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

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 MOTHERANDBALLADS OF BATTLE TIME

THE BELGIAN MOTHER
AND
BALLADS OF BATTLE TIME