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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/9801-8.txt b/9801-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..13393d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/9801-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3207 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Habitant and Other French-Canadian Poems, by +William Henry Drummond + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Habitant and Other French-Canadian Poems + +Author: William Henry Drummond + +Posting Date: November 23, 2011 [EBook #9801] +Release Date: February, 2006 +First Posted: October 18, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HABITANT, FRENCH-CANADIAN POEMS *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, Andrew Sly +and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + + +THE HABITANT AND OTHER FRENCH-CANADIAN POEMS + +By William Henry Drummond, M.D. + + +WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY + +Louis Frechette + +AND WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY + +Frederick Simpson Coburn + + + +TO MY DEAR FRIEND AND FORMER TEACHER + +GEORGE MURRAY, ESQ., B.A., A.K.C., F.R.S.C. + +THESE VERSES ARE DEDICATED WITH SINCERE +ADMIRATION AND RESPECT + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +On me demande, pour ce charmant volume, un mot de préface en français; +le voici: + +Quand, en 1863, je publiai mon premier recueil de poésies--écrites au +collège, pour la plupart,--le grand poète américain Longfellow eut la +flatteuse bienveillance de m'appeler _The pathfinder of a new land of +song_. + +Avec mille fois plus de raison puis-je aujourd'hui passer le compliment +à mon sympathique confrère et ami, l'auteur de ce livre; car, si jamais +quelqu'un, chez nous, a mérité le titre de _pathfinder of a new land of +song_, c'est assurément lui. + +Non seulement il a découvert le champ, la clairière, la vallée fertile +et encore inexplorée; il en a fait l'exploitation à sa manière, avec +des outils et des moyens de son invention; et, fier de sa conquête, +il laisse, de son épaule robuste, tomber à nos pieds le fruit de son +travail, la gerbe plantureuse aux ors vierges, à l'arôme sauvage, +aux savoureuses promesses, toute fraîche et toute crissante dans sa +rusticité saine. + +N'est-elle pas, en effet, d'une originalité peu commune, l'idée de +prendre un pauvre illettré, de le présenter comme un type national à +part, de lui mettre aux lèvres une langue qui n'est pas la sienne et +qu'il ne connaît qu' à demi; d'en faire en même temps un personnage +bon, doux, aimable, honnête, intelligent et droit, l'esprit en éveil, le +coeur plein d'une poésie native stimulant son patriotisme, jetant un +rayon lumineux dans son modeste intérieur, berçant ses heures rêveuses +de souvenirs lointains et mélancoliques? + +Et cela sans que jamais, dans ce portrait d'un nouveau genre, le plus +subtil des critiques puisse surprendre nulle part le coup de crayon +de la caricature! + +Dans ses inimitables contes villageois, George Sand a peint les +paysans du Berry sous des dehors très intéressants. Elle nous les +montre même d'un sentiment très affiné dans leur simplicité naïve +et leur cordiale bonhomie. En somme, elle en fait des natures, des +tempéraments, quelque chose de typique, en même temps qu' harmonieux +de teinte et de forme. + +Mais George Sand faisait parler ses personnages dans la langue du +pays, dans la langue de la chaumière, dans leur propre dialecte, +enfin. Elle n'avait, pour ainsi dire, qu' à faire pénétrer le +souffle de son talent sous le réseau de la phrase, pour animer +celle-ci d'un reflet de lyrisme ou d'une vibration attendrie. + +La tâche abordée par M. Drummond présentait un caractère beaucoup +plus difficile. + +Ici, le poète avait bien, il est vrai, le milieu à saisir, placé, +droit en face de son objectif. Il était assez familier avec ses +acteurs pour les grouper avantageusement, en ménageant les effets +d'ombres et de lumière. Il est naturellement assez artiste pour ne +rien négliger de ce qui ajoute du pittoresque à la pose; surtout, il +connaissait à fond le type à reproduire, ses moeurs, ses passions, +ses sentiments, ses penchants, ses superstitions et ses faiblesses. + +Mais comment, sans tomber dans la charge ou la bouffonnerie, faire +parler systématiquement à ses personnages une langue étrangère, +forcément incorrecte dans la bouche de quelqu'un qui l'a apprise +par oreille, sans savoir lire même dans sa propre langue? + +La tentative était hardie; mais on sait que le succès a un faible +pour les audacieux. + +Dans son étude des Canadiens-français, M. Drummond a trouvé le moyen +d'éviter un écueil qui aurait semblé inévitable pour tout autre +que pour lui. Il est resté vrai, sans tomber dans la vulgarité, et +piquant sans verser dans le grotesque. + +Qu'il mette en scène le gros fermier fier de son bien ou de ses +filles à marier, le vieux médecin de campagne ne comptant plus ses +états de service, le jeune amoureux qui rêve au clair de la lune, +le vieillard qui repasse en sa mémoire la longue suite des jours +révolus, le conteur de légendes, l'aventurier des "pays d'en haut," +et même le Canadien exilé--le _Canadien errant_, comme dit la +chanson populaire--qui croit toujours entendre résonner à son +oreille le vague tintement des cloches de son village; que le récit +soit plaisant ou pathétique, jamais la note ne sonne faux, jamais +la bizarrerie ne dégénère en puérilité burlesque. + +C'est là un tour de force comme il ne s'en fait pas souvent, et +c'est avec enthousiasme que je tends la main à M. Drummond pour +le féliciter de l'avoir accompli. + +Il a véritablement fait là oeuvre de poète et d'artiste. + +J'ajouterai qu'il a fait aussi oeuvre de bon citoyen. Car le +jour sous lequel il présente mes compatriotes illettrés ne peut +manquer de valoir à ceux-ci--et partant à tout le reste de la +nationalité--un accroissement désirable dans l'estime de nos +compatriotes de langue anglaise, qui n'ont pas été à même de +les étudier d'aussi près que M. Drummond. + +La peinture qu'en fait le poète est on ne peut plus sympathique et +juste; et de semblables procédés ne peuvent que cimenter l'union +de coeur et d'esprit qui doit exister entre toutes les fractions +qui composent la grande famille canadienne appelée à vivre et à +prospérer sous la même loi et le même drapeau. + +En lisant les vers de M. Drummond, le Canadien-français sent que +c'est là l'expression d'une âme amie; et, à ce compte, je dois +à l'auteur plus que mes bravos, je lui dois en même temps un +chaleureux merci. + +LOUIS FRÉCHETTE. + +MONTRÉAL, 13 octobre 1897. + + + + +PREFACE + + +In presenting to the public "The Habitant and other French-Canadian +Poems," I feel that my friends who are already, more or less, +familiar with the work, understand that I have not written the +verses as examples of a dialect, or with any thought of ridicule. + +Having lived, practically, all my life, side by side with the +French-Canadian people, I have grown to admire and love them, and +I have felt that while many of the English-speaking public know +perhaps as well as myself the French-Canadian of the cities, yet +they have had little opportunity of becoming acquainted with the +habitant, therefore I have endeavored to paint a few types, and in +doing this, it has seemed to me that I could best attain the object +in view by having my friends tell their own tales in their own way, +as they would relate them to English-speaking auditors not +conversant with the French tongue. + +My good friend, Dr. Louis Frechette, Poet Laureate, has as a +French-Canadian, kindly written an "Introductory" in his own +graceful language, and I have to thank him above all for his +recognition of the spirit which has actuated me in writing +"dialect" verse. + +To Mr. F. S. Coburn, the artist, also, I am deeply indebted for +the faithful manner in which he has interpreted the different +characters and scenes contained in this volume. All the pictures +have been sketched from nature or life, and the keenest critic will +agree with me, that Mr. Coburn's illustrations are most typical, +both of the people and the soil. + +WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND. + + + +CONTENTS. + + + DE HABITANT + THE WRECK OF THE "JULIE PLANTE" + LE VIEUX TEMPS + DE PAPINEAU GUN + HOW BATEESE CAME HOME + DE NICE LEETLE CANADIENNE + 'POLEON DORÉ + DE NOTAIRE PUBLIQUE + MAXIME LABELLE + MEMORIES + PHIL-O-RUM JUNEAU + DE BELL OF ST. MICHEL + PELANG + MON CHOUAL "CASTOR" + OLE TAM ON BORD-A PLOUFFE + THE GRAND SEIGNEUR + M'SIEU SMIT' + WHEN ALBANI SANG + DE CAMP ON DE "CHEVAL GRIS" + DE STOVE PIPE HOLE + DE SNOWBIRD + THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE + OLE DOCTEUR FISET + + + +DE HABITANT. + + +De place I get born, me, is up on de reever + Near foot of de rapide dat's call Cheval Blanc +Beeg mountain behin' it, so high you can't climb it + An' whole place she's mebbe two honder arpent. + +De fader of me, he was habitant farmer, + Ma gran' fader too, an' hees fader also, +Dey don't mak' no monee, but dat isn't fonny + For it's not easy get ev'ryt'ing, you mus' know-- + +All de sam' dere is somet'ing dey got ev'ryboddy, + Dat's plaintee good healt', wat de monee can't geev, +So I'm workin' away dere, an' happy for stay dere + On farm by de reever, so long I was leev. + +O! dat was de place w'en de spring tam she's comin', + W'en snow go away, an' de sky is all blue-- +W'en ice lef' de water, an' sun is get hotter + An' back on de medder is sing de gou-glou-- + +W'en small sheep is firs' comin' out on de pasture, + Deir nice leetle tail stickin' up on deir back, +Dey ronne wit' deir moder, an' play wit' each oder + An' jomp all de tam jus' de sam' dey was crack-- + +An' ole cow also, she's glad winter is over, + So she kick herse'f up, an' start off on de race +Wit' de two-year-ole heifer, dat's purty soon lef' her, + W'y ev'ryt'ing's crazee all over de place! + +An' down on de reever de wil' duck is quackin' + Along by de shore leetle san'piper ronne-- +De bullfrog he's gr-rompin' an' doré is jompin' + Dey all got deir own way for mak' it de fonne. + +But spring's in beeg hurry, an' don't stay long wit' us + An' firs' t'ing we know, she go off till nex' year, +Den bee commence hummin', for summer is comin' + An' purty soon corn's gettin' ripe on de ear. + +Dat's very nice tam for wake up on de morning + An' lissen de rossignol sing ev'ry place, +Feel sout' win' a-blowin' see clover a-growin' + An' all de worl' laughin' itself on de face. + +Mos' ev'ry day raf' it is pass on de rapide + De voyageurs singin' some ole chanson +'Bout girl down de reever--too bad dey mus' leave her, +But comin' back soon' wit' beaucoup d'argent. + +An' den w'en de fall an' de winter come roun' us + An' bird of de summer is all fly away, +W'en mebbe she's snowin' an' nort' win' is blowin' + An' night is mos' t'ree tam so long as de day. + +You t'ink it was bodder de habitant farmer? + Not at all--he is happy an' feel satisfy, +An' cole may las' good w'ile, so long as de wood-pile + Is ready for burn on de stove by an' bye. + +W'en I got plaintee hay put away on de stable + So de sheep an' de cow, dey got no chance to freeze, +An' de hen all togedder--I don't min' de wedder-- + De nort' win' may blow jus' so moche as she please. + +An' some cole winter night how I wish you can see us, + W'en I smoke on de pipe, an' de ole woman sew +By de stove of T'ree Reever--ma wife's fader geev her + On day we get marry, dat's long tam ago-- + +De boy an' de girl, dey was readin' it's lesson, + De cat on de corner she's bite heem de pup, +Ole "Carleau" he's snorin' an' beeg stove is roarin' + So loud dat I'm scare purty soon she bus' up. + +Philomene--dat's de oldes'--is sit on de winder + An' kip jus' so quiet lak wan leetle mouse, +She say de more finer moon never was shiner-- + Very fonny, for moon isn't dat side de house. + +But purty soon den, we hear foot on de outside, + An' some wan is place it hees han' on de latch, +Dat's Isidore Goulay, las' fall on de Brulé + He's tak' it firs' prize on de grand ploughin' match. + +Ha! ha! Philomene!--dat was smart trick you play us + Come help de young feller tak' snow from hees neck, +Dere's not'ing for hinder you come off de winder + W'en moon you was look for is come, I expec'-- + +Isidore, he is tole us de news on de parish + 'Bout hees Lajeunesse Colt--travel two forty, sure, +'Bout Jeremie Choquette, come back from Woonsocket + An' t'ree new leetle twin on Madame Vaillancour'. + +But nine o'clock strike, an' de chil'ren is sleepy, + Mese'f an' ole woman can't stay up no more +So alone by de fire--'cos dey say dey ain't tire-- + We lef' Philomene an' de young Isidore. + +I s'pose dey be talkin' beeg lot on de kitchen + 'Bout all de nice moon dey was see on de sky, +For Philomene's takin' long tam get awaken + Nex' day, she's so sleepy on bote of de eye. + +Dat's wan of dem ting's, ev'ry tam on de fashion, + An' 'bout nices' t'ing dat was never be seen. +Got not'ing for say me--I spark it sam' way me + W'en I go see de moder ma girl Philomene. + +We leev very quiet 'way back on de contree + Don't put on sam style lak de big village, +W'en we don't get de monee you t'ink dat is fonny + An' mak' plaintee sport on de Bottes Sauvages. + +But I tole you--dat's true--I don't go on de city + If you geev de fine house an' beaucoup d'argent-- +I rader be stay me, an' spen' de las' day me + On farm by de rapide dat's call Cheval Blanc. + + + +THE WRECK OF THE "JULIE PLANTE." + +A LEGEND OF LAC-ST. PIERRE. + + +On wan dark night on Lac St. Pierre, + De win' she blow, blow, blow, +An' de crew of de wood scow "Julie Plante" + Got scar't an' run below-- +For de win' she blow lak hurricane + Bimeby she blow some more, +An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre + Wan arpent from de shore. + +De captinne walk on de fronte deck, + An' walk de hin' deck too-- +He call de crew from up de hole + He call de cook also. +De cook she's name was Rosie, + She come from Montreal, +Was chambre maid on lumber barge, + On de Grande Lachine Canal. + +De win' she blow from nor'-eas'-wes,'-- + De sout' win' she blow too, +W'en Rosie cry "Mon cher captinne, + Mon cher, w'at I shall do?" +Den de Captinne t'row de big ankerre, + But still the scow she dreef, +De crew he can't pass on de shore, + Becos' he los' hees skeef. + +De night was dark lak' wan black cat, + De wave run high an' fas', +W'en de captinne tak' de Rosie girl + An' tie her to de mas'. +Den he also tak' de life preserve, + An' jomp off on de lak', +An' say, "Good-bye, ma Rosie dear, + I go drown for your sak'." + +Nex' morning very early + 'Bout ha'f-pas' two--t'ree--four-- +De captinne--scow--an' de poor Rosie + Was corpses on de shore, +For de win' she blow lak' hurricane + Bimeby she blow some more, +An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre, + Wan arpent from de shore. + +MORAL. + +Now all good wood scow sailor man + Tak' warning by dat storm +An' go an' marry some nice French girl + An' leev on wan beeg farm. +De win' can blow lak' hurricane + An' s'pose she blow some more, +You can't get drown on Lac St. Pierre + So long you stay on shore. + + + +LE VIEUX TEMPS. + + +Venez ici, mon cher ami, an' sit down by me--so +An' I will tole you story of old tam long ago-- +W'en ev'ryt'ing is happy--w'en all de bird is sing +An' me!--I'm young an' strong lak moose an' not afraid no t'ing. + +I close my eye jus' so, an' see de place w'ere I am born-- +I close my ear an' lissen to musique of de horn, +Dat's horn ma dear ole moder blow--an only t'ing she play +Is "viens donc vite Napoléon--'peche toi pour votre souper."-- + +An' w'en he's hear dat nice musique--ma leetle dog "Carleau" +Is place hees tail upon hees back--an' den he's let heem go-- +He's jomp on fence--he's swimmin' crik--he's ronne two forty gait, +He say "dat's somet'ing good for eat--Carleau mus' not be late." + +O dem was pleasure day for sure, dem day of long ago +W'en I was play wit' all de boy, an' all de girl also; +An' many tam w'en I'm alone an' t'ink of day gone by +An' pull latire an' spark de girl, I cry upon my eye. + +Ma fader an' ma moder too, got nice, nice familee, +Dat's ten garçon an' t'orteen girl, was mak' it twenty t'ree +But fonny t'ing de Gouvernement don't geev de firs' prize den +Lak w'at dey say dey geev it now, for only wan douzaine. + +De English peep dat only got wan familee small size +Mus' be feel glad dat tam dere is no honder acre prize +For fader of twelve chil'ren--dey know dat mus' be so, +De Canayens would boss Kebeck--mebbe Ontario. + +But dat is not de story dat I was gone tole you +About de fun we use to have w'en we leev a chez nous +We're never lonesome on dat house, for many cavalier +Come at our place mos' every night--especially Sun-day. + +But tam I'member bes' is w'en I'm twenty wan year--me-- +An' so for mak' some pleasurement--we geev wan large soirée +De whole paroisse she be invite--de Curé he's come too-- +Wit plaintee peep from 'noder place--dat's more I can tole you. + +De night she's cole an' freeze also, chemin she's fill wit snow +An' on de chimley lak phantome, de win' is mak' it blow-- +But boy an' girl come all de sam an' pass on grande parloir +For warm itself on beeg box stove, was mak' on Trois Rivières-- + +An' w'en Bonhomme Latour commence for tune up hees fidelle +It mak' us all feel very glad--l'enfant! he play so well, +Musique suppose to be firs' class, I offen hear, for sure +But mos' bes' man, beat all de res', is ole Bateese Latour-- + +An' w'en Bateese play Irish jeeg, he's learn on Mattawa +Dat tam he's head boss cook Shaintee--den leetle Joe Leblanc +Tak' hole de beeg Marie Juneau an' dance upon de floor +Till Marie say "Excuse to me, I cannot dance no more."-- + +An' den de Curé's mak' de speech--ole Curé Ladouceur! +He say de girl was spark de boy too much on some cornerre-- +An' so he's tole Bateese play up ole fashion reel a quatre +An' every body she mus' dance, dey can't get off on dat. + +Away she go--hooraw! hooraw! plus fort Bateese, mon vieux +Camille Bisson, please watch your girl--dat's bes' t'ing you can do. +Pass on de right an' tak' your place Mamzelle Des Trois Maisons +You're s'pose for dance on Paul Laberge, not Telesphore Gagnon. + +Mon oncle Al-fred, he spik lak' dat--'cos he is boss de floor, +An' so we do our possibill an' den commence encore. +Dem crowd of boy an' girl I'm sure keep up until nex' day +If ole Bateese don't stop heseff, he come so fatigué. + +An' affer dat, we eat some t'ing, tak' leetle drink also +An' de Curé, he's tole story of many year ago-- +W'en Iroquois sauvage she's keel de Canayens an' steal deir hair, +An' say dat's only for Bon Dieu, we don't be here--he don't be dere. + +But dat was mak' de girl feel scare--so all de cavalier +Was ax hees girl go home right off, an' place her on de sleigh, +An' w'en dey start, de Curé say, "Bonsoir et bon voyage +Menagez-vous--tak' care for you--prenez-garde pour les sauvages." + +An' den I go meseff also, an' tak' ma belle Elmire-- +She's nicer girl on whole Comté, an' jus' got eighteen year-- +Black hair--black eye, an' chick rosée dat's lak wan fameuse on de fall +But don't spik much--not of dat kin', I can't say she love me at all. + +Ma girl--she's fader beeg farmeur--leev 'noder side St. Flore +Got five-six honder acre--mebbe a leetle more-- +Nice sugar bush--une belle maison--de bes' I never see-- +So w'en I go for spark Elmire, I don't be mak' de foolish me-- + +Elmire!--she's pass t'ree year on school--Ste. Anne de la Perade +An' w'en she's tak' de firs' class prize, dat's mak' de ole man glad; +He say "Ba gosh--ma girl can wash--can keep de kitchen clean +Den change her dress--mak' politesse before God save de Queen." + +Dey's many way for spark de girl, an' you know dat of course, +Some way dey might be better way, an' some dey might be worse +But I lak' sit some cole night wit' my girl on ole burleau +Wit' lot of hay keep our foot warm--an' plaintee buffalo-- + +Dat's geev good chances get acquaint--an' if burleau upset +An' t'row you out upon de snow--dat's better chances yet-- +An' if you help de girl go home, if horse he ronne away +De girl she's not much use at all--don't geev you nice baiser! + +Dat's very well for fun ma frien', but w'en you spark for keep +She's not sam t'ing an' mak' you feel so scare lak' leetle sheep +Some tam you get de fever--some tam you're lak snowball +An' all de tam you ack lak' fou--can't spik no t'ing at all. + +Wall! dat's de way I feel meseff, wit Elmire on burleau, +Jus' lak' small dog try ketch hees tail--roun' roun' ma head she go +But bimeby I come more brave--an' tak' Elmire she's han' +"Laisse-moi tranquille" Elmire she say "You mus' be crazy man." + +"Yass--yass," I say, "mebbe you t'ink I'm wan beeg loup garou, +Dat's forty t'ousand 'noder girl, I lef' dem all for you, +I s'pose you know Polique Gauthier your frien'on St. Cesaire +I ax her marry me nex' wick--she tak' me--I don't care." + +Ba gosh; Elmire she don't lak dat--it mak' her feel so mad-- +She commence cry, say "'Poleon you treat me very bad-- +I don't lak see you t'row you'seff upon Polique Gauthier, +So if you say you love me sure--we mak' de mariée."-- + +Oh it was fine tam affer dat--Castor I t'ink he know, +We're not too busy for get home--he go so nice an' slow, +He's only upset t'ree--four tam--an' jus' about daylight +We pass upon de ole man's place--an' every t'ing's all right. + +Wall! we leev happy on de farm for nearly fifty year, +Till wan day on de summer tam--she die--ma belle Elmire +I feel so lonesome lef' behin'--I tink 'twas bes' mebbe-- +Dat w'en le Bon Dieu tak' ma famme--he should not forget me. + +But dat is hees biz-nesse ma frien'--I know dat's all right dere +I'll wait till he call "'Poleon" den I will be prepare-- +An' w'en he fin' me ready, for mak' de longue voyage +He guide me t'roo de wood hesef upon ma las' portage. + + + +"DE PAPINEAU GUN." + +AN INCIDENT OF THE CANADIAN REBELLION OF 1837. + + +Bon jour, M'sieu'--you want to know + 'Bout dat ole gun--w'at good she's for? +W'y! Jean Bateese Bruneau--mon pere, + Fight wit' dat gun on Pap'neau War! + +Long tam since den you say--C'est vrai, + An' me too young for 'member well, +But how de patriot fight an' die, + I offen hear de ole folk tell. + +De English don't ack square dat tam, + Don't geev de habitants no show, +So 'long come Wolfred Nelson + Wit' Louis Joseph Papineau. + +An' swear de peep mus' have deir right. + Wolfred he's write Victoriaw, +But she's no good, so den de war + Commence among de habitants. + +Mon pere he leev to Grande Brulé + So smarter man you never see, +Was alway on de grande hooraw! + Plaintee w'at you call "Esprit!" + +An' w'en dey form wan compagnie + All dress wit' tuque an' ceinture sash +Ma fader tak' hees gun wit' heem + An' marche away to Saint Eustache, + +W'ere many patriots was camp + Wit' brave Chenier, deir Capitaine, +W'en 'long come English Generale, + An' more two t'ousan' sojer man. + +De patriot dey go on church + An' feex her up deir possibill; +Dey fight deir bes', but soon fin' out + "Canon de bois" no good for kill. + +An' den de church she come on fire, + An' burn almos' down to de groun', +So w'at you t'ink our man can do + Wit' all dem English armee roun'? + +'Poleon, hees sojer never fight + More brave as dem poor habitants, +Chenier, he try for broke de rank + Chenier come dead immediatement. + +He fall near w'ere de cross is stan' + Upon de ole church cimitiere, +Wit' Jean Poulin an' Laframboise + An' plaintee more young feller dere. + +De gun dey rattle lak' tonnere + Jus' bang, bang, bang! dat's way she go, +An' wan by wan de brave man's fall + An' red blood's cover all de snow. + +Ma fader shoot so long he can + An' den he's load hees gun some more, +Jomp on de ice behin' de church + An' pass heem on de 'noder shore. + +Wall! he reach home fore very long + An' keep perdu for many day, +Till ev'ry t'ing she come tranquille, + An' sojer man all gone away. + +An' affer dat we get our right, + De Canayens don't fight no more, +Ma fader's never shoot dat gun, + But place her up above de door. + +An' Papineau, an' Nelson too + Dey're gone long tam, but we are free, +Le Bon Dieu have 'em 'way up dere. + Salut, Wolfred! Salut, Louis! + + + +HOW BATEESE CAME HOME. + + +W'en I was young boy on de farm, dat's twenty year ago +I have wan frien' he's leev near me, call Jean Bateese Trudeau +An offen w'en we are alone, we lak for spik about +De tam w'en we was come beeg man, wit' moustache on our mout'. + +Bateese is get it on hees head, he's too moche educate +For mak' de habitant farmerre--he better go on State-- +An' so wan summer evening we're drivin' home de cow +He's tole me all de whole beez-nesse--jus' lak you hear me now. + +"W'at's use mak' foolish on de farm? dere's no good chances lef' +An' all de tam you be poor man--you know dat's true you'se'f; +We never get no fun at all--don't never go on spree +Onless we pass on 'noder place, an' mak' it some monee. + +"I go on Les Etats Unis, I go dere right away +An' den mebbe on ten-twelve year, I be riche man some day, +An' w'en I mak' de large fortune, I come back I s'pose +Wit' Yankee famme from off de State, an' monee on my clothes. + +"I tole you somet'ing else also--mon cher Napoleon +I get de grande majorité, for go on parliament +Den buil' fine house on borde l'eau--near w'ere de church is stand +More finer dan de Presbytere, w'en I am come riche man!" + +I say "For w'at you spik lak dat? you must be gone crazee +Dere's plaintee feller on de State, more smarter dan you be, +Beside she's not so healtee place, an' if you mak' l'argent, +You spen' it jus' lak Yankee man, an' not lak habitant. + +"For me Bateese! I tole you dis: I'm very satisfy-- +De bes' man don't leev too long tam, some day Ba Gosh! he die-- +An' s'pose you got good trotter horse, an' nice famme Canadienne +Wit' plaintee on de house for eat--W'at more you want ma frien'?" + +But Bateese have it all mak' up, I can't stop him at all +He's buy de seconde classe tiquette, for go on Central Fall-- +An' wit' two-t'ree some more de boy,--w'at t'ink de sam' he do +Pass on de train de very nex' wick, was lef' Rivière du Loup. + + * * * * * + +Wall! mebbe fifteen year or more, since Bateese go away +I fin' mesef Rivière du Loup, wan cole, cole winter day +De quick express she come hooraw! but stop de soon she can +An' beeg swell feller jomp off car, dat's boss by nigger man. + +He's dressim on de première classe, an' got new suit of clothes +Wit' long moustache dat's stickim out, de 'noder side hees nose +Fine gol' watch chain--nice portmanteau--an' long, long overcoat +Wit' beaver hat--dat's Yankee style--an' red tie on hees t'roat-- + +I say "Hello Bateese! Hello! Comment ça va mon vieux?" +He say "Excuse to me, ma frien' I t'ink I don't know you." +I say, "She's very curis t'ing, you are Bateese Trudeau, +Was raise on jus' sam' place wit' me, dat's fifteen year ago?" + +He say, "Oh yass dat's sure enough--I know you now firs' rate, +But I forget mos' all ma French since I go on de State. +Dere's 'noder t'ing kip on your head, ma frien' dey mus' be tole +Ma name's Bateese Trudeau no more, but John B. Waterhole!" + +"Hole on de water's" fonny name for man w'at's call Trudeau +Ma frien's dey all was spik lak dat, an' I am tole heem so-- +He say "Trudeau an' Waterhole she's jus' about de sam' +An' if you go for leev on State, you must have Yankee nam'." + +Den we invite heem come wit' us, "Hotel du Canadaw" +W'ere he was treat mos' ev'ry tam, but can't tak' w'isky blanc, +He say dat's leetle strong for man jus' come off Central Fall +An' "tabac Canayen" bedamme! he won't smoke dat at all!-- + +But fancy drink lak "Collings John" de way he put it down +Was long tam since I don't see dat--I t'ink he's goin' drown!-- +An' fine cigar cos' five cent each, an' mak' on Trois-Rivières +L'enfant! he smoke beeg pile of dem--for monee he don't care!-- + +I s'pose meseff it's t'ree o'clock w'en we are t'roo dat night +Bateese, hees fader come for heem, an' tak' heem home all right +De ole man say Bateese spik French, w'en he is place on bed-- +An' say bad word--but w'en he wake--forget it on hees head-- + +Wall! all de winter w'en we have soirée dat's grande affaire +Bateese Trudeau, dit Waterhole, he be de boss man dere-- +You bet he have beeg tam, but w'en de spring is come encore +He's buy de première classe tiquette for go on State some more. + + * * * * * + +You 'member w'en de hard tam come on Les Etats Unis +An' plaintee Canayens go back for stay deir own contrée? +Wall! jus' about 'dat tam again I go Rivière du Loup +For sole me two t'ree load of hay--mak' leetle visit too-- + +De freight train she is jus' arrive--only ten hour delay-- +She's never carry passengaire--dat's w'at dey always say-- +I see poor man on char caboose--he's got heem small valise +Begosh! I nearly tak' de fit,--It is--it is Bateese! + +He know me very well dis tam, an' say "Bon jour, mon vieux +I hope you know Bateese Trudeau was educate wit' you +I'm jus' come off de State to see ma familee encore +I bus' mesef on Central Fall--I don't go dere no more." + +"I got no monee--not at all--I'm broke it up for sure-- +Dat's locky t'ing, Napoleon, de brakeman Joe Latour +He's cousin of wan frien' of me call Camille Valiquette, +Conductor too's good Canayen--don't ax me no tiquette." + +I tak' Bateese wit' me once more "Hotel du Canadaw" +An' he was glad for get de chance drink some good w'isky blanc! +Dat's warm heem up, an den he eat mos' ev'ryt'ing he see, +I watch de w'ole beez-nesse mese'f--Monjee! he was hongree! + +Madame Charette wat's kip de place get very much excite +For see de many pork an' bean Bateese put out of sight +Du pain doré--potate pie--an' 'noder t'ing be dere +But w'en Bateese is get heem t'roo--dey go I don't know w'ere. + +It don't tak' long for tole de news "Bateese come off de State" +An' purty soon we have beeg crowd, lak village she's en fête +Bonhomme Maxime Trudeau hese'f, he's comin' wit' de pries' +An' pass' heem on de "Room for eat" w'ere he is see Bateese. + +Den ev'rybody feel it glad, for watch de embrasser +An' bimeby de ole man spik "Bateese you here for stay?" +Bateese he's cry lak beeg bebè, "Bâ j'eux rester ici. +An if I never see de State, I'm sure I don't care--me." + +"Correc'," Maxime is say right off, "I place you on de farm +For help your poor ole fader, won't do you too moche harm +Please come wit' me on Magasin, I feex you up--bâ oui +An' den you're ready for go home an' see de familee." + +Wall! w'en de ole man an' Bateese come off de Magasin +Bateese is los' hees Yankee clothes--he's dress lak Canayen +Wit' bottes sauvages--ceinture fléché--an' coat wit' capuchon +An' spik Français au naturel, de sam' as habitant. + + * * * * * + +I see Bateese de oder day, he's work hees fader's place +I t'ink mese'f he's satisfy--I see dat on hees face +He say "I got no use for State, mon cher Napoleon +Kebeck she's good enough for me--Hooraw pour Canadaw." + + + +DE NICE LEETLE CANADIENNE. + + +You can pass on de worl' w'erever you lak, + Tak' de steamboat for go Angleterre, +Tak' car on de State, an' den you come back, + An' go all de place, I don't care-- +Ma frien' dat's a fack, I know you will say, + W'en you come on dis contree again, +Dere's no girl can touch, w'at we see ev'ry day, + De nice leetle Canadienne. + +Don't matter how poor dat girl she may be, + Her dress is so neat an' so clean, +Mos' ev'rywan t'ink it was mak' on Paree + An' she wear it, wall! jus' lak de Queen. +Den come for fin' out she is mak' it herse'f, + For she ain't got moche monee for spen', +But all de sam' tam, she was never get lef', + Dat nice leetle Canadienne. + +W'en "un vrai Canayen" is mak' it mariée, + You t'ink he go leev on beeg flat +An' bodder hese'f all de tam, night an' day, + Wit' housemaid, an' cook, an' all dat? +Not moche, ma dear frien', he tak' de maison, + Cos' only nine dollar or ten, +W'ere he leev lak blood rooster, an' save de l'argent, + Wit' hees nice leetle Canadienne. + +I marry ma famme w'en I'm jus' twenty year, + An' now we got fine familee, +Dat skip roun' de place lak leetle small deer, + No smarter crowd you never see-- +An' I t'ink as I watch dem all chasin' about, + Four boy an' six girl, she mak' ten, +Dat's help mebbe kip it, de stock from run out, + Of de nice leetle Canadienne. + +O she's quick an' she's smart, an' got plaintee heart, + If you know correc' way go about, +An' if you don't know, she soon tole you so + Den tak' de firs' chance an' get out; +But if she love you, I spik it for true, + She will mak' it more beautiful den, +An' sun on de sky can't shine lak de eye + Of dat nice leetle Canadienne. + + + +'POLEON DORÉ. + +A TALE OF THE SAINT MAURICE. + + +You have never hear de story of de young Napoleon Doré? + Los' hees life upon de reever w'en de lumber drive go down? +W'ere de rapide roar lak tonder, dat's de place he's goin' onder, + W'en he's try save Paul Desjardins, 'Poleon hese'f is drown. + +All de winter on de Shaintee, tam she's good, and work she's plaintee, + But we're not feel very sorry, w'en de sun is warm hees face, +W'en de mooshrat an' de beaver, tak' some leetle swim on reever, + An' de sout' win' scare de snowbird, so she fly some col'er place. + +Den de spring is set in steady, an' we get de log all ready, + Workin' hard all day an' night too, on de water mos' de tam, +An' de skeeter w'en dey fin' us, come so quickly nearly blin' us, + Biz--biz--biz--biz--all aroun' us till we feel lak sacrédam. + +All de sam' we're hooraw feller, from de top of house to cellar, + Ev'ry boy he's feel so happy, w'en he's goin' right away, +See hees fader an' hees moder, see hees sister an' hees broder, + An' de girl he spark las' summer, if she's not get marieé. + +Wall we start heem out wan morning, an' de pilot geev us warning, + "W'en you come on Rapide Cuisse, ma frien', keep raf' she's head on shore, +If you struck beeg rock on middle, w'ere le diable is play hees fiddle, + Dat's de tam you pass on some place, you don't never pass before." + +But we'll not t'ink moche of danger, for de rapide she's no stranger + Many tam we're runnin' t'roo it, on de fall an' on de spring, +On mos' ev'ry kin' of wedder dat le Bon Dieu scrape togedder, + An' we'll never drown noboddy, an' we'll never bus' somet'ing. + +Dere was Telesphore Montbriand, Paul Desjardins, Louis Guyon, + Bill McKeever, Aleck Gauthier, an' hees cousin Jean Bateese, +'Poleon Doré, Aimé Beaulieu, wit' some more man I can't tole you, + Dat was mak' it bes' gang never run upon de St. Maurice. + +Dis is jus' de tam I wish me, I could spik de good English--me-- + For tole you of de pleasurement we get upon de spring, +W'en de win' she's all a sleepin', an' de raf' she go a sweepin' + Down de reever on some morning, w'ile le rossignol is sing. + +Ev'ryt'ing so nice an' quiet on de shore as we pass by it, + All de tree got fine new spring suit, ev'ry wan she's dress on green +W'y it mak' us all more younger, an' we don't feel any hunger, + Till de cook say "'Raw for breakfas'," den we smell de pork an' bean. + +Some folk say she's bad for leever, but for man work hard on reever, + Dat's de bes' t'ing I can tole you, dat was never yet be seen, +Course dere's oder t'ing ah tak' me, fancy dish also I lak me, + But w'en I want somet'ing solid, please pass me de pork an' bean. + +All dis tam de raf' she's goin' lak steamboat was got us towin' + All we do is keep de channel, an' dat's easy workin' dere, +So we sing some song an' chorus, for de good tam dat's before us, + W'en de w'ole beez-nesse she's finish, an' we come on Trois Rivieres. + +But bad luck is sometam fetch us, for beeg strong win' come an' ketch us, + Jus' so soon we struck de rapide--jus' so soon we see de smoke, +An' before we spik some prayer for ourse'f dat's fightin' dere, + Roun' we come upon de beeg rock, an' it's den de raf' she broke. + +Dat was tam poor Paul Desjardins, from de parish of St. Germain, + He was long way on de fronte side, so he's fallin' overboar' +Couldn't swim at all de man say, but dat's more ma frien', I can say, + Any how he's look lak drownin', so we'll t'row him two t'ree oar. + +Dat's 'bout all de help our man do, dat's 'bout ev'ryt'ing we can do, + As de crib we're hangin' onto balance on de rock itse'f, +Till de young Napoleon Doré, heem I start for tole de story, + Holler out, "Mon Dieu, I don't lak see poor Paul go drown hese'f." + +So he's mak' beeg jomp on water, jus' de sam you see some otter + An' he's pass on place w'ere Paul is tryin' hard for keep afloat, +Den we see Napoleon ketch heem, try hees possibill for fetch heem + But de current she's more stronger, an' de eddy get dem bote. + +O Mon Dieu! for see dem two man, mak' me feel it cry lak woman, + Roun' an' roun' upon de eddy, quickly dem poor feller go, +Can't tole wan man from de oder, an' we'll know dem bote lak broder, + But de fight she soon is finish--Paul an' 'Poleon go below. + +Yass, an' all de tam we stay dere, only t'ing we do is pray dere, + For de soul poor drownin' feller, dat's enough mak' us feel mad, +Torteen voyageurs, all brave man, glad get any chances save man, + But we don't see no good chances, can't do not'ing, dat's too bad. + +Wall! at las' de crib she's come way off de rock, an' den on some way, + By an' by de w'ole gang's passin' on safe place below de Cuisse, +Ev'ryboddy's heart she's breakin', w'en dey see poor Paul he's taken + Wit' de young Napoleon Doré, bes' boy on de St. Maurice! + +An' day affer, Bill McKeever fin' de bote man on de reever, + Wit' deir arm aroun' each oder, mebbe pass above dat way-- +So we bury dem as we fin' dem, w'ere de pine tree wave behin' dem + An de Grande Montagne he's lookin' down on Marcheterre Bay. + +You can't hear no church bell ring dere, but le rossignol is sing dere, + An' w'ere ole red cross she's stannin', mebbe some good ange gardien, +Watch de place w'ere bote man sleepin', keep de reever grass from creepin' + On de grave of 'Poleon Doré, an' of poor Paul Desjardins. + + + +DE NOTAIRE PUBLIQUE. + + +M'sieu Paul Joulin, de Notaire Publique + Is come I s'pose seexty year hees life +An' de mos' riche man on Sainte Angelique + W'en he feel very sorry he got no wife-- +So he's paint heem hees buggy, lak new, by Gor! + Put flower on hees coat, mak' hese'f more gay +Arrange on hees head fine chapeau castor + An' drive on de house of de Boulanger. + +For de Boulanger's got heem une jolie fille + Mos' bes' lookin' girl on paroisse dey say +An' all de young feller is lak Julie + An' plaintee is ax her for mak' mariée, +But Julie she's love only jus' wan man, + Hees nam' it is Jérémie Dandurand +An' he's work for her sak' all de hard he can + 'Way off on de wood, up de Mattawa. + +M'Sieu Paul he spik him "Bonjour Mamzelle, + You lak promenade on de church wit' me? +Jus' wan leetle word an' we go ma belle + An' see heem de Curé toute suite, chérie; +I dress you de very bes' style à la mode, + If you promise for be Madame Paul Joulin, +For I got me fine house on Bord à Plouffe road + Wit' mor'gage also on de Grande Moulin." + +But Julie she say "Non, non, M'Sieu Paul, + Dat's not correc' t'ing for poor Jérémie +For I love dat young feller lak not'ing at all, + An' I'm very surprise you was not know me. +Jérémie w'en he's geev me dat nice gol' ring, + Las' tam he's gone off on de Mattawa +Say he's got 'noder wan w'en he's come nex' spring + Was mak' me for sure Madame Dandurand. + +"I t'ank you de sam' M'Sieu Paul Joulin + I s'pose I mus' be de wife wan poor man +Wit' no chance at all for de Grande Moulin, + But leev all de tam on some small cabane." +De Notaire Publique den is tak' hees hat, + For he t'ink sure enough dat hees dog she's dead; +Dere's no use mak' love on de girl lak dat, + Wit' not'ing but young feller on de head. + +Julie she's feel lonesome mos' all dat week, + Don't know w'at may happen she wait till spring +Den t'ink de fine house of Notaire Publique + An' plaintee more too--but love's funny t'ing! +So nex' tam she see de Notaire again, + She laugh on her eye an' say "M'Sieu Paul +Please pass on de house, or you ketch de rain, + Dat's very long tam you don't come at all." + +She's geev him so soon he's come on de door + Du vin de pays, an' some nice galettes, +She's mak' dem herse'f only day before + An' he say "Bigosh! dat is fine girl yet." +So he's try hees chances some more--hooraw! + Julie is not mak' so moche troub' dis tam; +She's forget de poor Jérémie Dandurand + An' tole de Notaire she will be hees famme. + +W'en Jérémie come off de wood nex' spring, + An' fin' dat hees girl she was get mariée +Everybody's expec' he will do somet'ing, + But he don't do not'ing at all, dey say; +For he's got 'noder girl on Sainte Dorothée, + Dat he's love long tam, an' she don't say "No," +So he's forget too all about Julie + An' mak' de mariée wit' hese'f also. + + + +A CANADIAN VOYAGEUR'S ACCOUNT OF THE NILE EXPEDITION. + +"MAXIME LABELLE." + + +Victoriaw: she have beeg war, E-gyp's de nam' de place-- +An' neeger peep dat's leev 'im dere, got very black de face, +An' so she's write Joseph Mercier, he's stop on Trois Rivieres-- +"Please come right off, an' bring wit' you t'ree honder voyageurs. + +"I got de plaintee sojer, me, beeg feller six foot tall-- +Dat's Englishman, an' Scotch also, don't wear no pant at all; +Of course, de Irishman's de bes', raise all de row he can, +But noboddy can pull batteau lak good Canadian man. + +"I geev you steady job for sure, an' w'en you get 'im t'roo +I bring you back on Canadaw, don't cos' de man un sou, +Dat's firs'-class steamboat all de way Kebeck an' Leeverpool, +An' if you don't be satisfy, you mus' be beeg, beeg fool." + +We meet upon Hotel Dufresne, an' talk heem till daylight, +An' Joe he's treat so many tam, we very near get tight, +Den affer w'ile, we mak' our min' dat's not bad chance, an' so +Joseph Mercier he's telegraph, "Correc', Madame, we go." + +So Joe arrange de whole beez-nesse wit' Queen Victoriaw; +Two dollar day--work all de tam--dat's purty good l'argent! +An' w'en we start on Trois Rivieres, for pass on boar' de ship, +Our frien' dey all say, "Bon voyage," an' den Hooraw! E-gyp'! + +Dat beeg steamboat was plonge so moche, I'm 'fraid she never stop-- +De Capitaine's no use at all, can't kip her on de top-- +An' so we all come very sick, jus' lak one leetle pup, +An' ev'ry tam de ship's go down, de inside she's go up. + +I'm sorry spoke lak dis, ma frien', if you don't t'ink it's so, +Please ax Joseph Mercier hese'f, or Aleck De Courteau, +Dat stay on bed mos' all de tam, so sick dey nearly die, +But lak' some great, beeg Yankee man, was never tole de lie. + +De gang she's travel, travel, t'roo many strange contree, +An' ev'ry place is got new nam', I don't remember, me, +We see some fonny t'ing, for sure, more fonny I can tell, +But w'en we reach de Neel Riviere, dat's feel more naturel. + +So many fine, beeg sojer man, I never see before, +All dress heem on grand uniform, is wait upon de shore, +Some black, some green, an' red also, cos' honder dollar sure, +An' holler out, "She's all right now, here come de voyageurs!" + +We see boss Generale also, he's ride on beeg chameau, +Dat's w'at you call Ca-melle, I t'ink, I laugh de way she go! +Jomp up, jomp down, jomp ev'ry place, but still de Generale +Seem satisfy for stay on top, dat fonny an-i-mal. + +He's holler out on Joe Mercier, "Comment câ va Joseph +You lak for come right off wit' me, tak' leetle ride yourseff?" +Joseph, he mak' de grand salut, an' tak' it off hees hat, +"Merci, Mon Generale," he say, "I got no use for dat." + +Den affer we was drink somet'ing, an' sing "Le Brigadier," +De sojer fellers get prepare, for mak' de embarquer, +An' everybody's shout heem out, w'en we tak' hole de boat +"Hooraw pour Queen Victoriaw!" an' also "pour nous autres." + +Bigosh; I do hard work mese'f upon de Ottawa, +De Gatineau an' St. Maurice, also de Mattawa, +But I don't never work at all, I'sure you dat's a fack +Until we strike de Neel Riviere, an' sapré Catarack! + +"Dis way, dat way, can't keep her straight," "look out, Bateese, look out!" +"Now let her go"--"arrete un peu," dat's way de pilot shout, +"Don't wash de neeger girl on shore," an' "prenez garde behin'," +"W'at's matter wit' dat rudder man? I t'ink he's goin' blin'!" + +Some tam of course, de boat's all right, an' carry us along +An' den again, we mak portage, w'en current she's too strong +On place lak' dat, we run good chance, for sun-struck on de neck, +An' plaintee tam we wish ourseff was back on ole Kebeck. + +De seconde Catarack we pass, more beeger dan de Soo, +She's nearly t'orty mile for sure, it would astonish you, +Dat's place t'ree Irishman get drown, wan day we have beeg storm, +I s'pose de Queen is feel lak cry, los' dat nice uniform! + +De night she's very, very cole, an' hot