Princess Mary's Gift Book: All profits on sale given to the Queen's "Work for Women" Fund which is acting in Conjunction with The National Relief Fund
General
Princess Mary's Gift Book: All profits on sale given to the Queen's "Work for Women" Fund which is acting in Conjunction with The National Relief Fund
English literature; World War, 1914-1918 -- Gift books
The sea takes some of our bravest and best. Charlie it did not take. Not
so sure is it that he who lives by the sword will perish by the sword,
as that he who baulks the sea the sea will surely have for its prey.
Charlie had battled with the giant time and again, but he has gone to
sleep on the land.
We buried him to-day in the little cemetery looking on to the grey water
that was more than half his element. The funeral was beautiful in its
old simplicity. First a hymn at the door of the house in the little
alley by the beach, "Safe in the arms of Jesus," with the coffin on the
ground and all standing round; the sea quiet, hardly a breeze as soft as
human breath moving its tranquil surface; the deadly rival in its
everlasting coming and going making no triumphant clamour now the
sea-warrior was down. Then the companions of his dangers, the crew of
his boat, a group of stalwart fellows who have never known what it is to
be afraid, carrying him up the hill, shoulder high, each in his red
stocking cap and his life-belt, emblems of how they had fought the sea
and beaten it.
There were some of us whose eyes were wet, but if these brave boys wept
at all, it was only for the helpless little ones left behind. For
Charlie they did not weep. His spirit is not dead for them--it cannot
die. When brave deeds have to be done, they will see its light, like a
beacon that does not fail, over the mountains of the fiercest storm;
they will hear its voice above the thunder of the loudest waves.
A full moon is shining to-night on the place of Charlie's rest, and if
the old Norse story is true, that while the body lies in sight of the
sea the spirit lives in the winds above it, Charlie is not done with his
old enemy yet. He will come back to this sea-bound land in warning
whispers of the mighty and mysterious power that lures men to itself.
[Illustration
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
CANADA'S WORD
BY RALPH CONNOR
_Drawings by_ A. J. GOUGH
O CANADA! A voice calls through the mist and spume
Across the wide wet salty leagues of foam
For aid. Whose voice thus penetrates thy peace?
Whose? Thy Mother's, Canada, thy Mother's voice.
O Canada! A drum beats through the night and day,
Unresting, eager, strident, summoning
To arms. Whose drum thus throbs persistent?
Whose? Old England's, Canada, Old England's drum.
O Canada! A sword gleams, leaping swift to strike
At foes that press and leap to kill brave men
On guard. Whose sword thus gleams fierce death?
Whose? 'Tis Britain's, Canada, Great Britain's sword.
O Canada! A prayer beats hard at Heaven's gate,
Tearing the heart wide open to God's eye,
For righteousness. Whose prayer thus pierces Heaven?
Whose? 'Tis God's prayer, Canada, Thy Kingdom come!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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