The Song of the Exile-A Canadian Epic Part 18

[Footnote E: "The Berlin Decree" of Napoleon, issued November 1, 1806, declared a blockade of the entire British coast. * * * Great Britain retaliated by the celebrated "Orders-in-Council," which declared all traffic with France contraband, and the vessels prosecuting it, with their cargoes, were seized. These restrictions pressed heavily on the neutrals, especially the United States, which now engrossed much of the carrying trade of the world.--_Withrow's History of Canada_, p. 301.]

[Footnote F: War was precipitately declared June 18, 1812. * * *

Almost simultaneously the obnoxious "Orders-in-Council," the chief ostensible cause of the war, were repealed.--_Ibid_, p. 303.]

[Footnote G: Another cause conspired to fan the war feeling to a flame. Great Britain, pressed by the difficulty of managing her immense fleets, a.s.serted the "right of search" of American vessels for deserters from her army. The U. S. frigate Chesapeake resisted this right, though sanctioned by international law.--_Ibid_, p. 302.]

[Footnote H: Psalm viii.]

VISIONS.

VISIONS.

I.

THE NEW RESOLVE.

Last night, as I sat in my study, And thought o'er my lonely life, I was seized with a pa.s.sionate longing To escape from the weary strife;

To flee far away from my fellows, And far from the city's roar, And seek on the boundless prairie A balm for my burning sore--

The sore of the weary spirit, The burn of the aching heart Of him who has known true friendship-- Has known it--but only to part.

And I said in that hour of anguish: "I will fly from the haunts of men, And seek, in the bosom of Nature, Relief from my ceaseless pain."

As lonely I sat, and thus pondered, A voice seemed to speak in my ear; And the sound of that voice was like music, And its accents were mellow and clear:

"Weary soul, though all men have forsaken, Thy G.o.d hath remembered thee still; The sorrow and pain thou hast suffered Are part of His infinite will.

"Sorrow not, though He call thee to suffer; Evade not His righteous decree; Be faithful, and live uncomplaining The life He has ordered for thee;

"For G.o.d is thine infinite Father, His purpose is all for the best.

Fight bravely, for after the battle He giveth thee comfort and rest."

And the sound of that voice was like music, And its accents were mellow and clear; No longer I felt I was lonely, For I knew that my Father was near.

And as I sat silent, and pondered, My sorrow all vanished away; My strength was "renewed like the eagle's"

And I longed for the breaking of day.

That again I might join in Life's battle, And fight with a strength not my own, Till my foes should be vanquished and scattered, My enemies all overthrown.

For thus would I silence all scoffers, And show them, by deed and by word, How strong is the faith of a Christian, How mighty the arm of the Lord.

II.

THE HIGHER DUTY.

I saw the sun. He shone in splendour bright, Casting his radiance over dale and hill; And all creation joyed to see his light: He shone, and thus fulfilled his Master's will.

I saw the moon and stars. They gave their light To guide the sailor o'er the trackless sea, To show the traveller his path by night: They shone, fulfilling all their Lord's decree.

I looked to earth, and saw the plants and trees, Each growing fitly to the pattern made, And yielding proper flowers and fruits. And these All grew, and thus their Master's will obeyed.

I looked around, and saw my fellow-men, Created by the same Almighty hand; A higher destiny was granted them-- To rule the earth, obeying His command.

And, as I looked, the vision grew less bright, And only through the darkness could I see That, in their power and G.o.d-given might, Men ruled, fulfilling half their Lord's decree.

Here was much chaos and confusion still; And here no perfect concord seemed to be.

Each lived as best accorded with his will: Men ruled, all heedless of their Lord's decree.

And, as I looked, deep sorrow filled my heart; "Oh man!" I cried, "in G.o.d's own image made, Shall sun, and moon, and trees, all do their part, And thou alone fall short and retrograde?

"Thou--greatest of all G.o.d's created things!

Thou--ruler, by His order, of the earth!

Shake off thy sin, and, on aspiring wings, Rise! and be worthy of thy glorious birth."

I cried; and from the darkness forth there came A voice, which said in harsh and mocking tone: "Dost thou possess so undefiled a name, Art thou, amongst thy fellows, good alone,

"That thou shouldst vilify thy fellow-men?

Thou art not innocent nor free from guile-- Thou too art man. Go, nor return again, Sinful, thy fellow-sinners to revile."

It ceased. But, as I turned to join the strife, In milder accents spake that voice again: "An humble heart, a pure and useful life-- And not vain words--will raise thy fellow-men."

III.

THE HIDDEN PURPOSE.

I was weary and faint with temptation and trial, For the prayers I had made had but met with denial, And the slow-coming doubt, which had once hardly found In my heart a mean place, was now strong and profound.

And my soul was in anguish, for suffering keen, And intense disappointment, too often had been New prepared for my portion, till now, as I lay By new sorrow re-stung, all my faith pa.s.sed away.

Then a curse on my lips rose, and darkly I swore That the G.o.d who had led me should lead me no more; His existence was doubtful, but, if He should be, He had been but a G.o.d of vindiction to me.

So I vowed that henceforward the path that I trod Should be chosen by me, and not ordered by G.o.d; And relief seemed to greet my resolve as I lay, All in sleeplessness, waiting the breaking of day.

But as quiet I lay, and thought o'er my decision, All my wakefulness pa.s.sed, and I saw in a vision, By my side standing closely, an Angel of Light, Clothed in shining apparel resplendently bright.