upon de day, +An' all de tam, you feel jus' lak you're goin' melt away, +But never min' an' don't get scare, you mak' it up all right, +An' twenty poun' you los' dat day, she's comin' back sam' night. + +We got small bugle boy also, he's mebbe stan' four foot, +An' firs' t'ing ev'ry morning, sure, he mak' it toot! toot! toot! +She's nice enough upon de day, for hear de bugle call, +But w'en she play before daylight, I don't lak dat at all. + +We mus' get up immediatement, dat leetle feller blow, +An' so we start heem off again, for pull de beeg batteau, +De sojer man he's nice, nice boy, an' help us all he can, +An' geev heem chance, he's mos' as good lak some Canadian man. + +Wall all de tam, she go lak dat, was busy every day, +Don't get moche chance for foolish-ness, don't get no chance for play, +Dere's plaintee danger all aroun', an' w'en we're comin' back +We got look out for run heem safe, dem sapré Catarack. + +But w'ere's de war? I can't mak' out, don't see no fight at all! +She's not'ing but une Grande Piqnique, dat's las' in all de fall! +Mebbe de neeger King he's scare, an' skip anoder place, +An' pour la Reine Victoriaw! I never see de face. + +But dat's not ma beez-nesse, ma frien', I'm ready pull batteau +So long she pay two dollar day, wit' pork an' bean also; +An' if she geev me steady job, for mak' some more l'argent, +I say, "Hooraw! for all de tam, on Queen Victoriaw!" + + + +MEMORIES. + + +O spirit of the mountain that speaks to us to-night, +Your voice is sad, yet still recalls past visions of delight, +When 'mid the grand old Laurentides, old when the earth was new, +With flying feet we followed the moose and caribou. + +And backward rush sweet memories, like fragments of a dream, +We hear the dip of paddle blades, the ripple of the stream, +The mad, mad rush of frightened wings from brake and covert start, +The breathing of the woodland, the throb of nature's heart. + +Once more beneath our eager feet the forest carpet springs, +We march through gloomy valleys, where the vesper sparrow sings. +The little minstrel heeds us not, nor stays his plaintive song, +As with our brave coureurs de bois we swiftly pass along. + +Again o'er dark Wayagamack, in bark canoe we glide, +And watch the shades of evening glance along the mountain side. +Anon we hear resounding the wizard loon's wild cry, +And mark the distant peak whereon the ling'ring echoes die. + +But Spirit of the Northland! let the winter breezes blow, +And cover every giant crag with rifts of driving snow. +Freeze every leaping torrent, bind all the crystal lakes, +Tell us of fiercer pleasures when the Storm King awakes. + +And now the vision changes, the winds are loud and shrill, +The falling flakes are shrouding the mountain and the hill, +But safe within our snug cabane with comrades gathered near, +We set the rafters ringing with "Roulant" and "Brigadier." + +Then after Pierre and Telesphore have danced "Le Caribou," +Some hardy trapper tells a tale of the dreaded Loup Garou, +Or phantom bark in moonlit heavens, with prow turned to the East, +Bringing the Western voyageurs to join the Christmas feast. + +And while each backwoods troubadour is greeted with huzza +Slowly the homely incense of "tabac Canayen" +Rises and sheds its perfume like flowers of Araby, +O'er all the true-born loyal Enfants de la Patrie. + +And thus with song and story, with laugh and jest and shout, +We heed not dropping mercury nor storms that rage without, +But pile the huge logs higher till the chimney roars with glee, +And banish spectral visions with La Chanson Normandie. + + "Brigadier! répondit Pandore + Brigadier! vous avez raison, + Brigadier! répondit Pandore, + Brigadier! vous avez raison!" + +O spirit of the mountain! that speaks to us to-night, +Return again and bring us new dreams of past delight, +And while our heart-throbs linger, and till our pulses cease, +We'll worship thee among the hills where flows the Saint-Maurice. + + + +PHIL-O-RUM JUNEAU. + +A STORY OF THE "CHASSE GALLERIE." + + +In the days of the "Old Regime" in Canada, the free life of the +woods and prairies proved too tempting for the young men, who +frequently deserted civilization for the savage delights of the +wilderness. These voyageurs and coureurs de bois seldom returned in +the flesh, but on every New Year's Eve, back thro' snowstorm and +hurricane--in mid-air--came their spirits in ghostly canoes, to +join, for a brief spell, the old folks at home and kiss the girls, +on the annual feast of the "Jour de l'an," or New Year's Day. The +legend which still survives in French-speaking Canada, is known as +"La Chasse Gallerie." + + +He sit on de corner mos' every night, ole + Phil-o-rum Juneau, +Spik wit' hese'f an' shake de head, an' smoke + on de pipe also-- +Very hard job it's for wake him up, no matter + de loud we call +W'en he's feex hese'f on de beeg arm-chair, + back on de kitchen wall. + +He don't believe not'ing at all, at all 'bout + lates' new fashion t'ing +Le char 'lectrique an' de telephome, was talk + w'en de bell she ring +Dat's leetle too moche for de ole bonhomme, + mak' him shake it de head an' say +"Wat's use mak' de foolish lak dat, sapré! + I'm not born only yesterday." + +But if you want story dat's true, true, true, I + tole you good wan moi-meme +An de t'ing you was spik, dat I don't believe, + for sure she was beat all dem. +So he's cough leetle cough, clear 'im up de + t'roat, fill hees pipe wit' some more tabac, +An' w'en de chil'ren is come tranquille, de + ole man begin comme câ. + +L'enfant! l'enfant! it's very strange t'ing! + mak' me laugh too w'en I hear +De young peep talk of de long, long tam of + seventy, eighty year! +Dat's only be jus' eighty New Year Day, an' + quickly was pass it by +It's beeg, beeg dream, an' you don't wake up, + till affer you're comin' die. + +Dat's true sure enough, you see curi's t'ing, + if you only leev leetle w'ile, +So long you got monee go all de place, for + mebbe t'ree t'ousan' mile, +But monee's not everyt'ing on dis worl', I tole + you dat, mes amis, +An' man can be ole lak' two honder year, an' + not see it, La Chasse Gal'rie. + +I never forget de fine New Year night, nearly + seexty year ago, +W'en I'm lef' it our place for attend soiree, + on ole Maxime Baribault, +Nine mile away, I can see tin roof, on church + of de St. Joseph, +An' over de snow, de leaf dat die las' fall, + was chasin' itse'f. + +Dere was some of de neighbor house I call, + dat's be de ole fashion style, +An' very nice style too, mes amis, I hope she + will las' long w'ile, +I shak' it de han', I drink santé, an' kiss it + de girl she's face, +So it's come ten o'clock, w'en I pass on road, + for visit Maxime hees place. + +But I'm not go more mebbe t'ree arpent, w'en + de sky is get black all roun', +An' de win' she blow lak I never see, an' + de beeg snowstorm come down. +I mak' it my min' she's goin' be soon, de very + bad night for true, +Dat's locky I got plaintee whiskey lef', so I + tak' it wan leetle "coup." + +Purty quick affer dat, I'm comin' nice place, + was stan'in' some fine beeg tree +W'ere de snow don't dreef', an' it seem jus' + lak dat place it is mak' for me, +So I pass it on dere, for mak' safe mese'f, + w'ile de storm is blow outside, +As if all de devil on hell below, was tak' + heem some fancy ride. + +Wan red fox he's comin' so close, so close, + I could ketch him wit' de han', +But not on de tam lak dis ma frien', "Marche + toi all de quick you can," +Poor feller he's tire an' seem los' hees way, + an' w'en he reach home dat night +Mebbe he fin' it all was close up, an' de door + it was fassen tight. + +But w'at is dat soun' mak' de hair stan' up, + w'at is it mean, dat cry? +Comin' over de high tree top, out of de + nor'-wes' sky +Lak cry of de wil' goose w'en she pass on + de spring tam an' de fall, +But wil' goose fly on de winter night! + I never see dat at all. + +On, on t'roo de night, she is quickly come, + more closer all de tam, +But not lak de cry of some wil' bird now, + don't seem it at all de sam'; +An' den wit' de rush of de win', I hear + somebody sing chanson +An' de song dey sing is de ole, ole song, + "Le Canayen Errant."' + +But it's mak' me lonesome an' scare also, jus' + sam' I be goin' for die +W'en I lissen dat song on night lak dis, so + far away on de sky, +Don't know w'at to do at all mese'f, so I go + w'ere I have good view, +An' up, up above t'roo de storm an' snow, she's + comin' wan beeg canoe. + +Den somebody call it ma nam' out loud, firs' tam + it was scare me so, +"We know right away, dat was you be dere, hello + Phil-o-rum, hello!" +An' soon I see him dat feller spik, I 'member him + too mese'f, +We go de sam' school twenty year before, hees + nam's Telesphore Le Boeuf. + +But I know on de way canoe she go, dat de crowd + he mus' be dead man +Was come from de Grande Riviere du Nord, come + from Saskatchewan, +Come too from all de place is lie on de Hodson + Bay Contree, +An' de t'ing I was see me dat New Year night, + is le phantome Chasse Gal'rie. + +An' many de boy I was see him dere, I know him + so long before +He's goin' away on de far contree--for never + return no more-- +An' now on phantome he is comin' home--t'roo + de storm an' de hurricane +For kiss him de girl on jour de l'an, an' see + de ole peep again. + +De beeg voyageur w'at is steer canoe, wit' + paddle hol' on hees han' +Got very long hair was hang down hees neck, + de sam' as wil' Injin man +Invite me on boar' dat phantome canoe, for + show it dead man de way-- +Don't lak it de job, but no use refuse, + so I'll mak' it de embarquer. + +Den wan of de gang, he mus' be foreman, say + it's tam for have leetle drink, +So he pass heem black bottle for tak' un "coup," + an' it's look lak ma own I t'ink, +But it can't be de sam', I'll be swear for dat, + for w'en I was mak' de go, +I fin' dere is not'ing inside but win', an' + de whiskey's phantome also. + +Dey be laugh affer dat, lak dey tak' some fit, + so de boss spik him, "Tiens Phil-o-rum, +Never min' on dem feller--mus' have leetle sport, + dat's very long way we come, +Will you ketch it de paddle for steer us quick + on place of Maxime Baribault?" +An' he's ax me so nice, I do as he please', + an den away off she go. + +Wan minute--two minute--we pass on dere, + Maxime he is all hooraw! +An' we know by musique dat was play inside, + mus' be de great Joe Violon, +Dat feller work fiddle on very bes' way, + dat nobody never see +Mak' de boy an' de girl, ole peep also, + dance lak dey was go crazee. + +You s'pose dey was let me come on dat house? + Not at all, for de boss he say, +"Phil-o-rum, it's long tam we don't see our fren', + can't get heem chance ev'ry day, +Please stop on canoe so she won't blow off, + w'ile we pass on de house an' see +Dem frien' we was lef' an' de girl we spark, + before we go strange contree." + +An' me I was sit on canoe outside, jus' lak + I was sapré fou, +Watchin' dem feller dat's all dead man, + dance heem lak Loup Garou. +De boss he kiss Marie Louise, ma girl, + dat's way he spen' mos' de tam, +But of course she know not'ing of dat + biz-nesse--don't lak it me jus' de sam'. + +By tam I'm commence it for feel de col', + dey're all comin' out encore, +An' we start off again t'roo de sky, hooraw! + for mak' de visite some more, +All de place on de parish we go dat night, + w'erever dey get some dance, +Till I feel it so tire, I could sleep right off, + but dey don't geev it me no chance. + +De las' place w'ere passin' dat's Bill Boucher, + he's very good frien' of me, +An' I t'ink it's near tam I was lef' dat crowd, + so I'll snub de canoe on tree, +Den affer dead man he was safe inside, an' + ev'rywan start danser, +I go on de barn wat's behin' de house, for + see I can't hide away. + +She's nice place de barn, an' got plaintee warm, + an' I'm feel very glad be dere, +So long dead feller don't fin' me out, an' ketch + it me on de hair, +But s'pose I get col', work him hard all night, + 'cos I make it wan leetle cough, +W'en de rooster he's scare, holler t'ree, four tam, + an' whole t'ing she bus' right off. + +I'll never see not'ing so quick again--Canoe an' + dead man go scat! +She's locky de rooster he mak' de noise, bus' + ev'ryt'ing up lak dat, +Or mebbe dem feller get me encore, an' tak' me + on Hodson Bay, +But it's all right now, for de morning's come, + an' he see me ole Bill Boucher. + +I'm feel it so tire, an' sore all de place, wit' + all de hard work I do', +'Cos I'm not very use for mak' paddle, me, on beeg, + beeg phantome canoe, +But Bill an' hees boy dey was leef me up, an' + carry me on maison +W'ere plaintee nice t'ing dey was mak' me eat, + an' drink it some whiskey blanc. + +An' now w'en I'm finish, w'at you t'ink it youse'f, + 'bout story dat you was hear? +No wonner ma hair she is all turn w'ite before I + get eighty year! +But 'member dis t'ing, I be tole you firs, don't + los' it mes chers amis, +De man he can leev him on long, long tam, an' + not see it La Chasse Gal'rie! + + * * * * * + +He sit on de corner mos' every night, ole + Phil-o-rum Juneau, +Spik wit' hese'f, an' shak' de head, an' smoke + on de pipe also, +But kip very quiet, don't wak' him up, let him + stay on de kitchen wall, +For if you believe w'at de ole man say, you + believe anyt'ing at all. + + + +DE BELL OF ST. MICHEL. + + +Go 'way, go 'way, don't ring no more, ole bell of Saint Michel, +For if you do, I can't stay here, you know dat very well, +No matter how I close ma ear, I can't shut out de soun', +It rise so high 'bove all de noise of dis beeg Yankee town. + +An' w'en it ring, I t'ink I feel de cool, cool summer breeze +Dat's blow across Lac Peezagonk, an' play among de trees, +Dey're makin' hay, I know mese'f, can smell de pleasant smell +O! how I wish I could be dere to-day on Saint Michel! + +It's fonny t'ing, for me I'm sure, dat's travel ev'ryw'ere, +How moche I t'ink of long ago w'en I be leevin' dere; +I can't 'splain dat at all, at all, mebbe it's naturel, +But I can't help it w'en I hear de bell of Saint Michel. + +Dere's plaintee t'ing I don't forget, but I remember bes' +De spot I fin' wan day on June de small san'piper's nes' +An' dat hole on de reever w'ere I ketch de beeg, beeg trout +Was very nearly pull me in before I pull heem out. + +An' leetle Elodie Leclaire, I wonner if she still +Leev jus' sam' place she use to leev on 'noder side de hill, +But s'pose she marry Joe Barbeau, dat's alway hangin' roun' +Since I am lef' ole Saint Michel for work on Yankee town. + +Ah! dere she go, ding dong, ding dong, its back, encore again +An' ole chanson come on ma head of "a la claire fontaine," +I'm not surprise it soun' so sweet, more sweeter I can tell +For wit' de song also I hear de bell of Saint Michel. + +It's very strange about dat bell, go ding dong all de w'ile +For when I'm small garçon at school, can't hear it half a mile; +But seems more farder I get off from Church of Saint Michel, +De more I see de ole village an' louder soun' de bell. + +O! all de monee dat I mak' w'en I be travel roun' +Can't kip me long away from home on dis beeg Yankee town, +I t'ink I'll settle down again on Parish Saint Michel, +An' leev an' die more satisfy so long I hear dat bell. + + + +PELANG. + + +Pelang! Pelang! Mon cher garçon, + I t'ink of you--t'ink of you night and day-- +Don't mak' no difference, seems to me + De long long tam you're gone away. + + * * * * * + +De snow is deep on de Grande Montagne-- + Lak tonder de rapide roar below-- +De sam' kin' night, ma boy get los' + On beeg, beeg storm forty year ago. + +An' I never was hear de win' blow hard, + An' de snow come sweesh on de window pane-- +But ev'ryt'ing 'pear lak' it's yesterday + An' whole of ma troub' is come back again. + +Ah me! I was foolish young girl den + It's only ma own plaisir I care, +An' w'en some dance or soirée come off + Dat's very sure t'ing you will see me dere. + +Don't got too moche sense at all dat tam, + Run ev'ry place on de whole contree-- +But I change beeg lot w'en Pelang come 'long + For I love him so well, kin' o' steady me. + +An' he was de bes' boy on Coteau, + An' t'ink I am de bes' girl too for sure-- +He's tole me dat, geev de ring also + Was say on de inside "Je t'aime toujours." + +I geev heem some hair dat come off ma head, + I mak' de nice stocking for warm hees feet, +So ev'ryt'ing's feex, w'en de spring is come + For mak' mariée on de church toute suite. + +"W'en de spring is come!" Ah I don't see dat, + Dough de year is pass as dey pass before, +An' de season come, an' de season go, + But our spring never was come no more. + + * * * * * + +It's on de fête of de jour de l'an, + An' de worl' outside is cole an' w'ite, +As I sit an' watch for mon cher Pelang + For he's promise come see me dis very night. + +Bonhomme Peloquin dat is leev near us-- + He's alway keep look heem upon de moon-- +See fonny t'ing dere only week before, + An' say he's expec' some beeg storm soon. + +So ma fader is mak' it de laugh on me' + "Pelang he's believe heem de ole Bonhomme +Dat t'ink he see ev'ryt'ing on de moon + An' mebbe he's feel it too scare for come." + +But I don't spik not'ing I am so sure + Of de promise Pelang is mak' wit' me-- +An' de mos' beeg storm dat is never blow + Can't kip heem away from hees own Marie. + +I open de door, an' pass outside + For see mese'f how de night is look +An' de star is commence for go couché + De mountain also is put on hees tuque. + +No sooner, I come on de house again + W'ere ev'ryt'ing feel it so nice an' warm, +Dan out of de sky come de Nor'Eas' win'-- + Out of de sky come de beeg snow storm. + +Blow lak not'ing I never see, + Blow lak le diable he was mak' grande tour; +De snow come down lak wan avalanche, + An' cole! Mon Dieu, it is cole for sure! + +I t'ink, I t'ink of mon pauvre garçon, + Dat's out mebbe on de Grande Montagne; +So I place chandelle we're it's geev good light, + An' pray Le Bon Dieu he will help Pelang. + +De ole folk t'ink I am go crazee, + An' moder she's geev me de good night kiss; +She say "Go off on your bed, Marie, + Dere's nobody come on de storm lak dis." + +But ma eye don't close dat long long, night + For it seem jus' lak phantome is near, +An' I t'ink of de terrible Loup Garou + An' all de bad story I offen hear. + +Dere was tam I am sure somet'ing call "Marie" + So plainly I open de outside door, +But it's meet me only de awful storm, + An de cry pass away--don't come no more. + +An' de morning sun, w'en he's up at las', + Fin' me w'ite as de face of de snow itse'f, +For I know very well, on de Grande Montagne, + Ma poor Pelang he's come dead hese'f. + +It's noon by de clock w'en de storm blow off, + An' ma fader an' broder start out for see +Any track on de snow by de Mountain side, + Or down on de place w'ere chemin should be. + +No sign at all on de Grande Montagne, + No sign all over de w'ite, w'ite snow; +Only hear de win' on de beeg pine tree, + An' roar of de rapide down below. + +An' w'ere is he lie, mon cher Pelang! + Pelang ma boy I was love so well? +Only Le Bon Dieu up above + An' mebbe de leetle snow bird can tell. + +An I t'ink I hear de leetle bird say, + "Wait till de snow is geev up it's dead, +Wait till I go, an' de robin come, + An' den you will fin' hees cole, cole bed." + +An' it's all come true, for w'en de sun + Is warm de side of de Grande Montagne +An' drive away all de winter snow, + We fin' heem at las', mon cher Pelang! + +An' here on de fête of de jour de l'an, + Alone by mese'f I sit again, +W'ile de beeg, beeg storm is blow outside, + An' de snow come sweesh on de window pane. + +Not all alone, for I t'ink I hear + De voice of ma boy gone long ago; +Can hear it above de hurricane, + An' roar of de rapide down below. + +Yes--yes--Pelang, mon cher garçon! + I t'ink of you, t'ink of you night an' day, +Don't mak' no difference seems to me + How long de tam you was gone away. + + + +MON CHOUAL "CASTOR." + + +I'm poor man, me, but I buy las' May + Wan horse on de Comp'nie Passengaire, +An' auction feller w'at sole heem say + She's out of de full-breed "Messengaire." + +Good trotter stock, also galluppe, + But work long tam on de city car, +Of course she's purty well break heem up, + So come leetle cheap--twenty-wan dollarre. + +Firs' chance I sen' heem on St. Cesaire, + W'ere I t'ink he's have moche better sight, +Mebbe de grass an' de contree air + Very soon was feex heem up all right. + +I lef' heem dere till de fall come 'long, + An' dat trotter he can't eat grass no more, +An' w'en I go dere, I fin' heem strong + Lak not'ing I never see before. + +I heetch heem up on de light sulkee, + L'enfant! dat horse he is cover groun'! +Don't tak' long tam for de crowd to see + Mon choual he was leek all trotter roun'. + +Come down de race course lak' oiseau + Tail over datch boar', nice you please, +Can't tell for sure de quick he go, + S'pose somew'ere 'bout two, t'ree forties. + +I treat ma frien' on de whiskey blanc, + An' we drink "Castor" he's bonne santé +From L'Achigan to St. Armand, + He's bes' horse sure on de whole comté. + + * * * * * + +'Bout week on front of dis, Lalime, + Dat man drive horse call "Clevelan' Bay" +Was challenge, so I match wit' heem + For wan mile heat on straight away. + +Dat's twenty dollarre on wan side, + De lawyer's draw de paper out, +But if dem trotter come in tied, + Wall! all dat monee's go on spout. + +Nex' t'ing ma backer man, Labrie, + Tak' off his catch-book vingt cinq cents, +An' toss Lalime bes' two on t'ree + For see who's go on inside fence. + +Bateese Lalime, he's purty smart, + An' gain dat toss wit' jockey trick. +I don't care me, w'en "Castor" start, + Very soon I t'ink he's mak' heem sick. + +Beeg crowd of course was dere for see + Dem trotter on de grand match race +Some people come from St. Remi + An' some from plaintee 'noder place. + +W'en all is ready, flag was fall + An' way dem trotter pass on fence +Lak not'ing you never see at all, + It mak' me t'ink of "St. Lawrence."[1] + +"Castor," hees tail was stan' so straight + Could place chapeau on de en' of top +An' w'en he struck two forty gait + Don't seem he's never go for stop. + +Wall! dat's all right for firs' half mile + W'en Clevelan' Bay commence for break, +Dat mak' me feel very moche lak smile, + I'm sure "Castor" he's took de cake. + +But Lalime pull heem hard on line + An' stop "Clevelan'" before go far, +It's all no good, he can't ketch mine + I'm go more quicker lak express car. + +I'm feel all right for my monee, + For sure mon Choual he's took firs' place, +W'en 'bout arpent from home, sapré, + Somet'ing she's happen, I'm los' de race. + +Wan bad boy he's come out on track, + I cannot see dat bad boy's han'; +He's hol' somet'ing behin' hees back, + It was small bell, I understan'. + +Can spik for dat, ma horse go well, + An' never show no sign of sweat, +Until dat boy he's ring hees bell-- + Misere! I t'ink I hear heem yet! + +Wall! jus' so soon mon Choual "Castor" + Was hear dat bell go kling! klang! kling! +He's tink of course of city car, + An' spose mus' be conductor ring. + +Firs' t'ing I know ma trotter's drop + Dat tail was stan' so straight before, +An' affer dat, mebbe he stop + For me, I don't know not'ing more. + +But w'en I'm come alive again + I fin' dat horse call "Clevelan' Bay" +Was got firs' place, an' so he's gain + Dat wan mile heat on straight away. + +An' now w'erever I am go + Bad boy he's sure for holler an' yell +Dis donc! Dis donc! Paul Archambault! + W'at's matter wit' your chestnutte bell? + +Mak' plaintee troub' dem bad garçons, + An' offen ring some bell also, +Was mad! Could plonge on de St. Laurent + An' w'at to do, "Castor" don't know. + +Las' tam I pass de railway track + For drive avec mon frere Alfred, +In-jinne she's ring, "Castor" he's back, + Monjee! it's fonny I'm not come dead! + +Toujours comme ça! an' mak' me sick, + But horse dat work long on les chars +Can't broke dem off on fancy trick + So now I'm busy for sole "Castor." + +[Footnote 1: "St. Lawrence," the Canadian "Dexter."] + + + +OLE TAM ON BORD-A PLOUFFE. + + +I lak on summer ev'ning, w'en nice cool win' is blowin' + An' up above ma head, I hear de pigeon on de roof, +To bring ma chair an' sit dere, an' watch de current flowin' + Of ole Riviere des Prairies as she pass de Bord-a Plouffe. + +But it seem dead place for sure now, on shore down by de lan'in'-- + No more de voyageurs is sing lak dey was sing alway-- +De tree dey're commence growin' w'ere shaintee once is stan'in', + An' no one scare de swallow w'en she fly across de bay. + +I don't lak see de reever she's never doin' not'in' + But passin' empty ev'ry day on Bout de l'ile below-- +Ma ole shaloup dat's lyin' wit' all its timber rottin' + An' tam so change on Bord-a Plouffe since forty year ago! + +De ice dat freeze on winter, might jus' as well be stay dere, + For w'en de spring she's comin' de only t'ing I see +Is two, t'ree piqnique feller, hees girl was row away dere, + Don't got no use for water now, on Riviere des Prairies. + +'Twas diff'rent on dem summer you couldn't see de reever, + Wit' saw-log an' squar' timber raf', mos' all de season t'roo-- +Two honder man an' more too--all busy lak de beaver, + An' me! I'm wan de pilot for ronne 'em down de "Soo." + +Don't 'member lak I use to, for now I'm gettin' ole, me-- + But still I can't forget Bill Wade, an' Guillaume Lagassé, +Joe Monferrand, Bazile Montour--wit' plaintee I can't tole, me, + An' king of all de Bord-a Plouffe, M'sieu' Venance Lemay. + +Lak small boy on hees lesson, I learn de way to han'le + Mos' beeges' raf' is never float upon de Ottawaw, +Ma fader show me dat too, for well he know de channel, + From Dutchman Rapide up above to Bout de l'ile en bas. + +He's smart man too, ma fader, only t'ing he got de bow-leg, + Ridin' log w'en leetle feller, mebbe dat's de reason w'y, +All de sam', if he's in hurry, den Bagosh! he's got heem no leg + But wing an' fedder lak oiseau, was fly upon de sky! + +O dat was tam we're happy, an' man dey're alway singin', + For if it's hard work on de raf', w'y dere's your monee sure! +An' ev'ry summer evenin', ole Bord-a Plouffe she's ringin' + Wit' "En Roulant ma Boulé" an' "J'aimerai toujour." + +Dere dey're comin' on de wagon! fine young feller ev'ry wan too, + Dress im up de ole tam fashion, dat I lak for see encore, +Yellin' hooraw! t'roo de village, all de horse upon de ronne too, + Ah poor Bord-a Plouffe! she never have dem tam again no more! + +Very offen w'en I'm sleepin', I was feel as if I'm goin' + Down de ole Riviere des Prairies on de raf' de sam as den-- +An' ma dream is only lef' me, w'en de rooster commence crowin' + But it can't do me no harm, 'cos it mak me young again. + +An' upon de morning early, wen de reever fog is clearin' + An' sun is makin' up hees min' for drive away de dew, +W'en young bird want hees breakfas', I wak' an' t'ink I'm hearin' + Somebody shout "Hooraw, Bateese, de raf' she's wait for you." + +Dat's voice of Guillaume Lagassé was call me on de morning + Jus' outside on de winder w'ere you look across de bay, +But he's drown upon de Longue "Soo," wit' never word of warning + An' green grass cover over poor Guillaume Lagassé. + +I s'pose dat's meanin' somet'ing--mebbe I'm not long for stay here, + Seein' all dem strange t'ing happen--dead frien' comin' roun' me so-- +But I'm sure I die more happy, if I got jus' wan more day here, + Lak we have upon de ole tam Bord-a Plouffe of long ago! + + + +THE GRAND SEIGNEUR. + + +To the hut of the peasant, or lordly hall, +To the heart of the king, or humblest thrall, +Sooner or late, love comes to all, +And it came to the Grand Seigneur, my dear, + It came to the Grand Seigneur. + +The robins were singing a roundelay, +And the air was sweet with the breath of May, +As a horseman rode thro' the forest way, +And he was a Grand Seigneur, my dear, + He was a grand Seigneur. + +Lord of the Manor, Count Bellefontaine, +Had spurr'd over many a stormy plain +With gallants of France at his bridle rein, +For he was a brave Cavalier, my dear-- + He was a brave Cavalier. + +But the huntsman's daughter, La Belle Marie, +Held the Knight's proud heart in captivity, +And oh! she was fair as the fleur de lys, +Tho' only a peasant maid, my dear, + Only a peasant maid. + +Thro' the woodland depths on his charger grey +To the huntsman's cottage he rides away, +And the maiden lists to a tale to-day +That haughtiest dame might hear, my dear, + That haughtiest dame might hear. + +But she cried "Alas! it may never be, +For my heart is pledged to the young Louis, +And I love him, O Sire, so tenderly, +Tho' he's only a poor Chasseur, my Lord, + Only a poor Chasseur." + +"Enough," spake the Knight with a courtly bow, +"Be true to thy lover and maiden vow, +For virtue like thine is but rare, I trow, +And farewell to my dream of love, and thee, + Farewell to my dream of thee." + +And they say the gallant Count Bellefontaine +Bestowed on the couple a rich domain, +But you never may hear such tale again, +For he was a Grand Seigneur, my dear, + He was a Grand Seigneur! + + + +M'SIEU SMIT. + +THE ADVENTURES OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN THE CANADIAN WOODS. + + +Wan morning de walkim boss say "Damase, + I t'ink you're good man on canoe d'ecorce, +So I'll ax you go wit' your frien' Philéas + An' meet M'sieu' Smit' on Chenail W'ite Horse. + +"He'll have I am sure de grosse baggage-- + Mebbe some valise--mebbe six or t'ree-- +But if she's too moche for de longue portage + 'Poleon he will tak' 'em wit' mail buggee." + +W'en we reach Chenail, plaintee peep be dere, + An' wan frien' of me, call Placide Chretien, +'Splain all dat w'en he say man from Angleterre + Was spik heem de crowd on de "Parisien." + +Fonny way dat Englishman he'll be dress, + Leetle pant my dear frien' jus' come on knee, +Wit' coat dat's no coat at all--only ves' + An' hat--de more stranger I never see! + +Wall! dere he sit on de en' some log + An' swear heem in English purty loud +Den talk Français, w'ile hees chien boule dog + Go smellim an' smellim aroun' de crowd. + +I spik im "Bonjour, M'sieu' Smit', Bonjour, + I hope dat yourse'f and famille she's well?" +M'sieu Smit' he is also say "Bonjour," + An' call off hees dog dat's commence for smell. + +I tell heem my name dat's Damase Labrie + I am come wit' Philéas for mak' de trip, +An' he say I'm de firs' man he never see + Spik English encore since he lef' de ship. + +He is also ax it to me "Damase, + De peep she don't seem understan' Français, +W'at's matter wit' dat?" An' I say "Becos + You mak' too much talk on de Parisien." + +De groun she is pile wit' baggage--Sapré! + An' I see purty quick we got plaintee troub-- +Two tronk, t'ree valise, four-five fusil, + An' w'at M'sieu Smit' he is call "bat' tubbe." + +M'sieu Smit' he's tole me w'at for's dat t'ing, + An' it seem Englishman he don't feel correc' +Until he's go plonge on some bat' morning + An' sponge it hees possibill high hees neck. + +Of course dat's not'ing of my beez-nesse, + He can plonge on de water mos' ev'ry day, +But I t'ink for mese'f it mak foolishness + An' don't do no good w'en your bonne santé. + +W'en I tell 'Poleon he mus' mak' dat job, + Dere's leetle too moche for canoe d'écorce, +He's mad right away an' say "Sapré diable! + You t'ink I go work lak wan niggerhorse? + +"I'm not manufacture dat way, bâ non, + Dat rich stranger man he have lot monee, +I go see my frien' Onésime Gourdon, + An' tole heem bring horse wit' some more buggee." + +Wall! affer some w'ile dey'll arrange all dat, + 'Poleon an' hees frien' Onésime Gourdon, +But w'en 'Poleon is tak' hole of bat', + He receive it beeg scare immediatement! + +Dat chien boule dog, I was tole you 'bout, + I am not understan' w'at good she's for, +Eat 'Poleon's leg w'it hees teet' an' mout, + 'Poleon he is feel very mad--by Gor! + +Of course I am poule heem hees tail toute suite + But I don't know some reason mak all dis troub', +W'en I hear me dat Englishman, M'sieu Smit' + Say 'Poleon, w'at for you took my tubbe? + +"Leff 'im dere--for I don't low nobodee + Walk heem off on any such way lak dat; +You may tak' all de res', an' I don't care me-- + But de man he'll be keel who is tak' my bat'." + +"I will carry heem wit' me," say M'sieu Smit'-- + "W'erever dat tubbe she mus' go, I go-- +No matter de many place we visite, + An' my sponge I will tak' mese'f also." + +Philéas say "Damase, we mus buil' some raf' + Or mebbe some feller be sure get drown"; +Dis geev me plaisir, but I'm scare mak' laf', + So I'll do it mese'f, inside, way down. + +At las' we are start on voyage, sure nuff, + M'sieu Smit' carry tubbe on de top hees head, +Good job, I t'ink so, de lac isn't rough, + Or probably dis tam, we're all come dead. + +De dog go wit' Onésime Gourdon, + An' Onésime afferwar' say to me, +"Dat chien boule dog is eat 'Poleon + Was de more quiet dog I never see." + +But fun she's commence on very nex' day + W'en we go camp out on de Castor Noir. +Dat Englishman he'll come along an' say + "I hope some wil' Injun she don't be dere. + +"I have hear many tam, dat de wood be foule + Of Injun w'at tak' off de hair your head. +But so surely my name she's Johnnie Boule + If I see me dem feller I shoot it dead." + +Philéas den pray harder, more quick he can + Mebbe he's t'ink dat's hees las' portage +De moder hees fader, she's Injun man + Derefore an' also, he is wan Sauvage. + +I say "Don't mak' it some excitement; + Saison she is 'close' on de spring an' fall, +An' dem peep dat work on de Gouvernement + Don't lak you shoot Injun dis mont' at all." + +Nex' day M'sieu Smit' is perform hees plonge + We see heem go done it--Philéas an' me, +An' w'en he's hang up bat' tubbe an' sponge + We go on de wood for mak' Chasse perdrix. + +An' mebbe you will not believe to me, + But w'en we come back on de camp encore +De sponge of dat Englishman don't be see, + An' we fin' beeg bear she's go dead on shore. + +Very fonny t'ing how he's loss hees life, + But Philéas he'll know hese'f purty quick, +He cut M'sieu Bear wit' hees hunter knife, + An' sponge she's fall out on de bear stummick. + +Day affer we get two fox houn' from Boss + Dat's good for ketch deer on de fall an' spring, +Den place Englishman w'ere he can't get los' + An' tole heem shoot quicker he see somet'ing. + +Wat's dat leetle deer got no horn at all? + She'll be moder small wan en suite bimeby, +Don't remember mese'f w'at name she's call, + But dat's de kin' start w'en de dog is cry. + +We see heem come down on de runaway + De dog she is not very far behin' +An' w'en dey pass place M'sieu Smit' is stay + We expec' he will shoot or make noise some kin'! + +But he's not shoot at all, mon cher ami, + So we go an' we ax "Is he see some deer?" +He say "Dat's long tam I am stay on tree + But I don't see not'ing she's pass on here." + +We spik heem once more, "He don't see fox houn'?" + W'at you t'ink he is say, dat Englishman? +"Yes, I see dem pass quickly upon de groun', + Wan beeg yellow dog, an' two small brown wan." + +He's feel de more bad I don't see before + W'en he know dat beeg dog, she's wan small deer, +An' for mak' ev'ryt'ing correc' encore + We drink I am sure six bouteilles de bière. + +Nex' day--dat's Dimanche--he is spik to me, + "Damase, you mus' feel leetle fatigué, +You may slep' wit' Philéas w'ile I go an' see + I can't get some nice quiet tam to-day." + +So for keep 'way skeeter, an' fly also + Bouteille from de shelf M'sieu Smit' he tak', +Den he start wit' his chien boule dog an' go + For nice quiet walk on shore of lac. + +We don't slep' half hour w'en dere's beeg, beeg yell, + Lak somet'ing I'm sure don't hear long tam, +An' we see wan feller we cannot tell, + Till he spik it, "Damase! Philéas!! dam dam!!!" + +Den we know it at once, mon cher ami, + But she's swell up hees face--hees neck an' han'! +It seem all de skeeter on w'ole contree + Is jump on de head of dat Englishman. + +Some water on poor M'sieu Smit' we'll t'row, + An' w'en he's tranquille fin' out ev'ryt'ing; +Bouteille he's rub on, got some nice sirop + I was mak' mese'f on de wood las' spring. + +Dere was jus' 'noder t'ing he seem for care + An' den he is feel it more satisfy, +Dat t'ing, my dear frien', was for keel some bear, + If he'll do dat wan tam, he's prepare for die. + +Philéas say he know w'ere some blue berree + Mak' very good place for de bear have fonne, +So we start nex' day on morning earlee, + An' M'sieu Smit' go wit' hees elephan' gun. + +Wan woman sauvage she is come be dere, + Mebbe want some blue berree mak' some pie, +Dat' Englishman shoot, he is t'ink she's bear, + An' de woman she's holler, "Mon Dieu, I'm die!" + +M'sieu Smit' he don't do no harm, becos + He is shake hese'f w'en he shoot dat squaw, +But scare he pay hunder' dollar cos' + For keel some sauvage on de "close" saison. + +T'ree day affer dat, we start out on lac + For ketch on de water wan Cariboo, +But win' she blow strong, an' we can't get back + Till we t'row ourse'f out on dat canoe. + +We t'ink M'sieu Smit' he is sure be drown, + Leetle w'ile we can't see heem again no more, +An' den he's come up from de place go down + An' jomp on hees bat' tubbe an' try go shore. + +W'en he's pass on de bat', he say "Hooraw!" + An' commence right away for mak' some sing; +I'm sure you can hear heem ten-twelve arpent + 'Bout "Brittanie, she alway mus' boss somet'ing." + +Dat's all I will tole you jus' now, my frien'; + I s'pose you don't know de more fonny case, +But if Englishman go on wood again + I'll have more storee w'en you pass my place. + + + +WHEN ALBANI SANG. + + +Was workin' away on de farm dere, wan + morning not long ago, +Feexin' de fence for winter--'cos dat's + w'ere we got de snow! +W'en Jeremie Plouffe, ma neighbor, come + over an' spik wit' me, +"Antoine, you will come on de city, + for hear Ma-dam All-ba-nee?" + +"W'at you mean?" I was sayin' right off, me, + "Some woman was mak' de speech, +Or girl on de Hooraw Circus, doin' high + kick an' screech?" +"Non--non," he is spikin'--"Excuse me, + dat's be Ma-dam All-ba-nee +Was leevin' down here on de contree, two + mile 'noder side Chambly. + +"She's jus' comin' over from Englan', on + steamboat arrive Kebeck, +Singin' on Lunnon an' Paree, an' havin' + beeg tam, I expec', +But no matter de moche she enjoy it, for + travel all roun' de worl', +Somet'ing on de heart bring her back here, + for she was de Chambly girl. + +"She never do not'ing but singin' an' makin' + de beeg grande tour +An' travel on summer an' winter, so mus' be + de firs' class for sure! +Ev'ryboddy I'm t'inkin' was know her, an' I + also hear 'noder t'ing, +She's frien' on La Reine Victoria an' show + her de way to sing!" + +"Wall," I say, "you're sure she is Chambly, + w'at you call Ma-dam All-ba-nee? +Don't know me dat nam' on de Canton--I hope + you're not fool wit' me?" +An' he say, "Lajeunesse, dey was call her, + before she is come mariée, +But she's takin' de nam' of her husban'--I + s'pose dat's de only way." + +"C'est bon, mon ami," I was say me, "If I get + t'roo de fence nex' day +An' she don't want too moche on de monee den + mebbe I see her play." +So I finish dat job on to-morrow, Jeremie he + was helpin' me too, +An' I say, "Len' me t'ree dollar quickly for + mak' de voyage wit' you." + +Correc'--so we're startin' nex' morning, an' + arrive Montreal all right, +Buy dollar tiquette on de bureau, an' pass on + de hall dat night. +Beeg crowd, wall! I bet you was dere too, all + dress on some fancy dress, +De lady, I don't say not'ing, but man's all + w'ite shirt an' no ves'. + +Don't matter, w'en ban' dey be ready, de foreman + strek out wit' hees steek, +An' fiddle an' ev'ryt'ing else too, begin for + play up de musique. +It's fonny t'ing too dey was playin' don't lak + it mese'f at all, +I rader be lissen some jeeg, me, or w'at you call + "Affer de ball." + +An' I'm not feelin' very surprise den, w'en de + crowd holler out, "Encore," +For mak' all dem feller commencin' an' try leetle + piece some more, +'Twas better wan' too, I be t'inkin', but slow + lak you're goin' to die, +All de sam', noboddy say not'ing, dat mean + dey was satisfy. + +Affer dat come de Grande piano, lak we got on + Chambly Hotel, +She's nice lookin' girl was play dat, so of + course she's go off purty well, +Den feller he's ronne out an' sing some, it's + all about very fine moon, +Dat shine on Canal, ev'ry night too, I'm sorry + I don't know de tune. + +Nex' t'ing I commence get excite, me, for I + don't see no great Ma-dam yet, +Too bad I was los all dat monee, an' too late + for de raffle tiquette! +W'en jus' as I feel very sorry, for come all + de way from Chambly, +Jeremie he was w'isper, "Tiens, Tiens, prenez + garde, she's comin' Ma-dam All-ba-nee!" + +Ev'ryboddy seem glad w'en dey see her, come + walkin' right down de platform, +An' way dey mak' noise on de han' den, w'y! + it's jus' lak de beeg tonder storm! +I'll never see not'ing lak dat, me, no matter + I travel de worl', +An' Ma-dam, you t'ink it was scare her? Non, + she laugh lak de Chambly girl! + +Dere was young feller comin' behin' her, walk + nice, comme un Cavalier, +An' before All-ba-nee she is ready an' piano + get startin' for play, +De feller commence wit' hees singin', more + stronger dan all de res', +I t'ink he's got very bad manner, know not'ing + at all politesse. + +Ma-dam, I s'pose she get mad den, an' before + anyboddy can spik, +She settle right down for mak' sing too, an' + purty soon ketch heem up quick, +Den she's kip it on gainin' an' gainin', till + de song it is tout finis, +An' w'en she is beatin' dat feller, Bagosh! + I am proud Chambly! + +I'm not very sorry at all, me, w'en de feller + was ronnin' away, +An' man he's come out wit' de piccolo, an' + start heem right off for play, +For it's kin' de musique I be fancy, Jeremie + he is lak it also, +An' wan de bes' t'ing on dat ev'ning is man + wit' de piccolo! + +Den mebbe ten minute is passin', Ma-dam she is + comin' encore, +Dis tam all alone on de platform, dat feller + don't show up no more, +An' w'en she start off on de singin' Jeremie say, + "Antoine, dat's Français," +Dis give us more pleasure, I tole you, 'cos w'y? + We're de pure Canayen! + +Dat song I will never forget me, 'twas song of + de leetle bird, +W'en he's fly from it's nes' on de tree top, + 'fore res' of de worl' get stirred, +Ma-dam she was tole us about it, den start off + so quiet an' low, +An' sing lak de bird on de morning, de poor + leetle small oiseau. + +I 'member wan tam I be sleepin' jus' onder some + beeg pine tree +An song of de robin wak' me, but robin he + don't see me, +Dere's not'ing for scarin' dat bird dere, he's + feel all alone on de worl', +Wall! Ma-dam she mus' lissen lak dat too, w'en + she was de Chambly girl! + +Cos how could she sing dat nice chanson, de sam' + as de bird I was hear, +Till I see it de maple an' pine tree an' Richelieu + ronnin' near, +Again I'm de leetle feller, lak young colt upon + de spring +Dat's jus' on de way I was feel, me, w'en Ma-dam + All-ba-nee is sing! + +An' affer de song it is finish, an' crowd is mak' + noise wit' its han', +I s'pose dey be t'inkin' I'm crazy, dat mebbe + I don't onderstan', +Cos I'm set on de chair very quiet, mese'f an' + poor Jeremie, +An' I see dat hees eye it was cry too, jus' sam' + way it go wit' me. + +Dere's rosebush outside on our garden, ev'ry spring + it has got new nes', +But only wan bluebird is buil' dere, I know her + from all de res', +An' no matter de far she be flyin' away on + de winter tam, +Back to her own leetle rosebush she's comin + dere jus' de sam'. + +We're not de beeg place on our Canton, mebbe + cole on de winter, too, +But de heart's "Canayen" on our body, an' + dat's warm enough for true! +An' w'en All-ba-nee was got lonesome for + travel all roun' de worl' +I hope she 'll come home, lak de bluebird, + an' again be de Chambly girl! + + + +DE CAMP ON DE "CHEVAL GRIS." + + +You 'member de ole log-camp, Johnnie, up on de Cheval Gris, +W'ere we work so hard all winter, long ago you an' me? +Dere was fourteen man on de gang, den, all from our own paroisse, +An' only wan lef' dem feller is ourse'f an' Pierre Laframboise. + +But Pierre can't see on de eye, Johnnie, I t'ink it's no good at all! +An' it wasn't for not'ing, you're gettin' rheumateez on de leg las' fall! +I t'ink it's no use waitin', for neider can come wit' me, +So alone I mak' leetle visit dat camp on de Cheval Gris. + +An' if only you see it, Johnnie, an' change dere was all aroun', +Ev'ryt'ing gone but de timber an' dat is all fallin' down; +No sign of portage by de reever w'ere man dey was place canoe, +W'y, Johnnie, I'm cry lak de bebé, an' I'm glad you don't come, mon vieux! + +But strange t'ing's happen me dere, Johnnie, mebbe I go asleep, +As I lissen de song of de rapide, as pas' de Longue Soo she sweep, +Ma head she go biz-z-z lak de sawmeel, I don't know w'at's wrong wit' me, +But firs' t'ing I don't know not'ing, an' den w'at you t'ink I see? + +Yourse'f