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This is one of Charles Fenerty's more famous poems. The poem was the excitement felt when it was believed that Newfoundland would join Confederation. In 1867 Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario unite in a confederation called the Dominion of Canada. Sir John A. Macdonald is named Canada's first Prime Minister. By early 1869 it was believed that Newfoundland would join the Confederation.In a footnote, Charles Fenerty said, "Written when it was first thought Newfoundland would come into Confederation." The poem might have been written in 1869, but there is another footnote that suggests otherwise.
  
Joseph Howe (1804 - 1873)
    
 

In a second version of the poem (The Stewart Manuscript), Fenerty wrote:

* “The dream of my boyhood”: Vide, Speeches of the late Hon Joseph Howe. The patriot’s and the poet’s dream has meanwhile succumbed to the exigencies of partly politics. But “Coming events cast their shadow before,” and the day is not far distant when Her Majesty’s “ancient and loyal colony” will rule the Confederation.

"Referring to the line, "The patriot and the statesman’s dream* today we would fulfil." The problem with this footnote is that Howe died in 1873.