Your wanderer's fate decide;
My spirit spurns the selfish wish--
You must not be my bride.
But oh, that smile--those tearful eyes,
My firmer purpose move--
Our hearts are one, and we will dare
All perils thus to love!

[This song has been set to a beautiful plaintive air,
by my husband.]




CHAPTER II

QUEBEC



Queen of the West!--upon thy rocky throne,
In solitary grandeur sternly placed;
In awful majesty thou sitt'st alone,
By Nature's master-hand supremely graced.
The world has not thy counterpart--thy dower,
Eternal beauty, strength, and matchless power.

The clouds enfold thee in their misty vest,
The lightning glances harmless round thy brow;
The loud-voiced thunder cannot shake thy nest,