In August, 1857, the Rev.
John Black, then newly ordained, was sent on by Dr. Burns to Red River.
He was fortunate in becoming attached to a military expedition led by
Governor Ramsey, of Minnesota, going northwest for nearly four hundred
miles, from St. Paul to Pembina.
Leaving the military escort behind, in company with Mr. Bond, who wrote
an account of the trip, Mr. Black floated down Red River in a birch
canoe, and in a three-days' journey they reached the Marion's House in
St. Boniface. It is said that it was from Bond's description of this
voyage that the Poet Whittier obtained the information for the
well-known poem.
THE RED RIVER VOYAGEUR.
Out and in the river is winding
The banks of its long red chain,
Through belts of dusky pine land
And gusty leagues of plain.
Only at times a smoky wreath
With the drifting cloud-rack joins--
The smoke of the hunting lodges
Of the wild Assiniboines.
Drearily blows the north wind,
From the land of ice and snow;
The eyes that look are uneasy,
And heavy the hands that row.
And with one foot on the water,
And one upon the shore,
The Angel's shadow gives warning--
That day shall be no more.
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