a course of teaching that could leave Canadians to think that
their country had no historical past. Determined to seek out for herself
the facts of the case, it was with feelings of the deepest interest that she
read such of the contributions to the newspaper press as came in her
way during the debate with regard to the pensions asked of Government
for the surviving veterans of 1812 in 1873-4. Among these was
incidentally given the story of Mrs. Secord's heroic deed in warning
Fitzgibbon. Yet it could not pass without observation that, while the
heroism of the men of that date was dwelt upon with warm appreciation
and much urgency as to their deserts, Mrs. Secord, as being a woman,
shared in nothing more tangible than an approving record. The story, to
a woman's mind, was full of pathos, and, though barren of great
incidents, was not without a due richness of colouring if looked at by
appreciative eyes. Nor were the results of Laura Secord's brave deed
insignificant. Had the Americans carried Beaver Dams at that juncture,
the whole peninsula was before them--all its supplies, all its means of
communication with other parts of the Province. And Canada--Upper
Canada, at least--would have been in the hands of the invaders until, by
a struggle too severe to be contemplated calmly, they had been driven
forth. To save from the sword is surely as great a deed as to save with
the sword; and this Laura Secord did, at an expense of nerve and
muscle fully equal to any that are recorded of the warrior. To set her on
such a pedestal of equality; to inspire other hearts with loyal bravery
such as hers; to write her name on the roll of Canadian heroes, inspired
the poem that bears her name. But the tribute to her memory would not
be complete were it to omit an appeal to Canadians, especially to the
inhabitants of this Province, who, in their prosperity owe to her so
much, to do their part, and write her name in enduring marble upon the
spot where she lies buried.
Nor does