an' res' of de boy, Johnnie, by light of de coal oil lamp, +An' you're singin' an' tolin' story, sittin' aroun' de camp, +We hear de win' on de chimley, an' we know it was beeg, beeg storm, +But ole box stove she is roarin', an' camp's feelin' nice an' warm. + +I t'ink you're on boar' of de raf', Johnnie, near head of Riviere du Loup, +W'en LeRoy an' young Patsy Kelly get drown comin' down de Soo, +Wall! I see me dem very same feller, jus' lak you see me to-day, +Playin' dat game dey call checker, de game dey was play alway! + +An' Louis Charette asleep, Johnnie, wit' hees back up agen de wall, +Makin' soche noise wit' hees nose, dat you t'ink it was moose on de fall, +I s'pose he's de mos' fattes' man dere 'cept mebbe Bateese La Rue, +But if I mak fonne on poor Louis, I know he was good boy too! + +W'at you do over dere on your bunk, Johnnie, lightin' dem allumettes, +Are you shame 'cos de girl she write you, is dat de las' wan you get? +It's fonny you can't do widout it ev'ry tam you was goin' bed, +W'y readin' dat letter so offen, you mus have it all on de head! + +Dat's de very sam' letter, Johnnie, was comin' t'ree mont' ago, +I t'ink I know somet'ing about it, 'cos I fin' it wan day on de snow. +An' I see on de foot dat letter, Philomene she is do lak dis: * * * +I'm not very moche on de school, me, but I t'ink dat was mean de kiss. + +Wall! nobody's kickin' de row, Johnnie, an' if allumettes' fini, +Put Philomene off on your pocket, an' sing leetle song wit' me; +For don't matter de hard you be workin' toujours you're un bon garçon, +An' nobody sing lak our Johnnie, Kebeck to de Mattawa! + +An' it's den you be let her go, Johnnie, till roof she was mos' cave in, +An' if dere's firs' prize on de singin', Bagosh! you're de man can win! +Affer dat come fidelle of Joe Pilon, an' he's feller can make it play, +So we're clearin' de floor right off den, for have leetle small danser. + +An' w'en dance she was tout finis, Johnnie, I go de sam' bunk wit' you +W'ere we sleep lak two broder, an' dream of de girl on Riviere du Loup, +Very nice ontil somebody call me, it soun' lak de boss Pelang, +"Leve toi, Jeremie ma young feller, or else you'll be late on de gang." + +An' den I am wak' up, Johnnie, an' w'ere do you t'ink I be? +Dere was de wood an' mountain, dere was de Cheval Gris, +But w'ere is de boy an' musique I hear only w'ile ago? +Gone lak de flower las' summer, gone lak de winter snow! + +An' de young man was bring me up, Johnnie, dat's son of ma boy Maxime, +Say, "Gran'fader, w'at is de matter, you havin' de bad, bad dream? +Come look on your face on de well dere, it's w'ite lak I never see, +Mebbe 't was better you're stayin', an' not go along wit' me." + +An' w'en I look down de well, Johnnie, an' see de ole feller dere, +I say on mese'f "you be makin' fou Jeremie Chateauvert, +For t'ink you're garçon agen. Ha! ha! jus' 'cos you are close de eye, +An' only commence for leevin' w'en you're ready almos' for die!" + +Ah! dat's how de young day pass, Johnnie, purty moche lak de t'ing I see, +Sometam dey be las' leetle longer, sam' as wit' you an' me, +But no matter de ole we're leevin', de tam she must come some day, +W'en boss on de place above, Johnnie, he's callin' us all away. + +I'm glad I was go on de camp, Johnnie, I t'ink it will do me good, +Mebbe it's las' tam too, for sure, I'll never pass on de wood, +For I don't expec' moche longer ole Jeremie will be lef', +But about w'at I see dat day, Johnnie, tole nobody but yourse'f. + + + +DE STOVE PIPE HOLE. + + +Dat's very cole an' stormy night on Village St. Mathieu, +W'en ev'ry wan he's go couché, an' dog was quiet, too-- +Young Dominique is start heem out see Emmeline Gourdon, +Was leevin' on her fader's place, Maxime de Forgeron. + +Poor Dominique he's lak dat girl, an' love her mos' de tam, +An' she was mak' de promise--sure--some day she be his famme, +But she have worse ole fader dat's never on de worl', +Was swear onless he's riche lak diable, no feller's get hees girl. + +He's mak' it plaintee fuss about hees daughter Emmeline, +Dat's mebbe nice girl, too, but den, Mon Dieu, she's not de queen! +An' w'en de young man's come aroun' for spark it on de door, +An' hear de ole man swear "Bapteme!" he's never come no more. + +Young Dominique he's sam' de res',--was scare for ole Maxime, +He don't lak risk hese'f too moche for chances seein' heem, +Dat's only stormy night he come, so dark you cannot see, +An dat's de reason w'y also, he's climb de gallerie. + +De girl she's waitin' dere for heem--don't care about de rain, +So glad for see young Dominique he's comin' back again, +Dey bote forget de ole Maxime, an' mak de embrasser +An affer dey was finish dat, poor Dominique is say-- + +"Good-bye, dear Emmeline, good-bye; I'm goin' very soon, +For you I got no better chance, dan feller on de moon-- +It's all de fault your fader, too, dat I be go away, +He's got no use for me at all--I see dat ev'ry day. + +"He's never meet me on de road but he is say 'Sapré!' +An' if he ketch me on de house I'm scare he's killin' me, +So I mus' lef' ole St. Mathieu, for work on 'noder place, +An' till I mak de beeg for-tune, you never see ma face." + +Den Emmeline say "Dominique, ma love you'll alway be +An' if you kiss me two, t'ree tam I'll not tole noboddy-- +But prenez garde ma fader, please, I know he's gettin ole-- +All sam' he offen walk de house upon de stockin' sole. + +"Good-bye, good-bye, cher Dominique! I know you will be true, +I don't want no riche feller me, ma heart she go wit' you." +Dat's very quick he's kiss her den, before de fader come, +But don't get too moche pleasurement--so 'fraid de ole Bonhomme. + +Wall! jus' about dey're half way t'roo wit all dat love beez-nesse +Emmeline say, "Dominique, w'at for you're scare lak all de res? +Don't see mese'f moche danger now de ole man come aroun'," +W'en minute affer dat, dere's noise, lak' house she's fallin' down. + +Den Emmeline she holler "Fire! will no wan come for me?" +An Dominique is jomp so high, near bus' de gallerie,-- +"Help! help! right off," somebody shout, "I'm killin' on ma place, +It's all de fault ma daughter, too, dat girl she's ma disgrace." + +He's kip it up long tam lak dat, but not hard tellin' now, +W'at's all de noise upon de house--who's kick heem up de row? +It seem Bonhomme was sneak aroun' upon de stockin' sole, +An' firs' t'ing den de ole man walk right t'roo de stove pipe hole. + +W'en Dominique is see heem dere, wit' wan leg hang below, +An' 'noder leg straight out above, he's glad for ketch heem so-- +De ole man can't do not'ing, den, but swear and ax for w'y +Noboddy tak' heem out dat hole before he's comin' die. + +Den Dominique he spik lak dis, "Mon cher M'sieur Gourdon +I'm not riche city feller, me, I'm only habitant, +But I was love more I can tole your daughter Emmeline, +An' if I marry on dat girl, Bagosh! she's lak de Queen. + +"I want you mak de promise now, before it's come too late, +An' I mus' tole you dis also, dere's not moche tam for wait. +Your foot she's hangin' down so low, I'm 'fraid she ketch de cole, +Wall! if you give me Emmeline, I pull you out de hole." + +Dat mak' de ole man swear more hard he never swear before, +An' wit' de foot he's got above, he's kick it on de floor, +"Non, non," he say "Sapré tonnerre! she never marry you, +An' if you don't look out you get de jail on St. Mathieu." + +"Correc'," young Dominique is say, "mebbe de jail's tight place, +But you got wan small corner, too, I see it on de face, +So if you don't lak geev de girl on wan poor habitant, +Dat's be mese'f, I say, Bonsoir, mon cher M'sieur Gourdon." + +"Come back, come back," Maxime is shout--I promise you de girl, +I never see no wan lak you--no never on de worl'! +It's not de nice trick you was play on man dat's gettin' ole, +But do jus' w'at you lak, so long you pull me out de hole." + +"Hooraw! Hooraw!" Den Dominique is pull heem out tout suite +An' Emmeline she's helpin' too for place heem on de feet, +An' affer dat de ole man's tak' de young peep down de stair, +W'ere he is go couchè right off, an' dey go on parloir. + +Nex' Sunday morning dey was call by M'sieur le Curé +Get marry soon, an' ole Maxime geev Emmeline away; +Den affer dat dey settle down lak habitant is do, +An' have de mos' fine familee on Village St. Mathieu. + + + +"DE SNOWBIRD." + + +O leetle bird dat's come to us w'en stormy win' she's blowin', +An' ev'ry fiel' an' mountain top is cover wit' de snow, +How far from home you're flyin', noboddy's never knowin' +For spen' wit' us de winter tam, mon cher petit oiseau! + +We alway know you're comin', w'en we hear de firs' beeg storm, +A sweepin' from de sky above, an' screamin' as she go-- +Can tell you're safe inside it, w'ere you're keepin' nice an' warm, +But no wan's never see you dere, mon cher petit oiseau! + +Was it 'way behin' de mountain, dat de nort' win' ketch you sleepin' +Mebbe on your leetle nes' too, an' before de wing she grow, +Lif' you up an' bring you dat way, till some morning fin' you peepin' +Out of new nes' on de snow dreef, mon pauv' petit oiseau! + +All de wood is full on summer, wit' de many bird is sing dere, +Dey mus' offen know each oder, mebbe mak' de frien' also, +But w'en you was come on winter, never seein' wan strange wing dere +Was it mak' you feelin' lonesome, mon pauv' petit oiseau? + +Plaintee bird is alway hidin' on some place no wan can fin' dem, +But ma leetle bird of winter, dat was not de way you go-- +For de chil'ren on de roadside, you don't seem to care for min' dem +W'en dey pass on way to schoolhouse, mon cher petit oiseau! + +No wan say you sing lak robin, but you got no tam for singin' +So busy it was keepin' you get breakfas' on de snow, +But de small note you was geev us, w'en it join de sleigh bell ringin' +Mak' de true Canadian music, mon cher petit oiseau! + +O de long an' lonesome winter, if you're never comin' near us, +If we miss you on de roadside, an' on all de place below! +But le bon Dieu he will sen' you troo de storm again for cheer us, +W'en we mos' was need you here too, mon cher petit oiseau! + + + +THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE. + + +I read on de paper mos' ev'ry day, all about Jubilee +An' grande procession movin' along, an' passin' across de sea, +Dat's chil'ren of Queen Victoriaw comin' from far away +For tole Madame w'at dey t'ink of her, an' wishin' her bonne santé. + +An' if any wan want to know pourquoi les Canayens should be dere +Wit' res' of de worl' for shout "Hooraw" an' t'row hees cap on de air, +Purty quick I will tole heem de reason, w'y we feel lak de oder do, +For if I'm only poor habitant, I'm not on de sapré fou. + +Of course w'en we t'ink it de firs' go off, I know very strange it seem +For fader of us dey was offen die for flag of L'Ancien Regime, +From day w'en de voyageurs come out all de way from ole St. Malo, +Flyin' dat flag from de mas' above, an' long affer dat also. + +De English fight wit' de Frenchman den over de whole contree, +Down by de reever, off on de wood, an' out on de beeg, beeg sea, +Killin', an' shootin', an' raisin' row, half tam dey don't know w'at for, +W'en it's jus' as easy get settle down, not makin' de crazy war. + +Sometam' dey be quiet for leetle w'ile, you t'ink dey don't fight no more, +An' den w'en dey're feelin' all right agen, Bang! jus' lak' she was before. +Very offen we're beatin' dem on de fight, sometam' dey can beat us, too, +But no feller's scare on de 'noder man, an' bote got enough to do. + +An' all de long year she be go lak' dat, we never was know de peace, +Not'ing but war from de wes' contree down to de St. Maurice; +Till de las' fight's comin' on Canadaw, an' brave Generale Montcalm +Die lak' a sojer of France is die, on Battle of Abraham. + +Dat's finish it all, an' de English King is axin' us stayin' dere +W'ere we have sam' right as de 'noder peep comin' from Angleterre. +Long tam' for our moder so far away de poor Canayens is cry, +But de new step-moder she's good an' kin', an' it's all right bimeby. + +If de moder come dead w'en you're small garçon leavin' you dere alone, +Wit' nobody watchin' for fear you fall, an hurt youse'f on de stone, +An' 'noder good woman she tak' your han' de sam' your own moder do, +Is it right you don't call her moder, is it right you don't love her too? + +Bâ non, an' dat was de way we feel, w'en de ole Regime's no more, +An' de new wan come, but don't change moche, w'y it's jus' lak' it be before. +Spikin' Français lak' we alway do, an' de English dey mak no fuss, +An' our law de sam', wall, I don't know me, 'twas better mebbe for us. + +So de sam' as two broder we settle down, leevin' dere han' in han', +Knowin' each oder, we lak' each oder, de French an' de Englishman, +For it's curi's t'ing on dis worl', I'm sure you see it agen an' agen, +Dat offen de mos' worse ennemi, he's comin' de bes', bes' frien'. + +So we're kipin' so quiet long affer dat, w'en las' of de fightin's done, +Dat plaintee is say, de new Canayens forget how to shoot de gun; +But Yankee man's smart, all de worl' know dat, so he's firs' fin' mistak' + wan day +W'en he's try cross de line, fusil on hee's han', near place dey call + Chateaugay. + +Of course it's bad t'ing for poor Yankee man, De Salaberry be dere +Wit' habitant farmer from down below, an' two honder Voltigeurs, +Dem feller come off de State, I s'pose, was fightin' so hard dey can +But de blue coat sojer he don't get kill, is de locky Yankee man! + +Since den w'en dey're comin on Canadaw, we alway be treat dem well, +For dey're spennin' de monee lak' gentil-hommes, an' stay on de bes' hotel, +Den "Bienvenu," we will spik dem, an' "Come back agen nex' week, +So long you was kip on de quiet an' don't talk de politique!" + +Yass, dat is de way Victoriaw fin' us dis jubilee, +Sometam' we mak' fuss about not'ing, but it's all on de familee, +An' w'enever dere's danger roun' her, no matter on sea or lan', +She'll find that les Canayens can fight de sam' as bes' Englishman. + +An' onder de flag of Angleterre, so long as dat flag was fly-- +Wit' deir English broder, les Canayens is satisfy leev an' die. +Dat's de message our fader geev us w'en dey're fallin' on Chateaugay, +An' de flag was kipin' dem safe den, dat's de wan we will kip alway! + + + +OLE DOCTEUR FISET. + + +Ole Docteur Fiset of Saint Anicet, + Sapré tonnerre! he was leev long tam! +I'm sure he's got ninety year or so, +Beat all on de Parish 'cept Pierre Courteau, + An' day affer day he work all de sam'. + +Dat house on de hill, you can see it still, + She's sam' place he buil' de firs' tam' he come +Behin' it dere's one leetle small jardin +Got plaintee de bes' tabac Canayen + Wit' fameuse apple an' beeg blue plum. + +An' dey're all right dere, for de small boy's scare + No matter de apple look nice an' red, +For de small boy know if he's stealin' some +Den Docteur Fiset on dark night he come, + An' cut leetle feller right off hees head! + +But w'en dey was rap, an' tak' off de cap, + M'sieu' le Docteur he will say "Entrez," +Den all de boy pass on jardin behin' +W'ere dey eat mos' ev'ryt'ing good dey fin', + Till dey can't go on school nearly two, t'ree day. + +But Docteur Fiset, not moche fonne he get, + Drivin' all over de whole contree, +If de road she's bad, if de road she's good, +W'en ev'ryt'ing's drown on de Spring-tam flood, + An' workin' for not'ing half tam' mebbe! + +Let her rain or snow, all he want to know + Is jus' if anywan's feelin' sick, +For Docteur Fiset's de ole fashion kin' +Doin' good was de only t'ing on hees min' + So he got no use for de politique. + +An' he's careful too, 'cos firs' t'ing he do, + For fear dere was danger some fever case, +Is tak' w'en he's come leetle w'isky chaud, +Den 'noder wan too jus' before he go, + He's so scare carry fever aroun' de place! + +On nice summer day w'en we're makin' hay + Dere's not'ing more pleasant for us I'm sure +Dan see de ole man come joggin' along, +Alway singin' some leetle song, + An' hear heem say "Tiens, mes amis, Bonjour!" + +An' w'en de cole rain was commence again + An' we're sittin' at home on some warm cornerre, +If we hear de buggy an' see de light +Tearin' along t'roo de black, black night, + We know right off dat's de ole Docteur! + +An' he's smart horse sure, w'at he call "Faubourg," + Ev'ry place on de Parish he know dem all, +An' you ought to see de nice way he go +For fear he's upsettin' upon de snow, + W'en ole man's asleep on de cariole! + +I 'member w'en poor Hormisdas Couture + Get sick on hees place twenty mile away +An' hees boy Ovide he was come "Raquette" +W'at you call "Snowshoe," for Docteur Fiset, + An' Docteur he start wit' hees horse an' sleigh. + +All de night before, de beeg storm she roar, + An' mos' of de day it's de sam' also, +De drif' was pilin' up ten feet high +You can't see not'ing dis side de sky, + Not'ing but wan avalanche of snow. + +I'm hearin' de bell w'en I go on de well + For water de cattle on barn close by, +But I only ketch sight of hees cheval blanc +An' hees coonskin coat wit' de capuchon + An' de storm tak' heem off, jus' de sam' he fly. + +Mus' be le Bon Dieu dat is help him t'roo, + Ole Docteur Fiset an' hees horse "Faubourg," +'Twas somet'ing for splain-me, wall I don't care, +But somehow or 'noder he's gettin' dere, + An' save de life Hormisdas Couture. + +But it's sam' alway, lak' dat ev'ry day, + He never was spare hese'f pour nous autres, +He don't mak' moche monee, Docteur Fiset, +An' offen de only t'ing he was get + Is de prayer of poor man, an' wan bag of oat. + + * * * * * + +Wall! Docteur Fiset of Saint Anicet + He is not dead yet! an' I'm purty sure +If you're passin' dat place about ten year more +You will see heem go roun' lak' he go before + Wit' de ole cariole an' hees horse "Faubourg!" + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Habitant and Other French-Canadian +Poems, by William Henry Drummond + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HABITANT, FRENCH-CANADIAN POEMS *** + +***** This file should be named 9801-8.txt or 9801-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/8/0/9801/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, Andrew Sly +and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Habitant and Other French-Canadian Poems + +Author: William Henry Drummond + +Posting Date: November 23, 2011 [EBook #9801] +Release Date: February, 2006 +First Posted: October 18, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HABITANT, FRENCH-CANADIAN POEMS *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, Andrew Sly +and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + + + + +THE HABITANT AND OTHER FRENCH-CANADIAN POEMS + +By William Henry Drummond, M.D. + + +WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY + +Louis Frechette + +AND WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY + +Frederick Simpson Coburn + + + +TO MY DEAR FRIEND AND FORMER TEACHER + +GEORGE MURRAY, ESQ., B.A., A.K.C., F.R.S.C. + +THESE VERSES ARE DEDICATED WITH SINCERE +ADMIRATION AND RESPECT + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +On me demande, pour ce charmant volume, un mot de preface en francais; +le voici: + +Quand, en 1863, je publiai mon premier recueil de poesies--ecrites au +college, pour la plupart,--le grand poete americain Longfellow eut la +flatteuse bienveillance de m'appeler _The pathfinder of a new land of +song_. + +Avec mille fois plus de raison puis-je aujourd'hui passer le compliment +a mon sympathique confrere et ami, l'auteur de ce livre; car, si jamais +quelqu'un, chez nous, a merite le titre de _pathfinder of a new land of +song_, c'est assurement lui. + +Non seulement il a decouvert le champ, la clairiere, la vallee fertile +et encore inexploree; il en a fait l'exploitation a sa maniere, avec +des outils et des moyens de son invention; et, fier de sa conquete, +il laisse, de son epaule robuste, tomber a nos pieds le fruit de son +travail, la gerbe plantureuse aux ors vierges, a l'arome sauvage, +aux savoureuses promesses, toute fraiche et toute crissante dans sa +rusticite saine. + +N'est-elle pas, en effet, d'une originalite peu commune, l'idee de +prendre un pauvre illettre, de le presenter comme un type national a +part, de lui mettre aux levres une langue qui n'est pas la sienne et +qu'il ne connait qu' a demi; d'en faire en meme temps un personnage +bon, doux, aimable, honnete, intelligent et droit, l'esprit en eveil, le +coeur plein d'une poesie native stimulant son patriotisme, jetant un +rayon lumineux dans son modeste interieur, bercant ses heures reveuses +de souvenirs lointains et melancoliques? + +Et cela sans que jamais, dans ce portrait d'un nouveau genre, le plus +subtil des critiques puisse surprendre nulle part le coup de crayon +de la caricature! + +Dans ses inimitables contes villageois, George Sand a peint les +paysans du Berry sous des dehors tres interessants. Elle nous les +montre meme d'un sentiment tres affine dans leur simplicite naive +et leur cordiale bonhomie. En somme, elle en fait des natures, des +temperaments, quelque chose de typique, en meme temps qu' harmonieux +de teinte et de forme. + +Mais George Sand faisait parler ses personnages dans la langue du +pays, dans la langue de la chaumiere, dans leur propre dialecte, +enfin. Elle n'avait, pour ainsi dire, qu' a faire penetrer le +souffle de son talent sous le reseau de la phrase, pour animer +celle-ci d'un reflet de lyrisme ou d'une vibration attendrie. + +La tache abordee par M. Drummond presentait un caractere beaucoup +plus difficile. + +Ici, le poete avait bien, il est vrai, le milieu a saisir, place, +droit en face de son objectif. Il etait assez familier avec ses +acteurs pour les grouper avantageusement, en menageant les effets +d'ombres et de lumiere. Il est naturellement assez artiste pour ne +rien negliger de ce qui ajoute du pittoresque a la pose; surtout, il +connaissait a fond le type a reproduire, ses moeurs, ses passions, +ses sentiments, ses penchants, ses superstitions et ses faiblesses. + +Mais comment, sans tomber dans la charge ou la bouffonnerie, faire +parler systematiquement a ses personnages une langue etrangere, +forcement incorrecte dans la bouche de quelqu'un qui l'a apprise +par oreille, sans savoir lire meme dans sa propre langue? + +La tentative etait hardie; mais on sait que le succes a un faible +pour les audacieux. + +Dans son etude des Canadiens-francais, M. Drummond a trouve le moyen +d'eviter un ecueil qui aurait semble inevitable pour tout autre +que pour lui. Il est reste vrai, sans tomber dans la vulgarite, et +piquant sans verser dans le grotesque. + +Qu'il mette en scene le gros fermier fier de son bien ou de ses +filles a marier, le vieux medecin de campagne ne comptant plus ses +etats de service, le jeune amoureux qui reve au clair de la lune, +le vieillard qui repasse en sa memoire la longue suite des jours +revolus, le conteur de legendes, l'aventurier des "pays d'en haut," +et meme le Canadien exile--le _Canadien errant_, comme dit la +chanson populaire--qui croit toujours entendre resonner a son +oreille le vague tintement des cloches de son village; que le recit +soit plaisant ou pathetique, jamais la note ne sonne faux, jamais +la bizarrerie ne degenere en puerilite burlesque. + +C'est la un tour de force comme il ne s'en fait pas souvent, et +c'est avec enthousiasme que je tends la main a M. Drummond pour +le feliciter de l'avoir accompli. + +Il a veritablement fait la oeuvre de poete et d'artiste. + +J'ajouterai qu'il a fait aussi oeuvre de bon citoyen. Car le +jour sous lequel il presente mes compatriotes illettres ne peut +manquer de valoir a ceux-ci--et partant a tout le reste de la +nationalite--un accroissement desirable dans l'estime de nos +compatriotes de langue anglaise, qui n'ont pas ete a meme de +les etudier d'aussi pres que M. Drummond. + +La peinture qu'en fait le poete est on ne peut plus sympathique et +juste; et de semblables procedes ne peuvent que cimenter l'union +de coeur et d'esprit qui doit exister entre toutes les fractions +qui composent la grande famille canadienne appelee a vivre et a +prosperer sous la meme loi et le meme drapeau. + +En lisant les vers de M. Drummond, le Canadien-francais sent que +c'est la l'expression d'une ame amie; et, a ce compte, je dois +a l'auteur plus que mes bravos, je lui dois en meme temps un +chaleureux merci. + +LOUIS FRECHETTE. + +MONTREAL, 13 octobre 1897. + + + + +PREFACE + + +In presenting to the public "The Habitant and other French-Canadian +Poems," I feel that my friends who are already, more or less, +familiar with the work, understand that I have not written the +verses as examples of a dialect, or with any thought of ridicule. + +Having lived, practically, all my life, side by side with the +French-Canadian people, I have grown to admire and love them, and +I have felt that while many of the English-speaking public know +perhaps as well as myself the French-Canadian of the cities, yet +they have had little opportunity of becoming acquainted with the +habitant, therefore I have endeavored to paint a few types, and in +doing this, it has seemed to me that I could best attain the object +in view by having my friends tell their own tales in their own way, +as they would relate them to English-speaking auditors not +conversant with the French tongue. + +My good friend, Dr. Louis Frechette, Poet Laureate, has as a +French-Canadian, kindly written an "Introductory" in his own +graceful language, and I have to thank him above all for his +recognition of the spirit which has actuated me in writing +"dialect" verse. + +To Mr. F. S. Coburn, the artist, also, I am deeply indebted for +the faithful manner in which he has interpreted the different +characters and scenes contained in this volume. All the pictures +have been sketched from nature or life, and the keenest critic will +agree with me, that Mr. Coburn's illustrations are most typical, +both of the people and the soil. + +WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND. + + + +CONTENTS. + + + DE HABITANT + THE WRECK OF THE "JULIE PLANTE" + LE VIEUX TEMPS + DE PAPINEAU GUN + HOW BATEESE CAME HOME + DE NICE LEETLE CANADIENNE + 'POLEON DORE + DE NOTAIRE PUBLIQUE + MAXIME LABELLE + MEMORIES + PHIL-O-RUM JUNEAU + DE BELL OF ST. MICHEL + PELANG + MON CHOUAL "CASTOR" + OLE TAM ON BORD-A PLOUFFE + THE GRAND SEIGNEUR + M'SIEU SMIT' + WHEN ALBANI SANG + DE CAMP ON DE "CHEVAL GRIS" + DE STOVE PIPE HOLE + DE SNOWBIRD + THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE + OLE DOCTEUR FISET + + + +DE HABITANT. + + +De place I get born, me, is up on de reever + Near foot of de rapide dat's call Cheval Blanc +Beeg mountain behin' it, so high you can't climb it + An' whole place she's mebbe two honder arpent. + +De fader of me, he was habitant farmer, + Ma gran' fader too, an' hees fader also, +Dey don't mak' no monee, but dat isn't fonny + For it's not easy get ev'ryt'ing, you mus' know-- + +All de sam' dere is somet'ing dey got ev'ryboddy, + Dat's plaintee good healt', wat de monee can't geev, +So I'm workin' away dere, an' happy for stay dere + On farm by de reever, so long I was leev. + +O! dat was de place w'en de spring tam she's comin', + W'en snow go away, an' de sky is all blue-- +W'en ice lef' de water, an' sun is get hotter + An' back on de medder is sing de gou-glou-- + +W'en small sheep is firs' comin' out on de pasture, + Deir nice leetle tail stickin' up on deir back, +Dey ronne wit' deir moder, an' play wit' each oder + An' jomp all de tam jus' de sam' dey was crack-- + +An' ole cow also, she's glad winter is over, + So she kick herse'f up, an' start off on de race +Wit' de two-year-ole heifer, dat's purty soon lef' her, + W'y ev'ryt'ing's crazee all over de place! + +An' down on de reever de wil' duck is quackin' + Along by de shore leetle san'piper ronne-- +De bullfrog he's gr-rompin' an' dore is jompin' + Dey all got deir own way for mak' it de fonne. + +But spring's in beeg hurry, an' don't stay long wit' us + An' firs' t'ing we know, she go off till nex' year, +Den bee commence hummin', for summer is comin' + An' purty soon corn's gettin' ripe on de ear. + +Dat's very nice tam for wake up on de morning + An' lissen de rossignol sing ev'ry place, +Feel sout' win' a-blowin' see clover a-growin' + An' all de worl' laughin' itself on de face. + +Mos' ev'ry day raf' it is pass on de rapide + De voyageurs singin' some ole chanson +'Bout girl down de reever--too bad dey mus' leave her, +But comin' back soon' wit' beaucoup d'argent. + +An' den w'en de fall an' de winter come roun' us + An' bird of de summer is all fly away, +W'en mebbe she's snowin' an' nort' win' is blowin' + An' night is mos' t'ree tam so long as de day. + +You t'ink it was bodder de habitant farmer? + Not at all--he is happy an' feel satisfy, +An' cole may las' good w'ile, so long as de wood-pile + Is ready for burn on de stove by an' bye. + +W'en I got plaintee hay put away on de stable + So de sheep an' de cow, dey got no chance to freeze, +An' de hen all togedder--I don't min' de wedder-- + De nort' win' may blow jus' so moche as she please. + +An' some cole winter night how I wish you can see us, + W'en I smoke on de pipe, an' de ole woman sew +By de stove of T'ree Reever--ma wife's fader geev her + On day we get marry, dat's long tam ago-- + +De boy an' de girl, dey was readin' it's lesson, + De cat on de corner she's bite heem de pup, +Ole "Carleau" he's snorin' an' beeg stove is roarin' + So loud dat I'm scare purty soon she bus' up. + +Philomene--dat's de oldes'--is sit on de winder + An' kip jus' so quiet lak wan leetle mouse, +She say de more finer moon never was shiner-- + Very fonny, for moon isn't dat side de house. + +But purty soon den, we hear foot on de outside, + An' some wan is place it hees han' on de latch, +Dat's Isidore Goulay, las' fall on de Brule + He's tak' it firs' prize on de grand ploughin' match. + +Ha! ha! Philomene!--dat was smart trick you play us + Come help de young feller tak' snow from hees neck, +Dere's not'ing for hinder you come off de winder + W'en moon you was look for is come, I expec'-- + +Isidore, he is tole us de news on de parish + 'Bout hees Lajeunesse Colt--travel two forty, sure, +'Bout Jeremie Choquette, come back from Woonsocket + An' t'ree new leetle twin on Madame Vaillancour'. + +But nine o'clock strike, an' de chil'ren is sleepy, + Mese'f an' ole woman can't stay up no more +So alone by de fire--'cos dey say dey ain't tire-- + We lef' Philomene an' de young Isidore. + +I s'pose dey be talkin' beeg lot on de kitchen + 'Bout all de nice moon dey was see on de sky, +For Philomene's takin' long tam get awaken + Nex' day, she's so sleepy on bote of de eye. + +Dat's wan of dem ting's, ev'ry tam on de fashion, + An' 'bout nices' t'ing dat was never be seen. +Got not'ing for say me--I spark it sam' way me + W'en I go see de moder ma girl Philomene. + +We leev very quiet 'way back on de contree + Don't put on sam style lak de big village, +W'en we don't get de monee you t'ink dat is fonny + An' mak' plaintee sport on de Bottes Sauvages. + +But I tole you--dat's true--I don't go on de city + If you geev de fine house an' beaucoup d'argent-- +I rader be stay me, an' spen' de las' day me + On farm by de rapide dat's call Cheval Blanc. + + + +THE WRECK OF THE "JULIE PLANTE." + +A LEGEND OF LAC-ST. PIERRE. + + +On wan dark night on Lac St. Pierre, + De win' she blow, blow, blow, +An' de crew of de wood scow "Julie Plante" + Got scar't an' run below-- +For de win' she blow lak hurricane + Bimeby she blow some more, +An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre + Wan arpent from de shore. + +De captinne walk on de fronte deck, + An' walk de hin' deck too-- +He call de crew from up de hole + He call de cook also. +De cook she's name was Rosie, + She come from Montreal, +Was chambre maid on lumber barge, + On de Grande Lachine Canal. + +De win' she blow from nor'-eas'-wes,'-- + De sout' win' she blow too, +W'en Rosie cry "Mon cher captinne, + Mon cher, w'at I shall do?" +Den de Captinne t'row de big ankerre, + But still the scow she dreef, +De crew he can't pass on de shore, + Becos' he los' hees skeef. + +De night was dark lak' wan black cat, + De wave run high an' fas', +W'en de captinne tak' de Rosie girl + An' tie her to de mas'. +Den he also tak' de life preserve, + An' jomp off on de lak', +An' say, "Good-bye, ma Rosie dear, + I go drown for your sak'." + +Nex' morning very early + 'Bout ha'f-pas' two--t'ree--four-- +De captinne--scow--an' de poor Rosie + Was corpses on de shore, +For de win' she blow lak' hurricane + Bimeby she blow some more, +An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre, + Wan arpent from de shore. + +MORAL. + +Now all good wood scow sailor man + Tak' warning by dat storm +An' go an' marry some nice French girl + An' leev on wan beeg farm. +De win' can blow lak' hurricane + An' s'pose she blow some more, +You can't get drown on Lac St. Pierre + So long you stay on shore. + + + +LE VIEUX TEMPS. + + +Venez ici, mon cher ami, an' sit down by me--so +An' I will tole you story of old tam long ago-- +W'en ev'ryt'ing is happy--w'en all de bird is sing +An' me!--I'm young an' strong lak moose an' not afraid no t'ing. + +I close my eye jus' so, an' see de place w'ere I am born-- +I close my ear an' lissen to musique of de horn, +Dat's horn ma dear ole moder blow--an only t'ing she play +Is "viens donc vite Napoleon--'peche toi pour votre souper."-- + +An' w'en he's hear dat nice musique--ma leetle dog "Carleau" +Is place hees tail upon hees back--an' den he's let heem go-- +He's jomp on fence--he's swimmin' crik--he's ronne two forty gait, +He say "dat's somet'ing good for eat--Carleau mus' not be late." + +O dem was pleasure day for sure, dem day of long ago +W'en I was play wit' all de boy, an' all de girl also; +An' many tam w'en I'm alone an' t'ink of day gone by +An' pull latire an' spark de girl, I cry upon my eye. + +Ma fader an' ma moder too, got nice, nice familee, +Dat's ten garcon an' t'orteen girl, was mak' it twenty t'ree +But fonny t'ing de Gouvernement don't geev de firs' prize den +Lak w'at dey say dey geev it now, for only wan douzaine. + +De English peep dat only got wan familee small size +Mus' be feel glad dat tam dere is no honder acre prize +For fader of twelve chil'ren--dey know dat mus' be so, +De Canayens would boss Kebeck--mebbe Ontario. + +But dat is not de story dat I was gone tole you +About de fun we use to have w'en we leev a chez nous +We're never lonesome on dat house, for many cavalier +Come at our place mos' every night--especially Sun-day. + +But tam I'member bes' is w'en I'm twenty wan year--me-- +An' so for mak' some pleasurement--we geev wan large soiree +De whole paroisse she be invite--de Cure he's come too-- +Wit plaintee peep from 'noder place--dat's more I can tole you. + +De night she's cole an' freeze also, chemin she's fill wit snow +An' on de chimley lak phantome, de win' is mak' it blow-- +But boy an' girl come all de sam an' pass on grande parloir +For warm itself on beeg box stove, was mak' on Trois Rivieres-- + +An' w'en Bonhomme Latour commence for tune up hees fidelle +It mak' us all feel very glad--l'enfant! he play so well, +Musique suppose to be firs' class, I offen hear, for sure +But mos' bes' man, beat all de res', is ole Bateese Latour-- + +An' w'en Bateese play Irish jeeg, he's learn on Mattawa +Dat tam he's head boss cook Shaintee--den leetle Joe Leblanc +Tak' hole de beeg Marie Juneau an' dance upon de floor +Till Marie say "Excuse to me, I cannot dance no more."-- + +An' den de Cure's mak' de speech--ole Cure Ladouceur! +He say de girl was spark de boy too much on some cornerre-- +An' so he's tole Bateese play up ole fashion reel a quatre +An' every body she mus' dance, dey can't get off on dat. + +Away she go--hooraw! hooraw! plus fort Bateese, mon vieux +Camille Bisson, please watch your girl--dat's bes' t'ing you can do. +Pass on de right an' tak' your place Mamzelle Des Trois Maisons +You're s'pose for dance on Paul Laberge, not Telesphore Gagnon. + +Mon oncle Al-fred, he spik lak' dat--'cos he is boss de floor, +An' so we do our possibill an' den commence encore. +Dem crowd of boy an' girl I'm sure keep up until nex' day +If ole Bateese don't stop heseff, he come so fatigue. + +An' affer dat, we eat some t'ing, tak' leetle drink also +An' de Cure, he's tole story of many year ago-- +W'en Iroquois sauvage she's keel de Canayens an' steal deir hair, +An' say dat's only for Bon Dieu, we don't be here--he don't be dere. + +But dat was mak' de girl feel scare--so all de cavalier +Was ax hees girl go home right off, an' place her on de sleigh, +An' w'en dey start, de Cure say, "Bonsoir et bon voyage +Menagez-vous--tak' care for you--prenez-garde pour les sauvages." + +An' den I go meseff also, an' tak' ma belle Elmire-- +She's nicer girl on whole Comte, an' jus' got eighteen year-- +Black hair--black eye, an' chick rosee dat's lak wan fameuse on de fall +But don't spik much--not of dat kin', I can't say she love me at all. + +Ma girl--she's fader beeg farmeur--leev 'noder side St. Flore +Got five-six honder acre--mebbe a leetle more-- +Nice sugar bush--une belle maison--de bes' I never see-- +So w'en I go for spark Elmire, I don't be mak' de foolish me-- + +Elmire!--she's pass t'ree year on school--Ste. Anne de la Perade +An' w'en she's tak' de firs' class prize, dat's mak' de ole man glad; +He say "Ba gosh--ma girl can wash--can keep de kitchen clean +Den change her dress--mak' politesse before God save de Queen." + +Dey's many way for spark de girl, an' you know dat of course, +Some way dey might be better way, an' some dey might be worse +But I lak' sit some cole night wit' my girl on ole burleau +Wit' lot of hay keep our foot warm--an' plaintee buffalo-- + +Dat's geev good chances get acquaint--an' if burleau upset +An' t'row you out upon de snow--dat's better chances yet-- +An' if you help de girl go home, if horse he ronne away +De girl she's not much use at all--don't geev you nice baiser! + +Dat's very well for fun ma frien', but w'en you spark for keep +She's not sam t'ing an' mak' you feel so scare lak' leetle sheep +Some tam you get de fever--some tam you're lak snowball +An' all de tam you ack lak' fou--can't spik no t'ing at all. + +Wall! dat's de way I feel meseff, wit Elmire on burleau, +Jus' lak' small dog try ketch hees tail--roun' roun' ma head she go +But bimeby I come more brave--an' tak' Elmire she's han' +"Laisse-moi tranquille" Elmire she say "You mus' be crazy man." + +"Yass--yass," I say, "mebbe you t'ink I'm wan beeg loup garou, +Dat's forty t'ousand 'noder girl, I lef' dem all for you, +I s'pose you know Polique Gauthier your frien'on St. Cesaire +I ax her marry me nex' wick--she tak' me--I don't care." + +Ba gosh; Elmire she don't lak dat--it mak' her feel so mad-- +She commence cry, say "'Poleon you treat me very bad-- +I don't lak see you t'row you'seff upon Polique Gauthier, +So if you say you love me sure--we mak' de mariee."-- + +Oh it was fine tam affer dat--Castor I t'ink he know, +We're not too busy for get home--he go so nice an' slow, +He's only upset t'ree--four tam--an' jus' about daylight +We pass upon de ole man's place--an' every t'ing's all right. + +Wall! we leev happy on de farm for nearly fifty year, +Till wan day on de summer tam--she die--ma belle Elmire +I feel so lonesome lef' behin'--I tink 'twas bes' mebbe-- +Dat w'en le Bon Dieu tak' ma famme--he should not forget me. + +But dat is hees biz-nesse ma frien'--I know dat's all right dere +I'll wait till he call "'Poleon" den I will be prepare-- +An' w'en he fin' me ready, for mak' de longue voyage +He guide me t'roo de wood hesef upon ma las' portage. + + + +"DE PAPINEAU GUN." + +AN INCIDENT OF THE CANADIAN REBELLION OF 1837. + + +Bon jour, M'sieu'--you want to know + 'Bout dat ole gun--w'at good she's for? +W'y! Jean Bateese Bruneau--mon pere, + Fight wit' dat gun on Pap'neau War! + +Long tam since den you say--C'est vrai, + An' me too young for 'member well, +But how de patriot fight an' die, + I offen hear de ole folk tell. + +De English don't ack square dat tam, + Don't geev de habitants no show, +So 'long come Wolfred Nelson + Wit' Louis Joseph Papineau. + +An' swear de peep mus' have deir right. + Wolfred he's write Victoriaw, +But she's no good, so den de war + Commence among de habitants. + +Mon pere he leev to Grande Brule + So smarter man you never see, +Was alway on de grande hooraw! + Plaintee w'at you call "Esprit!" + +An' w'en dey form wan compagnie + All dress wit' tuque an' ceinture sash +Ma fader tak' hees gun wit' heem + An' marche away to Saint Eustache, + +W'ere many patriots was camp + Wit' brave Chenier, deir Capitaine, +W'en 'long come English Generale, + An' more two t'ousan' sojer man. + +De patriot dey go on church + An' feex her up deir possibill; +Dey fight deir bes', but soon fin' out + "Canon de bois" no good for kill. + +An' den de church she come on fire, + An' burn almos' down to de groun', +So w'at you t'ink our man can do + Wit' all dem English armee roun'? + +'Poleon, hees sojer never fight + More brave as dem poor habitants, +Chenier, he try for broke de rank + Chenier come dead immediatement. + +He fall near w'ere de cross is stan' + Upon de ole church cimitiere, +Wit' Jean Poulin an' Laframboise + An' plaintee more young feller dere. + +De gun dey rattle lak' tonnere + Jus' bang, bang, bang! dat's way she go, +An' wan by wan de brave man's fall + An' red blood's cover all de snow. + +Ma fader shoot so long he can + An' den he's load hees gun some more, +Jomp on de ice behin' de church + An' pass heem on de 'noder shore. + +Wall! he reach home fore very long + An' keep perdu for many day, +Till ev'ry t'ing she come tranquille, + An' sojer man all gone away. + +An' affer dat we get our right, + De Canayens don't fight no more, +Ma fader's never shoot dat gun, + But place her up above de door. + +An' Papineau, an' Nelson too + Dey're gone long tam, but we are free, +Le Bon Dieu have 'em 'way up dere. + Salut, Wolfred! Salut, Louis! + + + +HOW BATEESE CAME HOME. + + +W'en I was young boy on de farm, dat's twenty year ago +I have wan frien' he's leev near me, call Jean Bateese Trudeau +An offen w'en we are alone, we lak for spik about +De tam w'en we was come beeg man, wit' moustache on our mout'. + +Bateese is get it on hees head, he's too moche educate +For mak' de habitant farmerre--he better go on State-- +An' so wan summer evening we're drivin' home de cow +He's tole me all de whole beez-nesse--jus' lak you hear me now. + +"W'at's use mak' foolish on de farm? dere's no good chances lef' +An' all de tam you be poor man--you know dat's true you'se'f; +We never get no fun at all--don't never go on spree +Onless we pass on 'noder place, an' mak' it some monee. + +"I go on Les Etats Unis, I go dere right away +An' den mebbe on ten-twelve year, I be riche man some day, +An' w'en I mak' de large fortune, I come back I s'pose +Wit' Yankee famme from off de State, an' monee on my clothes. + +"I tole you somet'ing else also--mon cher Napoleon +I get de grande majorite, for go on parliament +Den buil' fine house on borde l'eau--near w'ere de church is stand +More finer dan de Presbytere, w'en I am come riche man!" + +I say "For w'at you spik lak dat? you must be gone crazee +Dere's plaintee feller on de State, more smarter dan you be, +Beside she's not so healtee place, an' if you mak' l'argent, +You spen' it jus' lak Yankee man, an' not lak habitant. + +"For me Bateese! I tole you dis: I'm very satisfy-- +De bes' man don't leev too long tam, some day Ba Gosh! he die-- +An' s'pose you got good trotter horse, an' nice famme Canadienne +Wit' plaintee on de house for eat--W'at more you want ma frien'?" + +But Bateese have it all mak' up, I can't stop him at all +He's buy de seconde classe tiquette, for go on Central Fall-- +An' wit' two-t'ree some more de boy,--w'at t'ink de sam' he do +Pass on de train de very nex' wick, was lef' Riviere du Loup. + + * * * * * + +Wall! mebbe fifteen year or more, since Bateese go away +I fin' mesef Riviere du Loup, wan cole, cole winter day +De quick express she come hooraw! but stop de soon she can +An' beeg swell feller jomp off car, dat's boss by nigger man. + +He's dressim on de premiere classe, an' got new suit of clothes +Wit' long moustache dat's stickim out, de 'noder side hees nose +Fine gol' watch chain--nice portmanteau--an' long, long overcoat +Wit' beaver hat--dat's Yankee style--an' red tie on hees t'roat-- + +I say "Hello Bateese! Hello! Comment ca va mon vieux?" +He say "Excuse to me, ma frien' I t'ink I don't know you." +I say, "She's very curis t'ing, you are Bateese Trudeau, +Was raise on jus' sam' place wit' me, dat's fifteen year ago?" + +He say, "Oh yass dat's sure enough--I know you now firs' rate, +But I forget mos' all ma French since I go on de State. +Dere's 'noder t'ing kip on your head, ma frien' dey mus' be tole +Ma name's Bateese Trudeau no more, but John B. Waterhole!" + +"Hole on de water's" fonny name for man w'at's call Trudeau +Ma frien's dey all was spik lak dat, an' I am tole heem so-- +He say "Trudeau an' Waterhole she's jus' about de sam' +An' if you go for leev on State, you must have Yankee nam'." + +Den we invite heem come wit' us, "Hotel du Canadaw" +W'ere he was treat mos' ev'ry tam, but can't tak' w'isky blanc, +He say dat's leetle strong for man jus' come off Central Fall +An' "tabac Canayen" bedamme! he won't smoke dat at all!