L'ORDRE DE BON TEMPS.

When Champlain with his faithful band

Came o'er the stormy wave

To dwell within this lonely land,

Their hearts were blithe as brave;

And Winter, by their mirth beguiled,

Forgot his sterner mood,

As by the prattling of a child

A churl may be subdued.

Among the company there came

A dozen youths of rank,

Who in their eager search for fame

From no adventure shrank;

But, with the lightness of their race

That hardship laughs to scorn,

Pursued the pleasures of the chase

‘ Till night from early morn.

And soon their leader, full of mirth.

And politic withal —

Well knowing that no spot on earth

Could hold them long in thrall,

Unless into their company,

Its duties and its sport,

Were introduced the pageantry

And etiquette of court —

Enrolled them in a titled band,

L'Ordre de Bon Temps named,

First knighthood's grade for which this land

Of Canada is famed.

Each one in turn Grand Master was —

At close of day released —

His duty to maintain the laws,

And furnish forth a feast.

Filled with a pardonable pride

In nobles wont to dwell,

Each with his predecessor vied

In bounty to excel,

And thus it was the festive board

With beaver, otter, deer,

And fish and fowl was richly stored,

Throughout the changing year.

At mid-day — for our sires of old

Dined when the sun was high —

To where the cloth was spread, behold

These merry youths draw nigh,

Each bearing on a massy tray

Some dainty for the feast,

While the Grand Master leads the way,

Festivity's high priest!

Then seated round the banquet board,

Afar from friends and home,

They drank from goblets freely poured

To happier days to come.

And once again, in story, shone

The sun, that erst in France

Was wont, in days long past and gone,

Amid the vines to dance.

Still later, when the sun had set,

And round the fire they drew

To sing, or tell a tale ere yet

Too old the evening grew,

He who had ruled them for the day

His sceptre did resign,

And drink to his successor's sway

A brimming cup of wine.