SONG OF THE PIONEERS

BY W. D. GALLAGHER

A song for the early times out West,
And our green old forest home,
Whose pleasant memories freshly yet
Across the bosom come;
A song for the free and gladsome life, 5
In those early days we led,
With a teeming soil beneath our feet,
And a smiling heaven o'erhead!
Oh, the waves of life danced merrily,
And had a joyous flow, 10
In the days when we were pioneers,
Seventy years ago!

The hunt, the shot, the glorious chase,
The captured elk or deer;
The camp, the big, bright fire, and then
The rich and wholesome cheer:
The sweet, sound sleep, at dead of night, 5
By our camp fire, blazing high,
Unbroken by the wolf's long howl,
And the panther springing by.
Oh, merrily passed the time, despite
Our wily Indian foe, 10
In the days when we were pioneers,
Seventy years ago!

Our forest life was rough and rude,
And dangers closed us round;
But here, amid the green old trees, 15
Freedom was sought and found.
Oft through our dwellings wintry blasts
Would rush with shriek and moan;
We cared not--though they were but frail,
We felt they were our own! 20
Oh, free and manly lives we led,
'Mid verdure or 'mid snow,
In the days when we were pioneers,
Seventy years ago!

1. In your own community how many years past are
the days of pioneering?

2. What pleasant things about pioneer life does the
author recall?

3. Imagine that you are a pioneer man or woman.
Tell what one day of your life is like.

_SPECIAL DAYS_

_There come days in the lives of men, of nations,
of races, and in the life of civilization itself
which are of such conspicuous importance that they
are set apart from the ordinary run of days and the
events they stand for are duly remembered each
recurring year on the proper date. Birthdays,
religious feast days, days of battle--many are the
occasions commemorated. The value to us of such
special days is