-- + +But fancy drink lak "Collings John" de way he put it down +Was long tam since I don't see dat--I t'ink he's goin' drown!-- +An' fine cigar cos' five cent each, an' mak' on Trois-Rivieres +L'enfant! he smoke beeg pile of dem--for monee he don't care!-- + +I s'pose meseff it's t'ree o'clock w'en we are t'roo dat night +Bateese, hees fader come for heem, an' tak' heem home all right +De ole man say Bateese spik French, w'en he is place on bed-- +An' say bad word--but w'en he wake--forget it on hees head-- + +Wall! all de winter w'en we have soiree dat's grande affaire +Bateese Trudeau, dit Waterhole, he be de boss man dere-- +You bet he have beeg tam, but w'en de spring is come encore +He's buy de premiere classe tiquette for go on State some more. + + * * * * * + +You 'member w'en de hard tam come on Les Etats Unis +An' plaintee Canayens go back for stay deir own contree? +Wall! jus' about 'dat tam again I go Riviere du Loup +For sole me two t'ree load of hay--mak' leetle visit too-- + +De freight train she is jus' arrive--only ten hour delay-- +She's never carry passengaire--dat's w'at dey always say-- +I see poor man on char caboose--he's got heem small valise +Begosh! I nearly tak' de fit,--It is--it is Bateese! + +He know me very well dis tam, an' say "Bon jour, mon vieux +I hope you know Bateese Trudeau was educate wit' you +I'm jus' come off de State to see ma familee encore +I bus' mesef on Central Fall--I don't go dere no more." + +"I got no monee--not at all--I'm broke it up for sure-- +Dat's locky t'ing, Napoleon, de brakeman Joe Latour +He's cousin of wan frien' of me call Camille Valiquette, +Conductor too's good Canayen--don't ax me no tiquette." + +I tak' Bateese wit' me once more "Hotel du Canadaw" +An' he was glad for get de chance drink some good w'isky blanc! +Dat's warm heem up, an den he eat mos' ev'ryt'ing he see, +I watch de w'ole beez-nesse mese'f--Monjee! he was hongree! + +Madame Charette wat's kip de place get very much excite +For see de many pork an' bean Bateese put out of sight +Du pain dore--potate pie--an' 'noder t'ing be dere +But w'en Bateese is get heem t'roo--dey go I don't know w'ere. + +It don't tak' long for tole de news "Bateese come off de State" +An' purty soon we have beeg crowd, lak village she's en fete +Bonhomme Maxime Trudeau hese'f, he's comin' wit' de pries' +An' pass' heem on de "Room for eat" w'ere he is see Bateese. + +Den ev'rybody feel it glad, for watch de embrasser +An' bimeby de ole man spik "Bateese you here for stay?" +Bateese he's cry lak beeg bebe, "Ba j'eux rester ici. +An if I never see de State, I'm sure I don't care--me." + +"Correc'," Maxime is say right off, "I place you on de farm +For help your poor ole fader, won't do you too moche harm +Please come wit' me on Magasin, I feex you up--ba oui +An' den you're ready for go home an' see de familee." + +Wall! w'en de ole man an' Bateese come off de Magasin +Bateese is los' hees Yankee clothes--he's dress lak Canayen +Wit' bottes sauvages--ceinture fleche--an' coat wit' capuchon +An' spik Francais au naturel, de sam' as habitant. + + * * * * * + +I see Bateese de oder day, he's work hees fader's place +I t'ink mese'f he's satisfy--I see dat on hees face +He say "I got no use for State, mon cher Napoleon +Kebeck she's good enough for me--Hooraw pour Canadaw." + + + +DE NICE LEETLE CANADIENNE. + + +You can pass on de worl' w'erever you lak, + Tak' de steamboat for go Angleterre, +Tak' car on de State, an' den you come back, + An' go all de place, I don't care-- +Ma frien' dat's a fack, I know you will say, + W'en you come on dis contree again, +Dere's no girl can touch, w'at we see ev'ry day, + De nice leetle Canadienne. + +Don't matter how poor dat girl she may be, + Her dress is so neat an' so clean, +Mos' ev'rywan t'ink it was mak' on Paree + An' she wear it, wall! jus' lak de Queen. +Den come for fin' out she is mak' it herse'f, + For she ain't got moche monee for spen', +But all de sam' tam, she was never get lef', + Dat nice leetle Canadienne. + +W'en "un vrai Canayen" is mak' it mariee, + You t'ink he go leev on beeg flat +An' bodder hese'f all de tam, night an' day, + Wit' housemaid, an' cook, an' all dat? +Not moche, ma dear frien', he tak' de maison, + Cos' only nine dollar or ten, +W'ere he leev lak blood rooster, an' save de l'argent, + Wit' hees nice leetle Canadienne. + +I marry ma famme w'en I'm jus' twenty year, + An' now we got fine familee, +Dat skip roun' de place lak leetle small deer, + No smarter crowd you never see-- +An' I t'ink as I watch dem all chasin' about, + Four boy an' six girl, she mak' ten, +Dat's help mebbe kip it, de stock from run out, + Of de nice leetle Canadienne. + +O she's quick an' she's smart, an' got plaintee heart, + If you know correc' way go about, +An' if you don't know, she soon tole you so + Den tak' de firs' chance an' get out; +But if she love you, I spik it for true, + She will mak' it more beautiful den, +An' sun on de sky can't shine lak de eye + Of dat nice leetle Canadienne. + + + +'POLEON DORE. + +A TALE OF THE SAINT MAURICE. + + +You have never hear de story of de young Napoleon Dore? + Los' hees life upon de reever w'en de lumber drive go down? +W'ere de rapide roar lak tonder, dat's de place he's goin' onder, + W'en he's try save Paul Desjardins, 'Poleon hese'f is drown. + +All de winter on de Shaintee, tam she's good, and work she's plaintee, + But we're not feel very sorry, w'en de sun is warm hees face, +W'en de mooshrat an' de beaver, tak' some leetle swim on reever, + An' de sout' win' scare de snowbird, so she fly some col'er place. + +Den de spring is set in steady, an' we get de log all ready, + Workin' hard all day an' night too, on de water mos' de tam, +An' de skeeter w'en dey fin' us, come so quickly nearly blin' us, + Biz--biz--biz--biz--all aroun' us till we feel lak sacredam. + +All de sam' we're hooraw feller, from de top of house to cellar, + Ev'ry boy he's feel so happy, w'en he's goin' right away, +See hees fader an' hees moder, see hees sister an' hees broder, + An' de girl he spark las' summer, if she's not get mariee. + +Wall we start heem out wan morning, an' de pilot geev us warning, + "W'en you come on Rapide Cuisse, ma frien', keep raf' she's head on shore, +If you struck beeg rock on middle, w'ere le diable is play hees fiddle, + Dat's de tam you pass on some place, you don't never pass before." + +But we'll not t'ink moche of danger, for de rapide she's no stranger + Many tam we're runnin' t'roo it, on de fall an' on de spring, +On mos' ev'ry kin' of wedder dat le Bon Dieu scrape togedder, + An' we'll never drown noboddy, an' we'll never bus' somet'ing. + +Dere was Telesphore Montbriand, Paul Desjardins, Louis Guyon, + Bill McKeever, Aleck Gauthier, an' hees cousin Jean Bateese, +'Poleon Dore, Aime Beaulieu, wit' some more man I can't tole you, + Dat was mak' it bes' gang never run upon de St. Maurice. + +Dis is jus' de tam I wish me, I could spik de good English--me-- + For tole you of de pleasurement we get upon de spring, +W'en de win' she's all a sleepin', an' de raf' she go a sweepin' + Down de reever on some morning, w'ile le rossignol is sing. + +Ev'ryt'ing so nice an' quiet on de shore as we pass by it, + All de tree got fine new spring suit, ev'ry wan she's dress on green +W'y it mak' us all more younger, an' we don't feel any hunger, + Till de cook say "'Raw for breakfas'," den we smell de pork an' bean. + +Some folk say she's bad for leever, but for man work hard on reever, + Dat's de bes' t'ing I can tole you, dat was never yet be seen, +Course dere's oder t'ing ah tak' me, fancy dish also I lak me, + But w'en I want somet'ing solid, please pass me de pork an' bean. + +All dis tam de raf' she's goin' lak steamboat was got us towin' + All we do is keep de channel, an' dat's easy workin' dere, +So we sing some song an' chorus, for de good tam dat's before us, + W'en de w'ole beez-nesse she's finish, an' we come on Trois Rivieres. + +But bad luck is sometam fetch us, for beeg strong win' come an' ketch us, + Jus' so soon we struck de rapide--jus' so soon we see de smoke, +An' before we spik some prayer for ourse'f dat's fightin' dere, + Roun' we come upon de beeg rock, an' it's den de raf' she broke. + +Dat was tam poor Paul Desjardins, from de parish of St. Germain, + He was long way on de fronte side, so he's fallin' overboar' +Couldn't swim at all de man say, but dat's more ma frien', I can say, + Any how he's look lak drownin', so we'll t'row him two t'ree oar. + +Dat's 'bout all de help our man do, dat's 'bout ev'ryt'ing we can do, + As de crib we're hangin' onto balance on de rock itse'f, +Till de young Napoleon Dore, heem I start for tole de story, + Holler out, "Mon Dieu, I don't lak see poor Paul go drown hese'f." + +So he's mak' beeg jomp on water, jus' de sam you see some otter + An' he's pass on place w'ere Paul is tryin' hard for keep afloat, +Den we see Napoleon ketch heem, try hees possibill for fetch heem + But de current she's more stronger, an' de eddy get dem bote. + +O Mon Dieu! for see dem two man, mak' me feel it cry lak woman, + Roun' an' roun' upon de eddy, quickly dem poor feller go, +Can't tole wan man from de oder, an' we'll know dem bote lak broder, + But de fight she soon is finish--Paul an' 'Poleon go below. + +Yass, an' all de tam we stay dere, only t'ing we do is pray dere, + For de soul poor drownin' feller, dat's enough mak' us feel mad, +Torteen voyageurs, all brave man, glad get any chances save man, + But we don't see no good chances, can't do not'ing, dat's too bad. + +Wall! at las' de crib she's come way off de rock, an' den on some way, + By an' by de w'ole gang's passin' on safe place below de Cuisse, +Ev'ryboddy's heart she's breakin', w'en dey see poor Paul he's taken + Wit' de young Napoleon Dore, bes' boy on de St. Maurice! + +An' day affer, Bill McKeever fin' de bote man on de reever, + Wit' deir arm aroun' each oder, mebbe pass above dat way-- +So we bury dem as we fin' dem, w'ere de pine tree wave behin' dem + An de Grande Montagne he's lookin' down on Marcheterre Bay. + +You can't hear no church bell ring dere, but le rossignol is sing dere, + An' w'ere ole red cross she's stannin', mebbe some good ange gardien, +Watch de place w'ere bote man sleepin', keep de reever grass from creepin' + On de grave of 'Poleon Dore, an' of poor Paul Desjardins. + + + +DE NOTAIRE PUBLIQUE. + + +M'sieu Paul Joulin, de Notaire Publique + Is come I s'pose seexty year hees life +An' de mos' riche man on Sainte Angelique + W'en he feel very sorry he got no wife-- +So he's paint heem hees buggy, lak new, by Gor! + Put flower on hees coat, mak' hese'f more gay +Arrange on hees head fine chapeau castor + An' drive on de house of de Boulanger. + +For de Boulanger's got heem une jolie fille + Mos' bes' lookin' girl on paroisse dey say +An' all de young feller is lak Julie + An' plaintee is ax her for mak' mariee, +But Julie she's love only jus' wan man, + Hees nam' it is Jeremie Dandurand +An' he's work for her sak' all de hard he can + 'Way off on de wood, up de Mattawa. + +M'Sieu Paul he spik him "Bonjour Mamzelle, + You lak promenade on de church wit' me? +Jus' wan leetle word an' we go ma belle + An' see heem de Cure toute suite, cherie; +I dress you de very bes' style a la mode, + If you promise for be Madame Paul Joulin, +For I got me fine house on Bord a Plouffe road + Wit' mor'gage also on de Grande Moulin." + +But Julie she say "Non, non, M'Sieu Paul, + Dat's not correc' t'ing for poor Jeremie +For I love dat young feller lak not'ing at all, + An' I'm very surprise you was not know me. +Jeremie w'en he's geev me dat nice gol' ring, + Las' tam he's gone off on de Mattawa +Say he's got 'noder wan w'en he's come nex' spring + Was mak' me for sure Madame Dandurand. + +"I t'ank you de sam' M'Sieu Paul Joulin + I s'pose I mus' be de wife wan poor man +Wit' no chance at all for de Grande Moulin, + But leev all de tam on some small cabane." +De Notaire Publique den is tak' hees hat, + For he t'ink sure enough dat hees dog she's dead; +Dere's no use mak' love on de girl lak dat, + Wit' not'ing but young feller on de head. + +Julie she's feel lonesome mos' all dat week, + Don't know w'at may happen she wait till spring +Den t'ink de fine house of Notaire Publique + An' plaintee more too--but love's funny t'ing! +So nex' tam she see de Notaire again, + She laugh on her eye an' say "M'Sieu Paul +Please pass on de house, or you ketch de rain, + Dat's very long tam you don't come at all." + +She's geev him so soon he's come on de door + Du vin de pays, an' some nice galettes, +She's mak' dem herse'f only day before + An' he say "Bigosh! dat is fine girl yet." +So he's try hees chances some more--hooraw! + Julie is not mak' so moche troub' dis tam; +She's forget de poor Jeremie Dandurand + An' tole de Notaire she will be hees famme. + +W'en Jeremie come off de wood nex' spring, + An' fin' dat hees girl she was get mariee +Everybody's expec' he will do somet'ing, + But he don't do not'ing at all, dey say; +For he's got 'noder girl on Sainte Dorothee, + Dat he's love long tam, an' she don't say "No," +So he's forget too all about Julie + An' mak' de mariee wit' hese'f also. + + + +A CANADIAN VOYAGEUR'S ACCOUNT OF THE NILE EXPEDITION. + +"MAXIME LABELLE." + + +Victoriaw: she have beeg war, E-gyp's de nam' de place-- +An' neeger peep dat's leev 'im dere, got very black de face, +An' so she's write Joseph Mercier, he's stop on Trois Rivieres-- +"Please come right off, an' bring wit' you t'ree honder voyageurs. + +"I got de plaintee sojer, me, beeg feller six foot tall-- +Dat's Englishman, an' Scotch also, don't wear no pant at all; +Of course, de Irishman's de bes', raise all de row he can, +But noboddy can pull batteau lak good Canadian man. + +"I geev you steady job for sure, an' w'en you get 'im t'roo +I bring you back on Canadaw, don't cos' de man un sou, +Dat's firs'-class steamboat all de way Kebeck an' Leeverpool, +An' if you don't be satisfy, you mus' be beeg, beeg fool." + +We meet upon Hotel Dufresne, an' talk heem till daylight, +An' Joe he's treat so many tam, we very near get tight, +Den affer w'ile, we mak' our min' dat's not bad chance, an' so +Joseph Mercier he's telegraph, "Correc', Madame, we go." + +So Joe arrange de whole beez-nesse wit' Queen Victoriaw; +Two dollar day--work all de tam--dat's purty good l'argent! +An' w'en we start on Trois Rivieres, for pass on boar' de ship, +Our frien' dey all say, "Bon voyage," an' den Hooraw! E-gyp'! + +Dat beeg steamboat was plonge so moche, I'm 'fraid she never stop-- +De Capitaine's no use at all, can't kip her on de top-- +An' so we all come very sick, jus' lak one leetle pup, +An' ev'ry tam de ship's go down, de inside she's go up. + +I'm sorry spoke lak dis, ma frien', if you don't t'ink it's so, +Please ax Joseph Mercier hese'f, or Aleck De Courteau, +Dat stay on bed mos' all de tam, so sick dey nearly die, +But lak' some great, beeg Yankee man, was never tole de lie. + +De gang she's travel, travel, t'roo many strange contree, +An' ev'ry place is got new nam', I don't remember, me, +We see some fonny t'ing, for sure, more fonny I can tell, +But w'en we reach de Neel Riviere, dat's feel more naturel. + +So many fine, beeg sojer man, I never see before, +All dress heem on grand uniform, is wait upon de shore, +Some black, some green, an' red also, cos' honder dollar sure, +An' holler out, "She's all right now, here come de voyageurs!" + +We see boss Generale also, he's ride on beeg chameau, +Dat's w'at you call Ca-melle, I t'ink, I laugh de way she go! +Jomp up, jomp down, jomp ev'ry place, but still de Generale +Seem satisfy for stay on top, dat fonny an-i-mal. + +He's holler out on Joe Mercier, "Comment ca va Joseph +You lak for come right off wit' me, tak' leetle ride yourseff?" +Joseph, he mak' de grand salut, an' tak' it off hees hat, +"Merci, Mon Generale," he say, "I got no use for dat." + +Den affer we was drink somet'ing, an' sing "Le Brigadier," +De sojer fellers get prepare, for mak' de embarquer, +An' everybody's shout heem out, w'en we tak' hole de boat +"Hooraw pour Queen Victoriaw!" an' also "pour nous autres." + +Bigosh; I do hard work mese'f upon de Ottawa, +De Gatineau an' St. Maurice, also de Mattawa, +But I don't never work at all, I'sure you dat's a fack +Until we strike de Neel Riviere, an' sapre Catarack! + +"Dis way, dat way, can't keep her straight," "look out, Bateese, look out!" +"Now let her go"--"arrete un peu," dat's way de pilot shout, +"Don't wash de neeger girl on shore," an' "prenez garde behin'," +"W'at's matter wit' dat rudder man? I t'ink he's goin' blin'!" + +Some tam of course, de boat's all right, an' carry us along +An' den again, we mak portage, w'en current she's too strong +On place lak' dat, we run good chance, for sun-struck on de neck, +An' plaintee tam we wish ourseff was back on ole Kebeck. + +De seconde Catarack we pass, more beeger dan de Soo, +She's nearly t'orty mile for sure, it would astonish you, +Dat's place t'ree Irishman get drown, wan day we have beeg storm, +I s'pose de Queen is feel lak cry, los' dat nice uniform! + +De night she's very, very cole, an' hot upon de day, +An' all de tam, you feel jus' lak you're goin' melt away, +But never min' an' don't get scare, you mak' it up all right, +An' twenty poun' you los' dat day, she's comin' back sam' night. + +We got small bugle boy also, he's mebbe stan' four foot, +An' firs' t'ing ev'ry morning, sure, he mak' it toot! toot! toot! +She's nice enough upon de day, for hear de bugle call, +But w'en she play before daylight, I don't lak dat at all. + +We mus' get up immediatement, dat leetle feller blow, +An' so we start heem off again, for pull de beeg batteau, +De sojer man he's nice, nice boy, an' help us all he can, +An' geev heem chance, he's mos' as good lak some Canadian man. + +Wall all de tam, she go lak dat, was busy every day, +Don't get moche chance for foolish-ness, don't get no chance for play, +Dere's plaintee danger all aroun', an' w'en we're comin' back +We got look out for run heem safe, dem sapre Catarack. + +But w'ere's de war? I can't mak' out, don't see no fight at all! +She's not'ing but une Grande Piqnique, dat's las' in all de fall! +Mebbe de neeger King he's scare, an' skip anoder place, +An' pour la Reine Victoriaw! I never see de face. + +But dat's not ma beez-nesse, ma frien', I'm ready pull batteau +So long she pay two dollar day, wit' pork an' bean also; +An' if she geev me steady job, for mak' some more l'argent, +I say, "Hooraw! for all de tam, on Queen Victoriaw!" + + + +MEMORIES. + + +O spirit of the mountain that speaks to us to-night, +Your voice is sad, yet still recalls past visions of delight, +When 'mid the grand old Laurentides, old when the earth was new, +With flying feet we followed the moose and caribou. + +And backward rush sweet memories, like fragments of a dream, +We hear the dip of paddle blades, the ripple of the stream, +The mad, mad rush of frightened wings from brake and covert start, +The breathing of the woodland, the throb of nature's heart. + +Once more beneath our eager feet the forest carpet springs, +We march through gloomy valleys, where the vesper sparrow sings. +The little minstrel heeds us not, nor stays his plaintive song, +As with our brave coureurs de bois we swiftly pass along. + +Again o'er dark Wayagamack, in bark canoe we glide, +And watch the shades of evening glance along the mountain side. +Anon we hear resounding the wizard loon's wild cry, +And mark the distant peak whereon the ling'ring echoes die. + +But Spirit of the Northland! let the winter breezes blow, +And cover every giant crag with rifts of driving snow. +Freeze every leaping torrent, bind all the crystal lakes, +Tell us of fiercer pleasures when the Storm King awakes. + +And now the vision changes, the winds are loud and shrill, +The falling flakes are shrouding the mountain and the hill, +But safe within our snug cabane with comrades gathered near, +We set the rafters ringing with "Roulant" and "Brigadier." + +Then after Pierre and Telesphore have danced "Le Caribou," +Some hardy trapper tells a tale of the dreaded Loup Garou, +Or phantom bark in moonlit heavens, with prow turned to the East, +Bringing the Western voyageurs to join the Christmas feast. + +And while each backwoods troubadour is greeted with huzza +Slowly the homely incense of "tabac Canayen" +Rises and sheds its perfume like flowers of Araby, +O'er all the true-born loyal Enfants de la Patrie. + +And thus with song and story, with laugh and jest and shout, +We heed not dropping mercury nor storms that rage without, +But pile the huge logs higher till the chimney roars with glee, +And banish spectral visions with La Chanson Normandie. + + "Brigadier! repondit Pandore + Brigadier! vous avez raison, + Brigadier! repondit Pandore, + Brigadier! vous avez raison!" + +O spirit of the mountain! that speaks to us to-night, +Return again and bring us new dreams of past delight, +And while our heart-throbs linger, and till our pulses cease, +We'll worship thee among the hills where flows the Saint-Maurice. + + + +PHIL-O-RUM JUNEAU. + +A STORY OF THE "CHASSE GALLERIE." + + +In the days of the "Old Regime" in Canada, the free life of the +woods and prairies proved too tempting for the young men, who +frequently deserted civilization for the savage delights of the +wilderness. These voyageurs and coureurs de bois seldom returned in +the flesh, but on every New Year's Eve, back thro' snowstorm and +hurricane--in mid-air--came their spirits in ghostly canoes, to +join, for a brief spell, the old folks at home and kiss the girls, +on the annual feast of the "Jour de l'an," or New Year's Day. The +legend which still survives in French-speaking Canada, is known as +"La Chasse Gallerie." + + +He sit on de corner mos' every night, ole + Phil-o-rum Juneau, +Spik wit' hese'f an' shake de head, an' smoke + on de pipe also-- +Very hard job it's for wake him up, no matter + de loud we call +W'en he's feex hese'f on de beeg arm-chair, + back on de kitchen wall. + +He don't believe not'ing at all, at all 'bout + lates' new fashion t'ing +Le char 'lectrique an' de telephome, was talk + w'en de bell she ring +Dat's leetle too moche for de ole bonhomme, + mak' him shake it de head an' say +"Wat's use mak' de foolish lak dat, sapre! + I'm not born only yesterday." + +But if you want story dat's true, true, true, I + tole you good wan moi-meme +An de t'ing you was spik, dat I don't believe, + for sure she was beat all dem. +So he's cough leetle cough, clear 'im up de + t'roat, fill hees pipe wit' some more tabac, +An' w'en de chil'ren is come tranquille, de + ole man begin comme ca. + +L'enfant! l'enfant! it's very strange t'ing! + mak' me laugh too w'en I hear +De young peep talk of de long, long tam of + seventy, eighty year! +Dat's only be jus' eighty New Year Day, an' + quickly was pass it by +It's beeg, beeg dream, an' you don't wake up, + till affer you're comin' die. + +Dat's true sure enough, you see curi's t'ing, + if you only leev leetle w'ile, +So long you got monee go all de place, for + mebbe t'ree t'ousan' mile, +But monee's not everyt'ing on dis worl', I tole + you dat, mes amis, +An' man can be ole lak' two honder year, an' + not see it, La Chasse Gal'rie. + +I never forget de fine New Year night, nearly + seexty year ago, +W'en I'm lef' it our place for attend soiree, + on ole Maxime Baribault, +Nine mile away, I can see tin roof, on church + of de St. Joseph, +An' over de snow, de leaf dat die las' fall, + was chasin' itse'f. + +Dere was some of de neighbor house I call, + dat's be de ole fashion style, +An' very nice style too, mes amis, I hope she + will las' long w'ile, +I shak' it de han', I drink sante, an' kiss it + de girl she's face, +So it's come ten o'clock, w'en I pass on road, + for visit Maxime hees place. + +But I'm not go more mebbe t'ree arpent, w'en + de sky is get black all roun', +An' de win' she blow lak I never see, an' + de beeg snowstorm come down. +I mak' it my min' she's goin' be soon, de very + bad night for true, +Dat's locky I got plaintee whiskey lef', so I + tak' it wan leetle "coup." + +Purty quick affer dat, I'm comin' nice place, + was stan'in' some fine beeg tree +W'ere de snow don't dreef', an' it seem jus' + lak dat place it is mak' for me, +So I pass it on dere, for mak' safe mese'f, + w'ile de storm is blow outside, +As if all de devil on hell below, was tak' + heem some fancy ride. + +Wan red fox he's comin' so close, so close, + I could ketch him wit' de han', +But not on de tam lak dis ma frien', "Marche + toi all de quick you can," +Poor feller he's tire an' seem los' hees way, + an' w'en he reach home dat night +Mebbe he fin' it all was close up, an' de door + it was fassen tight. + +But w'at is dat soun' mak' de hair stan' up, + w'at is it mean, dat cry? +Comin' over de high tree top, out of de + nor'-wes' sky +Lak cry of de wil' goose w'en she pass on + de spring tam an' de fall, +But wil' goose fly on de winter night! + I never see dat at all. + +On, on t'roo de night, she is quickly come, + more closer all de tam, +But not lak de cry of some wil' bird now, + don't seem it at all de sam'; +An' den wit' de rush of de win', I hear + somebody sing chanson +An' de song dey sing is de ole, ole song, + "Le Canayen Errant."' + +But it's mak' me lonesome an' scare also, jus' + sam' I be goin' for die +W'en I lissen dat song on night lak dis, so + far away on de sky, +Don't know w'at to do at all mese'f, so I go + w'ere I have good view, +An' up, up above t'roo de storm an' snow, she's + comin' wan beeg canoe. + +Den somebody call it ma nam' out loud, firs' tam + it was scare me so, +"We know right away, dat was you be dere, hello + Phil-o-rum, hello!" +An' soon I see him dat feller spik, I 'member him + too mese'f, +We go de sam' school twenty year before, hees + nam's Telesphore Le Boeuf. + +But I know on de way canoe she go, dat de crowd + he mus' be dead man +Was come from de Grande Riviere du Nord, come + from Saskatchewan, +Come too from all de place is lie on de Hodson + Bay Contree, +An' de t'ing I was see me dat New Year night, + is le phantome Chasse Gal'rie. + +An' many de boy I was see him dere, I know him + so long before +He's goin' away on de far contree--for never + return no more-- +An' now on phantome he is comin' home--t'roo + de storm an' de hurricane +For kiss him de girl on jour de l'an, an' see + de ole peep again. + +De beeg voyageur w'at is steer canoe, wit' + paddle hol' on hees han' +Got very long hair was hang down hees neck, + de sam' as wil' Injin man +Invite me on boar' dat phantome canoe, for + show it dead man de way-- +Don't lak it de job, but no use refuse, + so I'll mak' it de embarquer. + +Den wan of de gang, he mus' be foreman, say + it's tam for have leetle drink, +So he pass heem black bottle for tak' un "coup," + an' it's look lak ma own I t'ink, +But it can't be de sam', I'll be swear for dat, + for w'en I was mak' de go, +I fin' dere is not'ing inside but win', an' + de whiskey's phantome also. + +Dey be laugh affer dat, lak dey tak' some fit, + so de boss spik him, "Tiens Phil-o-rum, +Never min' on dem feller--mus' have leetle sport, + dat's very long way we come, +Will you ketch it de paddle for steer us quick + on place of Maxime Baribault?" +An' he's ax me so nice, I do as he please', + an den away off she go. + +Wan minute--two minute--we pass on dere, + Maxime he is all hooraw! +An' we know by musique dat was play inside, + mus' be de great Joe Violon, +Dat feller work fiddle on very bes' way, + dat nobody never see +Mak' de boy an' de girl, ole peep also, + dance lak dey was go crazee. + +You s'pose dey was let me come on dat house? + Not at all, for de boss he say, +"Phil-o-rum, it's long tam we don't see our fren', + can't get heem chance ev'ry day, +Please stop on canoe so she won't blow off, + w'ile we pass on de house an' see +Dem frien' we was lef' an' de girl we spark, + before we go strange contree." + +An' me I was sit on canoe outside, jus' lak + I was sapre fou, +Watchin' dem feller dat's all dead man, + dance heem lak Loup Garou. +De boss he kiss Marie Louise, ma girl, + dat's way he spen' mos' de tam, +But of course she know not'ing of dat + biz-nesse--don't lak it me jus' de sam'. + +By tam I'm commence it for feel de col', + dey're all comin' out encore, +An' we start off again t'roo de sky, hooraw! + for mak' de visite some more, +All de place on de parish we go dat night, + w'erever dey get some dance, +Till I feel it so tire, I could sleep right off, + but dey don't geev it me no chance. + +De las' place w'ere passin' dat's Bill Boucher, + he's very good frien' of me, +An' I t'ink it's near tam I was lef' dat crowd, + so I'll snub de canoe on tree, +Den affer dead man he was safe inside, an' + ev'rywan start danser, +I go on de barn wat's behin' de house, for + see I can't hide away. + +She's nice place de barn, an' got plaintee warm, + an' I'm feel very glad be dere, +So long dead feller don't fin' me out, an' ketch + it me on de hair, +But s'pose I get col', work him hard all night, + 'cos I make it wan leetle cough, +W'en de rooster he's scare, holler t'ree, four tam, + an' whole t'ing she bus' right off. + +I'll never see not'ing so quick again--Canoe an' + dead man go scat! +She's locky de rooster he mak' de noise, bus' + ev'ryt'ing up lak dat, +Or mebbe dem feller get me encore, an' tak' me + on Hodson Bay, +But it's all right now, for de morning's come, + an' he see me ole Bill Boucher. + +I'm feel it so tire, an' sore all de place, wit' + all de hard work I do', +'Cos I'm not very use for mak' paddle, me, on beeg, + beeg phantome canoe, +But Bill an' hees boy dey was leef me up, an' + carry me on maison +W'ere plaintee nice t'ing dey was mak' me eat, + an' drink it some whiskey blanc. + +An' now w'en I'm finish, w'at you t'ink it youse'f, + 'bout story dat you was hear? +No wonner ma hair she is all turn w'ite before I + get eighty year! +But 'member dis t'ing, I be tole you firs, don't + los' it mes chers amis, +De man he can leev him on long, long tam, an' + not see it La Chasse Gal'rie! + + * * * * * + +He sit on de corner mos' every night, ole + Phil-o-rum Juneau, +Spik wit' hese'f, an' shak' de head, an' smoke + on de pipe also, +But kip very quiet, don't wak' him up, let him + stay on de kitchen wall, +For if you believe w'at de ole man say, you + believe anyt'ing at all. + + + +DE BELL OF ST. MICHEL. + + +Go 'way, go 'way, don't ring no more, ole bell of Saint Michel, +For if you do, I can't stay here, you know dat very well, +No matter how I close ma ear, I can't shut out de soun', +It rise so high 'bove all de noise of dis beeg Yankee town. + +An' w'en it ring, I t'ink I feel de cool, cool summer breeze +Dat's blow across Lac Peezagonk, an' play among de trees, +Dey're makin' hay, I know mese'f, can smell de pleasant smell +O! how I wish I could be dere to-day on Saint Michel! + +It's fonny t'ing, for me I'm sure, dat's travel ev'ryw'ere, +How moche I t'ink of long ago w'en I be leevin' dere; +I can't 'splain dat at all, at all, mebbe it's naturel, +But I can't help it w'en I hear de bell of Saint Michel. + +Dere's plaintee t'ing I don't forget, but I remember bes' +De spot I fin' wan day on June de small san'piper's nes' +An' dat hole on de reever w'ere I ketch de beeg, beeg trout +Was very nearly pull me in before I pull heem out. + +An' leetle Elodie Leclaire, I wonner if she still +Leev jus' sam' place she use to leev on 'noder side de hill, +But s'pose she marry Joe Barbeau, dat's alway hangin' roun' +Since I am lef' ole Saint Michel for work on Yankee town. + +Ah! dere she go, ding dong, ding dong, its back, encore again +An' ole chanson come on ma head of "a la claire fontaine," +I'm not surprise it soun' so sweet, more sweeter I can tell +For wit' de song also I hear de bell of Saint Michel. + +It's very strange about dat bell, go ding dong all de w'ile +For when I'm small garcon at school, can't hear it half a mile; +But seems more farder I get off from Church of Saint Michel, +De more I see de ole village an' louder soun' de bell. + +O! all de monee dat I mak' w'en I be travel roun' +Can't kip me long away from home on dis beeg Yankee town, +I t'ink I'll settle down again on Parish Saint Michel, +An' leev an' die more satisfy so long I hear dat bell. + + + +PELANG. + + +Pelang! Pelang! Mon cher garcon, + I t'ink of you--t'ink of you night and day-- +Don't mak' no difference, seems to me + De long long tam you're gone away. + + * * * * * + +De snow is deep on de Grande Montagne-- + Lak tonder de rapide roar below-- +De sam' kin' night, ma boy get los' + On beeg, beeg storm forty year ago. + +An' I never was hear de win' blow hard, + An' de snow come sweesh on de window pane-- +But ev'ryt'ing 'pear lak' it's yesterday + An' whole of ma troub' is come back again. + +Ah me! I was foolish young girl den + It's only ma own plaisir I care, +An' w'en some dance or soiree come off + Dat's very sure t'ing you will see me dere. + +Don't got too moche sense at all dat tam, + Run ev'ry place on de whole contree-- +But I change beeg lot w'en Pelang come 'long + For I love him so well, kin' o' steady me. + +An' he was de bes' boy on Coteau, + An' t'ink I am de bes' girl too for sure-- +He's tole me dat, geev de ring also + Was say on de inside "Je t'aime toujours." + +I geev heem some hair dat come off ma head, + I mak' de nice stocking for warm hees feet, +So ev'ryt'ing's feex, w'en de spring is come + For mak' mariee on de church toute suite. + +"W'en de spring is come!" Ah I don't see dat, + Dough de year is pass as dey pass before, +An' de season come, an' de season go, + But our spring never was come no more. + + * * * * * + +It's on de fete of de jour de l'an, + An' de worl' outside is cole an' w'ite, +As I sit an' watch for mon cher Pelang + For he's promise come see me dis very night. + +Bonhomme Peloquin dat is leev near us-- + He's alway keep look heem upon de moon-- +See fonny t'ing dere only week before, + An' say he's expec' some beeg storm soon. + +So ma fader is mak' it de laugh on me' + "Pelang he's believe heem de ole Bonhomme +Dat t'ink he see ev'ryt'ing on de moon + An' mebbe he's feel it too scare for come." + +But I don't spik not'ing I am so sure + Of de promise Pelang is mak' wit' me-- +An' de mos' beeg storm dat is never blow + Can't kip heem away from hees own Marie. + +I open de door, an' pass outside + For see mese'f how de night is look +An' de star is commence for go couche + De mountain also is put on hees tuque. + +No sooner, I come on de house again + W'ere ev'ryt'ing feel it so nice an' warm, +Dan out of de sky come de Nor'Eas' win'-- + Out of de sky come de beeg snow storm. + +Blow lak not'ing I never see, + Blow lak le diable he was mak' grande tour; +De snow come down lak wan avalanche, + An' cole! Mon Dieu, it is cole for sure! + +I t'ink, I t'ink of mon pauvre garcon, + Dat's out mebbe on de Grande Montagne; +So I place chandelle we're it's geev good light, + An' pray Le Bon Dieu he will help Pelang. + +De ole folk t'ink I am go crazee, + An' moder she's geev me de good night kiss; +She say "Go off on your bed, Marie, + Dere's nobody come on de storm lak dis." + +But ma eye don't close dat long long, night + For it seem jus' lak phantome is near, +An' I t'ink of de terrible Loup Garou + An' all de bad story I offen hear. + +Dere was tam I am sure somet'ing call "Marie" + So plainly I open de outside door, +But it's meet me only de awful storm, + An de cry pass away--don't come no more. + +An' de morning sun, w'en he's up at las', + Fin' me w'ite as de face of de snow itse'f, +For I know very well, on de Grande Montagne, + Ma poor Pelang he's come dead hese'f. + +It's noon by de clock w'en de storm blow off, + An' ma fader an' broder start out for see +Any track on de snow by de Mountain side, + Or down on de place w'ere chemin should be. + +No sign at all on de Grande Montagne, + No sign all over de w'ite, w'ite snow; +Only hear de win' on de beeg pine tree, + An' roar of de rapide down below. + +An' w'ere is he lie, mon cher Pelang! + Pelang ma boy I was love so well? +Only Le Bon Dieu up above + An' mebbe de leetle snow bird can tell. + +An I t'ink I hear de leetle bird say, + "Wait till de snow is geev up it's dead, +Wait till I go, an' de robin come, + An' den you will fin' hees cole, cole bed." + +An' it's all come true, for w'en de sun + Is warm de side of de Grande Montagne +An' drive away all de winter snow, + We fin' heem at las', mon cher Pelang! + +An' here on de fete of de jour de l'an, + Alone by mese'f I sit again, +W'ile de beeg, beeg storm is blow outside, + An' de snow come sweesh on de window pane. + +Not all alone, for I t'ink I hear + De voice of ma boy gone long ago; +Can hear it above de hurricane, + An' roar of de rapide down below. + +Yes--yes--Pelang, mon cher garcon! + I t'ink of you, t'ink of you night an' day, +Don't mak' no difference seems to me + How long de tam you was gone away. + + + +MON CHOUAL "CASTOR." + + +I'm poor man, me, but I buy las' May + Wan horse on de Comp'nie Passengaire, +An' auction feller w'at sole heem say + She's out of de full-breed "Messengaire." + +Good trotter stock, also galluppe, + But work long tam on de city car, +Of course she's purty well break heem up, + So come leetle cheap--twenty-wan dollarre. + +Firs' chance I sen' heem on St. Cesaire, + W'ere I t'ink he's have moche better sight, +Mebbe de grass an' de contree air + Very soon was feex heem up all right. + +I lef' heem dere till de fall come 'long, + An' dat trotter he can't eat grass no more, +An' w'en I go dere, I fin' heem strong + Lak not'ing I never see before. + +I heetch heem up on de light sulkee, + L'enfant! dat horse he is cover groun'! +Don't tak' long tam for de crowd to see + Mon choual he was leek all trotter roun'. + +Come down de race course lak' oiseau + Tail over datch boar', nice you please, +Can't tell for sure de quick he go, + S'pose somew'ere 'bout two, t'ree forties. + +I treat ma frien' on de whiskey blanc, + An' we drink "Castor" he's bonne sante +From L'Achigan to St. Armand, + He's bes' horse sure on de whole comte. + + * * * * * + +'Bout week on front of dis, Lalime, + Dat man drive horse call "Clevelan' Bay" +Was challenge, so I match wit' heem + For wan mile heat on straight away. + +Dat's twenty dollarre on wan side, + De lawyer's draw de paper out, +But if dem trotter come in tied, + Wall! all dat monee's go on spout. + +Nex' t'ing ma backer man, Labrie, + Tak' off his catch-book vingt cinq cents, +An' toss Lalime bes' two on t'ree + For see who's go on inside fence. + +Bateese Lalime, he's purty smart, + An' gain dat toss wit' jockey trick. +I don't care me, w'en "Castor" start, + Very soon I t'ink he's mak' heem sick. + +Beeg crowd of course was dere for see + Dem trotter on de grand match race +Some people come from St. Remi + An' some from plaintee 'noder place. + +W'en all is ready, flag was fall + An' way dem trotter pass on fence +Lak not'ing you never see at all, + It mak' me t'ink of "St. Lawrence."