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Madeleine Vercheres

I've told you many a tale, my child, of the   old heroic

Of Indian wars and massacre, of villages

With savage torch, from Ville Marie to the   Mission of Trois

But never have I told you yet, of Madeleine   Vercheres.

Summer had come with its blossoms, and gaily   the robin

And deep in the forest arches the axe of the   woodman

Again in the waving meadows, the sun-browned   farmers

And out on the green St.

Lawrence, the fisher-   man spread his net.

And so through the pleasant season, till the   days of October

When children wrought their parents, and   even the old and

With tottering frames and footsteps, their   feeble labors

At the gathering of the harvest le bon Dieu   himself had sent.

For news there was none of battle, from the   forts on the

To the gates of the ancient city, where the   flag of King Louis

All peaceful the skies hung over the seignerie   of Vercheres,

Like the calm that so often cometh, ere the   hurricanes rends the air.

And never a thought of danger had the   Seigneur sailing away,

To join the soldiers of Carignan, where down   at Quebec they lay,

But smiled on his little daughter, the maiden   Madeleine,

And a necklet of jewels promised her, when   home he should come again.

And ever the days passed swiftly, and careless   the workmen

For the months they seemed a hundred, since   the last war-bugle blew.

Ah! little they dreamt on their pillows, the   farmers of Vercheres,

That the wolves of the southern forest had   scented the harvest fair.

Like ravens they quickly gather, like tigers   they watch their

Poor people! with hearts so happy, they sang   as they toiled away.

Till the murderous eyeballs glistened, and the   tomahawk leaped

And the banks on the green St.

Lawrence   echoed the savage shout."Oh mother of Christ have pity," shrieked   the women in despair"This is no time for praying," cried the young   Madeleine Vercheres,"Aux armes! aux armes! les Iroquois! quick   to your arms and

Fight for your God and country and the lives   of the inocent ones."And she sped like a deer of the mountain, when   beagles press close

And the feet that would follow after, must be   swift as the prairie wind.

Alas! for the men and women, and litle ones   that

For the road it was long and weary, and the   fort it was far away.

But the fawn had outstripped the hunters, and   the palisades drew near,

And soon from the inner gateway the war-   bugle rang out clear;

Gallant and clear it sounded, with never a note   of despair'T was a soldier of France's challenge, from   the young Madeleine Vercheres."And this is my little garrison, my brothers   Louis and Paul?

With soldiers two- and a cripple? may the   Virgin pray for us all.

But we've powder and guns in plenty, and   we 'll fight to the latest

And if need be for God and country, die a   brave soldier's death."Load all the carabines quickly, and whenever   you sight the

Fire from the upper turret, and the loopholes   down below.

Keep up the fire, brave soldiers, though the   fight may be fierce and

And they 'll think out little garrison is more   than a hundred strong."So spake the maiden Madeleine, and she roused   the Norman

That seemed for a moment sleeping, and sent   it like a

Though every heart around her, and they   fought the red

As fought in the old time battles, the soldiers   of Carignan.

And they say the black clouds gathered, and a   tempest swept the

And the roar of the thunder mingled with the   forest tiger's

But still the garrison fought on, while the   lightning's jagged

Tore a hole in the night's dark curtain, and   showed them a foeman near.

And the sun rose up in the morning, and the   color of blood was

Gazing down from the heavens on the little   company."Behold! my friend!" cried the maiden, " 't is   a warning lest we

Though the night saw us do our duty, our   work is not finished yet."And six days followed each other, and feeble   her limbs

Yet the maid never sought her pillow, and the   flash of the carabines'

Illuminated the powder-smoked face, aye, even   when hope seemed

And she only smiled on her comrades, and told   them to fight, fight on.

And she blew a blast on the bugle, and lo!   from the forest

Merrily, merrily ringing, an answer came peal-  ing

Oh! pleasant and sweet it sounded, borne on   the morning air,

For it heralded fifty soldiers, with gallant De   la Monniere.

And when he beheld the maiden, the soldier   of Carignan,

And looked on the little garrison that fought   the red

And held their own in the battle, for six long   weary days,

He stood for a moment speechless, and mar-   velled at woman's ways.

Then he beckoned the men behind him and   steadily they

And with carabines uplifted, the veterans of

Saluted the brave young captain so timidly   standing

And they fired a volley in honor of Madeleine   Vercheres.

And this, my dear, is the story of the maiden

God grant that we in Canada may never see

Such cruel wars and massacres, in waking or in

As our fathers and mothers saw, my child, in   the days of the old regime.

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William Henry Drummond

William Henry Drummond (April 13, 1854 – April 6, 1907) was an Irish-born Canadian poet whose humorous dialect poems made him "one of the most p…

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