"Christmas in the backwoods: Absent friends" by Richard Catton Woodville RI 1856-1927

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Christmas in the backwoods: Absent friends

Richard Catton Woodville RI 1856-1927

1902

Engraving?

Illustrated London News

Like Woodville's illustration of holiday revelry at an officers’ mess in India, which also appeared in the newspaper’s Christmas number, this one set in Canada combines empire, Christianity, and celebration. It was accompanied by a brief poem whose authorship is not given (see below).

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Old Christmas Day is the day for toasts,
For hearts are full and wine is good.
The Briton of his Empire boasts;
Love of the land stirs in his blood;
The young voice with the old voice blends:
“God bless and keep all absent friends!”
The father speaks with husky throat,
The mother prays with heaving breast;
The winds of God take up the cry
And bear it forth towards the West.
Back comes the echo o’er the foam:
"God keep our dear ones safe at home!”

Bibliography

“Christmas in the backwoods: Absent friends.” Christmas number of The Illustrated London News. (1902): 21. Hathi Trust Digital Library web version of a copy in The University of Chicago Library. Web. 10 January 2016.

Last modified 10 January 2016