I must

Speak of God in whom

    I trust.

In him I have room

    To hope.
    The rope

Threatens my life; but
Thank God, I fear not.



There is a very fine perfume
Of truth, in the church of England!
The Blessed Virgin, I presume,
Occupies therein, a great Stand.
She is honor'd as the mother
Of Jesus Christ! She is the Queen
Whose sweet prayers have always been
Successfull near God the Father.

            Louis "David" Riel




Prophet of the new world, I
Do the work of the Most High.
I assert it with no pride.
I live in humility.
Is there any one to side
With me? Yes. Sincerity
Will gather up its recruits.
And we will soon taste its fruits.

            Louis "David" Riel




The morning dew, with silver drops,
Never shines as much as the word
Of the Preacher who developed
The blessed teachings of the Lord.

        ———

Happy is the congregation
Which obeys, with true devotion,
The sermons of its Minister,
For the Sake of Christ, the Master!

            Louis "David" Riel

Robert Gordon!
I beg your pardon
For so having
Kept you waiting
After some poor verses of mine.
You know, my English is not fine.
I speak it; but only
Very imperfectly.

The snow,
Which renders the ground all white,
From heaven, comes here below:
Its pine frozen drops invite
Us all
To white-keep your thoughts and our acts,
So that when our bodies do fall,
Our merits, before God, be facts.

How many who, with good desires,
Have died and lost their souls to fires?
Good desires kept unpractic’d
Stand, before God, unnotic’d

O, Robert, Let us be fond
Of Virtue! Virtues abound
In every sort of good,
Let virtue be our soul’s food.

    Louis “David” Riel.

        October 27, 1885

            Regina Jail