Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/307

The men who came to claim the soil—whom we had deemed our foes—
Settled our shores, and speedily fresh rivalry arose—
The rivalry of industry, the striving each to prove
Supremacy in deeds of toil, of kindness, and of love;
And after working side by side for many a weary day;
At last the farther time came round when they were called to say:
Will ye be France or Britain’s sons? ye know us now full well.
O noble was the answer that from their brave lips fell—
“We know you, and we love you, and this is our reply:
Together we will fight or fall, together live or die.”
And now that fifty years are past since that old faithful band
Raised the proud standard of our Queen upon this fertile strand,
We seek to brand it for all time—a landmark of our race,—
So that when, in the distant years, historians shall trace
The records of the early days, when first this land of flowers
Was rendered by a daring deed for all the ages ours,
They can point out the sacred spot where first our standard braved
The winds that hover o’er the shores our peaceful waters laved;
Still tell how France and Britain here forgot the feuds of old,
And hand in hand, and heart to heart did lovingly enfold.