[1] + +"Castor," hees tail was stan' so straight + Could place chapeau on de en' of top +An' w'en he struck two forty gait + Don't seem he's never go for stop. + +Wall! dat's all right for firs' half mile + W'en Clevelan' Bay commence for break, +Dat mak' me feel very moche lak smile, + I'm sure "Castor" he's took de cake. + +But Lalime pull heem hard on line + An' stop "Clevelan'" before go far, +It's all no good, he can't ketch mine + I'm go more quicker lak express car. + +I'm feel all right for my monee, + For sure mon Choual he's took firs' place, +W'en 'bout arpent from home, sapre, + Somet'ing she's happen, I'm los' de race. + +Wan bad boy he's come out on track, + I cannot see dat bad boy's han'; +He's hol' somet'ing behin' hees back, + It was small bell, I understan'. + +Can spik for dat, ma horse go well, + An' never show no sign of sweat, +Until dat boy he's ring hees bell-- + Misere! I t'ink I hear heem yet! + +Wall! jus' so soon mon Choual "Castor" + Was hear dat bell go kling! klang! kling! +He's tink of course of city car, + An' spose mus' be conductor ring. + +Firs' t'ing I know ma trotter's drop + Dat tail was stan' so straight before, +An' affer dat, mebbe he stop + For me, I don't know not'ing more. + +But w'en I'm come alive again + I fin' dat horse call "Clevelan' Bay" +Was got firs' place, an' so he's gain + Dat wan mile heat on straight away. + +An' now w'erever I am go + Bad boy he's sure for holler an' yell +Dis donc! Dis donc! Paul Archambault! + W'at's matter wit' your chestnutte bell? + +Mak' plaintee troub' dem bad garcons, + An' offen ring some bell also, +Was mad! Could plonge on de St. Laurent + An' w'at to do, "Castor" don't know. + +Las' tam I pass de railway track + For drive avec mon frere Alfred, +In-jinne she's ring, "Castor" he's back, + Monjee! it's fonny I'm not come dead! + +Toujours comme ca! an' mak' me sick, + But horse dat work long on les chars +Can't broke dem off on fancy trick + So now I'm busy for sole "Castor." + +[Footnote 1: "St. Lawrence," the Canadian "Dexter."] + + + +OLE TAM ON BORD-A PLOUFFE. + + +I lak on summer ev'ning, w'en nice cool win' is blowin' + An' up above ma head, I hear de pigeon on de roof, +To bring ma chair an' sit dere, an' watch de current flowin' + Of ole Riviere des Prairies as she pass de Bord-a Plouffe. + +But it seem dead place for sure now, on shore down by de lan'in'-- + No more de voyageurs is sing lak dey was sing alway-- +De tree dey're commence growin' w'ere shaintee once is stan'in', + An' no one scare de swallow w'en she fly across de bay. + +I don't lak see de reever she's never doin' not'in' + But passin' empty ev'ry day on Bout de l'ile below-- +Ma ole shaloup dat's lyin' wit' all its timber rottin' + An' tam so change on Bord-a Plouffe since forty year ago! + +De ice dat freeze on winter, might jus' as well be stay dere, + For w'en de spring she's comin' de only t'ing I see +Is two, t'ree piqnique feller, hees girl was row away dere, + Don't got no use for water now, on Riviere des Prairies. + +'Twas diff'rent on dem summer you couldn't see de reever, + Wit' saw-log an' squar' timber raf', mos' all de season t'roo-- +Two honder man an' more too--all busy lak de beaver, + An' me! I'm wan de pilot for ronne 'em down de "Soo." + +Don't 'member lak I use to, for now I'm gettin' ole, me-- + But still I can't forget Bill Wade, an' Guillaume Lagasse, +Joe Monferrand, Bazile Montour--wit' plaintee I can't tole, me, + An' king of all de Bord-a Plouffe, M'sieu' Venance Lemay. + +Lak small boy on hees lesson, I learn de way to han'le + Mos' beeges' raf' is never float upon de Ottawaw, +Ma fader show me dat too, for well he know de channel, + From Dutchman Rapide up above to Bout de l'ile en bas. + +He's smart man too, ma fader, only t'ing he got de bow-leg, + Ridin' log w'en leetle feller, mebbe dat's de reason w'y, +All de sam', if he's in hurry, den Bagosh! he's got heem no leg + But wing an' fedder lak oiseau, was fly upon de sky! + +O dat was tam we're happy, an' man dey're alway singin', + For if it's hard work on de raf', w'y dere's your monee sure! +An' ev'ry summer evenin', ole Bord-a Plouffe she's ringin' + Wit' "En Roulant ma Boule" an' "J'aimerai toujour." + +Dere dey're comin' on de wagon! fine young feller ev'ry wan too, + Dress im up de ole tam fashion, dat I lak for see encore, +Yellin' hooraw! t'roo de village, all de horse upon de ronne too, + Ah poor Bord-a Plouffe! she never have dem tam again no more! + +Very offen w'en I'm sleepin', I was feel as if I'm goin' + Down de ole Riviere des Prairies on de raf' de sam as den-- +An' ma dream is only lef' me, w'en de rooster commence crowin' + But it can't do me no harm, 'cos it mak me young again. + +An' upon de morning early, wen de reever fog is clearin' + An' sun is makin' up hees min' for drive away de dew, +W'en young bird want hees breakfas', I wak' an' t'ink I'm hearin' + Somebody shout "Hooraw, Bateese, de raf' she's wait for you." + +Dat's voice of Guillaume Lagasse was call me on de morning + Jus' outside on de winder w'ere you look across de bay, +But he's drown upon de Longue "Soo," wit' never word of warning + An' green grass cover over poor Guillaume Lagasse. + +I s'pose dat's meanin' somet'ing--mebbe I'm not long for stay here, + Seein' all dem strange t'ing happen--dead frien' comin' roun' me so-- +But I'm sure I die more happy, if I got jus' wan more day here, + Lak we have upon de ole tam Bord-a Plouffe of long ago! + + + +THE GRAND SEIGNEUR. + + +To the hut of the peasant, or lordly hall, +To the heart of the king, or humblest thrall, +Sooner or late, love comes to all, +And it came to the Grand Seigneur, my dear, + It came to the Grand Seigneur. + +The robins were singing a roundelay, +And the air was sweet with the breath of May, +As a horseman rode thro' the forest way, +And he was a Grand Seigneur, my dear, + He was a grand Seigneur. + +Lord of the Manor, Count Bellefontaine, +Had spurr'd over many a stormy plain +With gallants of France at his bridle rein, +For he was a brave Cavalier, my dear-- + He was a brave Cavalier. + +But the huntsman's daughter, La Belle Marie, +Held the Knight's proud heart in captivity, +And oh! she was fair as the fleur de lys, +Tho' only a peasant maid, my dear, + Only a peasant maid. + +Thro' the woodland depths on his charger grey +To the huntsman's cottage he rides away, +And the maiden lists to a tale to-day +That haughtiest dame might hear, my dear, + That haughtiest dame might hear. + +But she cried "Alas! it may never be, +For my heart is pledged to the young Louis, +And I love him, O Sire, so tenderly, +Tho' he's only a poor Chasseur, my Lord, + Only a poor Chasseur." + +"Enough," spake the Knight with a courtly bow, +"Be true to thy lover and maiden vow, +For virtue like thine is but rare, I trow, +And farewell to my dream of love, and thee, + Farewell to my dream of thee." + +And they say the gallant Count Bellefontaine +Bestowed on the couple a rich domain, +But you never may hear such tale again, +For he was a Grand Seigneur, my dear, + He was a Grand Seigneur! + + + +M'SIEU SMIT. + +THE ADVENTURES OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN THE CANADIAN WOODS. + + +Wan morning de walkim boss say "Damase, + I t'ink you're good man on canoe d'ecorce, +So I'll ax you go wit' your frien' Phileas + An' meet M'sieu' Smit' on Chenail W'ite Horse. + +"He'll have I am sure de grosse baggage-- + Mebbe some valise--mebbe six or t'ree-- +But if she's too moche for de longue portage + 'Poleon he will tak' 'em wit' mail buggee." + +W'en we reach Chenail, plaintee peep be dere, + An' wan frien' of me, call Placide Chretien, +'Splain all dat w'en he say man from Angleterre + Was spik heem de crowd on de "Parisien." + +Fonny way dat Englishman he'll be dress, + Leetle pant my dear frien' jus' come on knee, +Wit' coat dat's no coat at all--only ves' + An' hat--de more stranger I never see! + +Wall! dere he sit on de en' some log + An' swear heem in English purty loud +Den talk Francais, w'ile hees chien boule dog + Go smellim an' smellim aroun' de crowd. + +I spik im "Bonjour, M'sieu' Smit', Bonjour, + I hope dat yourse'f and famille she's well?" +M'sieu Smit' he is also say "Bonjour," + An' call off hees dog dat's commence for smell. + +I tell heem my name dat's Damase Labrie + I am come wit' Phileas for mak' de trip, +An' he say I'm de firs' man he never see + Spik English encore since he lef' de ship. + +He is also ax it to me "Damase, + De peep she don't seem understan' Francais, +W'at's matter wit' dat?" An' I say "Becos + You mak' too much talk on de Parisien." + +De groun she is pile wit' baggage--Sapre! + An' I see purty quick we got plaintee troub-- +Two tronk, t'ree valise, four-five fusil, + An' w'at M'sieu Smit' he is call "bat' tubbe." + +M'sieu Smit' he's tole me w'at for's dat t'ing, + An' it seem Englishman he don't feel correc' +Until he's go plonge on some bat' morning + An' sponge it hees possibill high hees neck. + +Of course dat's not'ing of my beez-nesse, + He can plonge on de water mos' ev'ry day, +But I t'ink for mese'f it mak foolishness + An' don't do no good w'en your bonne sante. + +W'en I tell 'Poleon he mus' mak' dat job, + Dere's leetle too moche for canoe d'ecorce, +He's mad right away an' say "Sapre diable! + You t'ink I go work lak wan niggerhorse? + +"I'm not manufacture dat way, ba non, + Dat rich stranger man he have lot monee, +I go see my frien' Onesime Gourdon, + An' tole heem bring horse wit' some more buggee." + +Wall! affer some w'ile dey'll arrange all dat, + 'Poleon an' hees frien' Onesime Gourdon, +But w'en 'Poleon is tak' hole of bat', + He receive it beeg scare immediatement! + +Dat chien boule dog, I was tole you 'bout, + I am not understan' w'at good she's for, +Eat 'Poleon's leg w'it hees teet' an' mout, + 'Poleon he is feel very mad--by Gor! + +Of course I am poule heem hees tail toute suite + But I don't know some reason mak all dis troub', +W'en I hear me dat Englishman, M'sieu Smit' + Say 'Poleon, w'at for you took my tubbe? + +"Leff 'im dere--for I don't low nobodee + Walk heem off on any such way lak dat; +You may tak' all de res', an' I don't care me-- + But de man he'll be keel who is tak' my bat'." + +"I will carry heem wit' me," say M'sieu Smit'-- + "W'erever dat tubbe she mus' go, I go-- +No matter de many place we visite, + An' my sponge I will tak' mese'f also." + +Phileas say "Damase, we mus buil' some raf' + Or mebbe some feller be sure get drown"; +Dis geev me plaisir, but I'm scare mak' laf', + So I'll do it mese'f, inside, way down. + +At las' we are start on voyage, sure nuff, + M'sieu Smit' carry tubbe on de top hees head, +Good job, I t'ink so, de lac isn't rough, + Or probably dis tam, we're all come dead. + +De dog go wit' Onesime Gourdon, + An' Onesime afferwar' say to me, +"Dat chien boule dog is eat 'Poleon + Was de more quiet dog I never see." + +But fun she's commence on very nex' day + W'en we go camp out on de Castor Noir. +Dat Englishman he'll come along an' say + "I hope some wil' Injun she don't be dere. + +"I have hear many tam, dat de wood be foule + Of Injun w'at tak' off de hair your head. +But so surely my name she's Johnnie Boule + If I see me dem feller I shoot it dead." + +Phileas den pray harder, more quick he can + Mebbe he's t'ink dat's hees las' portage +De moder hees fader, she's Injun man + Derefore an' also, he is wan Sauvage. + +I say "Don't mak' it some excitement; + Saison she is 'close' on de spring an' fall, +An' dem peep dat work on de Gouvernement + Don't lak you shoot Injun dis mont' at all." + +Nex' day M'sieu Smit' is perform hees plonge + We see heem go done it--Phileas an' me, +An' w'en he's hang up bat' tubbe an' sponge + We go on de wood for mak' Chasse perdrix. + +An' mebbe you will not believe to me, + But w'en we come back on de camp encore +De sponge of dat Englishman don't be see, + An' we fin' beeg bear she's go dead on shore. + +Very fonny t'ing how he's loss hees life, + But Phileas he'll know hese'f purty quick, +He cut M'sieu Bear wit' hees hunter knife, + An' sponge she's fall out on de bear stummick. + +Day affer we get two fox houn' from Boss + Dat's good for ketch deer on de fall an' spring, +Den place Englishman w'ere he can't get los' + An' tole heem shoot quicker he see somet'ing. + +Wat's dat leetle deer got no horn at all? + She'll be moder small wan en suite bimeby, +Don't remember mese'f w'at name she's call, + But dat's de kin' start w'en de dog is cry. + +We see heem come down on de runaway + De dog she is not very far behin' +An' w'en dey pass place M'sieu Smit' is stay + We expec' he will shoot or make noise some kin'! + +But he's not shoot at all, mon cher ami, + So we go an' we ax "Is he see some deer?" +He say "Dat's long tam I am stay on tree + But I don't see not'ing she's pass on here." + +We spik heem once more, "He don't see fox houn'?" + W'at you t'ink he is say, dat Englishman? +"Yes, I see dem pass quickly upon de groun', + Wan beeg yellow dog, an' two small brown wan." + +He's feel de more bad I don't see before + W'en he know dat beeg dog, she's wan small deer, +An' for mak' ev'ryt'ing correc' encore + We drink I am sure six bouteilles de biere. + +Nex' day--dat's Dimanche--he is spik to me, + "Damase, you mus' feel leetle fatigue, +You may slep' wit' Phileas w'ile I go an' see + I can't get some nice quiet tam to-day." + +So for keep 'way skeeter, an' fly also + Bouteille from de shelf M'sieu Smit' he tak', +Den he start wit' his chien boule dog an' go + For nice quiet walk on shore of lac. + +We don't slep' half hour w'en dere's beeg, beeg yell, + Lak somet'ing I'm sure don't hear long tam, +An' we see wan feller we cannot tell, + Till he spik it, "Damase! Phileas!! dam dam!!!" + +Den we know it at once, mon cher ami, + But she's swell up hees face--hees neck an' han'! +It seem all de skeeter on w'ole contree + Is jump on de head of dat Englishman. + +Some water on poor M'sieu Smit' we'll t'row, + An' w'en he's tranquille fin' out ev'ryt'ing; +Bouteille he's rub on, got some nice sirop + I was mak' mese'f on de wood las' spring. + +Dere was jus' 'noder t'ing he seem for care + An' den he is feel it more satisfy, +Dat t'ing, my dear frien', was for keel some bear, + If he'll do dat wan tam, he's prepare for die. + +Phileas say he know w'ere some blue berree + Mak' very good place for de bear have fonne, +So we start nex' day on morning earlee, + An' M'sieu Smit' go wit' hees elephan' gun. + +Wan woman sauvage she is come be dere, + Mebbe want some blue berree mak' some pie, +Dat' Englishman shoot, he is t'ink she's bear, + An' de woman she's holler, "Mon Dieu, I'm die!" + +M'sieu Smit' he don't do no harm, becos + He is shake hese'f w'en he shoot dat squaw, +But scare he pay hunder' dollar cos' + For keel some sauvage on de "close" saison. + +T'ree day affer dat, we start out on lac + For ketch on de water wan Cariboo, +But win' she blow strong, an' we can't get back + Till we t'row ourse'f out on dat canoe. + +We t'ink M'sieu Smit' he is sure be drown, + Leetle w'ile we can't see heem again no more, +An' den he's come up from de place go down + An' jomp on hees bat' tubbe an' try go shore. + +W'en he's pass on de bat', he say "Hooraw!" + An' commence right away for mak' some sing; +I'm sure you can hear heem ten-twelve arpent + 'Bout "Brittanie, she alway mus' boss somet'ing." + +Dat's all I will tole you jus' now, my frien'; + I s'pose you don't know de more fonny case, +But if Englishman go on wood again + I'll have more storee w'en you pass my place. + + + +WHEN ALBANI SANG. + + +Was workin' away on de farm dere, wan + morning not long ago, +Feexin' de fence for winter--'cos dat's + w'ere we got de snow! +W'en Jeremie Plouffe, ma neighbor, come + over an' spik wit' me, +"Antoine, you will come on de city, + for hear Ma-dam All-ba-nee?" + +"W'at you mean?" I was sayin' right off, me, + "Some woman was mak' de speech, +Or girl on de Hooraw Circus, doin' high + kick an' screech?" +"Non--non," he is spikin'--"Excuse me, + dat's be Ma-dam All-ba-nee +Was leevin' down here on de contree, two + mile 'noder side Chambly. + +"She's jus' comin' over from Englan', on + steamboat arrive Kebeck, +Singin' on Lunnon an' Paree, an' havin' + beeg tam, I expec', +But no matter de moche she enjoy it, for + travel all roun' de worl', +Somet'ing on de heart bring her back here, + for she was de Chambly girl. + +"She never do not'ing but singin' an' makin' + de beeg grande tour +An' travel on summer an' winter, so mus' be + de firs' class for sure! +Ev'ryboddy I'm t'inkin' was know her, an' I + also hear 'noder t'ing, +She's frien' on La Reine Victoria an' show + her de way to sing!" + +"Wall," I say, "you're sure she is Chambly, + w'at you call Ma-dam All-ba-nee? +Don't know me dat nam' on de Canton--I hope + you're not fool wit' me?" +An' he say, "Lajeunesse, dey was call her, + before she is come mariee, +But she's takin' de nam' of her husban'--I + s'pose dat's de only way." + +"C'est bon, mon ami," I was say me, "If I get + t'roo de fence nex' day +An' she don't want too moche on de monee den + mebbe I see her play." +So I finish dat job on to-morrow, Jeremie he + was helpin' me too, +An' I say, "Len' me t'ree dollar quickly for + mak' de voyage wit' you." + +Correc'--so we're startin' nex' morning, an' + arrive Montreal all right, +Buy dollar tiquette on de bureau, an' pass on + de hall dat night. +Beeg crowd, wall! I bet you was dere too, all + dress on some fancy dress, +De lady, I don't say not'ing, but man's all + w'ite shirt an' no ves'. + +Don't matter, w'en ban' dey be ready, de foreman + strek out wit' hees steek, +An' fiddle an' ev'ryt'ing else too, begin for + play up de musique. +It's fonny t'ing too dey was playin' don't lak + it mese'f at all, +I rader be lissen some jeeg, me, or w'at you call + "Affer de ball." + +An' I'm not feelin' very surprise den, w'en de + crowd holler out, "Encore," +For mak' all dem feller commencin' an' try leetle + piece some more, +'Twas better wan' too, I be t'inkin', but slow + lak you're goin' to die, +All de sam', noboddy say not'ing, dat mean + dey was satisfy. + +Affer dat come de Grande piano, lak we got on + Chambly Hotel, +She's nice lookin' girl was play dat, so of + course she's go off purty well, +Den feller he's ronne out an' sing some, it's + all about very fine moon, +Dat shine on Canal, ev'ry night too, I'm sorry + I don't know de tune. + +Nex' t'ing I commence get excite, me, for I + don't see no great Ma-dam yet, +Too bad I was los all dat monee, an' too late + for de raffle tiquette! +W'en jus' as I feel very sorry, for come all + de way from Chambly, +Jeremie he was w'isper, "Tiens, Tiens, prenez + garde, she's comin' Ma-dam All-ba-nee!" + +Ev'ryboddy seem glad w'en dey see her, come + walkin' right down de platform, +An' way dey mak' noise on de han' den, w'y! + it's jus' lak de beeg tonder storm! +I'll never see not'ing lak dat, me, no matter + I travel de worl', +An' Ma-dam, you t'ink it was scare her? Non, + she laugh lak de Chambly girl! + +Dere was young feller comin' behin' her, walk + nice, comme un Cavalier, +An' before All-ba-nee she is ready an' piano + get startin' for play, +De feller commence wit' hees singin', more + stronger dan all de res', +I t'ink he's got very bad manner, know not'ing + at all politesse. + +Ma-dam, I s'pose she get mad den, an' before + anyboddy can spik, +She settle right down for mak' sing too, an' + purty soon ketch heem up quick, +Den she's kip it on gainin' an' gainin', till + de song it is tout finis, +An' w'en she is beatin' dat feller, Bagosh! + I am proud Chambly! + +I'm not very sorry at all, me, w'en de feller + was ronnin' away, +An' man he's come out wit' de piccolo, an' + start heem right off for play, +For it's kin' de musique I be fancy, Jeremie + he is lak it also, +An' wan de bes' t'ing on dat ev'ning is man + wit' de piccolo! + +Den mebbe ten minute is passin', Ma-dam she is + comin' encore, +Dis tam all alone on de platform, dat feller + don't show up no more, +An' w'en she start off on de singin' Jeremie say, + "Antoine, dat's Francais," +Dis give us more pleasure, I tole you, 'cos w'y? + We're de pure Canayen! + +Dat song I will never forget me, 'twas song of + de leetle bird, +W'en he's fly from it's nes' on de tree top, + 'fore res' of de worl' get stirred, +Ma-dam she was tole us about it, den start off + so quiet an' low, +An' sing lak de bird on de morning, de poor + leetle small oiseau. + +I 'member wan tam I be sleepin' jus' onder some + beeg pine tree +An song of de robin wak' me, but robin he + don't see me, +Dere's not'ing for scarin' dat bird dere, he's + feel all alone on de worl', +Wall! Ma-dam she mus' lissen lak dat too, w'en + she was de Chambly girl! + +Cos how could she sing dat nice chanson, de sam' + as de bird I was hear, +Till I see it de maple an' pine tree an' Richelieu + ronnin' near, +Again I'm de leetle feller, lak young colt upon + de spring +Dat's jus' on de way I was feel, me, w'en Ma-dam + All-ba-nee is sing! + +An' affer de song it is finish, an' crowd is mak' + noise wit' its han', +I s'pose dey be t'inkin' I'm crazy, dat mebbe + I don't onderstan', +Cos I'm set on de chair very quiet, mese'f an' + poor Jeremie, +An' I see dat hees eye it was cry too, jus' sam' + way it go wit' me. + +Dere's rosebush outside on our garden, ev'ry spring + it has got new nes', +But only wan bluebird is buil' dere, I know her + from all de res', +An' no matter de far she be flyin' away on + de winter tam, +Back to her own leetle rosebush she's comin + dere jus' de sam'. + +We're not de beeg place on our Canton, mebbe + cole on de winter, too, +But de heart's "Canayen" on our body, an' + dat's warm enough for true! +An' w'en All-ba-nee was got lonesome for + travel all roun' de worl' +I hope she 'll come home, lak de bluebird, + an' again be de Chambly girl! + + + +DE CAMP ON DE "CHEVAL GRIS." + + +You 'member de ole log-camp, Johnnie, up on de Cheval Gris, +W'ere we work so hard all winter, long ago you an' me? +Dere was fourteen man on de gang, den, all from our own paroisse, +An' only wan lef' dem feller is ourse'f an' Pierre Laframboise. + +But Pierre can't see on de eye, Johnnie, I t'ink it's no good at all! +An' it wasn't for not'ing, you're gettin' rheumateez on de leg las' fall! +I t'ink it's no use waitin', for neider can come wit' me, +So alone I mak' leetle visit dat camp on de Cheval Gris. + +An' if only you see it, Johnnie, an' change dere was all aroun', +Ev'ryt'ing gone but de timber an' dat is all fallin' down; +No sign of portage by de reever w'ere man dey was place canoe, +W'y, Johnnie, I'm cry lak de bebe, an' I'm glad you don't come, mon vieux! + +But strange t'ing's happen me dere, Johnnie, mebbe I go asleep, +As I lissen de song of de rapide, as pas' de Longue Soo she sweep, +Ma head she go biz-z-z lak de sawmeel, I don't know w'at's wrong wit' me, +But firs' t'ing I don't know not'ing, an' den w'at you t'ink I see? + +Yourse'f an' res' of de boy, Johnnie, by light of de coal oil lamp, +An' you're singin' an' tolin' story, sittin' aroun' de camp, +We hear de win' on de chimley, an' we know it was beeg, beeg storm, +But ole box stove she is roarin', an' camp's feelin' nice an' warm. + +I t'ink you're on boar' of de raf', Johnnie, near head of Riviere du Loup, +W'en LeRoy an' young Patsy Kelly get drown comin' down de Soo, +Wall! I see me dem very same feller, jus' lak you see me to-day, +Playin' dat game dey call checker, de game dey was play alway! + +An' Louis Charette asleep, Johnnie, wit' hees back up agen de wall, +Makin' soche noise wit' hees nose, dat you t'ink it was moose on de fall, +I s'pose he's de mos' fattes' man dere 'cept mebbe Bateese La Rue, +But if I mak fonne on poor Louis, I know he was good boy too! + +W'at you do over dere on your bunk, Johnnie, lightin' dem allumettes, +Are you shame 'cos de girl she write you, is dat de las' wan you get? +It's fonny you can't do widout it ev'ry tam you was goin' bed, +W'y readin' dat letter so offen, you mus have it all on de head! + +Dat's de very sam' letter, Johnnie, was comin' t'ree mont' ago, +I t'ink I know somet'ing about it, 'cos I fin' it wan day on de snow. +An' I see on de foot dat letter, Philomene she is do lak dis: * * * +I'm not very moche on de school, me, but I t'ink dat was mean de kiss. + +Wall! nobody's kickin' de row, Johnnie, an' if allumettes' fini, +Put Philomene off on your pocket, an' sing leetle song wit' me; +For don't matter de hard you be workin' toujours you're un bon garcon, +An' nobody sing lak our Johnnie, Kebeck to de Mattawa! + +An' it's den you be let her go, Johnnie, till roof she was mos' cave in, +An' if dere's firs' prize on de singin', Bagosh! you're de man can win! +Affer dat come fidelle of Joe Pilon, an' he's feller can make it play, +So we're clearin' de floor right off den, for have leetle small danser. + +An' w'en dance she was tout finis, Johnnie, I go de sam' bunk wit' you +W'ere we sleep lak two broder, an' dream of de girl on Riviere du Loup, +Very nice ontil somebody call me, it soun' lak de boss Pelang, +"Leve toi, Jeremie ma young feller, or else you'll be late on de gang." + +An' den I am wak' up, Johnnie, an' w'ere do you t'ink I be? +Dere was de wood an' mountain, dere was de Cheval Gris, +But w'ere is de boy an' musique I hear only w'ile ago? +Gone lak de flower las' summer, gone lak de winter snow! + +An' de young man was bring me up, Johnnie, dat's son of ma boy Maxime, +Say, "Gran'fader, w'at is de matter, you havin' de bad, bad dream? +Come look on your face on de well dere, it's w'ite lak I never see, +Mebbe 't was better you're stayin', an' not go along wit' me." + +An' w'en I look down de well, Johnnie, an' see de ole feller dere, +I say on mese'f "you be makin' fou Jeremie Chateauvert, +For t'ink you're garcon agen. Ha! ha! jus' 'cos you are close de eye, +An' only commence for leevin' w'en you're ready almos' for die!" + +Ah! dat's how de young day pass, Johnnie, purty moche lak de t'ing I see, +Sometam dey be las' leetle longer, sam' as wit' you an' me, +But no matter de ole we're leevin', de tam she must come some day, +W'en boss on de place above, Johnnie, he's callin' us all away. + +I'm glad I was go on de camp, Johnnie, I t'ink it will do me good, +Mebbe it's las' tam too, for sure, I'll never pass on de wood, +For I don't expec' moche longer ole Jeremie will be lef', +But about w'at I see dat day, Johnnie, tole nobody but yourse'f. + + + +DE STOVE PIPE HOLE. + + +Dat's very cole an' stormy night on Village St. Mathieu, +W'en ev'ry wan he's go couche, an' dog was quiet, too-- +Young Dominique is start heem out see Emmeline Gourdon, +Was leevin' on her fader's place, Maxime de Forgeron. + +Poor Dominique he's lak dat girl, an' love her mos' de tam, +An' she was mak' de promise--sure--some day she be his famme, +But she have worse ole fader dat's never on de worl', +Was swear onless he's riche lak diable, no feller's get hees girl. + +He's mak' it plaintee fuss about hees daughter Emmeline, +Dat's mebbe nice girl, too, but den, Mon Dieu, she's not de queen! +An' w'en de young man's come aroun' for spark it on de door, +An' hear de ole man swear "Bapteme!" he's never come no more. + +Young Dominique he's sam' de res',--was scare for ole Maxime, +He don't lak risk hese'f too moche for chances seein' heem, +Dat's only stormy night he come, so dark you cannot see, +An dat's de reason w'y also, he's climb de gallerie. + +De girl she's waitin' dere for heem--don't care about de rain, +So glad for see young Dominique he's comin' back again, +Dey bote forget de ole Maxime, an' mak de embrasser +An affer dey was finish dat, poor Dominique is say-- + +"Good-bye, dear Emmeline, good-bye; I'm goin' very soon, +For you I got no better chance, dan feller on de moon-- +It's all de fault your fader, too, dat I be go away, +He's got no use for me at all--I see dat ev'ry day. + +"He's never meet me on de road but he is say 'Sapre!' +An' if he ketch me on de house I'm scare he's killin' me, +So I mus' lef' ole St. Mathieu, for work on 'noder place, +An' till I mak de beeg for-tune, you never see ma face." + +Den Emmeline say "Dominique, ma love you'll alway be +An' if you kiss me two, t'ree tam I'll not tole noboddy-- +But prenez garde ma fader, please, I know he's gettin ole-- +All sam' he offen walk de house upon de stockin' sole. + +"Good-bye, good-bye, cher Dominique! I know you will be true, +I don't want no riche feller me, ma heart she go wit' you." +Dat's very quick he's kiss her den, before de fader come, +But don't get too moche pleasurement--so 'fraid de ole Bonhomme. + +Wall! jus' about dey're half way t'roo wit all dat love beez-nesse +Emmeline say, "Dominique, w'at for you're scare lak all de res? +Don't see mese'f moche danger now de ole man come aroun'," +W'en minute affer dat, dere's noise, lak' house she's fallin' down. + +Den Emmeline she holler "Fire! will no wan come for me?" +An Dominique is jomp so high, near bus' de gallerie,-- +"Help! help! right off," somebody shout, "I'm killin' on ma place, +It's all de fault ma daughter, too, dat girl she's ma disgrace." + +He's kip it up long tam lak dat, but not hard tellin' now, +W'at's all de noise upon de house--who's kick heem up de row? +It seem Bonhomme was sneak aroun' upon de stockin' sole, +An' firs' t'ing den de ole man walk right t'roo de stove pipe hole. + +W'en Dominique is see heem dere, wit' wan leg hang below, +An' 'noder leg straight out above, he's glad for ketch heem so-- +De ole man can't do not'ing, den, but swear and ax for w'y +Noboddy tak' heem out dat hole before he's comin' die. + +Den Dominique he spik lak dis, "Mon cher M'sieur Gourdon +I'm not riche city feller, me, I'm only habitant, +But I was love more I can tole your daughter Emmeline, +An' if I marry on dat girl, Bagosh! she's lak de Queen. + +"I want you mak de promise now, before it's come too late, +An' I mus' tole you dis also, dere's not moche tam for wait. +Your foot she's hangin' down so low, I'm 'fraid she ketch de cole, +Wall! if you give me Emmeline, I pull you out de hole." + +Dat mak' de ole man swear more hard he never swear before, +An' wit' de foot he's got above, he's kick it on de floor, +"Non, non," he say "Sapre tonnerre! she never marry you, +An' if you don't look out you get de jail on St. Mathieu." + +"Correc'," young Dominique is say, "mebbe de jail's tight place, +But you got wan small corner, too, I see it on de face, +So if you don't lak geev de girl on wan poor habitant, +Dat's be mese'f, I say, Bonsoir, mon cher M'sieur Gourdon." + +"Come back, come back," Maxime is shout--I promise you de girl, +I never see no wan lak you--no never on de worl'! +It's not de nice trick you was play on man dat's gettin' ole, +But do jus' w'at you lak, so long you pull me out de hole." + +"Hooraw! Hooraw!" Den Dominique is pull heem out tout suite +An' Emmeline she's helpin' too for place heem on de feet, +An' affer dat de ole man's tak' de young peep down de stair, +W'ere he is go couche right off, an' dey go on parloir. + +Nex' Sunday morning dey was call by M'sieur le Cure +Get marry soon, an' ole Maxime geev Emmeline away; +Den affer dat dey settle down lak habitant is do, +An' have de mos' fine familee on Village St. Mathieu. + + + +"DE SNOWBIRD." + + +O leetle bird dat's come to us w'en stormy win' she's blowin', +An' ev'ry fiel' an' mountain top is cover wit' de snow, +How far from home you're flyin', noboddy's never knowin' +For spen' wit' us de winter tam, mon cher petit oiseau! + +We alway know you're comin', w'en we hear de firs' beeg storm, +A sweepin' from de sky above, an' screamin' as she go-- +Can tell you're safe inside it, w'ere you're keepin' nice an' warm, +But no wan's never see you dere, mon cher petit oiseau! + +Was it 'way behin' de mountain, dat de nort' win' ketch you sleepin' +Mebbe on your leetle nes' too, an' before de wing she grow, +Lif' you up an' bring you dat way, till some morning fin' you peepin' +Out of new nes' on de snow dreef, mon pauv' petit oiseau! + +All de wood is full on summer, wit' de many bird is sing dere, +Dey mus' offen know each oder, mebbe mak' de frien' also, +But w'en you was come on winter, never seein' wan strange wing dere +Was it mak' you feelin' lonesome, mon pauv' petit oiseau? + +Plaintee bird is alway hidin' on some place no wan can fin' dem, +But ma leetle bird of winter, dat was not de way you go-- +For de chil'ren on de roadside, you don't seem to care for min' dem +W'en dey pass on way to schoolhouse, mon cher petit oiseau! + +No wan say you sing lak robin, but you got no tam for singin' +So busy it was keepin' you get breakfas' on de snow, +But de small note you was geev us, w'en it join de sleigh bell ringin' +Mak' de true Canadian music, mon cher petit oiseau! + +O de long an' lonesome winter, if you're never comin' near us, +If we miss you on de roadside, an' on all de place below! +But le bon Dieu he will sen' you troo de storm again for cheer us, +W'en we mos' was need you here too, mon cher petit oiseau! + + + +THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE. + + +I read on de paper mos' ev'ry day, all about Jubilee +An' grande procession movin' along, an' passin' across de sea, +Dat's chil'ren of Queen Victoriaw comin' from far away +For tole Madame w'at dey t'ink of her, an' wishin' her bonne sante. + +An' if any wan want to know pourquoi les Canayens should be dere +Wit' res' of de worl' for shout "Hooraw" an' t'row hees cap on de air, +Purty quick I will tole heem de reason, w'y we feel lak de oder do, +For if I'm only poor habitant, I'm not on de sapre fou. + +Of course w'en we t'ink it de firs' go off, I know very strange it seem +For fader of us dey was offen die for flag of L'Ancien Regime, +From day w'en de voyageurs come out all de way from ole St. Malo, +Flyin' dat flag from de mas' above, an' long affer dat also. + +De English fight wit' de Frenchman den over de whole contree, +Down by de reever, off on de wood, an' out on de beeg, beeg sea, +Killin', an' shootin', an' raisin' row, half tam dey don't know w'at for, +W'en it's jus' as easy get settle down, not makin' de crazy war. + +Sometam' dey be quiet for leetle w'ile, you t'ink dey don't fight no more, +An' den w'en dey're feelin' all right agen, Bang! jus' lak' she was before. +Very offen we're beatin' dem on de fight, sometam' dey can beat us, too, +But no feller's scare on de 'noder man, an' bote got enough to do. + +An' all de long year she be go lak' dat, we never was know de peace, +Not'ing but war from de wes' contree down to de St. Maurice; +Till de las' fight's comin' on Canadaw, an' brave Generale Montcalm +Die lak' a sojer of France is die, on Battle of Abraham. + +Dat's finish it all, an' de English King is axin' us stayin' dere +W'ere we have sam' right as de 'noder peep comin' from Angleterre. +Long tam' for our moder so far away de poor Canayens is cry, +But de new step-moder she's good an' kin', an' it's all right bimeby. + +If de moder come dead w'en you're small garcon leavin' you dere alone, +Wit' nobody watchin' for fear you fall, an hurt youse'f on de stone, +An' 'noder good woman she tak' your han' de sam' your own moder do, +Is it right you don't call her moder, is it right you don't love her too? + +Ba non, an' dat was de way we feel, w'en de ole Regime's no more, +An' de new wan come, but don't change moche, w'y it's jus' lak' it be before. +Spikin' Francais lak' we alway do, an' de English dey mak no fuss, +An' our law de sam', wall, I don't know me, 'twas better mebbe for us. + +So de sam' as two broder we settle down, leevin' dere han' in han', +Knowin' each oder, we lak' each oder, de French an' de Englishman, +For it's curi's t'ing on dis worl', I'm sure you see it agen an' agen, +Dat offen de mos' worse ennemi, he's comin' de bes', bes' frien'. + +So we're kipin' so quiet long affer dat, w'en las' of de fightin's done, +Dat plaintee is say, de new Canayens forget how to shoot de gun; +But Yankee man's smart, all de worl' know dat, so he's firs' fin' mistak' + wan day +W'en he's try cross de line, fusil on hee's han', near place dey call + Chateaugay. + +Of course it's bad t'ing for poor Yankee man, De Salaberry be dere +Wit' habitant farmer from down below, an' two honder Voltigeurs, +Dem feller come off de State, I s'pose, was fightin' so hard dey can +But de blue coat sojer he don't get kill, is de locky Yankee man! + +Since den w'en dey're comin on Canadaw, we alway be treat dem well, +For dey're spennin' de monee lak' gentil-hommes, an' stay on de bes' hotel, +Den "Bienvenu," we will spik dem, an' "Come back agen nex' week, +So long you was kip on de quiet an' don't talk de politique!" + +Yass, dat is de way Victoriaw fin' us dis jubilee, +Sometam' we mak' fuss about not'ing, but it's all on de familee, +An' w'enever dere's danger roun' her, no matter on sea or lan', +She'll find that les Canayens can fight de sam' as bes' Englishman. + +An' onder de flag of Angleterre, so long as dat flag was fly-- +Wit' deir English broder, les Canayens is satisfy leev an' die. +Dat's de message our fader geev us w'en dey're fallin' on Chateaugay, +An' de flag was kipin' dem safe den, dat's de wan we will kip alway! + + + +OLE DOCTEUR FISET. + + +Ole Docteur Fiset of Saint Anicet, + Sapre tonnerre! he was leev long tam! +I'm sure he's got ninety year or so, +Beat all on de Parish 'cept Pierre Courteau, + An' day affer day he work all de sam'. + +Dat house on de hill, you can see it still, + She's sam' place he buil' de firs' tam' he come +Behin' it dere's one leetle small jardin +Got plaintee de bes' tabac Canayen + Wit' fameuse apple an' beeg blue plum. + +An' dey're all right dere, for de small boy's scare + No matter de apple look nice an' red, +For de small boy know if he's stealin' some +Den Docteur Fiset on dark night he come, + An' cut leetle feller right off hees head! + +But w'en dey was rap, an' tak' off de cap, + M'sieu' le Docteur he will say "Entrez," +Den all de boy pass on jardin behin' +W'ere dey eat mos' ev'ryt'ing good dey fin', + Till dey can't go on school nearly two, t'ree day. + +But Docteur Fiset, not moche fonne he get, + Drivin' all over de whole contree, +If de road she's bad, if de road she's good, +W'en ev'ryt'ing's drown on de Spring-tam flood, + An' workin' for not'ing half tam' mebbe! + +Let her rain or snow, all he want to know + Is jus' if anywan's feelin' sick, +For Docteur Fiset's de ole fashion kin' +Doin' good was de only t'ing on hees min' + So he got no use for de politique. + +An' he's careful too, 'cos firs' t'ing he do, + For fear dere was danger some fever case, +Is tak' w'en he's come leetle w'isky chaud, +Den 'noder wan too jus' before he go, + He's so scare carry fever aroun' de place! + +On nice summer day w'en we're makin' hay + Dere's not'ing more pleasant for us I'm sure +Dan see de ole man come joggin' along, +Alway singin' some leetle song, + An' hear heem say "Tiens, mes amis, Bonjour!" + +An' w'en de cole rain was commence again + An' we're sittin' at home on some warm cornerre, +If we hear de buggy an' see de light +Tearin' along t'roo de black, black night, + We know right off dat's de ole Docteur! + +An' he's smart horse sure, w'at he call "Faubourg," + Ev'ry place on de Parish he know dem all, +An' you ought to see de nice way he go +For fear he's upsettin' upon de snow, + W'en ole man's asleep on de cariole! + +I 'member w'en poor Hormisdas Couture + Get sick on hees place twenty mile away +An' hees boy Ovide he was come "Raquette" +W'at you call "Snowshoe," for Docteur Fiset, + An' Docteur he start wit' hees horse an' sleigh. + +All de night before, de beeg storm she roar, + An' mos' of de day it's de sam' also, +De drif' was pilin' up ten feet high +You can't see not'ing dis side de sky, + Not'ing but wan avalanche of snow. + +I'm hearin' de bell w'en I go on de well + For water de cattle on barn close by, +But I only ketch sight of hees cheval blanc +An' hees coonskin coat wit' de capuchon + An' de storm tak' heem off, jus' de sam' he fly. + +Mus' be le Bon Dieu dat is help him t'roo, + Ole Docteur Fiset an' hees horse "Faubourg," +'Twas somet'ing for splain-me, wall I don't care, +But somehow or 'noder he's gettin' dere, + An' save de life Hormisdas Couture. + +But it's sam' alway, lak' dat ev'ry day, + He never was spare hese'f pour nous autres, +He don't mak' moche monee, Docteur Fiset, +An' offen de only t'ing he was get + Is de prayer of poor man, an' wan bag of oat. + + * * * * * + +Wall! Docteur Fiset of Saint Anicet + He is not dead yet! an' I'm purty sure +If you're passin' dat place about ten year more +You will see heem go roun' lak' he go before + Wit' de ole cariole an' hees horse "Faubourg!" + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Habitant and Other French-Canadian +Poems, by William Henry Drummond + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HABITANT, FRENCH-CANADIAN POEMS *** + +***** This file should be named 9801.txt or 9801.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/8/0/9801/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, Andrew Sly +and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Habitant and Other French-Canadian Poems + +Author: William Henry Drummond + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9801] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 18, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: French and English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HABITANT AND OTHERS *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, +Andrew Sly and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE HABITANT AND OTHER FRENCH-CANADIAN POEMS + +By William Henry Drummond, M.D. + + +WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY + +Louis Frechette + +AND WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY + +Frederick Simpson Coburn + + + +TO MY DEAR FRIEND AND FORMER TEACHER + +GEORGE MURRAY, ESQ., B.A., A.K.C., F.R.S.C. + +THESE VERSES ARE DEDICATED WITH SINCERE +ADMIRATION AND RESPECT + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +On me demande, pour ce charmant volume, un mot de preface en francais; +le voici: + +Quand, en 1863, je publiai mon premier recueil de poesies--ecrites au +college, pour la plupart,--le grand poete americain Longfellow eut la +flatteuse bienveillance de m'appeler _The pathfinder of a new land of +song_. + +Avec mille fois plus de raison puis-je aujourd'hui passer le compliment +a mon sympathique confrere et ami, l'auteur de ce livre; car, si jamais +quelqu'un, chez nous, a merite le titre de _pathfinder of a new land of +song_, c'est assurement lui. + +Non seulement il a decouvert le champ, la clairiere, la vallee fertile +et encore inexploree; il en a fait l'exploitation a sa maniere, avec +des outils et des moyens de son invention; et, fier de sa conquete, +il laisse, de son epaule robuste, tomber a nos pieds le fruit de son +travail, la gerbe plantureuse aux ors vierges, a l'arome sauvage, +aux savoureuses promesses, toute fraiche et toute crissante dans sa +rusticite saine. + +N'est-elle pas, en effet, d'une originalite peu commune, l'idee de +prendre un pauvre illettre, de le presenter comme un type national a +part, de lui mettre aux levres une langue qui n'est pas la sienne et +qu'il ne connait qu' a demi; d'en faire en meme temps un personnage +bon, doux, aimable, honnete, intelligent et droit, l'esprit en eveil, le +coeur plein d'une poesie native stimulant son patriotisme, jetant un +rayon lumineux dans son modeste interieur, bercant ses heures reveuses +de souvenirs lointains et melancoliques? + +Et cela sans que jamais, dans ce portrait d'un nouveau genre, le plus +subtil des critiques puisse surprendre nulle part le coup de crayon +de la caricature! + +Dans ses inimitables contes villageois, George Sand a peint les +paysans du Berry sous des dehors tres interessants. Elle nous les +montre meme d'un sentiment tres affine dans leur simplicite naive +et leur cordiale bonhomie. En somme, elle en fait des natures, des +temperaments, quelque chose de typique, en meme temps qu' harmonieux +de teinte et de forme. + +Mais George Sand faisait parler ses personnages dans la langue du +pays, dans la langue de la chaumiere, dans leur propre dialecte, +enfin. Elle n'avait, pour ainsi dire, qu' a faire penetrer le +souffle de son talent sous le reseau de la phrase, pour animer +celle-ci d'un reflet de lyrisme ou d'une vibration attendrie. + +La tache abordee par M. Drummond presentait un caractere beaucoup +plus difficile. + +Ici, le poete avait bien, il est vrai, le milieu a saisir, place, +droit en face de son objectif. Il etait assez familier avec ses +acteurs pour les grouper avantageusement, en menageant les effets +d'ombres et de lumiere. Il est naturellement assez artiste pour ne +rien negliger de ce qui ajoute du pittoresque a la pose; surtout, il +connaissait a fond le type a reproduire, ses moeurs, ses passions, +ses sentiments, ses penchants, ses superstitions et ses faiblesses. + +Mais comment, sans tomber dans la charge ou la bouffonnerie, faire +parler systematiquement a ses personnages une langue etrangere, +forcement incorrecte dans la bouche de quelqu'un qui l'a apprise +par oreille, sans savoir lire meme dans sa propre langue? + +La tentative etait hardie; mais on sait que le succes a un faible +pour les audacieux. + +Dans son etude des Canadiens-francais, M. Drummond a trouve le moyen +d'eviter un ecueil qui aurait semble inevitable pour tout autre +que pour lui. Il est reste vrai, sans tomber dans la vulgarite, et +piquant sans verser dans le grotesque. + +Qu'il mette en scene le gros fermier fier de son bien ou de ses +filles a marier, le vieux medecin de campagne ne comptant plus ses +etats de service, le jeune amoureux qui reve au clair de la lune, +le vieillard qui repasse en sa memoire la longue suite des jours +revolus, le conteur de legendes, l'aventurier des "pays d'en haut," +et meme le Canadien exile--le _Canadien errant_, comme dit la +chanson populaire--qui croit toujours entendre resonner a son +oreille le vague tintement des cloches de son village; que le recit +soit plaisant ou pathetique, jamais la note ne sonne faux, jamais +la bizarrerie ne degenere en puerilite burlesque. + +C'est la un tour de force comme il ne s'en fait pas souvent, et +c'est avec enthousiasme que je tends la main a M. Drummond pour +le feliciter de l'avoir accompli. + +Il a veritablement fait la oeuvre de poete et d'artiste. + +J'ajouterai qu'il a fait aussi oeuvre de bon citoyen. Car le +jour sous lequel il presente mes compatriotes illettres ne peut +manquer de valoir a ceux-ci--et partant a tout le reste de la +nationalite--un accroissement desirable dans l'estime de nos +compatriotes de langue anglaise, qui n'ont pas ete a meme de +les etudier d'aussi pres que M. Drummond. + +La peinture qu'en fait le poete est on ne peut plus sympathique et +juste; et de semblables procedes ne peuvent que cimenter l'union +de coeur et d'esprit qui doit exister entre toutes les fractions +qui composent la grande famille canadienne appelee a vivre et a +prosperer sous la meme loi et le meme drapeau. + +En lisant les vers de M. Drummond, le Canadien-francais sent que +c'est la l'expression d'une ame amie; et, a ce compte, je dois +a l'auteur plus que mes bravos, je lui dois en meme temps un +chaleureux merci. + +LOUIS FRECHETTE. + +MONTREAL, 13 octobre 1897. + + + + +PREFACE + + +In presenting to the public "The Habitant and other French-Canadian +Poems," I feel that my friends who are already, more or less, +familiar with the work, understand that I have not written the +verses as examples of a dialect, or with any thought of ridicule. + +Having lived, practically, all my life, side by side with the +French-Canadian people, I have grown to admire and love them, and +I have felt that while many of the English-speaking public know +perhaps as well as myself the French-Canadian of the cities, yet +they have had little opportunity of becoming acquainted with the +habitant, therefore I have endeavored to paint a few types, and in +doing this, it has seemed to me that I could best attain the object +in view by having my friends tell their own tales in their own way, +as they would relate them to English-speaking auditors not +conversant with the French tongue. + +My good friend, Dr. Louis Frechette, Poet Laureate, has as a +French-Canadian, kindly written an "Introductory" in his own +graceful language, and I have to thank him above all for his +recognition of the spirit which has actuated me in writing +"dialect" verse. + +To Mr. F. S. Coburn, the artist, also, I am deeply indebted for +the faithful manner in which he has interpreted the different +characters and scenes contained in this volume. All the pictures +have been sketched from nature or life, and the keenest critic will +agree with me, that Mr. Coburn's illustrations are most typical, +both of the people and the soil. + +WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND. + + + +CONTENTS. + + + DE HABITANT + THE WRECK OF THE "JULIE PLANTE" + LE VIEUX TEMPS + DE PAPINEAU GUN + HOW BATEESE CAME HOME + DE NICE LEETLE CANADIENNE + 'POLEON DORE + DE NOTAIRE PUBLIQUE + MAXIME LABELLE + MEMORIES + PHIL-O-RUM JUNEAU + DE BELL OF ST. MICHEL + PELANG + MON CHOUAL "CASTOR" + OLE TAM ON BORD-A PLOUFFE + THE GRAND SEIGNEUR + M'SIEU SMIT' + WHEN ALBANI SANG + DE CAMP ON DE "CHEVAL GRIS" + DE STOVE PIPE HOLE + DE SNOWBIRD + THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE + OLE DOCTEUR FISET + + + +DE HABITANT. + + +De place I get born, me, is up on de reever + Near foot of de rapide dat's call Cheval Blanc +Beeg mountain behin' it, so high you can't climb it + An' whole place she's mebbe two honder arpent. + +De fader of me, he was habitant farmer, + Ma gran' fader too, an' hees fader also, +Dey don't mak' no monee, but dat isn't fonny + For it's not easy get ev'ryt'ing, you mus' know-- + +All de sam' dere is somet'ing dey got ev'ryboddy, + Dat's plaintee good healt', wat de monee can't geev, +So I'm workin' away dere, an' happy for stay dere + On farm by de reever, so long I was leev. + +O! dat was de place w'en de spring tam she's comin', + W'en snow go away, an' de sky is all blue-- +W'en ice lef' de water, an' sun is get hotter + An' back on de medder is sing de gou-glou-- + +W'en small sheep is firs' comin' out on de pasture, + Deir nice leetle tail stickin' up on deir back, +Dey ronne wit' deir moder, an' play wit' each oder + An' jomp all de tam jus' de sam' dey was crack-- + +An' ole cow also, she's glad winter is over, + So she kick herse'f up, an' start off on de race +Wit' de two-year-ole heifer, dat's purty soon lef' her, + W'y ev'ryt'ing's crazee all over de place! + +An' down on de reever de wil' duck is quackin' + Along by de shore leetle san'piper ronne-- +De bullfrog he's gr-rompin' an' dore is jompin' + Dey all got deir own way for mak' it de fonne. + +But spring's in beeg hurry, an' don't stay long wit' us + An' firs' t'ing we know, she go off till nex' year, +Den bee commence hummin', for summer is comin' + An' purty soon corn's gettin' ripe on de ear. + +Dat's very nice tam for wake up on de morning + An' lissen de rossignol sing ev'ry place, +Feel sout' win' a-blowin' see clover a-growin' + An' all de worl' laughin' itself on de face. + +Mos' ev'ry day raf' it is pass on de rapide + De voyageurs singin' some ole chanson +'Bout girl down de reever--too bad dey mus' leave her, +But comin' back soon' wit' beaucoup d'argent. + +An' den w'en de fall an' de winter come roun' us + An' bird of de summer is all fly away, +W'en mebbe she's snowin' an' nort' win' is blowin' + An' night is mos' t'ree tam so long as de day. + +You t'ink it was bodder de habitant farmer? + Not at all--he is happy an' feel satisfy, +An' cole may las' good w'ile, so long as de wood-pile + Is ready for burn on de stove by an' bye. + +W'en I got plaintee hay put away on de stable + So de sheep an' de cow, dey got no chance to freeze, +An' de hen all togedder--I don't min' de wedder-- + De nort' win' may blow jus' so moche as she please. + +An' some cole winter night how I wish you can see us, + W'en I smoke on de pipe, an' de ole woman sew +By de stove of T'ree Reever--ma wife's fader geev her + On day we get marry, dat's long tam ago-- + +De boy an' de girl, dey was readin' it's lesson, + De cat on de corner she's bite heem de pup, +Ole "Carleau" he's snorin' an' beeg stove is roarin' + So loud dat I'm scare purty soon she bus' up. + +Philomene--dat's de oldes'--is sit on de winder + An' kip jus' so quiet lak wan leetle mouse, +She say de more finer moon never was shiner-- + Very fonny, for moon isn't dat side de house. + +But purty soon den, we hear foot on de outside, + An' some wan is place it hees han' on de latch, +Dat's Isidore Goulay, las' fall on de Brule + He's tak' it firs' prize on de grand ploughin' match. + +Ha! ha! Philomene!