n thy breast,
And know God loveth thee,
And knoweth what is best.

He careth for the trees,
For every beast and bird;
And thinkest thou thy pleas
In Heaven are unheard?

Nay, God has heard each prayer,
And He will answer thee.
Trust to His loving care,
And live thou patiently.

And when the looked-for day
Of happiness and rest
Has come, we both shall say
"God truly knew the best."

And fondly to my heart
I'll press thee, dearest Life;
And none us two shall part,
For thou wilt be my wife.

CANTO THE FOURTH.

I.

Toronto, on its island-girded bay,
Full well protected from the storms which blow
Across the lake, stands proudly, as well may
The capital of all Ontario.
So situate, its properties beguile,
Inviting me to pause and rest awhile.

II.

When young America (then recently
An independent nation, full of pride
Engendered by her new-born dignity),
Would sever Canada from England's side,
She sent an armed fleet across the lake,
This town to capture and its fort to take.

III.

Six hundred soldiers only guarded then
The little fort; but in their veins there flowed
The blood of proud and valiant Englishmen.
And in their hearts a bitter hatred glowed
Against the nation, whose unjust attack
But urged them on to drive the invader back.

IV.

And, though the force opposing them was nigh
Three times the number of their own, yet still
They fought against their landing valiantly,
Contending with a fierce and dogged will.
But numbers overpowered the gallant band,
And soon the foe was safe upon the land.

V.

Then inch by inch contested they the ground,
Determined not to yield to quick defeat;
But, bravely though they fought, ere long they found
Themselves compelled to beat a slow retreat.
But, falling back before the enemy,
They lost not yet the hope of victory.

VI.

Meanwhile the enemy advanced within
Two hundred yards of where the garrison
Was quartered. Sudden ceased the battle's din,
And he who led the invading army on
Gave orders for a halt, in expectation
Of winning now the fort's capitulation.

VII.

Then, as they halted, sudden a report,
As of an earthquake, rent the trembling air,
And, midst the debris of the scattered fort,
Two hundred slain Americans lay there.
The British had retreated, but had fired
The powder-magazine as they retired.

VIII.

Th' enraged Americans accounted this
An act of base