{
 "id": "james-mcintyre/a-canadian-romance",
 "title": "A Canadian Romance",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": null,
 "poet": "James McIntyre",
 "poet_slug": "james-mcintyre",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Musings on the Banks of Canadian Thames",
 "book_slug": "musings-on-the-banks-of-canadian-thames",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": null,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1884,
  "venue": "Musings on the Banks of Canadian Thames (1884)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_09542"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/james-mcintyre_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_09542",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36068",
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_11791"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 136,
  "n_stanzas": 1,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 44,
  "max_indent": 0
 },
 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "An English youth to Canada came,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A labourer, John Roe by name,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His little wealth had made him bold,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Twenty sovereigns in gold;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He was industrious and wise",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And e’en small sums did not despise,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He added to his wealth each year",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For independence he loved dear,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He knew a laborer he would be",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Forever in the old country,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His forefathers had tilled the ground",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And never one had saved a pound.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On beds of down they did not lie",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And frugally their goods did buy,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Their one luxury around their door",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A few choice flowers their garden bore,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But never hoped to own the soil",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But serve as hinds to sweat and toil,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To work and toil for him had charm",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He hoped some day to own a farm,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So he hired with Reuben Tripp",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The wealthiest man in the township.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Tripp’s only child, his daughter Jane,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He sought her love and not in vain,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As Jacob served for Rachel dear",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So John he served year after year,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Till rich enough to buy bush farm",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For to chop down with his strong arm.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The truest nobleman of all",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He lives not in ancestral hall,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But sheltereth family from harm",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By logs rolled up by his strong arm,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In this young glorious land so free",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where each may rear his own roof tree,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the chief glory of old days",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Broad fire place where big logs did blaze,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As much as four strong men could handle,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They served alike for heat and candle;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He his young oxen did adorn",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With fine gay ribbons on each horn,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And to his home with joy and pride",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He did bring sweet blooming bride,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Such happiness is seldom seen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Happier far than king or queen;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She helped him in the fields to reap,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And spun the wool from off the sheep,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "All they required they had for both,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of her own weaving of good cloth,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And she was a good tailoress,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Did make his coat and her own dress;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The golden butter that she made",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Was of the very finest grade,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Each grace and virtue she possess’d,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where’er she was, that spot was blessed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And though they did not have stove then,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Neither did they own an oven;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She filled large pot with well knead dough",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And baked fine bread ’mong embers glow;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He each winter the forest trees",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Did quickly hew them down with ease,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For he to work had a desire",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the skill did soon acquire,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But round great giants hewed a ring",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then storms would soon them prostrate bring,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For many a time the furious breeze",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Would quick o’erthrow the girdled trees,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And sometimes they would kill the cows",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When they did feed on grass or browse,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But after reckoning damage all",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A benefit was each windfall;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Though good fortune now he sees",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Might have been got from Walnut trees;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But trees were foes in his hurry,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "All were slain, both oak and cherry,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And to this day he doth incline",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To mourn o’er slaughter of the pine,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And reflects how he did o’erwhelm",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Many a maple, beech and elm;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And each summer day did toil",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With his steers drawing logs in pile;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These giants of the forest dead,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Fire did reduce to an ash bed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And soon potatoes, wheat and corn,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They did the rugged stumps adorn,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Jane did help him with the hoe,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And well she did keep her row:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No organs then they had to play,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But she could work and sing all day;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In spring he did live maples tap",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To draw from them the luscious sap,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He gathered it in big log trough,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then boiled it down and sugared off,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Enough the household for to cheer,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With all its sweets for the whole year,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And no such thing those times were seen",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As the swift raising stump machine,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And where main road was low and damp",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With logs he built a road through swamp,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But a smooth ride could not enjoy",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While it was naught but corduroy,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Each year added earth and gravel,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Now smoothly o’er they can travel,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For it doth make an excellent road",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For John and Jane to go abroad,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And it is now a great highway",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where hundreds travel every day.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There were no roads in early days",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But bridle path, their guide the blaze,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And mills and marts so far away,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They never could return same day;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Log school house served as church for all,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of various creeds, and for town hall.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These scenes to youth do now seem strange",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So wondrous quick hath been the change,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O’er paths where oxen only trod,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Cows quickly speed o’er the railroad,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And every way both up and down",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There has sprung up a thriving town.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No more he fights with forest trees,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But both enjoy their wealth and ease,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Long since the old folks both are gone",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And left the whole to Jane and John;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The log house now has passed away",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With all its chinks filled in with clay,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And in its place fine house of stone",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With lawn where choice shrubs are grown.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With sons and daughters they are blest,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The young men say they’ll move Northwest;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This gives their mother some alarm,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She wants them still on the home farm,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But father will not have them tarry",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They can plow so quick on prairie,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they find coal makes a good fire,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And build their fences of barbed wire",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They would not be forever gone",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As they could talk by telephone.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}