The Ontario Readers: Fourth Book

In Short

Compiled by the Department of Education for Ontario in 1909, this volume is an educational reader designed to broaden the horizons of young students. It functions as a sampler of high culture, offering a sweeping tour of British and Canadian history, poetry, and narrative prose. By balancing the rigors of historical duty with the quietude of the natural world, the collection aims to instill a sense of citizenship and aesthetic appreciation. It remains a valuable historical artifact, capturing the pedagogical ideals and the literary canon of its era.

The Story

The arc of the volume begins with the intimacy of domestic struggle and expands outward to encompass the vastness of the British Empire and the untamed Canadian landscape. It opens with the lively, tension-filled interactions of Scottish pipers, capturing the sharp, proud character of its subjects. This leads directly into the transformative emotional journey of Ebenezer Scrooge, who moves from icy isolation to the "blithe" warmth of communal celebration. The reader is then transported across the Atlantic to the early days of Canadian settlement, where the stark necessity of subsistence—shaving by the firelight, threshing by hand, and fetching coals from neighbors—defines the daily rhythm of life.

The narrative scope then widens into the grander scale of history and adventure. We read of the fortified Norman keeps, where lords lived among martial retainers, and follow the daring, high-stakes exploits of Sir Francis Drake as he pursues Spanish galleons laden with gold. The collection shifts from the heat of the sea-fight to the cold, majestic reaches of Hudson Strait, described as a "peopleless wilderness" defined by the "silver voice" of mountain brooks. This leads into the contemplative, sometimes melancholic beauty of the prairie, where the "ocean of grass" represents both a blank slate for history and a manifestation of the divine.

The story of humanity’s reach continues with the tragic, heroic death of Admiral Nelson, whose sacrifice serves as a testament to the fervent love between a leader and his people. Yet, the book does not merely celebrate conquest; it pivots to the "indignation" of Nicholas Nickleby against systemic cruelty in schools, grounding the reader in a necessary empathy for the vulnerable. The arc concludes with a meditation on the fragility of power, as seen in the "Recessional," which warns against the hubris of empire. Throughout, the reader is invited to transition from the "frantic boast" of the world to the "humble and a contrite heart." The final image is one of quiet, reflective endurance, suggesting that true success lies not in the "seductive glimmer" of material gain, but in the character one brings to the work of building a nation.

How It Unfolds

The domestic spark The text introduces characters navigating personal conflicts, from the pride of rival pipers to the redemptive transformation of a lonely miser. These stories establish the importance of human connection and the joy found in simple community.

The pioneer’s rhythm The narrative shifts to the physical labor of early Canadian life, focusing on the resourcefulness required to survive harsh winters. It documents a time when the lack of modern conveniences necessitated a deep, daily reliance on one’s neighbors and the land.

The call of adventure The focus turns to historical heroism, featuring the high-seas plunder of Drake and the strategic defense of medieval castles. These accounts emphasize the martial spirit and the engineering ingenuity of past civilizations.

The reach of the wild The reader is taken into the vast, lonely spaces of the Canadian North and the prairies. Here, the text moves from physical description to a philosophical appreciation of nature as a space of silence and divine order.

The moral reckoning The final section addresses the costs of ambition and empire. By juxtaposing the death of a hero with warnings against arrogance, the book urges the reader to temper their pursuit of worldly success with humility.

The People

The figures in this collection are defined by their capacity for intensity and their relationship to duty. Alan Stewart and Robin stand as figures of fierce, competitive pride, while Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a profound shift from a man who views the world as a transaction to one who views it as a source of "irresistible pleasure." The early Canadian settlers are characterized by their stoic resilience; they are people who turn "tedious labor" into a communal life, finding warmth in the shared fire.

The historical figures, such as Sir Francis Drake and Admiral Nelson, represent the extremes of the era’s ideals—the former, a bold, restless seeker of wealth and glory; the latter, a selfless servant whose humanity inspires a nation. In the fictional selections, Nicholas Nickleby emerges as the voice of moral conscience, standing against the "vulgar, crafty" tyranny of men like Squeers. Finally, the "country boy" appears as an archetypal figure, standing at a crossroads between the genuine conquest of nature and the hollow, "vain and covetous" pursuit of urban success. Each figure is ultimately tested by their environment, whether it is the cold of a Canadian winter, the heat of a sea battle, or the moral vacuum of a heartless society.

In Its Own Voice

Regarding the necessity of communal cooperation in the early Canadian wilderness:

"It was, however, my father's practice to keep bundles of finely split pine sticks tipped with brimstone; with the aid of these, the merest spark served to start the fire."

On the profound, overwhelming silence of the Canadian prairie landscape:

"One feels the stillness, and hears the silence: the wail of the prowling wolf makes the voice of solitude audible; the stars look down through infinite silence upon a silence almost as intense."

On the fleeting, fragile nature of worldly power and imperial grandeur:

"Lo, all our pomp of yesterday is one with Nineveh and Tyre!"

What It's Really About

The book is fundamentally an argument for the cultivation of character as the primary requirement for a civilized life. It posits that human progress is not measured merely by the reach of an empire or the accumulation of gold, but by the "humble and a contrite heart." It asks whether an individual will be lured by the "all-alluring ignis fatuus" of transient success or whether they will find value in the slower, more substantial work of building a home, serving a community, and maintaining one's integrity. The underlying question is how to balance the spirit of adventure and the drive for mastery over nature with the essential need for empathy, humility, and a recognition of one's place within a larger, historical order.

Why Read It Today

Reading this volume today is an act of historical reflection. It offers a window into how the Canadian state once chose to define itself to its youth, emphasizing a blend of British heritage and the practical, rugged realities of Canadian life. The prose is precise, elegant, and often demanding, reflecting an era that prioritized formal language and classical references.

Readers who enjoy nineteenth-century literature will find the excerpts from Dickens, Shakespeare, and Tennyson particularly rewarding. However, contemporary readers should be prepared for the period’s specific attitudes; the text is imbued with an imperial worldview that reflects the political climate of 1909. While the descriptions of the Canadian landscape and the "loveless" toil of the pioneer are hauntingly beautiful and remain deeply relevant, the sections on military history and colonial power carry the weight of their time. It is a book that demands patience, but it rewards the reader with a glimpse into a vanished world that shaped the values and the imagination of an entire generation. What stays with you is not just the history, but the quiet, persistent call to avoid the "frantic boast" and instead find beauty in the "mighty heart" of one’s own time.