A Civic Holiday Trip

Lines on a civic holiday trip on the Grand Trunk,
to Toronto, August, 1882. Address to Mr. Hodge,
conductor of Caledonian games at Ingersoll.

From Ingersoll, on Canadian Thames,
We come to greet mine host of the St. James,
This being our town's civic holiday ;
Yet we remember twenty-fourth of May,
For then at our Caledonian games
He did loud proclaim the victors' names .
We came in part to contribute
To our town's mechanics' institute,
Who got up this grand excursion
Where each one has his own diversion.
Some did remain at Burlington Bay,
While we to Toronto did wend our way,
And came to see this presentation
To stalwart son of Scottish nation.

poem by James McIntyre
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Lines Read at a Dairymaids' Social, 1887

Where the young lady waiters were dressed as dairymaids.

Throughout the world they do extol
The fame of our town Ingersoll,
The capital of dairyland,
To-night it seems like fairy land,
The youth and beauty here arrayed,
So sweet and neat each dairymaid.

And worthy of a poet's theme,
Sweet and smooth flows milk and cream,
For song or glee what is fitter
In this land of cheese and butter,
But no young man should be afraid
To court a pretty dairymaid.

And far abroad he should not roam
But find a charmer here at home,
Find some one now your heart to chear,

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poem by James McIntyre
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Dr.Springer

Lines on presenting Dr. Springer with a diamond ring, when he
was bidding farewell to Ingersoll, and was about journeying
to California.

Though we know we are no singer,
Yet we will chaunt farewell to Springer,
One of our oldest past grands,
About to visit distant lands.

And we all sincerely hope
You may enjoy Pacific slope,
And when you gaze on this ring
May it pleasant memories bring.

Of good old Lodge, Samaritan,
Where friendship makes us all as one;
'Tis hard to strike your name from roll
With us so long in Ingersoll.

Though we regret to say farewell,

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poem by James McIntyre
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Lines on Stratford

Our Canadian County Perth
Commemorates great bard of earth ;
Stratford and Avon both are here,
And they enshrine the name Shakespeare.

For here in Stratford every ward
Is named from drama of great bard.
Here you may roam o'er Romeo
Or glance on Juliet bestow.

The valley of the Thames we presume includes Stratford
on the north and Woodstock and Ingersoll on the south.
The Avon, on whose banks Stratford is located, joins the
Thames near St.Mary's. The middle branch flows through
Embro and Thamesford, the south and middle branches
unite and flow through Dorchester and Westminster and
blend with the northern branch at London, where it deviates
to Elgin in the south.

poem by James McIntyre
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Lines on Corner Stone

Impromptu lines delivered at the laying of the corner store
of the church on Culloden road, with Masonic honors.

In this quiet spot, this day of June,
Which will not be forgotten soon,
For when your little church on hill
You overflowingly did fill,
You then resolved there should arise
Church worthy of your enterprise.
You've laid foundation broad and deep,
And showers of blessing may you reap.

Craft of King Hiram and St. John
Have come to lay the corner stone,
At the call of our Grand Master, *
Who, was invited by your pastor.
With Silver trowel all so fair
He laid foundation on the square.
May you be blessed with christian love,
And we all meet in Lodge above.

poem by James McIntyre
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Port Burwell

About a quarter of a century ago, when Port Burwell was a
busy, thriving place, several friends accompanied me to
the port to attend a concert, we all being specially invited.
It was in the winter, and there had been a race on the
ice, in which the Port Burwell horse took the lead. We
gave a local piece of some length, but only retain now a
few lines. The people at the concert were highly pleased
with the effusion.

In winter time, who here resort
To pay a visit to your famous port,
They must be clad in fur well,
For it blows cold at Burwell.

But when you wish to trot your horse
You make lake Erie your race course,
And we believe at every heat
All other horses you do beat.

poem by James McIntyre
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Departed Statesmen

Lines on our departed Canadian Statesmen, with a glance at our two living leaders.

Joseph Howe, none higher stood than thou,
Thou wert a man with lofty brow ;
D'Arcey McGee, so brillant and free,
From Green Isle you came, 'oer the sea.

George Cartier, to the French ever dear,
So high you stood without a peer ;
John Sandfield, * for long you did build
Power under economy's shield.

George Brown, thou man of renown,
Confederation you did crown ;
You now are all free from the strife,
The wrangle and jangle of political life.

But if a glance at this world you take,
You will there see John A. and Blake ;
But Sir John, the greatest power doth wield,

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poem by James McIntyre
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Poetry

Poetry to us is given
As stars beautify the heaven,
Or, as the sunbeams when they gleam,
Sparkling so bright upon the stream ;
And the poetry of motion
Is ship sailing o'er the ocean
Or, when the bird doth graceful fly,
Seeming to float upon the sky;
For poetry is the pure cream
And essence of the common theme.

Poetic thoughts the mind doth fill,
When on broad plain to view a hill ;
On barren heath how it doth cheer
To see in distance herd of deer.
And poetry breathes in each flower
Nourished by the gentle shower,
In song of birds upon the trees
And humming of busy bees.
'Tis solace for the ills of life,

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poem by James McIntyre
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Burns and Scott

Meeting of Burns and Scott in Edinburgh.

When Burns did make triumphant entry
'Mong Edina's famous gentry,
A discussion did there arise
Among those solons, learned and wise,
About some lines by a new poet ;
The author's name none did know it.
Poem was of Canadian snow,
And how o'er it the blood did flow,
For it had then been swept by war,
Where armies met in deadly jar.

But, 'mong philosphers, was boy
Of tender years, now Scotland's joy ;
He there did quickly quote each line,
And author's name he did define.
Burns glanced at him, with loving eyes,
Youth ever more that look did prize
The happiest moment in his lot ;

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poem by James McIntyre
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St.Catharines

Lines read at a banquet at the Welland House, St. Catharines[sic],
where the brotherhood of Odd-Fellows, attending Grand
Lodge, were entertained.

St. Catharines [sic], famed for mineral waters
And for the beauty of her daughters ;
For some do worship at the shrines
Of the fair St. Catharines [sic].

St. Catharines [sic], your greatness you inherit
From the genius of the Merritt-
You still would be a village dreary
But for this canal from lake Erie.

For, on its bosom there does float
Full many a ship and steamboat,
Brings worlds commerce to your doors
And many gifts on you it pours.

Among its various great rewards

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poem by James McIntyre
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