The Emigrant Mechanic and Other Tales In Verse | Page 3

Dr. O'Carr's Death?Stanzas suggested by the Railway Accident at Desjardin's Canal To the Memory of Dr. Laycock?Song of the Canadian Cradler?Stanzas to Rev. J. B. Howard and Family?Grumblings?Verses on the Railroad Accident near Copetown?A Tribute to the Memory of Rev. Thomas Fawcett?A Tribute to the Memory of Mr. Richard Folds?To the Humming Bird?To the Same?Fire Song?The Fire Alarm?My Old Arm Chair?A Tribute to the Bravery of my Cousin, Mrs. T. A. Cowherd Canadians' Welcome to the Prince of Wales?Brantford's Welcome to the Prince of Wales, 1860?A Call for Help to Garibaldi?Lines suggested by New York Tribune's Account of Lincoln's Departure from Springfield for Washington?"Sumter has Fallen, but Freedom is Saved!"?Song, "My Love is no Gay, Dashing Maid"?The Sewing Machine?Tabby and Tibby?Lines Composed at Mr. McLarty's, West Missouri
FAMILY PIECES
Lines to my Mother?To my Wife?To the Same?To my dear little Boys, James, Christopher and Alfred?To Alfred?To Amelia?To Frederic?To my Daughter Ida?To my Wife on the Thirteenth Anniversary of our Wedding Day To the Same (Twenty-fifth Anniversary)?To the Same (Thirtieth Anniversary)
FAREWELL TO MY HARP
THE EMIGRANT MECHANIC
A TALE OF HUMBLE LIFE.
_"Let not Ambition mock their useful toil."--?Gray._
BOOK I.
THE ARGUMENT.--Birthplace of the Mechanic. Affliction of the family. Death of mother and two sisters. The father's second marriage. Family tradition. Youth's thoughts and feelings in regard to it. Places visited: Crossthwaite, Underbarrow, Lake Windermere, Esthwaite. Incidents, poetic tastes, etc. Conclusion.
My harp awakes! And as I touch each string,?The poor Mechanic Emigrant I sing.?Eighteen eventful years, or rather more,?Have fled since first he left his native shore--?That much-loved shore! that dear old English home!?So oft regretted since first led to roam.?My Muse, 'tis thine to give in artless lays,?A genuine history of his early days;?Make known the place where first he saw the light,?Portray the scenes which pleased his boyish sight,?Unfold his parentage, and backward trace?Their line, descended from no common race;?Speak of his eagerness to learn a trade,?Mark what proficiency in that he made,?Glance at his love scenes, and a lesson show,?Which youths in general would do well to know.?Fail not to tell how, in his eighteenth year,?He did, as Christian, publicly appear.?Make known the cause that led him first to feel?A strong desire to seek his future weal,?In emigration to that distant shore?Where flow great rivers, and loud cataracts roar;?Where mighty lakes afford the fullest scope?For future commerce, and the settler's hope.?Go with him to his home in the wild woods--?That rude log cottage where he stored his goods;?Paint faithfully the scenes through which he passed,?And how he settled in a town at last;?What then befel him in successive years,?Or aught which to thee suitable appears,?To make his history such as may be read?By high-born race, or those more lowly bred.?Let usefulness be still thy constant aim,?Nor care a jot for merely worldly fame.?Help me to seek, by constant, earnest prayer?That God's approval be my chiefest care.?And if a Poet thou would'st wish to make?Thy guide and pattern, gentle COWPER take.?Thus, O my Muse! may we together spend?Some happy hours, until my task shall end.?And when 'tis finished, may it ne'er be said?That we a useless memoir have displayed.
In the northwest of England's verdant isle,?Where beauteous scenery meets one with a smile,?Where lakes and rivers burst upon the sight?And fill the mind with transports of delight,?Where lofty hills unite with lowly dales?To furnish matter for instructive tales,?There is a town, a very ancient town,?Which, should enjoy a share of high renown.?My native place! I need not sink the name--?Such act, sweet KENDAL! thou might'st justly blame,?A place so dear, I trust I still shall love,?Where'er I am, or wheresoe'er I rove!?It has its site fast by a pleasant stream,?Beside whose banks our hero learned to dream.?Though quiet, it gave birth to many a name,?Which for good deeds obtained a moderate fame.?Some few there were well skilled in Science deep,?Who now within its several graveyards sleep.?Its once-proud Castle that in ruin lies,?The birthplace was of one who lived to rise?To queenly state, and sit upon a throne?And the eighth HENRY as her lord to own.?Within this town some very rich men live;?But many more who poverty receive?As their low birthright, with the fullest share?Of its attendants, constant toil and care!?These oft, though poor, in honesty may vie?With most of those who hold their heads so high.?Of this large class young COOPER'S parents were;?To peace inclined, they heeded not the stir?Which proud Ambition's votaries create?To gain such objects as their pride may sate.
E'er since this father was a little boy,?Hard out-door labor did his hands employ.?The mother, too, to work was early taught,?And take delight in what her hands had wrought.?This hardy training proved of use to them,?A blessing they did never once contemn;?For 'twas the means of gaining honest bread--?And on no other would they e'er be fed!
In course of time four children needed care,?And claimed