--dat was smart trick you play us + Come help de young feller tak' snow from hees neck, +Dere's not'ing for hinder you come off de winder + W'en moon you was look for is come, I expec'-- + +Isidore, he is tole us de news on de parish + 'Bout hees Lajeunesse Colt--travel two forty, sure, +'Bout Jeremie Choquette, come back from Woonsocket + An' t'ree new leetle twin on Madame Vaillancour'. + +But nine o'clock strike, an' de chil'ren is sleepy, + Mese'f an' ole woman can't stay up no more +So alone by de fire--'cos dey say dey ain't tire-- + We lef' Philomene an' de young Isidore. + +I s'pose dey be talkin' beeg lot on de kitchen + 'Bout all de nice moon dey was see on de sky, +For Philomene's takin' long tam get awaken + Nex' day, she's so sleepy on bote of de eye. + +Dat's wan of dem ting's, ev'ry tam on de fashion, + An' 'bout nices' t'ing dat was never be seen. +Got not'ing for say me--I spark it sam' way me + W'en I go see de moder ma girl Philomene. + +We leev very quiet 'way back on de contree + Don't put on sam style lak de big village, +W'en we don't get de monee you t'ink dat is fonny + An' mak' plaintee sport on de Bottes Sauvages. + +But I tole you--dat's true--I don't go on de city + If you geev de fine house an' beaucoup d'argent-- +I rader be stay me, an' spen' de las' day me + On farm by de rapide dat's call Cheval Blanc. + + + +THE WRECK OF THE "JULIE PLANTE." + +A LEGEND OF LAC-ST. PIERRE. + + +On wan dark night on Lac St. Pierre, + De win' she blow, blow, blow, +An' de crew of de wood scow "Julie Plante" + Got scar't an' run below-- +For de win' she blow lak hurricane + Bimeby she blow some more, +An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre + Wan arpent from de shore. + +De captinne walk on de fronte deck, + An' walk de hin' deck too-- +He call de crew from up de hole + He call de cook also. +De cook she's name was Rosie, + She come from Montreal, +Was chambre maid on lumber barge, + On de Grande Lachine Canal. + +De win' she blow from nor'-eas'-wes,'-- + De sout' win' she blow too, +W'en Rosie cry "Mon cher captinne, + Mon cher, w'at I shall do?" +Den de Captinne t'row de big ankerre, + But still the scow she dreef, +De crew he can't pass on de shore, + Becos' he los' hees skeef. + +De night was dark lak' wan black cat, + De wave run high an' fas', +W'en de captinne tak' de Rosie girl + An' tie her to de mas'. +Den he also tak' de life preserve, + An' jomp off on de lak', +An' say, "Good-bye, ma Rosie dear, + I go drown for your sak'." + +Nex' morning very early + 'Bout ha'f-pas' two--t'ree--four-- +De captinne--scow--an' de poor Rosie + Was corpses on de shore, +For de win' she blow lak' hurricane + Bimeby she blow some more, +An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre, + Wan arpent from de shore. + +MORAL. + +Now all good wood scow sailor man + Tak' warning by dat storm +An' go an' marry some nice French girl + An' leev on wan beeg farm. +De win' can blow lak' hurricane + An' s'pose she blow some more, +You can't get drown on Lac St. Pierre + So long you stay on shore. + + + +LE VIEUX TEMPS. + + +Venez ici, mon cher ami, an' sit down by me--so +An' I will tole you story of old tam long ago-- +W'en ev'ryt'ing is happy--w'en all de bird is sing +An' me!--I'm young an' strong lak moose an' not afraid no t'ing. + +I close my eye jus' so, an' see de place w'ere I am born-- +I close my ear an' lissen to musique of de horn, +Dat's horn ma dear ole moder blow--an only t'ing she play +Is "viens donc vite Napoleon--'peche toi pour votre souper."-- + +An' w'en he's hear dat nice musique--ma leetle dog "Carleau" +Is place hees tail upon hees back--an' den he's let heem go-- +He's jomp on fence--he's swimmin' crik--he's ronne two forty gait, +He say "dat's somet'ing good for eat--Carleau mus' not be late." + +O dem was pleasure day for sure, dem day of long ago +W'en I was play wit' all de boy, an' all de girl also; +An' many tam w'en I'm alone an' t'ink of day gone by +An' pull latire an' spark de girl, I cry upon my eye. + +Ma fader an' ma moder too, got nice, nice familee, +Dat's ten garcon an' t'orteen girl, was mak' it twenty t'ree +But fonny t'ing de Gouvernement don't geev de firs' prize den +Lak w'at dey say dey geev it now, for only wan douzaine. + +De English peep dat only got wan familee small size +Mus' be feel glad dat tam dere is no honder acre prize +For fader of twelve chil'ren--dey know dat mus' be so, +De Canayens would boss Kebeck--mebbe Ontario. + +But dat is not de story dat I was gone tole you +About de fun we use to have w'en we leev a chez nous +We're never lonesome on dat house, for many cavalier +Come at our place mos' every night--especially Sun-day. + +But tam I'member bes' is w'en I'm twenty wan year--me-- +An' so for mak' some pleasurement--we geev wan large soiree +De whole paroisse she be invite--de Cure he's come too-- +Wit plaintee peep from 'noder place--dat's more I can tole you. + +De night she's cole an' freeze also, chemin she's fill wit snow +An' on de chimley lak phantome, de win' is mak' it blow-- +But boy an' girl come all de sam an' pass on grande parloir +For warm itself on beeg box stove, was mak' on Trois Rivieres-- + +An' w'en Bonhomme Latour commence for tune up hees fidelle +It mak' us all feel very glad--l'enfant! he play so well, +Musique suppose to be firs' class, I offen hear, for sure +But mos' bes' man, beat all de res', is ole Bateese Latour-- + +An' w'en Bateese play Irish jeeg, he's learn on Mattawa +Dat tam he's head boss cook Shaintee--den leetle Joe Leblanc +Tak' hole de beeg Marie Juneau an' dance upon de floor +Till Marie say "Excuse to me, I cannot dance no more."-- + +An' den de Cure's mak' de speech--ole Cure Ladouceur! +He say de girl was spark de boy too much on some cornerre-- +An' so he's tole Bateese play up ole fashion reel a quatre +An' every body she mus' dance, dey can't get off on dat. + +Away she go--hooraw! hooraw! plus fort Bateese, mon vieux +Camille Bisson, please watch your girl--dat's bes' t'ing you can do. +Pass on de right an' tak' your place Mamzelle Des Trois Maisons +You're s'pose for dance on Paul Laberge, not Telesphore Gagnon. + +Mon oncle Al-fred, he spik lak' dat--'cos he is boss de floor, +An' so we do our possibill an' den commence encore. +Dem crowd of boy an' girl I'm sure keep up until nex' day +If ole Bateese don't stop heseff, he come so fatigue. + +An' affer dat, we eat some t'ing, tak' leetle drink also +An' de Cure, he's tole story of many year ago-- +W'en Iroquois sauvage she's keel de Canayens an' steal deir hair, +An' say dat's only for Bon Dieu, we don't be here--he don't be dere. + +But dat was mak' de girl feel scare--so all de cavalier +Was ax hees girl go home right off, an' place her on de sleigh, +An' w'en dey start, de Cure say, "Bonsoir et bon voyage +Menagez-vous--tak' care for you--prenez-garde pour les sauvages." + +An' den I go meseff also, an' tak' ma belle Elmire-- +She's nicer girl on whole Comte, an' jus' got eighteen year-- +Black hair--black eye, an' chick rosee dat's lak wan fameuse on de fall +But don't spik much--not of dat kin', I can't say she love me at all. + +Ma girl--she's fader beeg farmeur--leev 'noder side St. Flore +Got five-six honder acre--mebbe a leetle more-- +Nice sugar bush--une belle maison--de bes' I never see-- +So w'en I go for spark Elmire, I don't be mak' de foolish me-- + +Elmire!--she's pass t'ree year on school--Ste. Anne de la Perade +An' w'en she's tak' de firs' class prize, dat's mak' de ole man glad; +He say "Ba gosh--ma girl can wash--can keep de kitchen clean +Den change her dress--mak' politesse before God save de Queen." + +Dey's many way for spark de girl, an' you know dat of course, +Some way dey might be better way, an' some dey might be worse +But I lak' sit some cole night wit' my girl on ole burleau +Wit' lot of hay keep our foot warm--an' plaintee buffalo-- + +Dat's geev good chances get acquaint--an' if burleau upset +An' t'row you out upon de snow--dat's better chances yet-- +An' if you help de girl go home, if horse he ronne away +De girl she's not much use at all--don't geev you nice baiser! + +Dat's very well for fun ma frien', but w'en you spark for keep +She's not sam t'ing an' mak' you feel so scare lak' leetle sheep +Some tam you get de fever--some tam you're lak snowball +An' all de tam you ack lak' fou--can't spik no t'ing at all. + +Wall! dat's de way I feel meseff, wit Elmire on burleau, +Jus' lak' small dog try ketch hees tail--roun' roun' ma head she go +But bimeby I come more brave--an' tak' Elmire she's han' +"Laisse-moi tranquille" Elmire she say "You mus' be crazy man." + +"Yass--yass," I say, "mebbe you t'ink I'm wan beeg loup garou, +Dat's forty t'ousand 'noder girl, I lef' dem all for you, +I s'pose you know Polique Gauthier your frien'on St. Cesaire +I ax her marry me nex' wick--she tak' me--I don't care." + +Ba gosh; Elmire she don't lak dat--it mak' her feel so mad-- +She commence cry, say "'Poleon you treat me very bad-- +I don't lak see you t'row you'seff upon Polique Gauthier, +So if you say you love me sure--we mak' de mariee."-- + +Oh it was fine tam affer dat--Castor I t'ink he know, +We're not too busy for get home--he go so nice an' slow, +He's only upset t'ree--four tam--an' jus' about daylight +We pass upon de ole man's place--an' every t'ing's all right. + +Wall! we leev happy on de farm for nearly fifty year, +Till wan day on de summer tam--she die--ma belle Elmire +I feel so lonesome lef' behin'--I tink 'twas bes' mebbe-- +Dat w'en le Bon Dieu tak' ma famme--he should not forget me. + +But dat is hees biz-nesse ma frien'--I know dat's all right dere +I'll wait till he call "'Poleon" den I will be prepare-- +An' w'en he fin' me ready, for mak' de longue voyage +He guide me t'roo de wood hesef upon ma las' portage. + + + +"DE PAPINEAU GUN." + +AN INCIDENT OF THE CANADIAN REBELLION OF 1837. + + +Bon jour, M'sieu'--you want to know + 'Bout dat ole gun--w'at good she's for? +W'y! Jean Bateese Bruneau--mon pere, + Fight wit' dat gun on Pap'neau War! + +Long tam since den you say--C'est vrai, + An' me too young for 'member well, +But how de patriot fight an' die, + I offen hear de ole folk tell. + +De English don't ack square dat tam, + Don't geev de habitants no show, +So 'long come Wolfred Nelson + Wit' Louis Joseph Papineau. + +An' swear de peep mus' have deir right. + Wolfred he's write Victoriaw, +But she's no good, so den de war + Commence among de habitants. + +Mon pere he leev to Grande Brule + So smarter man you never see, +Was alway on de grande hooraw! + Plaintee w'at you call "Esprit!" + +An' w'en dey form wan compagnie + All dress wit' tuque an' ceinture sash +Ma fader tak' hees gun wit' heem + An' marche away to Saint Eustache, + +W'ere many patriots was camp + Wit' brave Chenier, deir Capitaine, +W'en 'long come English Generale, + An' more two t'ousan' sojer man. + +De patriot dey go on church + An' feex her up deir possibill; +Dey fight deir bes', but soon fin' out + "Canon de bois" no good for kill. + +An' den de church she come on fire, + An' burn almos' down to de groun', +So w'at you t'ink our man can do + Wit' all dem English armee roun'? + +'Poleon, hees sojer never fight + More brave as dem poor habitants, +Chenier, he try for broke de rank + Chenier come dead immediatement. + +He fall near w'ere de cross is stan' + Upon de ole church cimitiere, +Wit' Jean Poulin an' Laframboise + An' plaintee more young feller dere. + +De gun dey rattle lak' tonnere + Jus' bang, bang, bang! dat's way she go, +An' wan by wan de brave man's fall + An' red blood's cover all de snow. + +Ma fader shoot so long he can + An' den he's load hees gun some more, +Jomp on de ice behin' de church + An' pass heem on de 'noder shore. + +Wall! he reach home fore very long + An' keep perdu for many day, +Till ev'ry t'ing she come tranquille, + An' sojer man all gone away. + +An' affer dat we get our right, + De Canayens don't fight no more, +Ma fader's never shoot dat gun, + But place her up above de door. + +An' Papineau, an' Nelson too + Dey're gone long tam, but we are free, +Le Bon Dieu have 'em 'way up dere. + Salut, Wolfred! Salut, Louis! + + + +HOW BATEESE CAME HOME. + + +W'en I was young boy on de farm, dat's twenty year ago +I have wan frien' he's leev near me, call Jean Bateese Trudeau +An offen w'en we are alone, we lak for spik about +De tam w'en we was come beeg man, wit' moustache on our mout'. + +Bateese is get it on hees head, he's too moche educate +For mak' de habitant farmerre--he better go on State-- +An' so wan summer evening we're drivin' home de cow +He's tole me all de whole beez-nesse--jus' lak you hear me now. + +"W'at's use mak' foolish on de farm? dere's no good chances lef' +An' all de tam you be poor man--you know dat's true you'se'f; +We never get no fun at all--don't never go on spree +Onless we pass on 'noder place, an' mak' it some monee. + +"I go on Les Etats Unis, I go dere right away +An' den mebbe on ten-twelve year, I be riche man some day, +An' w'en I mak' de large fortune, I come back I s'pose +Wit' Yankee famme from off de State, an' monee on my clothes. + +"I tole you somet'ing else also--mon cher Napoleon +I get de grande majorite, for go on parliament +Den buil' fine house on borde l'eau--near w'ere de church is stand +More finer dan de Presbytere, w'en I am come riche man!" + +I say "For w'at you spik lak dat? you must be gone crazee +Dere's plaintee feller on de State, more smarter dan you be, +Beside she's not so healtee place, an' if you mak' l'argent, +You spen' it jus' lak Yankee man, an' not lak habitant. + +"For me Bateese! I tole you dis: I'm very satisfy-- +De bes' man don't leev too long tam, some day Ba Gosh! he die-- +An' s'pose you got good trotter horse, an' nice famme Canadienne +Wit' plaintee on de house for eat--W'at more you want ma frien'?" + +But Bateese have it all mak' up, I can't stop him at all +He's buy de seconde classe tiquette, for go on Central Fall-- +An' wit' two-t'ree some more de boy,--w'at t'ink de sam' he do +Pass on de train de very nex' wick, was lef' Riviere du Loup. + + * * * * * + +Wall! mebbe fifteen year or more, since Bateese go away +I fin' mesef Riviere du Loup, wan cole, cole winter day +De quick express she come hooraw! but stop de soon she can +An' beeg swell feller jomp off car, dat's boss by nigger man. + +He's dressim on de premiere classe, an' got new suit of clothes +Wit' long moustache dat's stickim out, de 'noder side hees nose +Fine gol' watch chain--nice portmanteau--an' long, long overcoat +Wit' beaver hat--dat's Yankee style--an' red tie on hees t'roat-- + +I say "Hello Bateese! Hello! Comment ca va mon vieux?" +He say "Excuse to me, ma frien' I t'ink I don't know you." +I say, "She's very curis t'ing, you are Bateese Trudeau, +Was raise on jus' sam' place wit' me, dat's fifteen year ago?" + +He say, "Oh yass dat's sure enough--I know you now firs' rate, +But I forget mos' all ma French since I go on de State. +Dere's 'noder t'ing kip on your head, ma frien' dey mus' be tole +Ma name's Bateese Trudeau no more, but John B. Waterhole!" + +"Hole on de water's" fonny name for man w'at's call Trudeau +Ma frien's dey all was spik lak dat, an' I am tole heem so-- +He say "Trudeau an' Waterhole she's jus' about de sam' +An' if you go for leev on State, you must have Yankee nam'." + +Den we invite heem come wit' us, "Hotel du Canadaw" +W'ere he was treat mos' ev'ry tam, but can't tak' w'isky blanc, +He say dat's leetle strong for man jus' come off Central Fall +An' "tabac Canayen" bedamme! he won't smoke dat at all!-- + +But fancy drink lak "Collings John" de way he put it down +Was long tam since I don't see dat--I t'ink he's goin' drown!-- +An' fine cigar cos' five cent each, an' mak' on Trois-Rivieres +L'enfant! he smoke beeg pile of dem--for monee he don't care!-- + +I s'pose meseff it's t'ree o'clock w'en we are t'roo dat night +Bateese, hees fader come for heem, an' tak' heem home all right +De ole man say Bateese spik French, w'en he is place on bed-- +An' say bad word--but w'en he wake--forget it on hees head-- + +Wall! all de winter w'en we have soiree dat's grande affaire +Bateese Trudeau, dit Waterhole, he be de boss man dere-- +You bet he have beeg tam, but w'en de spring is come encore +He's buy de premiere classe tiquette for go on State some more. + + * * * * * + +You 'member w'en de hard tam come on Les Etats Unis +An' plaintee Canayens go back for stay deir own contree? +Wall! jus' about 'dat tam again I go Riviere du Loup +For sole me two t'ree load of hay--mak' leetle visit too-- + +De freight train she is jus' arrive--only ten hour delay-- +She's never carry passengaire--dat's w'at dey always say-- +I see poor man on char caboose--he's got heem small valise +Begosh! I nearly tak' de fit,--It is--it is Bateese! + +He know me very well dis tam, an' say "Bon jour, mon vieux +I hope you know Bateese Trudeau was educate wit' you +I'm jus' come off de State to see ma familee encore +I bus' mesef on Central Fall--I don't go dere no more." + +"I got no monee--not at all--I'm broke it up for sure-- +Dat's locky t'ing, Napoleon, de brakeman Joe Latour +He's cousin of wan frien' of me call Camille Valiquette, +Conductor too's good Canayen--don't ax me no tiquette." + +I tak' Bateese wit' me once more "Hotel du Canadaw" +An' he was glad for get de chance drink some good w'isky blanc! +Dat's warm heem up, an den he eat mos' ev'ryt'ing he see, +I watch de w'ole beez-nesse mese'f--Monjee! he was hongree! + +Madame Charette wat's kip de place get very much excite +For see de many pork an' bean Bateese put out of sight +Du pain dore--potate pie--an' 'noder t'ing be dere +But w'en Bateese is get heem t'roo--dey go I don't know w'ere. + +It don't tak' long for tole de news "Bateese come off de State" +An' purty soon we have beeg crowd, lak village she's en fete +Bonhomme Maxime Trudeau hese'f, he's comin' wit' de pries' +An' pass' heem on de "Room for eat" w'ere he is see Bateese. + +Den ev'rybody feel it glad, for watch de embrasser +An' bimeby de ole man spik "Bateese you here for stay?" +Bateese he's cry lak beeg bebe, "Ba j'eux rester ici. +An if I never see de State, I'm sure I don't care--me." + +"Correc'," Maxime is say right off, "I place you on de farm +For help your poor ole fader, won't do you too moche harm +Please come wit' me on Magasin, I feex you up--ba oui +An' den you're ready for go home an' see de familee." + +Wall! w'en de ole man an' Bateese come off de Magasin +Bateese is los' hees Yankee clothes--he's dress lak Canayen +Wit' bottes sauvages--ceinture fleche--an' coat wit' capuchon +An' spik Francais au naturel, de sam' as habitant. + + * * * * * + +I see Bateese de oder day, he's work hees fader's place +I t'ink mese'f he's satisfy--I see dat on hees face +He say "I got no use for State, mon cher Napoleon +Kebeck she's good enough for me--Hooraw pour Canadaw." + + + +DE NICE LEETLE CANADIENNE. + + +You can pass on de worl' w'erever you lak, + Tak' de steamboat for go Angleterre, +Tak' car on de State, an' den you come back, + An' go all de place, I don't care-- +Ma frien' dat's a fack, I know you will say, + W'en you come on dis contree again, +Dere's no girl can touch, w'at we see ev'ry day, + De nice leetle Canadienne. + +Don't matter how poor dat girl she may be, + Her dress is so neat an' so clean, +Mos' ev'rywan t'ink it was mak' on Paree + An' she wear it, wall! jus' lak de Queen. +Den come for fin' out she is mak' it herse'f, + For she ain't got moche monee for spen', +But all de sam' tam, she was never get lef', + Dat nice leetle Canadienne. + +W'en "un vrai Canayen" is mak' it mariee, + You t'ink he go leev on beeg flat +An' bodder hese'f all de tam, night an' day, + Wit' housemaid, an' cook, an' all dat? +Not moche, ma dear frien', he tak' de maison, + Cos' only nine dollar or ten, +W'ere he leev lak blood rooster, an' save de l'argent, + Wit' hees nice leetle Canadienne. + +I marry ma famme w'en I'm jus' twenty year, + An' now we got fine familee, +Dat skip roun' de place lak leetle small deer, + No smarter crowd you never see-- +An' I t'ink as I watch dem all chasin' about, + Four boy an' six girl, she mak' ten, +Dat's help mebbe kip it, de stock from run out, + Of de nice leetle Canadienne. + +O she's quick an' she's smart, an' got plaintee heart, + If you know correc' way go about, +An' if you don't know, she soon tole you so + Den tak' de firs' chance an' get out; +But if she love you, I spik it for true, + She will mak' it more beautiful den, +An' sun on de sky can't shine lak de eye + Of dat nice leetle Canadienne. + + + +'POLEON DORE. + +A TALE OF THE SAINT MAURICE. + + +You have never hear de story of de young Napoleon Dore? + Los' hees life upon de reever w'en de lumber drive go down? +W'ere de rapide roar lak tonder, dat's de place he's goin' onder, + W'en he's try save Paul Desjardins, 'Poleon hese'f is drown. + +All de winter on de Shaintee, tam she's good, and work she's plaintee, + But we're not feel very sorry, w'en de sun is warm hees face, +W'en de mooshrat an' de beaver, tak' some leetle swim on reever, + An' de sout' win' scare de snowbird, so she fly some col'er place. + +Den de spring is set in steady, an' we get de log all ready, + Workin' hard all day an' night too, on de water mos' de tam, +An' de skeeter w'en dey fin' us, come so quickly nearly blin' us, + Biz--biz--biz--biz--all aroun' us till we feel lak sacredam. + +All de sam' we're hooraw feller, from de top of house to cellar, + Ev'ry boy he's feel so happy, w'en he's goin' right away, +See hees fader an' hees moder, see hees sister an' hees broder, + An' de girl he spark las' summer, if she's not get mariee. + +Wall we start heem out wan morning, an' de pilot geev us warning, + "W'en you come on Rapide Cuisse, ma frien', keep raf' she's head on shore, +If you struck beeg rock on middle, w'ere le diable is play hees fiddle, + Dat's de tam you pass on some place, you don't never pass before." + +But we'll not t'ink moche of danger, for de rapide she's no stranger + Many tam we're runnin' t'roo it, on de fall an' on de spring, +On mos' ev'ry kin' of wedder dat le Bon Dieu scrape togedder, + An' we'll never drown noboddy, an' we'll never bus' somet'ing. + +Dere was Telesphore Montbriand, Paul Desjardins, Louis Guyon, + Bill McKeever, Aleck Gauthier, an' hees cousin Jean Bateese, +'Poleon Dore, Aime Beaulieu, wit' some more man I can't tole you, + Dat was mak' it bes' gang never run upon de St. Maurice. + +Dis is jus' de tam I wish me, I could spik de good English--me-- + For tole you of de pleasurement we get upon de spring, +W'en de win' she's all a sleepin', an' de raf' she go a sweepin' + Down de reever on some morning, w'ile le rossignol is sing. + +Ev'ryt'ing so nice an' quiet on de shore as we pass by it, + All de tree got fine new spring suit, ev'ry wan she's dress on green +W'y it mak' us all more younger, an' we don't feel any hunger, + Till de cook say "'Raw for breakfas'," den we smell de pork an' bean. + +Some folk say she's bad for leever, but for man work hard on reever, + Dat's de bes' t'ing I can tole you, dat was never yet be seen, +Course dere's oder t'ing ah tak' me, fancy dish also I lak me, + But w'en I want somet'ing solid, please pass me de pork an' bean. + +All dis tam de raf' she's goin' lak steamboat was got us towin' + All we do is keep de channel, an' dat's easy workin' dere, +So we sing some song an' chorus, for de good tam dat's before us, + W'en de w'ole beez-nesse she's finish, an' we come on Trois Rivieres. + +But bad luck is sometam fetch us, for beeg strong win' come an' ketch us, + Jus' so soon we struck de rapide--jus' so soon we see de smoke, +An' before we spik some prayer for ourse'f dat's fightin' dere, + Roun' we come upon de beeg rock, an' it's den de raf' she broke. + +Dat was tam poor Paul Desjardins, from de parish of St. Germain, + He was long way on de fronte side, so he's fallin' overboar' +Couldn't swim at all de man say, but dat's more ma frien', I can say, + Any how he's look lak drownin', so we'll t'row him two t'ree oar. + +Dat's 'bout all de help our man do, dat's 'bout ev'ryt'ing we can do, + As de crib we're hangin' onto balance on de rock itse'f, +Till de young Napoleon Dore, heem I start for tole de story, + Holler out, "Mon Dieu, I don't lak see poor Paul go drown hese'f." + +So he's mak' beeg jomp on water, jus' de sam you see some otter + An' he's pass on place w'ere Paul is tryin' hard for keep afloat, +Den we see Napoleon ketch heem, try hees possibill for fetch heem + But de current she's more stronger, an' de eddy get dem bote. + +O Mon Dieu! for see dem two man, mak' me feel it cry lak woman, + Roun' an' roun' upon de eddy, quickly dem poor feller go, +Can't tole wan man from de oder, an' we'll know dem bote lak broder, + But de fight she soon is finish--Paul an' 'Poleon go below. + +Yass, an' all de tam we stay dere, only t'ing we do is pray dere, + For de soul poor drownin' feller, dat's enough mak' us feel mad, +Torteen voyageurs, all brave man, glad get any chances save man, + But we don't see no good chances, can't do not'ing, dat's too bad. + +Wall! at las' de crib she's come way off de rock, an' den on some way, + By an' by de w'ole gang's passin' on safe place below de Cuisse, +Ev'ryboddy's heart she's breakin', w'en dey see poor Paul he's taken + Wit' de young Napoleon Dore, bes' boy on de St. Maurice! + +An' day affer, Bill McKeever fin' de bote man on de reever, + Wit' deir arm aroun' each oder, mebbe pass above dat way-- +So we bury dem as we fin' dem, w'ere de pine tree wave behin' dem + An de Grande Montagne he's lookin' down on Marcheterre Bay. + +You can't hear no church bell ring dere, but le rossignol is sing dere, + An' w'ere ole red cross she's stannin', mebbe some good ange gardien, +Watch de place w'ere bote man sleepin', keep de reever grass from creepin' + On de grave of 'Poleon Dore, an' of poor Paul Desjardins. + + + +DE NOTAIRE PUBLIQUE. + + +M'sieu Paul Joulin, de Notaire Publique + Is come I s'pose seexty year hees life +An' de mos' riche man on Sainte Angelique + W'en he feel very sorry he got no wife-- +So he's paint heem hees buggy, lak new, by Gor! + Put flower on hees coat, mak' hese'f more gay +Arrange on hees head fine chapeau castor + An' drive on de house of de Boulanger. + +For de Boulanger's got heem une jolie fille + Mos' bes' lookin' girl on paroisse dey say +An' all de young feller is lak Julie + An' plaintee is ax her for mak' mariee, +But Julie she's love only jus' wan man, + Hees nam' it is Jeremie Dandurand +An' he's work for her sak' all de hard he can + 'Way off on de wood, up de Mattawa. + +M'Sieu Paul he spik him "Bonjour Mamzelle, + You lak promenade on de church wit' me? +Jus' wan leetle word an' we go ma belle + An' see heem de Cure toute suite, cherie; +I dress you de very bes' style a la mode, + If you promise for be Madame Paul Joulin, +For I got me fine house on Bord a Plouffe road + Wit' mor'gage also on de Grande Moulin." + +But Julie she say "Non, non, M'Sieu Paul, + Dat's not correc' t'ing for poor Jeremie +For I love dat young feller lak not'ing at all, + An' I'm very surprise you was not know me. +Jeremie w'en he's geev me dat nice gol' ring, + Las' tam he's gone off on de Mattawa +Say he's got 'noder wan w'en he's come nex' spring + Was mak' me for sure Madame Dandurand. + +"I t'ank you de sam' M'Sieu Paul Joulin + I s'pose I mus' be de wife wan poor man +Wit' no chance at all for de Grande Moulin, + But leev all de tam on some small cabane." +De Notaire Publique den is tak' hees hat, + For he t'ink sure enough dat hees dog she's dead; +Dere's no use mak' love on de girl lak dat, + Wit' not'ing but young feller on de head. + +Julie she's feel lonesome mos' all dat week, + Don't know w'at may happen she wait till spring +Den t'ink de fine house of Notaire Publique + An' plaintee more too--but love's funny t'ing! +So nex' tam she see de Notaire again, + She laugh on her eye an' say "M'Sieu Paul +Please pass on de house, or you ketch de rain, + Dat's very long tam you don't come at all." + +She's geev him so soon he's come on de door + Du vin de pays, an' some nice galettes, +She's mak' dem herse'f only day before + An' he say "Bigosh! dat is fine girl yet." +So he's try hees chances some more--hooraw! + Julie is not mak' so moche troub' dis tam; +She's forget de poor Jeremie Dandurand + An' tole de Notaire she will be hees famme. + +W'en Jeremie come off de wood nex' spring, + An' fin' dat hees girl she was get mariee +Everybody's expec' he will do somet'ing, + But he don't do not'ing at all, dey say; +For he's got 'noder girl on Sainte Dorothee, + Dat he's love long tam, an' she don't say "No," +So he's forget too all about Julie + An' mak' de mariee wit' hese'f also. + + + +A CANADIAN VOYAGEUR'S ACCOUNT OF THE NILE EXPEDITION. + +"MAXIME LABELLE." + + +Victoriaw: she have beeg war, E-gyp's de nam' de place-- +An' neeger peep dat's leev 'im dere, got very black de face, +An' so she's write Joseph Mercier, he's stop on Trois Rivieres-- +"Please come right off, an' bring wit' you t'ree honder voyageurs. + +"I got de plaintee sojer, me, beeg feller six foot tall-- +Dat's Englishman, an' Scotch also, don't wear no pant at all; +Of course, de Irishman's de bes', raise all de row he can, +But noboddy can pull batteau lak good Canadian man. + +"I geev you steady job for sure, an' w'en you get 'im t'roo +I bring you back on Canadaw, don't cos' de man un sou, +Dat's firs'-class steamboat all de way Kebeck an' Leeverpool, +An' if you don't be satisfy, you mus' be beeg, beeg fool." + +We meet upon Hotel Dufresne, an' talk heem till daylight, +An' Joe he's treat so many tam, we very near get tight, +Den affer w'ile, we mak' our min' dat's not bad chance, an' so +Joseph Mercier he's telegraph, "Correc', Madame, we go." + +So Joe arrange de whole beez-nesse wit' Queen Victoriaw; +Two dollar day--work all de tam--dat's purty good l'argent! +An' w'en we start on Trois Rivieres, for pass on boar' de ship, +Our frien' dey all say, "Bon voyage," an' den Hooraw! E-gyp'! + +Dat beeg steamboat was plonge so moche, I'm 'fraid she never stop-- +De Capitaine's no use at all, can't kip her on de top-- +An' so we all come very sick, jus' lak one leetle pup, +An' ev'ry tam de ship's go down, de inside she's go up. + +I'm sorry spoke lak dis, ma frien', if you don't t'ink it's so, +Please ax Joseph Mercier hese'f, or Aleck De Courteau, +Dat stay on bed mos' all de tam, so sick dey nearly die, +But lak' some great, beeg Yankee man, was never tole de lie. + +De gang she's travel, travel, t'roo many strange contree, +An' ev'ry place is got new nam', I don't remember, me, +We see some fonny t'ing, for sure, more fonny I can tell, +But w'en we reach de Neel Riviere, dat's feel more naturel. + +So many fine, beeg sojer man, I never see before, +All dress heem on grand uniform, is wait upon de shore, +Some black, some green, an' red also, cos' honder dollar sure, +An' holler out, "She's all right now, here come de voyageurs!" + +We see boss Generale also, he's ride on beeg chameau, +Dat's w'at you call Ca-melle, I t'ink, I laugh de way she go! +Jomp up, jomp down, jomp ev'ry place, but still de Generale +Seem satisfy for stay on top, dat fonny an-i-mal. + +He's holler out on Joe Mercier, "Comment ca va Joseph +You lak for come right off wit' me, tak' leetle ride yourseff?" +Joseph, he mak' de grand salut, an' tak' it off hees hat, +"Merci, Mon Generale," he say, "I got no use for dat." + +Den affer we was drink somet'ing, an' sing "Le Brigadier," +De sojer fellers get prepare, for mak' de embarquer, +An' everybody's shout heem out, w'en we tak' hole de boat +"Hooraw pour Queen Victoriaw!" an' also "pour nous autres." + +Bigosh; I do hard work mese'f upon de Ottawa, +De Gatineau an' St. Maurice, also de Mattawa, +But I don't never work at all, I'sure you dat's a fack +Until we strike de Neel Riviere, an' sapre Catarack! + +"Dis way, dat way, can't keep her straight," "look out, Bateese, look out!" +"Now let her go"--"arrete un peu," dat's way de pilot shout, +"Don't wash de neeger girl on shore," an' "prenez garde behin'," +"W'at's matter wit' dat rudder man? I t'ink he's goin' blin'!" + +Some tam of course, de boat's all right, an' carry us along +An' den again, we mak portage, w'en current she's too strong +On place lak' dat, we run good chance, for sun-struck on de neck, +An' plaintee tam we wish ourseff was back on ole Kebeck. + +De seconde Catarack we pass, more beeger dan de Soo, +She's nearly t'orty mile for sure, it would astonish you, +Dat's place t'ree Irishman get drown, wan day we have beeg storm, +I s'pose de Queen is feel lak cry, los' dat nice uniform! + +De night she's very, very cole, an' hot upon de day, +An' all de tam, you feel jus' lak you're goin' melt away, +But never min' an' don't get scare, you mak' it up all right, +An' twenty poun' you los' dat day, she's comin' back sam' night. + +We got small bugle boy also, he's mebbe stan' four foot, +An' firs' t'ing ev'ry morning, sure, he mak' it toot! toot! toot! +She's nice enough upon de day, for hear de bugle call, +But w'en she play before daylight, I don't lak dat at all. + +We mus' get up immediatement, dat leetle feller blow, +An' so we start heem off again, for pull de beeg batteau, +De sojer man he's nice, nice boy, an' help us all he can, +An' geev heem chance, he's mos' as good lak some Canadian man. + +Wall all de tam, she go lak dat, was busy every day, +Don't get moche chance for foolish-ness, don't get no chance for play, +Dere's plaintee danger all aroun', an' w'en we're comin' back +We got look out for run heem safe, dem sapre Catarack. + +But w'ere's de war? I can't mak' out, don't see no fight at all! +She's not'ing but une Grande Piqnique, dat's las' in all de fall! +Mebbe de neeger King he's scare, an' skip anoder place, +An' pour la Reine Victoriaw! I never see de face. + +But dat's not ma beez-nesse, ma frien', I'm ready pull batteau +So long she pay two dollar day, wit' pork an' bean also; +An' if she geev me steady job, for mak' some more l'argent, +I say, "Hooraw! for all de tam, on Queen Victoriaw!" + + + +MEMORIES. + + +O spirit of the mountain that speaks to us to-night, +Your voice is sad, yet still recalls past visions of delight, +When 'mid the grand old Laurentides, old when the earth was new, +With flying feet we followed the moose and caribou. + +And backward rush sweet memories, like fragments of a dream, +We hear the dip of paddle blades, the ripple of the stream, +The mad, mad rush of frightened wings from brake and covert start, +The breathing of the woodland, the throb of nature's heart. + +Once more beneath our eager feet the forest carpet springs, +We march through gloomy valleys, where the vesper sparrow sings. +The little minstrel heeds us not, nor stays his plaintive song, +As with our brave coureurs de bois we swiftly pass along. + +Again o'er dark Wayagamack, in bark canoe we glide, +And watch the shades of evening glance along the mountain side. +Anon we hear resounding the wizard loon's wild cry, +And mark the distant peak whereon the ling'ring echoes die. + +But Spirit of the Northland! let the winter breezes blow, +And cover every giant crag with rifts of driving snow. +Freeze every leaping torrent, bind all the crystal lakes, +Tell us of fiercer pleasures when the Storm King awakes. + +And now the vision changes, the winds are loud and shrill, +The falling flakes are shrouding the mountain and the hill, +But safe within our snug cabane with comrades gathered near, +We set the rafters ringing with "Roulant" and "Brigadier." + +Then after Pierre and Telesphore have danced "Le Caribou," +Some hardy trapper tells a tale of the dreaded Loup Garou, +Or phantom bark in moonlit heavens, with prow turned to the East, +Bringing the Western voyageurs to join the Christmas feast. + +And while each backwoods troubadour is greeted with huzza +Slowly the homely incense of "tabac Canayen" +Rises and sheds its perfume like flowers of Araby, +O'er all the true-born loyal Enfants de la Patrie. + +And thus with song and story, with laugh and jest and shout, +We heed not dropping mercury nor storms that rage without, +But pile the huge logs higher till the chimney roars with glee, +And banish spectral visions with La Chanson Normandie. + + "Brigadier! repondit Pandore + Brigadier! vous avez raison, + Brigadier! repondit Pandore, + Brigadier! vous avez raison!" + +O spirit of the mountain! that speaks to us to-night, +Return again and bring us new dreams of past delight, +And while our heart-throbs linger, and till our pulses cease, +We'll worship thee among the hills where flows the Saint-Maurice. + + + +PHIL-O-RUM JUNEAU. + +A STORY OF THE "CHASSE GALLERIE." + + +In the days of the "Old Regime" in Canada, the free life of the +woods and prairies proved too tempting for the young men, who +frequently deserted civilization for the savage delights of the +wilderness. These voyageurs and coureurs de bois seldom returned in +the flesh, but on every New Year's Eve, back thro' snowstorm and +hurricane--in mid-air--came their spirits in ghostly canoes, to +join, for a brief spell, the old folks at home and kiss the girls, +on the annual feast of the "Jour de l'an," or New Year's Day. The +legend which still survives in French-speaking Canada, is known as +"La Chasse Gallerie." + + +He sit on de corner mos' every night, ole + Phil-o-rum Juneau, +Spik wit' hese'f an' shake de head, an' smoke + on de pipe also-- +Very hard job it's for wake him up, no matter + de loud we call +W'en he's feex hese'f on de beeg arm-chair, + back on de kitchen wall. + +He don't believe not'ing at all, at all 'bout + lates' new fashion t'ing +Le char 'lectrique an' de telephome, was talk + w'en de bell she ring +Dat's leetle too moche for de ole bonhomme, + mak' him shake it de head an' say +"Wat's use mak' de foolish lak dat, sapre! + I'm not born only yesterday." + +But if you want story dat's true, true, true, I + tole you good wan moi-meme +An de t'ing you was spik, dat I don't believe, + for sure she was beat all dem. +So he's cough leetle cough, clear 'im up de + t'roat, fill hees pipe wit' some more tabac, +An' w'en de chil'ren is come tranquille, de + ole man begin comme ca. + +L'enfant! l'enfant! it's very strange t'ing! + mak' me laugh too w'en I hear +De young peep talk of de long, long tam of + seventy, eighty year! +Dat's only be jus' eighty New Year Day, an' + quickly was pass it by +It's beeg, beeg dream, an' you don't wake up, + till affer you're comin' die. + +Dat's true sure enough, you see curi's t'ing, + if you only leev leetle w'ile, +So long you got monee go all de place, for + mebbe t'ree t'ousan' mile, +But monee's not everyt'ing on dis worl', I tole + you dat, mes amis, +An' man can be ole lak' two honder year, an' + not see it, La Chasse Gal'rie. + +I never forget de fine New Year night, nearly + seexty year ago, +W'en I'm lef' it our place for attend soiree, + on ole Maxime Baribault, +Nine mile away, I can see tin roof, on church + of de St. Joseph, +An' over de snow, de leaf dat die las' fall, + was chasin' itse'f. + +Dere was some of de neighbor house I call, + dat's be de ole fashion style, +An' very nice style too, mes amis, I hope she + will las' long w'ile, +I shak' it de han', I drink sante, an' kiss it + de girl she's face, +So it's come ten o'clock, w'en I pass on road, + for visit Maxime hees place. + +But I'm not go more mebbe t'ree arpent, w'en + de sky is get black all roun', +An' de win' she blow lak I never see, an' + de beeg snowstorm come down. +I mak' it my min' she's goin' be soon, de very + bad night for true, +Dat's locky I got plaintee whiskey lef', so I + tak' it wan leetle "coup." + +Purty quick affer dat, I'm comin' nice place, + was stan'in' some fine beeg tree +W'ere de snow don't dreef', an' it seem jus' + lak dat place it is mak' for me, +So I pass it on dere, for mak' safe mese'f, + w'ile de storm is blow outside, +As if all de devil on hell below, was tak' + heem some fancy ride. + +Wan red fox he's comin' so close, so close, + I could ketch him wit' de han', +But not on de tam lak dis ma frien', "Marche + toi all de quick you can," +Poor feller he's tire an' seem los' hees way, + an' w'en he reach home dat night +Mebbe he fin' it all was close up, an' de door + it was fassen tight. + +But w'at is dat soun' mak' de hair stan' up, + w'at is it mean, dat cry? +Comin' over de high tree top, out of de + nor'-wes' sky +Lak cry of de wil' goose w'en she pass on + de spring tam an' de fall, +But wil' goose fly on de winter night! + I never see dat at all. + +On, on t'roo de night, she is quickly come, + more closer all de tam, +But not lak de cry of some wil' bird now, + don't seem it at all de sam'; +An' den wit' de rush of de win', I hear + somebody sing chanson +An' de song dey sing is de ole, ole song, + "Le Canayen Errant."' + +But it's mak' me lonesome an' scare also, jus' + sam' I be goin' for die +W'en I lissen dat song on night lak dis, so + far away on de sky, +Don't know w'at to do at all mese'f, so I go + w'ere I have good view, +An' up, up above t'roo de storm an' snow, she's + comin' wan beeg canoe. + +Den somebody call it ma nam' out loud, firs' tam + it was scare me so, +"We know right away, dat was you be dere, hello + Phil-o-rum, hello!" +An' soon I see him dat feller spik, I 'member him + too mese'f, +We go de sam' school twenty year before, hees + nam's Telesphore Le Boeuf. + +But I know on de way canoe she go, dat de crowd + he mus' be dead man +Was come from de Grande Riviere du Nord, come + from Saskatchewan, +Come too from all de place is lie on de Hodson + Bay Contree, +An' de t'ing I was see me dat New Year night, + is le phantome Chasse Gal'rie. + +An' many de boy I was see him dere, I know him + so long before +He's goin' away on de far contree--for never + return no more-- +An' now on phantome he is comin' home--t'roo + de storm an' de hurricane +For kiss him de girl on jour de l'an, an' see + de ole peep again. + +De beeg voyageur w'at is steer canoe, wit' + paddle hol' on hees han' +Got