Had not the most remote alliance. 'Twas built as he proposed--I'm sorry His name from memory I can't worry, If Lyman Perkins was beside me, To it he certainly could guide me. For he has got, of ancient bore, A well authenticated store. Now first among our old landmarks, Comes Laird of Bytown, Nicholas Sparks, Who came across in '26 From Hull, his lucky fate to fix Upon a bush farm which he bought For sixty pounds--and little thought, While grumbling at a price so high, That fortune had not passed him by. He little dreamed of Ottawa now, When 'mongst the stumps his wooden plough Stir'd the first sod in times of old; He knew not then, that 'twas not mould He turne'd up, and tilled, but gold. 'Tis not my business here to flatter, Or with enconiums to bespatter The shadows of departed men Whom we shall never see again. Yet I may say, who knew him well, And of him would not falsehood tell, That as poor human nature ran, He was an honest upright man, "Close fisted" as the need occurred, Yet one who always kept his word. Whate'er the cost--I say no more Of Nicholas Sparks--who for the shore Unknown, has shaken out his sail Where riches are of no avail To win calm sea or favoring gale And Lyman Perkins, what of thee, Will pass for current coin from me? Thou art a man of early date-- Of '27 or '28-- in Bytown's history, and 'tis said, Though hard to drive, thou may'st be led, That is, if one could just agree In view and argument with thee; When standing in the days of yore At "Pooley's Bridge," thine eye ran o'er The picture with a prescient glance; Experience taught thee that thy chance Was then--thy foresight came To aid thee in life's winning game. Although no silver spoon was in Thy mouth, when to this world of sin Thou camest, thou hast forged from fate A path in life most fortunate; To praise thee I shall take no pains, Thy enterprise has brought thee gains-- 'Tis something to be born with brains! Daniel O'Connor there doth stand, One of the old departed band-- Another of the pioneers Of Bytown in its early years; In memory's magic glass I see Him as he first appeared to me In '28 when passing down Through the main street in Upper Town. A merchant of a distant date Before the days of '28, And County Treasurer was he, Long, too, a Carleton J.P., Ere Courts of Justice were installed, When Bytown "Nepean Point" was called; In politics he was a Tory, And thus doth end of him my story. Nathaniel Sherrold Blasdell, too, Who once a blacksmith's bellows blew In the old forge, which in the shade Of the Russell House still undecayed, Stands firm a landmark of the past, How long will such old memories last? He, too, was one of those who's hand Built up the bulwarks of the land, I say unto such men as he, _Requiescat in pace_. And Doctor Rankin, there he goes, With solemn brow and turned out toes Upon his mottled bob-tailed horse, Who's canter said, the patients worse, Or better, as the trusty steed Did indicate by passing speed.