[Frontispiece: T. A. Browne] THE BELGIAN MOTHER AND BALLADS OF BATTLE TIME By T. A. BROWNE SECOND EDITION TORONTO: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA, LIMITED, AT ST. MARTIN'S HOUSE :: :: MCMXVII COPYRIGHT, CANADA, 1917 BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY OF CANADA, LIMITED Dedicated to The Great War Veterans living, and dead, by whose exalted patriotism and heroic sacrifice in war the British Empire was preserved CANADA TO THE VETERANS OF THE GREAT WAR As gallant knights, as valiant-souled crusaders, You come from quests of peril o'er the sea; From conflicts stern, against the brute invaders, With laurels nobly won, you come to me. In contest grim, the mightiest of the ages, My banner through the carnage you have borne; Your names are written large on Glory's pages, I greet you, gallant soldiers, battle-worn. Through all the years to be, I shall remember The deeds you wrought, since first you sailed away; Since flaming down through Belgium, that September, The Prussian hell-hounds, baying, sought Calais. There Ypres and St. Julien, shining glorious, Red Courcelette and Vimy's Ridge aglow, And many another unsung fight, victorious, Wherein you clove a pathway through the foe. You have returned with memories unfading, Of prodigies performed in Freedom's name, Of charging hosts and volley's enfilading, And roaring craters curtained with death's flame. Some come not back; in lands afar they're sleeping. Who dies for Freedom fills no nameless grave; Their memory enshrined all hearts are keeping, So sleep remembered, all the gallant brave. Yours is the place of honour in the nation; Who dares for Right the highest shall command; Who pours for Liberty his heart's libation Shall win the grateful tribute of my land. Contents The Belgian Mother The Burial of King Edward, The Peacemaker The Coronation of King George V The Greater Canada The Battle Call Give! Give! Give! The Battle of Langemarck "Somewhere in France" Lines to Greece Ireland Kismet The Crimson Year, Christmas, 1916 Grit and Tory "De Fightin' Fisherman" Monsieur Poilu "The Bells of Belgium" Lad of My Heart When Drinking to Erin Duty "A Wartime Greeting" The Aviators Hell's Acolyte Copper Johnny The Quest Eternal The Building of the Chateau The Spirit of Christmas The Chosen People The Waif A Toast Ballad of the Budget, Year 1909 "The Pipe" The Miracle of May In Summer Love's Miracle The Squaw-Man Heart's Desire The Awakening Eyes of the Heart Cupid's Arrow My April Maiden The Call of the Open The Loving Cup THE BELGIAN MOTHER THE BELGIAN MOTHER