  JACQUES CARTIERNO flame of war was he, no flower of grace, No star of wisdom; but a plain, bold man, More careful of the end than of the plan. No mystery was he afraid to face; No savage strategy, no furious storm, No stings of climate, no unthought disease: His master purpose would not bend to these, But saw, through all, achievement's towering form. He first beheld the gloomy Saguenay, And Stadacona's high, forbidding brow; His venturous vision too did first survey Fair Hochelaga, but not fair as now. St. Malo holds his dust, the world his fame, But his strong, dauntless soul 'tis ours to claim. LIFE has two sovereign moments; One when we settle down To some life-worthy purpose,— One when we grasp the crown. THEY have a saying in the East:— Two angels note the deeds of men, And one is first and one is least. When men do right, one takes his pen And magnifies the deed to ten. This angel is at God's right hand, And holds the other in command. He says to him when men do wrong, "The man was weak, temptation strong,— "Write not the record down to-day; "To-morrow he may grieve and pray." It may be myth; but this is sooth— No ruth is lasting as God's ruth; The strongest is the tenderest; He who best knows us loves us best. |
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