  Canadian homes! Canadian homes! Ye dot this wide Dominion o’er, From the Atlantic’s ebb and flow To the far, far Pacific’s shore! Nestling by a thousand streams, Crowning a thousand lofty hills, A thousand valleys own thy sway, The patriot e’er with rapture thrills. A hundred rivers wend their way By fertile plains toward the sea, Bearing rich products of the soil In undisturbed security; And the great chain of inland seas, Teeming with commerce and with trade— The land is proud of her true sons, And the real progress they have made. Thy mountains tower to the skies, And free, wild winds roam o’er thy plains; And he who seeks this great, broad land His freedom and a good home gains. Thy mountain sides and wide foothills Yield up rich ores of every name; Exhaustless is thy hidden store, Millions of wealth the seekers gain. The matchless fisheries on our coasts, Our seas and rivers, lakes and streams, Assure to all a rich reward— They so plenteously do teem. A vast expanse from shore to shore; From north to south, from east to west, They stretch this grand Dominion o’er. A system of canals have we Unequalled—search the world so wide— Connecting all our waterways By lake and stream to ocean’s side. They come and go, the white-winged ships, Bearing rich burdens to and fro; We have enough, aye and to spare; Our hearts with gratitude do glow. Our kine are on a thousand hills; Our wheat and corn lands, rich and rare, Yield golden grain abundantly; With the whole world do we compare. The luscious grape here is produced, The vines are purple with its glow; The apple, peach, and pear, and plum, In plenty and perfection grow. Invigorating our atmosphere— With skies of the intensest blue— Producing an indomitable race, With brave, true hearts to dare and do. Here woman is as beautiful As e’er this great wide world hath seen, And in her dear Canadian home She reigns an honored queen. Our famous schools dot o’er the land, Free as the winds that roam our plains, And ignorance doth flee away; Happily, intelligence reigns. Throughout this goodly land abound; Within the easy reach of all Is education to be found. Thus blest, the Canadian lifts his head, And all things dares in manly pride, For man to man, the wide world o’er, He’s equal, proved and tried. Remember it, doubting cynic, History proves his sterling worth, And in arms he is co-equal With the bravest ones of earth. And in the world’s wide, busy marts, In science, trade, and cultured art, In the front rank he e’er is found, Bearing no menial second part. Contending with the bravest there, He holds the fierce, disputed way— Persistence and efficiency Are sure to win the sternest day. Religious tolerance have we, A people chaste by Christian love; Thousands of church-spires point the way To the celestial courts above. Thus blest, we dwell in freedom’s light, Defenders of our country’s cause, Loving our dear Canadian homes, Respecting and keeping her laws. These free and fair Canadian homes Acadia’s vales do beautify; Her cities gleam like diadems, Her towers mount upward to the sky. In vigorous, friendly rivalry, They shine like jewels in a crown, An anchor to our unity. Prince Edward’s Island by the sea Is safely, sternly girded round, Taught by all nature to be free; Influenced by her voice profound They build, secure in freedom’s light, A fabric safe, enduring, grand, Proud of their dear island home, And of this fair Dominion land. Our provinces beside the sea Send out their ships to every land; Alert to every enterprise, The world’s esteem they do command. Aye, they are known on every sea; In every clime, and isle remote, The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear, Protectingly o’er them doth float. Quebec! Quebec! thou dowered queen Of beauty! for thee nature smiles; A vista wide of hill and vale, A river with a thousand isles, Above whose calm, majestic breast Frowns an impregnable citadel, A safeguard to our entrance-gate, Where Wolfe and Montcalm fearless fell. Historic and heroic days Those stern defiant cliffs have known, The thunder of the battle strife, Wild cheer, defeat, and dying moan. Flow on, flow on, toward the sea— The outlet to our wide domain— Flow on in calm tranquillity! Heroes of |
|
