Lines on Woodstock

We fancy the lustre of the old town is reflected
on the new. English Woodstock was a royal residence.

English Woodstock had a Palace
Where the Queen in jealous malice
Slew romance's fairest flower,
Fair Rosamond, in secret bower,
Our Woodstock, pleasant county town-
(This brings it both wealth and renown)-
To your strong castle some are sent
For to give them leisure to repent,
And the Reeves will, in their bounty,
Build court house worthy of the county.
A charming vista you do view,
Gazing on each street and Avenue,
Mansions and lawns embowered 'mong trees
Where wealthy owners live at ease ;
And through the air there sweetly floats
Harmonious Woodstock organ notes,
And men employment secure

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poem by James McIntyre
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Crimean War

At the announcement that Britain was to declare War, Kossuth
the Hungarian Patriot and orator, declared in an address in
England, that the British Lion was a sea dog but helpless on land.

When the British Lion offered aid to the turk,
Round many lips a sneer of serious doubt did lurk,
They said he was at home on sea, but when on land
He would be as a ship wrecked upon the strand ;
Or like some huge, ungainly crockadile [sic]
Upon the marshy banks of sluggish Nile,
Who could move gayly on the deep
But on dry land could scarcely creep.
But up the Alma heights he rushed, like grayhounds after hare,
And in a moment by the throat he seized the Russian Bear,
Which begged so hard for mercy, his life he did it spare,
And closely now it is confined within its native lair;
For its strong fortress great Sebastapool,
Was forced to submit to Great Britain's rule.

poem by James McIntyre
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An Autograph

Lines written at the request of a young lady and inserted in a mental Album.
We looked over the book, it was in form of questions and auswers. One
of the questions was 'who is your favorite poet?' We were quite amused
to find a number of different persons had written in answer, 'McIntyre.'
We believe that the most of them were joking, but we hope to inspire them
With loftier idea of our poetic power in the future.

In this Album you may trace-
If not the lineaments of face-
Here, at least, you will find
Photographs of the mind.

Some in earnest, some in fun,
some do lecture, some do pun ;
Here the maiden and the youth,
Each proclaim some precious truth.

And there is some fine pages-
Written by maturer ages-
They show that time is brief,

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poem by James McIntyre
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A Concert-Impromptu

The following impromptu was delivered in the Methodist Church Concert, March, 1883.
It was expected that several announced in bills world take part, but from various
causes they were not present. We were unexpectedly requested to fill one of the
vacencies. Doctor Gardiner delivered an address, showing how he had triumphed o'er
the great snow drifts during the remarkably severe winter then passing away, that we
thought his courage and perseverance was worthy of being commemorated in verse; and
the music of the White Brothers though simple, is natural, touching and sweet, and
reaches the heart more easily than some of the highly artistic styles now in vogue,
on arising, we first gave some recitations from the Poets and concluded with the
following Impromptu. It was of course impossible for me to have anticipated any of
the above occurrences, as the Doctors speech took the turn it did from the remarks
of a previous speaker.

poem by James McIntyre
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Lines on A Canadian Hunter

Of Kentucky's great hunter bold,
Old Daniel Boon, oft tales are told ;
Of wild beasts he had no fear,
But dangers loved, that pioneer.

Canada hath hunters many,
Yet perhaps there is not any
For skill and boldness can compare
With our own Daniel Hebner.

In youth he was both tall and strong,
And supple as a willow thong ;
Hs never fled from savage bear,
Though bruin on hind legs would rear.

In hunting mink, or fox, or coon,
He was a second Daniel Boon ;
His rifle oft brought down the deer,
Which to his table brought good cheer.

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poem by James McIntyre
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Father Ranney, the Cheese Pioneer

When Father Ranney left the States,
In Canada to try the fates,
He settled down in Dereham,
Then no dairyman lived near him;
He was the first there to squeeze
His cow's milk into good cheese,
And at each Provincial show
His famed cheese was all the go.

Then long life to Father Ranney
May he wealth and honour gain aye.

He always took the first prize
Both for quality and size,
But many of his neighbors
Now profit by his labors,
And the ladies dress in silk
From the proceeds of the milk,
But those who buy their butter,
How dear it is, they mutter.

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poem by James McIntyre
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Agricultural, Implements and Machinery

Poor laborers, they did sad bewail,
When the machine displaced the flail ;
Theres little work, now, with the hoes,
Since cultivators weed the rows.

Labor it became more fickle
When the scythe took place of sickle ;
Labor still it did sink lower
By introduction of mower ;

And the work was done much cheaper
When they added on the reaper.
Another machine to it they join,
Mower, reaper, binder, they combine.

Machines now load and stow away
Both the barley and the hay,
And the farmers do get richer
With the loader and the pitcher.

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poem by James McIntyre
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Oddfellowship in Ingersoll

We look in vain for our past grands,
Now scattered over many lands ;
For some o'er the wide world doth rove,
And some have joined Grand Lodge above.
But ever since Father Adam's fall
We are dependent creatures all.
Though man is weak yet he may join
With others, strength for to combine-
A single rod is easily broken,
Bundle is of strength the token.

The illustration, it was grand
Which was given by Reverend Bland,
Five Oddfellows all in one hand
And yet they all united stand,
Each finger hath a different length
Each finger varies in its strength.
Each one is weak, but a firm fist
You can scarcely break or twist.
Tis same with members of a Lodge,

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poem by James McIntyre
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Opening Ode

Delivered at an Odd-Fellows' Concert.

Some have formed strange conceptions about the mysteries of our order.
They believe that enshrouded 'mong the deep and mysterious
surroundings of our dark recesses and caves we have chained
'Gorgans and Hydras, and Chimeras dire,' and that in our mazes
and labyrinths,

A horrid goat we have to ride,
With long horns and shaggy hide,
And that the beast we have to stride well
Without saddle or a bridle.

Friends, with pleasure we do meet you,
And with hearty welcome greet you ;
With many we have met before,
So pleasantly in days of yore.

But some new faces we do find,
And hope they'll criticise us kind ;

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poem by James McIntyre
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Victoria Park and Caledonian Games

Lines on the naming of Victoria Park, on Queen's Birthday,
1881. The ceremony was performed by Thomas Brown,
Esq., Mayor of the town.

Come one, come all, to Scottish games
On the banks of Canadian Thames ;
You'll find that 'tis most pleasant way
You can enjoy the Queen's Birthday.

In future years it will be famed
The day whereon the park was named,
With its boundry great extended
And nature's charms sweetly blended.

Full worthy of the poet's theme
Is hill and dale, and wood and stream,
And glittering spires, and busy town.
Where mansions' do each mount top crown.

Come, witness the great tug-of-war,

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poem by James McIntyre
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