very long hair was hang down hees neck, + de sam' as wil' Injin man +Invite me on boar' dat phantome canoe, for + show it dead man de way-- +Don't lak it de job, but no use refuse, + so I'll mak' it de embarquer. + +Den wan of de gang, he mus' be foreman, say + it's tam for have leetle drink, +So he pass heem black bottle for tak' un "coup," + an' it's look lak ma own I t'ink, +But it can't be de sam', I'll be swear for dat, + for w'en I was mak' de go, +I fin' dere is not'ing inside but win', an' + de whiskey's phantome also. + +Dey be laugh affer dat, lak dey tak' some fit, + so de boss spik him, "Tiens Phil-o-rum, +Never min' on dem feller--mus' have leetle sport, + dat's very long way we come, +Will you ketch it de paddle for steer us quick + on place of Maxime Baribault?" +An' he's ax me so nice, I do as he please', + an den away off she go. + +Wan minute--two minute--we pass on dere, + Maxime he is all hooraw! +An' we know by musique dat was play inside, + mus' be de great Joe Violon, +Dat feller work fiddle on very bes' way, + dat nobody never see +Mak' de boy an' de girl, ole peep also, + dance lak dey was go crazee. + +You s'pose dey was let me come on dat house? + Not at all, for de boss he say, +"Phil-o-rum, it's long tam we don't see our fren', + can't get heem chance ev'ry day, +Please stop on canoe so she won't blow off, + w'ile we pass on de house an' see +Dem frien' we was lef' an' de girl we spark, + before we go strange contree." + +An' me I was sit on canoe outside, jus' lak + I was sapre fou, +Watchin' dem feller dat's all dead man, + dance heem lak Loup Garou. +De boss he kiss Marie Louise, ma girl, + dat's way he spen' mos' de tam, +But of course she know not'ing of dat + biz-nesse--don't lak it me jus' de sam'. + +By tam I'm commence it for feel de col', + dey're all comin' out encore, +An' we start off again t'roo de sky, hooraw! + for mak' de visite some more, +All de place on de parish we go dat night, + w'erever dey get some dance, +Till I feel it so tire, I could sleep right off, + but dey don't geev it me no chance. + +De las' place w'ere passin' dat's Bill Boucher, + he's very good frien' of me, +An' I t'ink it's near tam I was lef' dat crowd, + so I'll snub de canoe on tree, +Den affer dead man he was safe inside, an' + ev'rywan start danser, +I go on de barn wat's behin' de house, for + see I can't hide away. + +She's nice place de barn, an' got plaintee warm, + an' I'm feel very glad be dere, +So long dead feller don't fin' me out, an' ketch + it me on de hair, +But s'pose I get col', work him hard all night, + 'cos I make it wan leetle cough, +W'en de rooster he's scare, holler t'ree, four tam, + an' whole t'ing she bus' right off. + +I'll never see not'ing so quick again--Canoe an' + dead man go scat! +She's locky de rooster he mak' de noise, bus' + ev'ryt'ing up lak dat, +Or mebbe dem feller get me encore, an' tak' me + on Hodson Bay, +But it's all right now, for de morning's come, + an' he see me ole Bill Boucher. + +I'm feel it so tire, an' sore all de place, wit' + all de hard work I do', +'Cos I'm not very use for mak' paddle, me, on beeg, + beeg phantome canoe, +But Bill an' hees boy dey was leef me up, an' + carry me on maison +W'ere plaintee nice t'ing dey was mak' me eat, + an' drink it some whiskey blanc. + +An' now w'en I'm finish, w'at you t'ink it youse'f, + 'bout story dat you was hear? +No wonner ma hair she is all turn w'ite before I + get eighty year! +But 'member dis t'ing, I be tole you firs, don't + los' it mes chers amis, +De man he can leev him on long, long tam, an' + not see it La Chasse Gal'rie! + + * * * * * + +He sit on de corner mos' every night, ole + Phil-o-rum Juneau, +Spik wit' hese'f, an' shak' de head, an' smoke + on de pipe also, +But kip very quiet, don't wak' him up, let him + stay on de kitchen wall, +For if you believe w'at de ole man say, you + believe anyt'ing at all. + + + +DE BELL OF ST. MICHEL. + + +Go 'way, go 'way, don't ring no more, ole bell of Saint Michel, +For if you do, I can't stay here, you know dat very well, +No matter how I close ma ear, I can't shut out de soun', +It rise so high 'bove all de noise of dis beeg Yankee town. + +An' w'en it ring, I t'ink I feel de cool, cool summer breeze +Dat's blow across Lac Peezagonk, an' play among de trees, +Dey're makin' hay, I know mese'f, can smell de pleasant smell +O! how I wish I could be dere to-day on Saint Michel! + +It's fonny t'ing, for me I'm sure, dat's travel ev'ryw'ere, +How moche I t'ink of long ago w'en I be leevin' dere; +I can't 'splain dat at all, at all, mebbe it's naturel, +But I can't help it w'en I hear de bell of Saint Michel. + +Dere's plaintee t'ing I don't forget, but I remember bes' +De spot I fin' wan day on June de small san'piper's nes' +An' dat hole on de reever w'ere I ketch de beeg, beeg trout +Was very nearly pull me in before I pull heem out. + +An' leetle Elodie Leclaire, I wonner if she still +Leev jus' sam' place she use to leev on 'noder side de hill, +But s'pose she marry Joe Barbeau, dat's alway hangin' roun' +Since I am lef' ole Saint Michel for work on Yankee town. + +Ah! dere she go, ding dong, ding dong, its back, encore again +An' ole chanson come on ma head of "a la claire fontaine," +I'm not surprise it soun' so sweet, more sweeter I can tell +For wit' de song also I hear de bell of Saint Michel. + +It's very strange about dat bell, go ding dong all de w'ile +For when I'm small garcon at school, can't hear it half a mile; +But seems more farder I get off from Church of Saint Michel, +De more I see de ole village an' louder soun' de bell. + +O! all de monee dat I mak' w'en I be travel roun' +Can't kip me long away from home on dis beeg Yankee town, +I t'ink I'll settle down again on Parish Saint Michel, +An' leev an' die more satisfy so long I hear dat bell. + + + +PELANG. + + +Pelang! Pelang! Mon cher garcon, + I t'ink of you--t'ink of you night and day-- +Don't mak' no difference, seems to me + De long long tam you're gone away. + + * * * * * + +De snow is deep on de Grande Montagne-- + Lak tonder de rapide roar below-- +De sam' kin' night, ma boy get los' + On beeg, beeg storm forty year ago. + +An' I never was hear de win' blow hard, + An' de snow come sweesh on de window pane-- +But ev'ryt'ing 'pear lak' it's yesterday + An' whole of ma troub' is come back again. + +Ah me! I was foolish young girl den + It's only ma own plaisir I care, +An' w'en some dance or soiree come off + Dat's very sure t'ing you will see me dere. + +Don't got too moche sense at all dat tam, + Run ev'ry place on de whole contree-- +But I change beeg lot w'en Pelang come 'long + For I love him so well, kin' o' steady me. + +An' he was de bes' boy on Coteau, + An' t'ink I am de bes' girl too for sure-- +He's tole me dat, geev de ring also + Was say on de inside "Je t'aime toujours." + +I geev heem some hair dat come off ma head, + I mak' de nice stocking for warm hees feet, +So ev'ryt'ing's feex, w'en de spring is come + For mak' mariee on de church toute suite. + +"W'en de spring is come!" Ah I don't see dat, + Dough de year is pass as dey pass before, +An' de season come, an' de season go, + But our spring never was come no more. + + * * * * * + +It's on de fete of de jour de l'an, + An' de worl' outside is cole an' w'ite, +As I sit an' watch for mon cher Pelang + For he's promise come see me dis very night. + +Bonhomme Peloquin dat is leev near us-- + He's alway keep look heem upon de moon-- +See fonny t'ing dere only week before, + An' say he's expec' some beeg storm soon. + +So ma fader is mak' it de laugh on me' + "Pelang he's believe heem de ole Bonhomme +Dat t'ink he see ev'ryt'ing on de moon + An' mebbe he's feel it too scare for come." + +But I don't spik not'ing I am so sure + Of de promise Pelang is mak' wit' me-- +An' de mos' beeg storm dat is never blow + Can't kip heem away from hees own Marie. + +I open de door, an' pass outside + For see mese'f how de night is look +An' de star is commence for go couche + De mountain also is put on hees tuque. + +No sooner, I come on de house again + W'ere ev'ryt'ing feel it so nice an' warm, +Dan out of de sky come de Nor'Eas' win'-- + Out of de sky come de beeg snow storm. + +Blow lak not'ing I never see, + Blow lak le diable he was mak' grande tour; +De snow come down lak wan avalanche, + An' cole! Mon Dieu, it is cole for sure! + +I t'ink, I t'ink of mon pauvre garcon, + Dat's out mebbe on de Grande Montagne; +So I place chandelle we're it's geev good light, + An' pray Le Bon Dieu he will help Pelang. + +De ole folk t'ink I am go crazee, + An' moder she's geev me de good night kiss; +She say "Go off on your bed, Marie, + Dere's nobody come on de storm lak dis." + +But ma eye don't close dat long long, night + For it seem jus' lak phantome is near, +An' I t'ink of de terrible Loup Garou + An' all de bad story I offen hear. + +Dere was tam I am sure somet'ing call "Marie" + So plainly I open de outside door, +But it's meet me only de awful storm, + An de cry pass away--don't come no more. + +An' de morning sun, w'en he's up at las', + Fin' me w'ite as de face of de snow itse'f, +For I know very well, on de Grande Montagne, + Ma poor Pelang he's come dead hese'f. + +It's noon by de clock w'en de storm blow off, + An' ma fader an' broder start out for see +Any track on de snow by de Mountain side, + Or down on de place w'ere chemin should be. + +No sign at all on de Grande Montagne, + No sign all over de w'ite, w'ite snow; +Only hear de win' on de beeg pine tree, + An' roar of de rapide down below. + +An' w'ere is he lie, mon cher Pelang! + Pelang ma boy I was love so well? +Only Le Bon Dieu up above + An' mebbe de leetle snow bird can tell. + +An I t'ink I hear de leetle bird say, + "Wait till de snow is geev up it's dead, +Wait till I go, an' de robin come, + An' den you will fin' hees cole, cole bed." + +An' it's all come true, for w'en de sun + Is warm de side of de Grande Montagne +An' drive away all de winter snow, + We fin' heem at las', mon cher Pelang! + +An' here on de fete of de jour de l'an, + Alone by mese'f I sit again, +W'ile de beeg, beeg storm is blow outside, + An' de snow come sweesh on de window pane. + +Not all alone, for I t'ink I hear + De voice of ma boy gone long ago; +Can hear it above de hurricane, + An' roar of de rapide down below. + +Yes--yes--Pelang, mon cher garcon! + I t'ink of you, t'ink of you night an' day, +Don't mak' no difference seems to me + How long de tam you was gone away. + + + +MON CHOUAL "CASTOR." + + +I'm poor man, me, but I buy las' May + Wan horse on de Comp'nie Passengaire, +An' auction feller w'at sole heem say + She's out of de full-breed "Messengaire." + +Good trotter stock, also galluppe, + But work long tam on de city car, +Of course she's purty well break heem up, + So come leetle cheap--twenty-wan dollarre. + +Firs' chance I sen' heem on St. Cesaire, + W'ere I t'ink he's have moche better sight, +Mebbe de grass an' de contree air + Very soon was feex heem up all right. + +I lef' heem dere till de fall come 'long, + An' dat trotter he can't eat grass no more, +An' w'en I go dere, I fin' heem strong + Lak not'ing I never see before. + +I heetch heem up on de light sulkee, + L'enfant! dat horse he is cover groun'! +Don't tak' long tam for de crowd to see + Mon choual he was leek all trotter roun'. + +Come down de race course lak' oiseau + Tail over datch boar', nice you please, +Can't tell for sure de quick he go, + S'pose somew'ere 'bout two, t'ree forties. + +I treat ma frien' on de whiskey blanc, + An' we drink "Castor" he's bonne sante +From L'Achigan to St. Armand, + He's bes' horse sure on de whole comte. + + * * * * * + +'Bout week on front of dis, Lalime, + Dat man drive horse call "Clevelan' Bay" +Was challenge, so I match wit' heem + For wan mile heat on straight away. + +Dat's twenty dollarre on wan side, + De lawyer's draw de paper out, +But if dem trotter come in tied, + Wall! all dat monee's go on spout. + +Nex' t'ing ma backer man, Labrie, + Tak' off his catch-book vingt cinq cents, +An' toss Lalime bes' two on t'ree + For see who's go on inside fence. + +Bateese Lalime, he's purty smart, + An' gain dat toss wit' jockey trick. +I don't care me, w'en "Castor" start, + Very soon I t'ink he's mak' heem sick. + +Beeg crowd of course was dere for see + Dem trotter on de grand match race +Some people come from St. Remi + An' some from plaintee 'noder place. + +W'en all is ready, flag was fall + An' way dem trotter pass on fence +Lak not'ing you never see at all, + It mak' me t'ink of "St. Lawrence."[1] + +"Castor," hees tail was stan' so straight + Could place chapeau on de en' of top +An' w'en he struck two forty gait + Don't seem he's never go for stop. + +Wall! dat's all right for firs' half mile + W'en Clevelan' Bay commence for break, +Dat mak' me feel very moche lak smile, + I'm sure "Castor" he's took de cake. + +But Lalime pull heem hard on line + An' stop "Clevelan'" before go far, +It's all no good, he can't ketch mine + I'm go more quicker lak express car. + +I'm feel all right for my monee, + For sure mon Choual he's took firs' place, +W'en 'bout arpent from home, sapre, + Somet'ing she's happen, I'm los' de race. + +Wan bad boy he's come out on track, + I cannot see dat bad boy's han'; +He's hol' somet'ing behin' hees back, + It was small bell, I understan'. + +Can spik for dat, ma horse go well, + An' never show no sign of sweat, +Until dat boy he's ring hees bell-- + Misere! I t'ink I hear heem yet! + +Wall! jus' so soon mon Choual "Castor" + Was hear dat bell go kling! klang! kling! +He's tink of course of city car, + An' spose mus' be conductor ring. + +Firs' t'ing I know ma trotter's drop + Dat tail was stan' so straight before, +An' affer dat, mebbe he stop + For me, I don't know not'ing more. + +But w'en I'm come alive again + I fin' dat horse call "Clevelan' Bay" +Was got firs' place, an' so he's gain + Dat wan mile heat on straight away. + +An' now w'erever I am go + Bad boy he's sure for holler an' yell +Dis donc! Dis donc! Paul Archambault! + W'at's matter wit' your chestnutte bell? + +Mak' plaintee troub' dem bad garcons, + An' offen ring some bell also, +Was mad! Could plonge on de St. Laurent + An' w'at to do, "Castor" don't know. + +Las' tam I pass de railway track + For drive avec mon frere Alfred, +In-jinne she's ring, "Castor" he's back, + Monjee! it's fonny I'm not come dead! + +Toujours comme ca! an' mak' me sick, + But horse dat work long on les chars +Can't broke dem off on fancy trick + So now I'm busy for sole "Castor." + +[Footnote 1: "St. Lawrence," the Canadian "Dexter."] + + + +OLE TAM ON BORD-A PLOUFFE. + + +I lak on summer ev'ning, w'en nice cool win' is blowin' + An' up above ma head, I hear de pigeon on de roof, +To bring ma chair an' sit dere, an' watch de current flowin' + Of ole Riviere des Prairies as she pass de Bord-a Plouffe. + +But it seem dead place for sure now, on shore down by de lan'in'-- + No more de voyageurs is sing lak dey was sing alway-- +De tree dey're commence growin' w'ere shaintee once is stan'in', + An' no one scare de swallow w'en she fly across de bay. + +I don't lak see de reever she's never doin' not'in' + But passin' empty ev'ry day on Bout de l'ile below-- +Ma ole shaloup dat's lyin' wit' all its timber rottin' + An' tam so change on Bord-a Plouffe since forty year ago! + +De ice dat freeze on winter, might jus' as well be stay dere, + For w'en de spring she's comin' de only t'ing I see +Is two, t'ree piqnique feller, hees girl was row away dere, + Don't got no use for water now, on Riviere des Prairies. + +'Twas diff'rent on dem summer you couldn't see de reever, + Wit' saw-log an' squar' timber raf', mos' all de season t'roo-- +Two honder man an' more too--all busy lak de beaver, + An' me! I'm wan de pilot for ronne 'em down de "Soo." + +Don't 'member lak I use to, for now I'm gettin' ole, me-- + But still I can't forget Bill Wade, an' Guillaume Lagasse, +Joe Monferrand, Bazile Montour--wit' plaintee I can't tole, me, + An' king of all de Bord-a Plouffe, M'sieu' Venance Lemay. + +Lak small boy on hees lesson, I learn de way to han'le + Mos' beeges' raf' is never float upon de Ottawaw, +Ma fader show me dat too, for well he know de channel, + From Dutchman Rapide up above to Bout de l'ile en bas. + +He's smart man too, ma fader, only t'ing he got de bow-leg, + Ridin' log w'en leetle feller, mebbe dat's de reason w'y, +All de sam', if he's in hurry, den Bagosh! he's got heem no leg + But wing an' fedder lak oiseau, was fly upon de sky! + +O dat was tam we're happy, an' man dey're alway singin', + For if it's hard work on de raf', w'y dere's your monee sure! +An' ev'ry summer evenin', ole Bord-a Plouffe she's ringin' + Wit' "En Roulant ma Boule" an' "J'aimerai toujour." + +Dere dey're comin' on de wagon! fine young feller ev'ry wan too, + Dress im up de ole tam fashion, dat I lak for see encore, +Yellin' hooraw! t'roo de village, all de horse upon de ronne too, + Ah poor Bord-a Plouffe! she never have dem tam again no more! + +Very offen w'en I'm sleepin', I was feel as if I'm goin' + Down de ole Riviere des Prairies on de raf' de sam as den-- +An' ma dream is only lef' me, w'en de rooster commence crowin' + But it can't do me no harm, 'cos it mak me young again. + +An' upon de morning early, wen de reever fog is clearin' + An' sun is makin' up hees min' for drive away de dew, +W'en young bird want hees breakfas', I wak' an' t'ink I'm hearin' + Somebody shout "Hooraw, Bateese, de raf' she's wait for you." + +Dat's voice of Guillaume Lagasse was call me on de morning + Jus' outside on de winder w'ere you look across de bay, +But he's drown upon de Longue "Soo," wit' never word of warning + An' green grass cover over poor Guillaume Lagasse. + +I s'pose dat's meanin' somet'ing--mebbe I'm not long for stay here, + Seein' all dem strange t'ing happen--dead frien' comin' roun' me so-- +But I'm sure I die more happy, if I got jus' wan more day here, + Lak we have upon de ole tam Bord-a Plouffe of long ago! + + + +THE GRAND SEIGNEUR. + + +To the hut of the peasant, or lordly hall, +To the heart of the king, or humblest thrall, +Sooner or late, love comes to all, +And it came to the Grand Seigneur, my dear, + It came to the Grand Seigneur. + +The robins were singing a roundelay, +And the air was sweet with the breath of May, +As a horseman rode thro' the forest way, +And he was a Grand Seigneur, my dear, + He was a grand Seigneur. + +Lord of the Manor, Count Bellefontaine, +Had spurr'd over many a stormy plain +With gallants of France at his bridle rein, +For he was a brave Cavalier, my dear-- + He was a brave Cavalier. + +But the huntsman's daughter, La Belle Marie, +Held the Knight's proud heart in captivity, +And oh! she was fair as the fleur de lys, +Tho' only a peasant maid, my dear, + Only a peasant maid. + +Thro' the woodland depths on his charger grey +To the huntsman's cottage he rides away, +And the maiden lists to a tale to-day +That haughtiest dame might hear, my dear, + That haughtiest dame might hear. + +But she cried "Alas! it may never be, +For my heart is pledged to the young Louis, +And I love him, O Sire, so tenderly, +Tho' he's only a poor Chasseur, my Lord, + Only a poor Chasseur." + +"Enough," spake the Knight with a courtly bow, +"Be true to thy lover and maiden vow, +For virtue like thine is but rare, I trow, +And farewell to my dream of love, and thee, + Farewell to my dream of thee." + +And they say the gallant Count Bellefontaine +Bestowed on the couple a rich domain, +But you never may hear such tale again, +For he was a Grand Seigneur, my dear, + He was a Grand Seigneur! + + + +M'SIEU SMIT. + +THE ADVENTURES OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN THE CANADIAN WOODS. + + +Wan morning de walkim boss say "Damase, + I t'ink you're good man on canoe d'ecorce, +So I'll ax you go wit' your frien' Phileas + An' meet M'sieu' Smit' on Chenail W'ite Horse. + +"He'll have I am sure de grosse baggage-- + Mebbe some valise--mebbe six or t'ree-- +But if she's too moche for de longue portage + 'Poleon he will tak' 'em wit' mail buggee." + +W'en we reach Chenail, plaintee peep be dere, + An' wan frien' of me, call Placide Chretien, +'Splain all dat w'en he say man from Angleterre + Was spik heem de crowd on de "Parisien." + +Fonny way dat Englishman he'll be dress, + Leetle pant my dear frien' jus' come on knee, +Wit' coat dat's no coat at all--only ves' + An' hat--de more stranger I never see! + +Wall! dere he sit on de en' some log + An' swear heem in English purty loud +Den talk Francais, w'ile hees chien boule dog + Go smellim an' smellim aroun' de crowd. + +I spik im "Bonjour, M'sieu' Smit', Bonjour, + I hope dat yourse'f and famille she's well?" +M'sieu Smit' he is also say "Bonjour," + An' call off hees dog dat's commence for smell. + +I tell heem my name dat's Damase Labrie + I am come wit' Phileas for mak' de trip, +An' he say I'm de firs' man he never see + Spik English encore since he lef' de ship. + +He is also ax it to me "Damase, + De peep she don't seem understan' Francais, +W'at's matter wit' dat?" An' I say "Becos + You mak' too much talk on de Parisien." + +De groun she is pile wit' baggage--Sapre! + An' I see purty quick we got plaintee troub-- +Two tronk, t'ree valise, four-five fusil, + An' w'at M'sieu Smit' he is call "bat' tubbe." + +M'sieu Smit' he's tole me w'at for's dat t'ing, + An' it seem Englishman he don't feel correc' +Until he's go plonge on some bat' morning + An' sponge it hees possibill high hees neck. + +Of course dat's not'ing of my beez-nesse, + He can plonge on de water mos' ev'ry day, +But I t'ink for mese'f it mak foolishness + An' don't do no good w'en your bonne sante. + +W'en I tell 'Poleon he mus' mak' dat job, + Dere's leetle too moche for canoe d'ecorce, +He's mad right away an' say "Sapre diable! + You t'ink I go work lak wan niggerhorse? + +"I'm not manufacture dat way, ba non, + Dat rich stranger man he have lot monee, +I go see my frien' Onesime Gourdon, + An' tole heem bring horse wit' some more buggee." + +Wall! affer some w'ile dey'll arrange all dat, + 'Poleon an' hees frien' Onesime Gourdon, +But w'en 'Poleon is tak' hole of bat', + He receive it beeg scare immediatement! + +Dat chien boule dog, I was tole you 'bout, + I am not understan' w'at good she's for, +Eat 'Poleon's leg w'it hees teet' an' mout, + 'Poleon he is feel very mad--by Gor! + +Of course I am poule heem hees tail toute suite + But I don't know some reason mak all dis troub', +W'en I hear me dat Englishman, M'sieu Smit' + Say 'Poleon, w'at for you took my tubbe? + +"Leff 'im dere--for I don't low nobodee + Walk heem off on any such way lak dat; +You may tak' all de res', an' I don't care me-- + But de man he'll be keel who is tak' my bat'." + +"I will carry heem wit' me," say M'sieu Smit'-- + "W'erever dat tubbe she mus' go, I go-- +No matter de many place we visite, + An' my sponge I will tak' mese'f also." + +Phileas say "Damase, we mus buil' some raf' + Or mebbe some feller be sure get drown"; +Dis geev me plaisir, but I'm scare mak' laf', + So I'll do it mese'f, inside, way down. + +At las' we are start on voyage, sure nuff, + M'sieu Smit' carry tubbe on de top hees head, +Good job, I t'ink so, de lac isn't rough, + Or probably dis tam, we're all come dead. + +De dog go wit' Onesime Gourdon, + An' Onesime afferwar' say to me, +"Dat chien boule dog is eat 'Poleon + Was de more quiet dog I never see." + +But fun she's commence on very nex' day + W'en we go camp out on de Castor Noir. +Dat Englishman he'll come along an' say + "I hope some wil' Injun she don't be dere. + +"I have hear many tam, dat de wood be foule + Of Injun w'at tak' off de hair your head. +But so surely my name she's Johnnie Boule + If I see me dem feller I shoot it dead." + +Phileas den pray harder, more quick he can + Mebbe he's t'ink dat's hees las' portage +De moder hees fader, she's Injun man + Derefore an' also, he is wan Sauvage. + +I say "Don't mak' it some excitement; + Saison she is 'close' on de spring an' fall, +An' dem peep dat work on de Gouvernement + Don't lak you shoot Injun dis mont' at all." + +Nex' day M'sieu Smit' is perform hees plonge + We see heem go done it--Phileas an' me, +An' w'en he's hang up bat' tubbe an' sponge + We go on de wood for mak' Chasse perdrix. + +An' mebbe you will not believe to me, + But w'en we come back on de camp encore +De sponge of dat Englishman don't be see, + An' we fin' beeg bear she's go dead on shore. + +Very fonny t'ing how he's loss hees life, + But Phileas he'll know hese'f purty quick, +He cut M'sieu Bear wit' hees hunter knife, + An' sponge she's fall out on de bear stummick. + +Day affer we get two fox houn' from Boss + Dat's good for ketch deer on de fall an' spring, +Den place Englishman w'ere he can't get los' + An' tole heem shoot quicker he see somet'ing. + +Wat's dat leetle deer got no horn at all? + She'll be moder small wan en suite bimeby, +Don't remember mese'f w'at name she's call, + But dat's de kin' start w'en de dog is cry. + +We see heem come down on de runaway + De dog she is not very far behin' +An' w'en dey pass place M'sieu Smit' is stay + We expec' he will shoot or make noise some kin'! + +But he's not shoot at all, mon cher ami, + So we go an' we ax "Is he see some deer?" +He say "Dat's long tam I am stay on tree + But I don't see not'ing she's pass on here." + +We spik heem once more, "He don't see fox houn'?" + W'at you t'ink he is say, dat Englishman? +"Yes, I see dem pass quickly upon de groun', + Wan beeg yellow dog, an' two small brown wan." + +He's feel de more bad I don't see before + W'en he know dat beeg dog, she's wan small deer, +An' for mak' ev'ryt'ing correc' encore + We drink I am sure six bouteilles de biere. + +Nex' day--dat's Dimanche--he is spik to me, + "Damase, you mus' feel leetle fatigue, +You may slep' wit' Phileas w'ile I go an' see + I can't get some nice quiet tam to-day." + +So for keep 'way skeeter, an' fly also + Bouteille from de shelf M'sieu Smit' he tak', +Den he start wit' his chien boule dog an' go + For nice quiet walk on shore of lac. + +We don't slep' half hour w'en dere's beeg, beeg yell, + Lak somet'ing I'm sure don't hear long tam, +An' we see wan feller we cannot tell, + Till he spik it, "Damase! Phileas!! dam dam!!!" + +Den we know it at once, mon cher ami, + But she's swell up hees face--hees neck an' han'! +It seem all de skeeter on w'ole contree + Is jump on de head of dat Englishman. + +Some water on poor M'sieu Smit' we'll t'row, + An' w'en he's tranquille fin' out ev'ryt'ing; +Bouteille he's rub on, got some nice sirop + I was mak' mese'f on de wood las' spring. + +Dere was jus' 'noder t'ing he seem for care + An' den he is feel it more satisfy, +Dat t'ing, my dear frien', was for keel some bear, + If he'll do dat wan tam, he's prepare for die. + +Phileas say he know w'ere some blue berree + Mak' very good place for de bear have fonne, +So we start nex' day on morning earlee, + An' M'sieu Smit' go wit' hees elephan' gun. + +Wan woman sauvage she is come be dere, + Mebbe want some blue berree mak' some pie, +Dat' Englishman shoot, he is t'ink she's bear, + An' de woman she's holler, "Mon Dieu, I'm die!" + +M'sieu Smit' he don't do no harm, becos + He is shake hese'f w'en he shoot dat squaw, +But scare he pay hunder' dollar cos' + For keel some sauvage on de "close" saison. + +T'ree day affer dat, we start out on lac + For ketch on de water wan Cariboo, +But win' she blow strong, an' we can't get back + Till we t'row ourse'f out on dat canoe. + +We t'ink M'sieu Smit' he is sure be drown, + Leetle w'ile we can't see heem again no more, +An' den he's come up from de place go down + An' jomp on hees bat' tubbe an' try go shore. + +W'en he's pass on de bat', he say "Hooraw!" + An' commence right away for mak' some sing; +I'm sure you can hear heem ten-twelve arpent + 'Bout "Brittanie, she alway mus' boss somet'ing." + +Dat's all I will tole you jus' now, my frien'; + I s'pose you don't know de more fonny case, +But if Englishman go on wood again + I'll have more storee w'en you pass my place. + + + +WHEN ALBANI SANG. + + +Was workin' away on de farm dere, wan + morning not long ago, +Feexin' de fence for winter--'cos dat's + w'ere we got de snow! +W'en Jeremie Plouffe, ma neighbor, come + over an' spik wit' me, +"Antoine, you will come on de city, + for hear Ma-dam All-ba-nee?" + +"W'at you mean?" I was sayin' right off, me, + "Some woman was mak' de speech, +Or girl on de Hooraw Circus, doin' high + kick an' screech?" +"Non--non," he is spikin'--"Excuse me, + dat's be Ma-dam All-ba-nee +Was leevin' down here on de contree, two + mile 'noder side Chambly. + +"She's jus' comin' over from Englan', on + steamboat arrive Kebeck, +Singin' on Lunnon an' Paree, an' havin' + beeg tam, I expec', +But no matter de moche she enjoy it, for + travel all roun' de worl', +Somet'ing on de heart bring her back here, + for she was de Chambly girl. + +"She never do not'ing but singin' an' makin' + de beeg grande tour +An' travel on summer an' winter, so mus' be + de firs' class for sure! +Ev'ryboddy I'm t'inkin' was know her, an' I + also hear 'noder t'ing, +She's frien' on La Reine Victoria an' show + her de way to sing!" + +"Wall," I say, "you're sure she is Chambly, + w'at you call Ma-dam All-ba-nee? +Don't know me dat nam' on de Canton--I hope + you're not fool wit' me?" +An' he say, "Lajeunesse, dey was call her, + before she is come mariee, +But she's takin' de nam' of her husban'--I + s'pose dat's de only way." + +"C'est bon, mon ami," I was say me, "If I get + t'roo de fence nex' day +An' she don't want too moche on de monee den + mebbe I see her play." +So I finish dat job on to-morrow, Jeremie he + was helpin' me too, +An' I say, "Len' me t'ree dollar quickly for + mak' de voyage wit' you." + +Correc'--so we're startin' nex' morning, an' + arrive Montreal all right, +Buy dollar tiquette on de bureau, an' pass on + de hall dat night. +Beeg crowd, wall! I bet you was dere too, all + dress on some fancy dress, +De lady, I don't say not'ing, but man's all + w'ite shirt an' no ves'. + +Don't matter, w'en ban' dey be ready, de foreman + strek out wit' hees steek, +An' fiddle an' ev'ryt'ing else too, begin for + play up de musique. +It's fonny t'ing too dey was playin' don't lak + it mese'f at all, +I rader be lissen some jeeg, me, or w'at you call + "Affer de ball." + +An' I'm not feelin' very surprise den, w'en de + crowd holler out, "Encore," +For mak' all dem feller commencin' an' try leetle + piece some more, +'Twas better wan' too, I be t'inkin', but slow + lak you're goin' to die, +All de sam', noboddy say not'ing, dat mean + dey was satisfy. + +Affer dat come de Grande piano, lak we got on + Chambly Hotel, +She's nice lookin' girl was play dat, so of + course she's go off purty well, +Den feller he's ronne out an' sing some, it's + all about very fine moon, +Dat shine on Canal, ev'ry night too, I'm sorry + I don't know de tune. + +Nex' t'ing I commence get excite, me, for I + don't see no great Ma-dam yet, +Too bad I was los all dat monee, an' too late + for de raffle tiquette! +W'en jus' as I feel very sorry, for come all + de way from Chambly, +Jeremie he was w'isper, "Tiens, Tiens, prenez + garde, she's comin' Ma-dam All-ba-nee!" + +Ev'ryboddy seem glad w'en dey see her, come + walkin' right down de platform, +An' way dey mak' noise on de han' den, w'y! + it's jus' lak de beeg tonder storm! +I'll never see not'ing lak dat, me, no matter + I travel de worl', +An' Ma-dam, you t'ink it was scare her? Non, + she laugh lak de Chambly girl! + +Dere was young feller comin' behin' her, walk + nice, comme un Cavalier, +An' before All-ba-nee she is ready an' piano + get startin' for play, +De feller commence wit' hees singin', more + stronger dan all de res', +I t'ink he's got very bad manner, know not'ing + at all politesse. + +Ma-dam, I s'pose she get mad den, an' before + anyboddy can spik, +She settle right down for mak' sing too, an' + purty soon ketch heem up quick, +Den she's kip it on gainin' an' gainin', till + de song it is tout finis, +An' w'en she is beatin' dat feller, Bagosh! + I am proud Chambly! + +I'm not very sorry at all, me, w'en de feller + was ronnin' away, +An' man he's come out wit' de piccolo, an' + start heem right off for play, +For it's kin' de musique I be fancy, Jeremie + he is lak it also, +An' wan de bes' t'ing on dat ev'ning is man + wit' de piccolo! + +Den mebbe ten minute is passin', Ma-dam she is + comin' encore, +Dis tam all alone on de platform, dat feller + don't show up no more, +An' w'en she start off on de singin' Jeremie say, + "Antoine, dat's Francais," +Dis give us more pleasure, I tole you, 'cos w'y? + We're de pure Canayen! + +Dat song I will never forget me, 'twas song of + de leetle bird, +W'en he's fly from it's nes' on de tree top, + 'fore res' of de worl' get stirred, +Ma-dam she was tole us about it, den start off + so quiet an' low, +An' sing lak de bird on de morning, de poor + leetle small oiseau. + +I 'member wan tam I be sleepin' jus' onder some + beeg pine tree +An song of de robin wak' me, but robin he + don't see me, +Dere's not'ing for scarin' dat bird dere, he's + feel all alone on de worl', +Wall! Ma-dam she mus' lissen lak dat too, w'en + she was de Chambly girl! + +Cos how could she sing dat nice chanson, de sam' + as de bird I was hear, +Till I see it de maple an' pine tree an' Richelieu + ronnin' near, +Again I'm de leetle feller, lak young colt upon + de spring +Dat's jus' on de way I was feel, me, w'en Ma-dam + All-ba-nee is sing! + +An' affer de song it is finish, an' crowd is mak' + noise wit' its han', +I s'pose dey be t'inkin' I'm crazy, dat mebbe + I don't onderstan', +Cos I'm set on de chair very quiet, mese'f an' + poor Jeremie, +An' I see dat hees eye it was cry too, jus' sam' + way it go wit' me. + +Dere's rosebush outside on our garden, ev'ry spring + it has got new nes', +But only wan bluebird is buil' dere, I know her + from all de res', +An' no matter de far she be flyin' away on + de winter tam, +Back to her own leetle rosebush she's comin + dere jus' de sam'. + +We're not de beeg place on our Canton, mebbe + cole on de winter, too, +But de heart's "Canayen" on our body, an' + dat's warm enough for true! +An' w'en All-ba-nee was got lonesome for + travel all roun' de worl' +I hope she 'll come home, lak de bluebird, + an' again be de Chambly girl! + + + +DE CAMP ON DE "CHEVAL GRIS." + + +You 'member de ole log-camp, Johnnie, up on de Cheval Gris, +W'ere we work so hard all winter, long ago you an' me? +Dere was fourteen man on de gang, den, all from our own paroisse, +An' only wan lef' dem feller is ourse'f an' Pierre Laframboise. + +But Pierre can't see on de eye, Johnnie, I t'ink it's no good at all! +An' it wasn't for not'ing, you're gettin' rheumateez on de leg las' fall! +I t'ink it's no use waitin', for neider can come wit' me, +So alone I mak' leetle visit dat camp on de Cheval Gris. + +An' if only you see it, Johnnie, an' change dere was all aroun', +Ev'ryt'ing gone but de timber an' dat is all fallin' down; +No sign of portage by de reever w'ere man dey was place canoe, +W'y, Johnnie, I'm cry lak de bebe, an' I'm glad you don't come, mon vieux! + +But strange t'ing's happen me dere, Johnnie, mebbe I go asleep, +As I lissen de song of de rapide, as pas' de Longue Soo she sweep, +Ma head she go biz-z-z lak de sawmeel, I don't know w'at's wrong wit' me, +But firs' t'ing I don't know not'ing, an' den w'at you t'ink I see? + +Yourse'f an' res' of de boy, Johnnie, by light of de coal oil lamp, +An' you're singin' an' tolin' story, sittin' aroun' de camp, +We hear de win' on de chimley, an' we know it was beeg, beeg storm, +But ole box stove she is roarin', an' camp's feelin' nice an' warm. + +I t'ink you're on boar' of de raf', Johnnie, near head of Riviere du Loup, +W'en LeRoy an' young Patsy Kelly get drown comin' down de Soo, +Wall! I see me dem very same feller, jus' lak you see me to-day, +Playin' dat game dey call checker, de game dey was play alway! + +An' Louis Charette asleep, Johnnie, wit' hees back up agen de wall, +Makin' soche noise wit' hees nose, dat you t'ink it was moose on de fall, +I s'pose he's de mos' fattes' man dere 'cept mebbe Bateese La Rue, +But if I mak fonne on poor Louis, I know he was good boy too! + +W'at you do over dere on your bunk, Johnnie, lightin' dem allumettes, +Are you shame 'cos de girl she write you, is dat de las' wan you get? +It's fonny you can't do widout it ev'ry tam you was goin' bed, +W'y readin' dat letter so offen, you mus have it all on de head! + +Dat's de very sam' letter, Johnnie, was comin' t'ree mont' ago, +I t'ink I know somet'ing about it, 'cos I fin' it wan day on de snow. +An' I see on de foot dat letter, Philomene she is do lak dis: * * * +I'm not very moche on de school, me, but I t'ink dat was mean de kiss. + +Wall! nobody's kickin' de row, Johnnie, an' if allumettes' fini, +Put Philomene off on your pocket, an' sing leetle song wit' me; +For don't matter de hard you be workin' toujours you're un bon garcon, +An' nobody sing lak our Johnnie, Kebeck to de Mattawa! + +An' it's den you be let her go, Johnnie, till roof she was mos' cave in, +An' if dere's firs' prize on de singin', Bagosh! you're de man can win! +Affer dat come fidelle of Joe Pilon, an' he's feller can make it play, +So we're clearin' de floor right off den, for have leetle small danser. + +An' w'en dance she was tout finis, Johnnie, I go de sam' bunk wit' you +W'ere we sleep lak two broder, an' dream of de girl on Riviere du Loup, +Very nice ontil somebody call me, it soun' lak de boss Pelang, +"Leve toi, Jeremie ma young feller, or else you'll be late on de gang." + +An' den I am wak' up, Johnnie, an' w'ere do you t'ink I be? +Dere was de wood an' mountain, dere was de Cheval Gris, +But w'ere is de boy an' musique I hear only w'ile ago? +Gone lak de flower las' summer, gone lak de winter snow! + +An' de young man was bring me up, Johnnie, dat's son of ma boy Maxime, +Say, "Gran'fader, w'at is de matter, you havin' de bad, bad dream? +Come look on your face on de well dere, it's w'ite lak I never see, +Mebbe 't was better you're stayin', an' not go along wit' me." + +An' w'en I look down de well, Johnnie, an' see de ole feller dere, +I say on mese'f "you be makin' fou Jeremie Chateauvert, +For t'ink you're garcon agen. Ha! ha! jus' 'cos you are close de eye, +An' only commence for leevin' w'en you're ready almos' for die!" + +Ah! dat's how de young day pass, Johnnie, purty moche lak de t'ing I see, +Sometam dey be las' leetle longer, sam' as wit' you an' me, +But no matter de ole we're leevin', de tam she must come some day, +W'en boss on de place above, Johnnie, he's callin' us all away. + +I'm glad I was go on de camp, Johnnie, I t'ink it will do me good, +Mebbe it's las' tam too, for sure, I'll never pass on de wood, +For I don't expec' moche longer ole Jeremie will be lef', +But about w'at I see dat day, Johnnie, tole nobody but yourse'f. + + + +DE STOVE PIPE HOLE. + + +Dat's very cole an' stormy night on Village St. Mathieu, +W'en ev'ry wan he's go couche, an' dog was quiet, too-- +Young Dominique is start heem out see Emmeline Gourdon, +Was leevin' on her fader's place, Maxime de Forgeron. + +Poor Dominique he's lak dat girl, an' love her mos' de tam, +An' she was mak' de promise--sure--some day she be his famme, +But she have worse ole fader dat's never on de worl', +Was swear onless he's riche lak diable, no feller's get hees girl. + +He's mak' it plaintee fuss about hees daughter Emmeline, +Dat's mebbe nice girl, too, but den, Mon Dieu, she's not de queen! +An' w'en de young man's come aroun' for spark it on de door, +An' hear de ole man swear "Bapteme!" he's never come no more. + +Young Dominique he's sam' de res',--was scare for ole Maxime, +He don't lak risk hese'f too moche for chances seein' heem, +Dat's only stormy night he come, so dark you cannot see, +An dat's de reason w'y also, he's climb de gallerie. + +De girl she's waitin' dere for heem--don't care about de rain, +So glad for see young Dominique he's comin' back again, +Dey bote forget de ole Maxime, an' mak de embrasser +An affer dey was finish dat, poor Dominique is say-- + +"Good-bye, dear Emmeline, good-bye; I'm goin' very soon, +For you I got no better chance, dan feller on de moon-- +It's all de fault your fader, too, dat I be go away, +He's got no use for me at all--I see dat ev'ry day. + +"He's never meet me on de road but he is say 'Sapre!' +An' if he ketch me on de house I'm scare he's killin' me, +So I mus' lef' ole St. Mathieu, for work on 'noder place, +An' till I mak de beeg for-tune, you never see ma face." + +Den Emmeline say "Dominique, ma love you'll alway be +An' if you kiss me two, t'ree tam I'll not tole noboddy-- +But prenez garde ma fader, please, I know he's gettin ole-- +All sam' he offen walk de house upon de stockin' sole. + +"Good-bye, good-bye, cher Dominique! I know you will be true, +I don't want no riche feller me, ma heart she go wit' you." +Dat's very quick he's kiss her den, before de fader come, +But don't get too moche pleasurement--so 'fraid de ole Bonhomme. + +Wall! jus' about dey're half way t'roo wit all dat love beez-nesse +Emmeline say, "Dominique, w'at for you're scare lak all de res? +Don't see mese'f moche danger now de ole man come aroun'," +W'en minute affer dat, dere's noise, lak' house she's fallin' down. + +Den Emmeline she holler "Fire! will no wan come for me?" +An Dominique is jomp so high, near bus' de gallerie,-- +"Help! help! right off," somebody shout, "I'm killin' on ma place, +It's all de fault ma daughter, too, dat girl she's ma disgrace." + +He's kip it up long tam lak dat, but not hard tellin' now, +W'at's all de noise upon de house--who's kick heem up de row? +It seem Bonhomme was sneak aroun' upon de stockin' sole, +An' firs' t'ing den de ole man walk right t'roo de stove pipe hole. + +W'en Dominique is see heem dere, wit' wan leg hang below, +An' 'noder leg straight out above, he's glad for ketch heem so-- +De ole man can't do not'ing, den, but swear and ax for w'y +Noboddy tak' heem out dat hole before he's comin' die. + +Den Dominique he spik lak dis, "Mon cher M'sieur Gourdon +I'm not riche city feller, me, I'm only habitant, +But I was love more I can tole your daughter Emmeline, +An' if I marry on dat girl, Bagosh! she's lak de Queen. + +"I want you mak de promise now, before it's come too late, +An' I mus' tole you dis also, dere's not moche tam for wait. +Your foot she's hangin' down so low, I'm 'fraid she ketch de cole, +Wall! if you give me Emmeline, I pull you out de hole." + +Dat mak' de ole man swear more hard he never swear before, +An' wit' de foot he's got above, he's kick it on de floor, +"Non, non," he say "Sapre tonnerre! she never marry you, +An' if you don't look out you get de jail on St. Mathieu." + +"Correc'," young Dominique is say, "mebbe de jail's tight place, +But you got wan small corner, too, I see it on de face, +So if you don't lak geev de girl on wan poor habitant, +Dat's be mese'f, I say, Bonsoir, mon cher M'sieur Gourdon." + +"Come back, come back," Maxime is shout--I promise you de girl, +I never see no wan lak you--no never on de worl'! +It's not de nice trick you was play on man dat's gettin' ole, +But do jus' w'at you lak, so long you pull me out de hole." + +"Hooraw! Hooraw!" Den Dominique is pull heem out tout suite +An' Emmeline she's helpin' too for place heem on de feet, +An' affer dat de ole man's tak' de young peep down de stair, +W'ere he is go couche right off, an' dey go on parloir. + +Nex' Sunday morning dey was call by M'sieur le Cure +Get marry soon, an' ole Maxime geev Emmeline away; +Den affer dat dey settle down lak habitant is do, +An' have de mos' fine familee on Village St. Mathieu. + + + +"DE SNOWBIRD." + + +O leetle bird dat's come to us w'en stormy win' she's blowin', +An' ev'ry fiel' an' mountain top is cover wit' de snow, +How far from home you're flyin', noboddy's never knowin' +For spen' wit' us de winter tam, mon cher petit oiseau! + +We alway know you're comin', w'en we hear de firs' beeg storm, +A sweepin' from de sky above, an' screamin' as she go-- +Can tell you're safe inside it, w'ere you're keepin' nice an' warm, +But no wan's never see you dere, mon cher petit oiseau! + +Was it 'way behin' de mountain, dat de nort' win' ketch you sleepin' +Mebbe on your leetle nes' too, an' before de wing she grow, +Lif' you up an' bring you dat way, till some morning fin' you peepin' +Out of new nes' on de snow dreef, mon pauv' petit oiseau! + +All de wood is full on summer, wit' de many bird is sing dere, +Dey mus' offen know each oder, mebbe mak' de frien' also, +But w'en you was come on winter, never seein' wan strange wing dere +Was it mak' you feelin' lonesome, mon pauv' petit oiseau? + +Plaintee bird is alway hidin' on some place no wan