Who is she, that elderly woman on the railway platform, looking eagerly to the cars, into the circles of friends, crowding around the men as they alight? She is looking if her son has come. “Yes!” she exclaims, embracing the youth, loyal to his mother, loyal to his native land, “I knew you would come to fight for Canada and for me.” At Hamilton the Mayor issued this proclamation: “I hereby request all able bodied men who are willing to turn out in defence of their country to meet this evening at 7 o’clock in their respective wards for the purpose of enrollment and forming a Home Guard.” They met, they enrolled, they formed the Home Guard; were armed and for some months exercised in the use of rifles and bayonets, and nightly perambulated the city in squads. These were merchants, store keepers, artizans, professional men, clerks. In other cities, towns, villages similar associations were formed. At Toronto, said the newspapers; “Without exaggeration we may say we have never seen the city so intensely moved as it was last night (June 1.) when the news indicated a probable battle on the line of the Niagara river. The streets were crowded with thousands of men and women eager to obtain the latest scrap of intelligence from the front and every extra was perused with feverish anxiety. It is to be hoped to-day’s news will relieve the deep suspense which may be said to have rested on the city last night.” All reports were not true, but they occupied official time; and complicated military plans. The following reached Toronto by way of Buffalo. “It has been reported that Port Sarnia and Windsor have been captured by the Fenians. It is also reported that they have taken possession of the Welland canal.” [Not true]. Buffalo, 12 o’clock noon, June 1. “The Fenians at Fort Erie have opened a recruiting office, and are now enrolling volunteers. They have seized the Newbigging Farm and made it their head-quarters. When opposition is offered by people of the town, the Fenians at once set fire to their houses.” (Not wholly true.) That was from the American side. The following came from St. Catharines a town on Welland canal, Welland railway and Great Western, in Canada, twelve miles inland from Niagara bridge. “A portion of four companies from Grimsby and Beamsville arrived here this morning at eight o’clock. Col. Currie is in temporary command. Forty or fifty more will arrive in a few hours.” “Col. McGiverin has procured one thousand stand of arms, to be sent from Hamilton, to arm the citizens, and also ammunition. The home guard under Col. McDonald is called out. There is no ammunition for the Spencer rifles.” The following dated Buffalo June 1, 1.30 p. m. was circulated in Toronto and all Canada in the afternoon. Exaggeration in the estimates of Fenian numbers had not then been corrected by better information. Military plans of defence were formed on the highest estimate, not the lowest.