can fin' dem, +But ma leetle bird of winter, dat was not de way you go-- +For de chil'ren on de roadside, you don't seem to care for min' dem +W'en dey pass on way to schoolhouse, mon cher petit oiseau! + +No wan say you sing lak robin, but you got no tam for singin' +So busy it was keepin' you get breakfas' on de snow, +But de small note you was geev us, w'en it join de sleigh bell ringin' +Mak' de true Canadian music, mon cher petit oiseau! + +O de long an' lonesome winter, if you're never comin' near us, +If we miss you on de roadside, an' on all de place below! +But le bon Dieu he will sen' you troo de storm again for cheer us, +W'en we mos' was need you here too, mon cher petit oiseau! + + + +THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE. + + +I read on de paper mos' ev'ry day, all about Jubilee +An' grande procession movin' along, an' passin' across de sea, +Dat's chil'ren of Queen Victoriaw comin' from far away +For tole Madame w'at dey t'ink of her, an' wishin' her bonne sante. + +An' if any wan want to know pourquoi les Canayens should be dere +Wit' res' of de worl' for shout "Hooraw" an' t'row hees cap on de air, +Purty quick I will tole heem de reason, w'y we feel lak de oder do, +For if I'm only poor habitant, I'm not on de sapre fou. + +Of course w'en we t'ink it de firs' go off, I know very strange it seem +For fader of us dey was offen die for flag of L'Ancien Regime, +From day w'en de voyageurs come out all de way from ole St. Malo, +Flyin' dat flag from de mas' above, an' long affer dat also. + +De English fight wit' de Frenchman den over de whole contree, +Down by de reever, off on de wood, an' out on de beeg, beeg sea, +Killin', an' shootin', an' raisin' row, half tam dey don't know w'at for, +W'en it's jus' as easy get settle down, not makin' de crazy war. + +Sometam' dey be quiet for leetle w'ile, you t'ink dey don't fight no more, +An' den w'en dey're feelin' all right agen, Bang! jus' lak' she was before. +Very offen we're beatin' dem on de fight, sometam' dey can beat us, too, +But no feller's scare on de 'noder man, an' bote got enough to do. + +An' all de long year she be go lak' dat, we never was know de peace, +Not'ing but war from de wes' contree down to de St. Maurice; +Till de las' fight's comin' on Canadaw, an' brave Generale Montcalm +Die lak' a sojer of France is die, on Battle of Abraham. + +Dat's finish it all, an' de English King is axin' us stayin' dere +W'ere we have sam' right as de 'noder peep comin' from Angleterre. +Long tam' for our moder so far away de poor Canayens is cry, +But de new step-moder she's good an' kin', an' it's all right bimeby. + +If de moder come dead w'en you're small garcon leavin' you dere alone, +Wit' nobody watchin' for fear you fall, an hurt youse'f on de stone, +An' 'noder good woman she tak' your han' de sam' your own moder do, +Is it right you don't call her moder, is it right you don't love her too? + +Ba non, an' dat was de way we feel, w'en de ole Regime's no more, +An' de new wan come, but don't change moche, w'y it's jus' lak' it be before. +Spikin' Francais lak' we alway do, an' de English dey mak no fuss, +An' our law de sam', wall, I don't know me, 'twas better mebbe for us. + +So de sam' as two broder we settle down, leevin' dere han' in han', +Knowin' each oder, we lak' each oder, de French an' de Englishman, +For it's curi's t'ing on dis worl', I'm sure you see it agen an' agen, +Dat offen de mos' worse ennemi, he's comin' de bes', bes' frien'. + +So we're kipin' so quiet long affer dat, w'en las' of de fightin's done, +Dat plaintee is say, de new Canayens forget how to shoot de gun; +But Yankee man's smart, all de worl' know dat, so he's firs' fin' mistak' + wan day +W'en he's try cross de line, fusil on hee's han', near place dey call + Chateaugay. + +Of course it's bad t'ing for poor Yankee man, De Salaberry be dere +Wit' habitant farmer from down below, an' two honder Voltigeurs, +Dem feller come off de State, I s'pose, was fightin' so hard dey can +But de blue coat sojer he don't get kill, is de locky Yankee man! + +Since den w'en dey're comin on Canadaw, we alway be treat dem well, +For dey're spennin' de monee lak' gentil-hommes, an' stay on de bes' hotel, +Den "Bienvenu," we will spik dem, an' "Come back agen nex' week, +So long you was kip on de quiet an' don't talk de politique!" + +Yass, dat is de way Victoriaw fin' us dis jubilee, +Sometam' we mak' fuss about not'ing, but it's all on de familee, +An' w'enever dere's danger roun' her, no matter on sea or lan', +She'll find that les Canayens can fight de sam' as bes' Englishman. + +An' onder de flag of Angleterre, so long as dat flag was fly-- +Wit' deir English broder, les Canayens is satisfy leev an' die. +Dat's de message our fader geev us w'en dey're fallin' on Chateaugay, +An' de flag was kipin' dem safe den, dat's de wan we will kip alway! + + + +OLE DOCTEUR FISET. + + +Ole Docteur Fiset of Saint Anicet, + Sapre tonnerre! he was leev long tam! +I'm sure he's got ninety year or so, +Beat all on de Parish 'cept Pierre Courteau, + An' day affer day he work all de sam'. + +Dat house on de hill, you can see it still, + She's sam' place he buil' de firs' tam' he come +Behin' it dere's one leetle small jardin +Got plaintee de bes' tabac Canayen + Wit' fameuse apple an' beeg blue plum. + +An' dey're all right dere, for de small boy's scare + No matter de apple look nice an' red, +For de small boy know if he's stealin' some +Den Docteur Fiset on dark night he come, + An' cut leetle feller right off hees head! + +But w'en dey was rap, an' tak' off de cap, + M'sieu' le Docteur he will say "Entrez," +Den all de boy pass on jardin behin' +W'ere dey eat mos' ev'ryt'ing good dey fin', + Till dey can't go on school nearly two, t'ree day. + +But Docteur Fiset, not moche fonne he get, + Drivin' all over de whole contree, +If de road she's bad, if de road she's good, +W'en ev'ryt'ing's drown on de Spring-tam flood, + An' workin' for not'ing half tam' mebbe! + +Let her rain or snow, all he want to know + Is jus' if anywan's feelin' sick, +For Docteur Fiset's de ole fashion kin' +Doin' good was de only t'ing on hees min' + So he got no use for de politique. + +An' he's careful too, 'cos firs' t'ing he do, + For fear dere was danger some fever case, +Is tak' w'en he's come leetle w'isky chaud, +Den 'noder wan too jus' before he go, + He's so scare carry fever aroun' de place! + +On nice summer day w'en we're makin' hay + Dere's not'ing more pleasant for us I'm sure +Dan see de ole man come joggin' along, +Alway singin' some leetle song, + An' hear heem say "Tiens, mes amis, Bonjour!" + +An' w'en de cole rain was commence again + An' we're sittin' at home on some warm cornerre, +If we hear de buggy an' see de light +Tearin' along t'roo de black, black night, + We know right off dat's de ole Docteur! + +An' he's smart horse sure, w'at he call "Faubourg," + Ev'ry place on de Parish he know dem all, +An' you ought to see de nice way he go +For fear he's upsettin' upon de snow, + W'en ole man's asleep on de cariole! + +I 'member w'en poor Hormisdas Couture + Get sick on hees place twenty mile away +An' hees boy Ovide he was come "Raquette" +W'at you call "Snowshoe," for Docteur Fiset, + An' Docteur he start wit' hees horse an' sleigh. + +All de night before, de beeg storm she roar, + An' mos' of de day it's de sam' also, +De drif' was pilin' up ten feet high +You can't see not'ing dis side de sky, + Not'ing but wan avalanche of snow. + +I'm hearin' de bell w'en I go on de well + For water de cattle on barn close by, +But I only ketch sight of hees cheval blanc +An' hees coonskin coat wit' de capuchon + An' de storm tak' heem off, jus' de sam' he fly. + +Mus' be le Bon Dieu dat is help him t'roo, + Ole Docteur Fiset an' hees horse "Faubourg," +'Twas somet'ing for splain-me, wall I don't care, +But somehow or 'noder he's gettin' dere, + An' save de life Hormisdas Couture. + +But it's sam' alway, lak' dat ev'ry day, + He never was spare hese'f pour nous autres, +He don't mak' moche monee, Docteur Fiset, +An' offen de only t'ing he was get + Is de prayer of poor man, an' wan bag of oat. + + * * * * * + +Wall! Docteur Fiset of Saint Anicet + He is not dead yet! an' I'm purty sure +If you're passin' dat place about ten year more +You will see heem go roun' lak' he go before + Wit' de ole cariole an' hees horse "Faubourg!" + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Habitant and Other French-Canadian +Poems, by William Henry Drummond + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HABITANT AND OTHERS *** + +This file should be named 7hbtn10.txt or 7hbtn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7hbtn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7hbtn10a.txt + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, +Andrew Sly and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Habitant and Other French-Canadian Poems + +Author: William Henry Drummond + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9801] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on October 18, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: French and English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HABITANT AND OTHERS *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, +Andrew Sly and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE HABITANT AND OTHER FRENCH-CANADIAN POEMS + +By William Henry Drummond, M.D. + + +WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY + +Louis Frechette + +AND WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY + +Frederick Simpson Coburn + + + +TO MY DEAR FRIEND AND FORMER TEACHER + +GEORGE MURRAY, ESQ., B.A., A.K.C., F.R.S.C. + +THESE VERSES ARE DEDICATED WITH SINCERE +ADMIRATION AND RESPECT + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +On me demande, pour ce charmant volume, un mot de préface en français; +le voici: + +Quand, en 1863, je publiai mon premier recueil de poésies--écrites au +collège, pour la plupart,--le grand poète américain Longfellow eut la +flatteuse bienveillance de m'appeler _The pathfinder of a new land of +song_. + +Avec mille fois plus de raison puis-je aujourd'hui passer le compliment +à mon sympathique confrère et ami, l'auteur de ce livre; car, si jamais +quelqu'un, chez nous, a mérité le titre de _pathfinder of a new land of +song_, c'est assurément lui. + +Non seulement il a découvert le champ, la clairière, la vallée fertile +et encore inexplorée; il en a fait l'exploitation à sa manière, avec +des outils et des moyens de son invention; et, fier de sa conquête, +il laisse, de son épaule robuste, tomber à nos pieds le fruit de son +travail, la gerbe plantureuse aux ors vierges, à l'arôme sauvage, +aux savoureuses promesses, toute fraîche et toute crissante dans sa +rusticité saine. + +N'est-elle pas, en effet, d'une originalité peu commune, l'idée de +prendre un pauvre illettré, de le présenter comme un type national à +part, de lui mettre aux lèvres une langue qui n'est pas la sienne et +qu'il ne connaît qu' à demi; d'en faire en même temps un personnage +bon, doux, aimable, honnête, intelligent et droit, l'esprit en éveil, le +coeur plein d'une poésie native stimulant son patriotisme, jetant un +rayon lumineux dans son modeste intérieur, berçant ses heures rêveuses +de souvenirs lointains et mélancoliques? + +Et cela sans que jamais, dans ce portrait d'un nouveau genre, le plus +subtil des critiques puisse surprendre nulle part le coup de crayon +de la caricature! + +Dans ses inimitables contes villageois, George Sand a peint les +paysans du Berry sous des dehors très intéressants. Elle nous les +montre même d'un sentiment très affiné dans leur simplicité naïve +et leur cordiale bonhomie. En somme, elle en fait des natures, des +tempéraments, quelque chose de typique, en même temps qu' harmonieux +de teinte et de forme. + +Mais George Sand faisait parler ses personnages dans la langue du +pays, dans la langue de la chaumière, dans leur propre dialecte, +enfin. Elle n'avait, pour ainsi dire, qu' à faire pénétrer le +souffle de son talent sous le réseau de la phrase, pour animer +celle-ci d'un reflet de lyrisme ou d'une vibration attendrie. + +La tâche abordée par M. Drummond présentait un caractère beaucoup +plus difficile. + +Ici, le poète avait bien, il est vrai, le milieu à saisir, placé, +droit en face de son objectif. Il était assez familier avec ses +acteurs pour les grouper avantageusement, en ménageant les effets +d'ombres et de lumière. Il est naturellement assez artiste pour ne +rien négliger de ce qui ajoute du pittoresque à la pose; surtout, il +connaissait à fond le type à reproduire, ses moeurs, ses passions, +ses sentiments, ses penchants, ses superstitions et ses faiblesses. + +Mais comment, sans tomber dans la charge ou la bouffonnerie, faire +parler systématiquement à ses personnages une langue étrangère, +forcément incorrecte dans la bouche de quelqu'un qui l'a apprise +par oreille, sans savoir lire même dans sa propre langue? + +La tentative était hardie; mais on sait que le succès a un faible +pour les audacieux. + +Dans son étude des Canadiens-français, M. Drummond a trouvé le moyen +d'éviter un écueil qui aurait semblé inévitable pour tout autre +que pour lui. Il est resté vrai, sans tomber dans la vulgarité, et +piquant sans verser dans le grotesque. + +Qu'il mette en scène le gros fermier fier de son bien ou de ses +filles à marier, le vieux médecin de campagne ne comptant plus ses +états de service, le jeune amoureux qui rêve au clair de la lune, +le vieillard qui repasse en sa mémoire la longue suite des jours +révolus, le conteur de légendes, l'aventurier des "pays d'en haut," +et même le Canadien exilé--le _Canadien errant_, comme dit la +chanson populaire--qui croit toujours entendre résonner à son +oreille le vague tintement des cloches de son village; que le récit +soit plaisant ou pathétique, jamais la note ne sonne faux, jamais +la bizarrerie ne dégénère en puérilité burlesque. + +C'est là un tour de force comme il ne s'en fait pas souvent, et +c'est avec enthousiasme que je tends la main à M. Drummond pour +le féliciter de l'avoir accompli. + +Il a véritablement fait là oeuvre de poète et d'artiste. + +J'ajouterai qu'il a fait aussi oeuvre de bon citoyen. Car le +jour sous lequel il présente mes compatriotes illettrés ne peut +manquer de valoir à ceux-ci--et partant à tout le reste de la +nationalité--un accroissement désirable dans l'estime de nos +compatriotes de langue anglaise, qui n'ont pas été à même de +les étudier d'aussi près que M. Drummond. + +La peinture qu'en fait le poète est on ne peut plus sympathique et +juste; et de semblables procédés ne peuvent que cimenter l'union +de coeur et d'esprit qui doit exister entre toutes les fractions +qui composent la grande famille canadienne appelée à vivre et à +prospérer sous la même loi et le même drapeau. + +En lisant les vers de M. Drummond, le Canadien-français sent que +c'est là l'expression d'une âme amie; et, à ce compte, je dois +à l'auteur plus que mes bravos, je lui dois en même temps un +chaleureux merci. + +LOUIS FRÉCHETTE. + +MONTRÉAL, 13 octobre 1897. + + + + +PREFACE + + +In presenting to the public "The Habitant and other French-Canadian +Poems," I feel that my friends who are already, more or less, +familiar with the work, understand that I have not written the +verses as examples of a dialect, or with any thought of ridicule. + +Having lived, practically, all my life, side by side with the +French-Canadian people, I have grown to admire and love them, and +I have felt that while many of the English-speaking public know +perhaps as well as myself the French-Canadian of the cities, yet +they have had little opportunity of becoming acquainted with the +habitant, therefore I have endeavored to paint a few types, and in +doing this, it has seemed to me that I could best attain the object +in view by having my friends tell their own tales in their own way, +as they would relate them to English-speaking auditors not +conversant with the French tongue. + +My good friend, Dr. Louis Frechette, Poet Laureate, has as a +French-Canadian, kindly written an "Introductory" in his own +graceful language, and I have to thank him above all for his +recognition of the spirit which has actuated me in writing +"dialect" verse. + +To Mr. F. S. Coburn, the artist, also, I am deeply indebted for +the faithful manner in which he has interpreted the different +characters and scenes contained in this volume. All the pictures +have been sketched from nature or life, and the keenest critic will +agree with me, that Mr. Coburn's illustrations are most typical, +both of the people and the soil. + +WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND. + + + +CONTENTS. + + + DE HABITANT + THE WRECK OF THE "JULIE PLANTE" + LE VIEUX TEMPS + DE PAPINEAU GUN + HOW BATEESE CAME HOME + DE NICE LEETLE CANADIENNE + 'POLEON DORÉ + DE NOTAIRE PUBLIQUE + MAXIME LABELLE + MEMORIES + PHIL-O-RUM JUNEAU + DE BELL OF ST. MICHEL + PELANG + MON CHOUAL "CASTOR" + OLE TAM ON BORD-A PLOUFFE + THE GRAND SEIGNEUR + M'SIEU SMIT' + WHEN ALBANI SANG + DE CAMP ON DE "CHEVAL GRIS" + DE STOVE PIPE HOLE + DE SNOWBIRD + THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE + OLE DOCTEUR FISET + + + +DE HABITANT. + + +De place I get born, me, is up on de reever + Near foot of de rapide dat's call Cheval Blanc +Beeg mountain behin' it, so high you can't climb it + An' whole place she's mebbe two honder arpent. + +De fader of me, he was habitant farmer, + Ma gran' fader too, an' hees fader also, +Dey don't mak' no monee, but dat isn't fonny + For it's not easy get ev'ryt'ing, you mus' know-- + +All de sam' dere is somet'ing dey got ev'ryboddy, + Dat's plaintee good healt', wat de monee can't geev, +So I'm workin' away dere, an' happy for stay dere + On farm by de reever, so long I was leev. + +O! dat was de place w'en de spring tam she's comin', + W'en snow go away, an' de sky is all blue-- +W'en ice lef' de water, an' sun is get hotter + An' back on de medder is sing de gou-glou-- + +W'en small sheep is firs' comin' out on de pasture, + Deir nice leetle tail stickin' up on deir back, +Dey ronne wit' deir moder, an' play wit' each oder + An' jomp all de tam jus' de sam' dey was crack-- + +An' ole cow also, she's glad winter is over, + So she kick herse'f up, an' start off on de race +Wit' de two-year-ole heifer, dat's purty soon lef' her, + W'y ev'ryt'ing's crazee all over de place! + +An' down on de reever de wil' duck is quackin' + Along by de shore leetle san'piper ronne-- +De bullfrog he's gr-rompin' an' doré is jompin' + Dey all got deir own way for mak' it de fonne. + +But spring's in beeg hurry, an' don't stay long wit' us + An' firs' t'ing we know, she go off till nex' year, +Den bee commence hummin', for summer is comin' + An' purty soon corn's gettin' ripe on de ear. + +Dat's very nice tam for wake up on de morning + An' lissen de rossignol sing ev'ry place, +Feel sout' win' a-blowin' see clover a-growin' + An' all de worl' laughin' itself on de face. + +Mos' ev'ry day raf' it is pass on de rapide + De voyageurs singin' some ole chanson +'Bout girl down de reever--too bad dey mus' leave her, +But comin' back soon' wit' beaucoup d'argent. + +An' den w'en de fall an' de winter come roun' us + An' bird of de summer is all fly away, +W'en mebbe she's snowin' an' nort' win' is blowin' + An' night is mos' t'ree tam so long as de day. + +You t'ink it was bodder de habitant farmer? + Not at all--he is happy an' feel satisfy, +An' cole may las' good w'ile, so long as de wood-pile + Is ready for burn on de stove by an' bye. + +W'en I got plaintee hay put away on de stable + So de sheep an' de cow, dey got no chance to freeze, +An' de hen all togedder--I don't min' de wedder-- + De nort' win' may blow jus' so moche as she please. + +An' some cole winter night how I wish you can see us, + W'en I smoke on de pipe, an' de ole woman sew +By de stove of T'ree Reever--ma wife's fader geev her + On day we get marry, dat's long tam ago-- + +De boy an' de girl, dey was readin' it's lesson, + De cat on de corner she's bite heem de pup, +Ole "Carleau" he's snorin' an' beeg stove is roarin' + So loud dat I'm scare purty soon she bus' up. + +Philomene--dat's de oldes'--is sit on de winder + An' kip jus' so quiet lak wan leetle mouse, +She say de more finer moon never was shiner-- + Very fonny, for moon isn't dat side de house. + +But purty soon den, we hear foot on de outside, + An' some wan is place it hees han' on de latch, +Dat's Isidore Goulay, las' fall on de Brulé + He's tak' it firs' prize on de grand ploughin' match. + +Ha! ha! Philomene!--dat was smart trick you play us + Come help de young feller tak' snow from hees neck, +Dere's not'ing for hinder you come off de winder + W'en moon you was look for is come, I expec'-- + +Isidore, he is tole us de news on de parish + 'Bout hees Lajeunesse Colt--travel two forty, sure, +'Bout Jeremie Choquette, come back from Woonsocket + An' t'ree new leetle twin on Madame Vaillancour'. + +But nine o'clock strike, an' de chil'ren is sleepy, + Mese'f an' ole woman can't stay up no more +So alone by de fire--'cos dey say dey ain't tire-- + We lef' Philomene an' de young Isidore. + +I s'pose dey be talkin' beeg lot on de kitchen + 'Bout all de nice moon dey was see on de sky, +For Philomene's takin' long tam get awaken + Nex' day, she's so sleepy on bote of de eye. + +Dat's wan of dem ting's, ev'ry tam on de fashion, + An' 'bout nices' t'ing dat was never be seen. +Got not'ing for say me--I spark it sam' way me + W'en I go see de moder ma girl Philomene. + +We leev very quiet 'way back on de contree + Don't put on sam style lak de big village, +W'en we don't get de monee you t'ink dat is fonny + An' mak' plaintee sport on de Bottes Sauvages. + +But I tole you--dat's true--I don't go on de city + If you geev de fine house an' beaucoup d'argent-- +I rader be stay me, an' spen' de las' day me + On farm by de rapide dat's call Cheval Blanc. + + + +THE WRECK OF THE "JULIE PLANTE." + +A LEGEND OF LAC-ST. PIERRE. + + +On wan dark night on Lac St. Pierre, + De win' she blow, blow, blow, +An' de crew of de wood scow "Julie Plante" + Got scar't an' run below-- +For de win' she blow lak hurricane + Bimeby she blow some more, +An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre + Wan arpent from de shore. + +De captinne walk on de fronte deck, + An' walk de hin' deck too-- +He call de crew from up de hole + He call de cook also. +De cook she's name was Rosie, + She come from Montreal, +Was chambre maid on lumber barge, + On de Grande Lachine Canal. + +De win' she blow from nor'-eas'-wes,'-- + De sout' win' she blow too, +W'en Rosie cry "Mon cher captinne, + Mon cher, w'at I shall do?" +Den de Captinne t'row de big ankerre, + But still the scow she dreef, +De crew he can't pass on de shore, + Becos' he los' hees skeef. + +De night was dark lak' wan black cat, + De wave run high an' fas', +W'en de captinne tak' de Rosie girl + An' tie her to de mas'. +Den he also tak' de life preserve, + An' jomp off on de lak', +An' say, "Good-bye, ma Rosie dear, + I go drown for your sak'." + +Nex' morning very early + 'Bout ha'f-pas' two--t'ree--four-- +De captinne--scow--an' de poor Rosie + Was corpses on de shore, +For de win' she blow lak' hurricane + Bimeby she blow some more, +An' de scow bus' up on Lac St. Pierre, + Wan arpent from de shore. + +MORAL. + +Now all good wood scow sailor man + Tak' warning by dat storm +An' go an' marry some nice French girl + An' leev on wan beeg farm. +De win' can blow lak' hurricane + An' s'pose she blow some more, +You can't get drown on Lac St. Pierre + So long you stay on shore. + + + +LE VIEUX TEMPS. + + +Venez ici, mon cher ami, an' sit down by me--so +An' I will tole you story of old tam long ago-- +W'en ev'ryt'ing is happy--w'en all de bird is sing +An' me!--I'm young an' strong lak moose an' not afraid no t'ing. + +I close my eye jus' so, an' see de place w'ere I am born-- +I close my ear an' lissen to musique of de horn, +Dat's horn ma dear ole moder blow--an only t'ing she play +Is "viens donc vite Napoléon--'peche toi pour votre souper."-- + +An' w'en he's hear dat nice musique--ma leetle dog "Carleau" +Is place hees tail upon hees back--an' den he's let heem go-- +He's jomp on fence--he's swimmin' crik--he's ronne two forty gait, +He say "dat's somet'ing good for eat--Carleau mus' not be late." + +O dem was pleasure day for sure, dem day of long ago +W'en I was play wit' all de boy, an' all de girl also; +An' many tam w'en I'm alone an' t'ink of day gone by +An' pull latire an' spark de girl, I cry upon my eye. + +Ma fader an' ma moder too, got nice, nice familee, +Dat's ten garçon an' t'orteen girl, was mak' it twenty t'ree +But fonny t'ing de Gouvernement don't geev de firs' prize den +Lak w'at dey say dey geev it now, for only wan douzaine. + +De English peep dat only got wan familee small size +Mus' be feel glad dat tam dere is no honder acre prize +For fader of twelve chil'ren--dey know dat mus' be so, +De Canayens would boss Kebeck--mebbe Ontario. + +But dat is not de story dat I was gone tole you +About de fun we use to have w'en we leev a chez nous +We're never lonesome on dat house, for many cavalier +Come at our place mos' every night--especially Sun-day. + +But tam I'member bes' is w'en I'm twenty wan year--me-- +An' so for mak' some pleasurement--we geev wan large soirée +De whole paroisse she be invite--de Curé he's come too-- +Wit plaintee peep from 'noder place--dat's more I can tole you. + +De night she's cole an' freeze also, chemin she's fill wit snow +An' on de chimley lak phantome, de win' is mak' it blow-- +But boy an' girl come all de sam an' pass on grande parloir +For warm itself on beeg box stove, was mak' on Trois Rivières-- + +An' w'en Bonhomme Latour commence for tune up hees fidelle +It mak' us all feel very glad--l'enfant! he play so well, +Musique suppose to be firs' class, I offen hear, for sure +But mos' bes' man, beat all de res', is ole Bateese Latour-- + +An' w'en Bateese play Irish jeeg, he's learn on Mattawa +Dat tam he's head boss cook Shaintee--den leetle Joe Leblanc +Tak' hole de beeg Marie Juneau an' dance upon de floor +Till Marie say "Excuse to me, I cannot dance no more."-- + +An' den de Curé's mak' de speech--ole Curé Ladouceur! +He say de girl was spark de boy too much on some cornerre-- +An' so he's tole Bateese play up ole fashion reel a quatre +An' every body she mus' dance, dey can't get off on dat. + +Away she go--hooraw! hooraw! plus fort Bateese, mon vieux +Camille Bisson, please watch your girl--dat's bes' t'ing you can do. +Pass on de right an' tak' your place Mamzelle Des Trois Maisons +You're s'pose for dance on Paul Laberge, not Telesphore Gagnon. + +Mon oncle Al-fred, he spik lak' dat--'cos he is boss de floor, +An' so we do our possibill an' den commence encore. +Dem crowd of boy an' girl I'm sure keep up until nex' day +If ole Bateese don't stop heseff, he come so fatigué. + +An' affer dat, we eat some t'ing, tak' leetle drink also +An' de Curé, he's tole story of many year ago-- +W'en Iroquois sauvage she's keel de Canayens an' steal deir hair, +An' say dat's only for Bon Dieu, we don't be here--he don't be dere. + +But dat was mak' de girl feel scare--so all de cavalier +Was ax hees girl go home right off, an' place her on de sleigh, +An' w'en dey start, de Curé say, "Bonsoir et bon voyage +Menagez-vous--tak' care for you--prenez-garde pour les sauvages." + +An' den I go meseff also, an' tak' ma belle Elmire-- +She's nicer girl on whole Comté, an' jus' got eighteen year-- +Black hair--black eye, an' chick rosée dat's lak wan fameuse on de fall +But don't spik much--not of dat kin', I can't say she love me at all. + +Ma girl--she's fader beeg farmeur--leev 'noder side St. Flore +Got five-six honder acre--mebbe a leetle more-- +Nice sugar bush--une belle maison--de bes' I never see-- +So w'en I go for spark Elmire, I don't be mak' de foolish me-- + +Elmire!--she's pass t'ree year on school--Ste. Anne de la Perade +An' w'en she's tak' de firs' class prize, dat's mak' de ole man glad; +He say "Ba gosh--ma girl can wash--can keep de kitchen clean +Den change her dress--mak' politesse before God save de Queen." + +Dey's many way for spark de girl, an' you know dat of course, +Some way dey might be better way, an' some dey might be worse +But I lak' sit some cole night wit' my girl on ole burleau +Wit' lot of hay keep our foot warm--an' plaintee buffalo-- + +Dat's geev good chances get acquaint--an' if burleau upset +An' t'row you out upon de snow--dat's better chances yet-- +An' if you help de girl go home, if horse he ronne away +De girl she's not much use at all--don't geev you nice baiser! + +Dat's very well for fun ma frien', but w'en you spark for keep +She's not sam t'ing an' mak' you feel so scare lak' leetle sheep +Some tam you get de fever--some tam you're lak snowball +An' all de tam you ack lak' fou--can't spik no t'ing at all. + +Wall! dat's de way I feel meseff, wit Elmire on burleau, +Jus' lak' small dog try ketch hees tail--roun' roun' ma head she go +But bimeby I come more brave--an' tak' Elmire she's han' +"Laisse-moi tranquille" Elmire she say "You mus' be crazy man." + +"Yass--yass," I say, "mebbe you t'ink I'm wan beeg loup garou, +Dat's forty t'ousand 'noder girl, I lef' dem all for you, +I s'pose you know Polique Gauthier your frien'on St. Cesaire +I ax her marry me nex' wick--she tak' me--I don't care." + +Ba gosh; Elmire she don't lak dat--it mak' her feel so mad-- +She commence cry, say "'Poleon you treat me very bad-- +I don't lak see you t'row you'seff upon Polique Gauthier, +So if you say you love me sure--we mak' de mariée."-- + +Oh it was fine tam affer dat--Castor I t'ink he know, +We're not too busy for get home--he go so nice an' slow, +He's only upset t'ree--four tam--an' jus' about daylight +We pass upon de ole man's place--an' every t'ing's all right. + +Wall! we leev happy on de farm for nearly fifty year, +Till wan day on de summer tam--she die--ma belle Elmire +I feel so lonesome lef' behin'--I tink 'twas bes' mebbe-- +Dat w'en le Bon Dieu tak' ma famme--he should not forget me. + +But dat is hees biz-nesse ma frien'--I know dat's all right dere +I'll wait till he call "'Poleon" den I will be prepare-- +An' w'en he fin' me ready, for mak' de longue voyage +He guide me t'roo de wood hesef upon ma las' portage. + + + +"DE PAPINEAU GUN." + +AN INCIDENT OF THE CANADIAN REBELLION OF 1837. + + +Bon jour, M'sieu'--you want to know + 'Bout dat ole gun--w'at good she's for? +W'y! Jean Bateese Bruneau--mon pere, + Fight wit' dat gun on Pap'neau War! + +Long tam since den you say--C'est vrai, + An' me too young for 'member well, +But how de patriot fight an' die, + I offen hear de ole folk tell. + +De English don't ack square dat tam, + Don't geev de habitants no show, +So 'long come Wolfred Nelson + Wit' Louis Joseph Papineau. + +An' swear de peep mus' have deir right. + Wolfred he's write Victoriaw, +But she's no good, so den de war + Commence among de habitants. + +Mon pere he leev to Grande Brulé + So smarter man you never see, +Was alway on de grande hooraw! + Plaintee w'at you call "Esprit!" + +An' w'en dey form wan compagnie + All dress wit' tuque an' ceinture sash +Ma fader tak' hees gun wit' heem + An' marche away to Saint Eustache, + +W'ere many patriots was camp + Wit' brave Chenier, deir Capitaine, +W'en 'long come English Generale, + An' more two t'ousan' sojer man. + +De patriot dey go on church + An' feex her up deir possibill; +Dey fight deir bes', but soon fin' out + "Canon de bois" no good for kill. + +An' den de church she come on fire, + An' burn almos' down to de groun', +So w'at you t'ink our man can do + Wit' all dem English armee roun'? + +'Poleon, hees sojer never fight + More brave as dem poor habitants, +Chenier, he try for broke de rank + Chenier come dead immediatement. + +He fall near w'ere de cross is stan' + Upon de ole church cimitiere, +Wit' Jean Poulin an' Laframboise + An' plaintee more young feller dere. + +De gun dey rattle lak' tonnere + Jus' bang, bang, bang! dat's way she go, +An' wan by wan de brave man's fall + An' red blood's cover all de snow. + +Ma fader shoot so long he can + An' den he's load hees gun some more, +Jomp on de ice behin' de church + An' pass heem on de 'noder shore. + +Wall! he reach home fore very long + An' keep perdu for many day, +Till ev'ry t'ing she come tranquille, + An' sojer man all gone away. + +An' affer dat we get our right, + De Canayens don't fight no more, +Ma fader's never shoot dat gun, + But place her up above de door. + +An' Papineau, an' Nelson too + Dey're gone long tam, but we are free, +Le Bon Dieu have 'em 'way up dere. + Salut, Wolfred! Salut, Louis! + + + +HOW BATEESE CAME HOME. + + +W'en I was young boy on de farm, dat's twenty year ago +I have wan frien' he's leev near me, call Jean Bateese Trudeau +An offen w'en we are alone, we lak for spik about +De tam w'en we was come beeg man, wit' moustache on our mout'. + +Bateese is get it on hees head, he's too moche educate +For mak' de habitant farmerre--he better go on State-- +An' so wan summer evening we're drivin' home de cow +He's tole me all de whole beez-nesse--jus' lak you hear me now. + +"W'at's use mak' foolish on de farm? dere's no good chances lef' +An' all de tam you be poor man--you know dat's true you'se'f; +We never get no fun at all--don't never go on spree +Onless we pass on 'noder place, an' mak' it some monee. + +"I go on Les Etats Unis, I go dere right away +An' den mebbe on ten-twelve year, I be riche man some day, +An' w'en I mak' de large fortune, I come back I s'pose +Wit' Yankee famme from off de State, an' monee on my clothes. + +"I tole you somet'ing else also--mon cher Napoleon +I get de grande majorité, for go on parliament +Den buil' fine house on borde l'eau--near w'ere de church is stand +More finer dan de Presbytere, w'en I am come riche man!" + +I say "For w'at you spik lak dat? you must be gone crazee +Dere's plaintee feller on de State, more smarter dan you be, +Beside she's not so healtee place, an' if you mak' l'argent, +You spen' it jus' lak Yankee man, an' not lak habitant. + +"For me Bateese! I tole you dis: I'm very satisfy-- +De bes' man don't leev too long tam, some day Ba Gosh! he die-- +An' s'pose you got good trotter horse, an' nice famme Canadienne +Wit' plaintee on de house for eat--W'at more you want ma frien'?" + +But Bateese have it all mak' up, I can't stop him at all +He's buy de seconde classe tiquette, for go on Central Fall-- +An' wit' two-t'ree some more de boy,--w'at t'ink de sam' he do +Pass on de train de very nex' wick, was lef' Rivière du Loup. + + * * * * * + +Wall! mebbe fifteen year or more, since Bateese go away +I fin' mesef Rivière du Loup, wan cole, cole winter day +De quick express she come hooraw! but stop de soon she can +An' beeg swell feller jomp off car, dat's boss by nigger man. + +He's dressim on de première classe, an' got new suit of clothes +Wit' long moustache dat's stickim out, de 'noder side hees nose +Fine gol' watch chain--nice portmanteau--an' long, long overcoat +Wit' beaver hat--dat's Yankee style--an' red tie on hees t'roat-- + +I say "Hello Bateese! Hello! Comment ça va mon vieux?" +He say "Excuse to me, ma frien' I t'ink I don't know you." +I say, "She's very curis t'ing, you are Bateese Trudeau, +Was raise on jus' sam' place wit' me, dat's fifteen year ago?" + +He say, "Oh yass dat's sure enough--I know you now firs' rate, +But I forget mos' all ma French since I go on de State. +Dere's 'noder t'ing kip on your head, ma frien' dey mus' be tole +Ma name's Bateese Trudeau no more, but John B. Waterhole!" + +"Hole on de water's" fonny name for man w'at's call Trudeau +Ma frien's dey all was spik lak dat, an' I am tole heem so-- +He say "Trudeau an' Waterhole she's jus' about de sam' +An' if you go for leev on State, you must have Yankee nam'." + +Den we invite heem come wit' us, "Hotel du Canadaw" +W'ere he was treat mos' ev'ry tam, but can't tak' w'isky blanc, +He say dat's leetle strong for man jus' come off Central Fall +An' "tabac Canayen" bedamme! he won't smoke dat at all!-- + +But fancy drink lak "Collings John" de way he put it down +Was long tam since I don't see dat--I t'ink he's goin' drown!-- +An' fine cigar cos' five cent each, an' mak' on Trois-Rivières +L'enfant! he smoke beeg pile of dem--for monee he don't care!-- + +I s'pose meseff it's t'ree o'clock w'en we are t'roo dat night +Bateese, hees fader come for heem, an' tak' heem home all right +De ole man say Bateese spik French, w'en he is place on bed-- +An' say bad word--but w'en he wake--forget it on hees head-- + +Wall! all de winter w'en we have soirée dat's grande affaire +Bateese Trudeau, dit Waterhole, he be de boss man dere-- +You bet he have beeg tam, but w'en de spring is come encore +He's buy de première classe tiquette for go on State some more. + + * * * * * + +You 'member w'en de hard tam come on Les Etats Unis +An' plaintee Canayens go back for stay deir own contrée? +Wall! jus' about 'dat tam again I go Rivière du Loup +For sole me two t'ree load of hay--mak' leetle visit too-- + +De freight train she is jus' arrive--only ten hour delay-- +She's never carry passengaire--dat's w'at dey always say-- +I see poor man on char caboose--he's got heem small valise +Begosh! I nearly tak' de fit,--It is--it is Bateese! + +He know me very well dis tam, an' say "Bon jour, mon vieux +I hope you know Bateese Trudeau was educate wit' you +I'm jus' come off de State to see ma familee encore +I bus' mesef on Central Fall--I don't go dere no more." + +"I got no monee--not at all--I'm broke it up for sure-- +Dat's locky t'ing, Napoleon, de brakeman Joe Latour +He's cousin of wan frien' of me call Camille Valiquette, +Conductor too's good Canayen--don't ax me no tiquette." + +I tak' Bateese wit' me once more "Hotel du Canadaw" +An' he was glad for get de chance drink some good w'isky blanc! +Dat's warm heem up, an den he eat mos' ev'ryt'ing he see, +I watch de w'ole beez-nesse mese'f--Monjee! he was hongree! + +Madame Charette wat's kip de place get very much excite +For see de many pork an' bean Bateese put out of sight +Du pain doré--potate pie--an' 'noder t'ing be dere +But w'en Bateese is get heem t'roo--dey go I don't know w'ere. + +It don't tak' long for tole de news "Bateese come off de State" +An' purty soon we have beeg crowd, lak village she's en fête +Bonhomme Maxime Trudeau hese'f, he's comin' wit' de pries' +An' pass' heem on de "Room for eat" w'ere he is see Bateese. + +Den ev'rybody feel it glad, for watch de embrasser +An' bimeby de ole man spik "Bateese you here for stay?" +Bateese he's cry lak beeg bebè, "Bâ j'eux rester ici. +An if I never see de State, I'm sure I don't care--me." + +"Correc'," Maxime is say right off, "I place you on de farm +For help your poor ole fader, won't do you too moche harm +Please come wit' me on Magasin, I feex you up--bâ oui +An' den you're ready for go home an' see de familee." + +Wall! w'en de ole man an' Bateese come off de Magasin +Bateese is los' hees Yankee clothes--he's dress lak Canayen +Wit' bottes sauvages--ceinture fléché--an' coat wit' capuchon +An' spik Français au naturel, de sam' as habitant. + + * * * * * + +I see Bateese de oder day, he's work hees fader's place +I t'ink mese'f he's satisfy--I see dat on hees face +He say "I got no use for State, mon cher Napoleon +Kebeck she's good enough for me--Hooraw pour Canadaw." + + + +DE NICE LEETLE CANADIENNE. + + +You can pass on de worl' w'erever you lak, + Tak' de steamboat for go Angleterre, +Tak' car on de State, an' den you come back, + An' go all de place, I don't care-- +Ma frien' dat's a fack, I know you will say, + W'en you come on dis contree again, +Dere's no girl can touch, w'at we see ev'ry day, + De nice leetle Canadienne. + +Don't matter how poor dat girl she may be, + Her dress is so neat an' so clean, +Mos' ev'rywan t'ink it was mak' on Paree + An' she wear it, wall! jus' lak de Queen. +Den come for fin' out she is mak' it herse'f, + For she ain't got moche monee for spen', +But all de sam' tam, she was never get lef', + Dat nice leetle Canadienne. + +W'en "un vrai Canayen" is mak' it mariée, + You t'ink he go leev on beeg flat +An' bodder hese'f all de tam, night an' day, + Wit' housemaid, an' cook, an' all dat? +Not moche, ma dear frien', he tak' de maison, + Cos' only nine dollar or ten, +W'ere he leev lak blood rooster, an' save de l'argent, + Wit' hees nice leetle Canadienne. + +I marry ma famme w'en I'm jus' twenty year, + An' now we got fine familee, +Dat skip roun' de place lak leetle small deer, + No smarter crowd you never see-- +An' I t'ink as I watch dem all chasin' about, + Four boy an' six girl, she mak' ten, +Dat's help mebbe kip it, de stock from run out, + Of de nice leetle Canadienne. + +O she's quick an' she's smart, an' got plaintee heart, + If you know correc' way go about, +An' if you don't know, she soon tole you so + Den tak' de firs' chance an' get out; +But if she love you, I spik it for true, + She will mak' it more beautiful den, +An' sun on de sky can't shine lak de eye + Of dat nice leetle Canadienne. + + + +'POLEON DORÉ. + +A TALE OF THE SAINT MAURICE. + + +You have never hear de story of de young Napoleon Doré? + Los' hees life upon de reever w'en de lumber drive go down? +W'ere de rapide roar lak tonder, dat's de place he's goin' onder, + W'en he's try save Paul Desjardins, 'Poleon hese'f is drown. + +All de winter on de Shaintee, tam she's good, and work she's plaintee, + But we're not feel very sorry, w'en de sun is warm hees face, +W'en de mooshrat an' de beaver, tak' some leetle swim on reever, + An' de sout' win' scare de snowbird, so she fly some col'er place. + +Den de spring is set in steady, an' we get de log all ready, + Workin' hard all day an' night too, on de water mos' de tam, +An' de skeeter w'en dey fin' us, come so quickly nearly blin' us, + Biz--biz--biz--biz--all aroun' us till we feel lak sacrédam. + +All de sam' we're hooraw feller, from de top of house to cellar, + Ev'ry boy he's feel so happy, w'en he's goin' right away, +See hees fader an' hees moder, see hees sister an' hees broder, + An' de girl he spark las' summer, if she's not get marieé. + +Wall we start heem out wan morning, an' de pilot geev us warning, + "W'en you come on Rapide Cuisse, ma frien', keep raf' she's head on shore, +If you struck beeg rock on middle, w'ere le diable is play hees fiddle, + Dat's de tam you pass on some place, you don't never pass before." + +But we'll not t'ink moche of danger, for de rapide she's no stranger + Many tam we're runnin' t'roo it, on de fall an' on de spring, +On mos' ev'ry kin' of wedder dat le Bon Dieu scrape togedder, + An' we'll never drown noboddy, an' we'll never bus' somet'ing. + +Dere was Telesphore Montbriand, Paul Desjardins, Louis Guyon, + Bill McKeever, Aleck Gauthier, an' hees cousin Jean Bateese, +'Poleon Doré, Aimé Beaulieu, wit' some more man I can't tole you, + Dat was mak' it bes' gang never run upon de St. Maurice. + +Dis is jus' de tam I wish me, I could spik de good English--me-- + For tole you of de pleasurement we get upon de spring, +W'en de win' she's all a sleepin', an' de raf' she go a sweepin' + Down de reever on some morning, w'ile le rossignol is sing. + +Ev'ryt'ing so nice an' quiet on de shore as we pass by it, + All de tree got fine new spring suit, ev'ry wan she's dress on green +W'y it mak' us all more younger, an' we don't feel any hunger, + Till de cook say "'Raw for breakfas'," den we smell de pork an' bean. + +Some folk say she's bad for leever, but for man work hard on reever, + Dat's de bes' t'ing I can tole you, dat was never yet be seen, +Course dere's oder t'ing ah tak' me, fancy dish also I lak me, + But w'en I want somet'ing solid, please pass me de pork an' bean. + +All dis tam de raf' she's goin' lak steamboat was got us towin' + All we do is keep de channel, an' dat's easy workin' dere, +So we sing some song an' chorus, for de good tam dat's before us, + W'en de w'ole beez-nesse she's finish, an' we come on Trois Rivieres. + +But bad luck is sometam fetch us, for beeg strong win' come an' ketch us, + Jus' so soon we struck de rapide--jus' so soon we see de smoke, +An' before we spik some prayer for ourse'f dat's fightin' dere, + Roun' we come upon de beeg rock, an' it's den de raf' she broke. + +Dat was tam poor Paul Desjardins, from de parish of St. Germain, + He was long way on de fronte side, so he's fallin' overboar' +Couldn't swim at all de man say, but dat's more ma frien', I can say, + Any how he's look lak drownin', so we'll t'row him two t'ree oar. + +Dat's 'bout all de help our man do, dat's 'bout ev'ryt'ing we can do, + As de crib we're hangin' onto balance on de rock itse'f, +Till de young Napoleon Doré, heem I start for tole de story, + Holler out, "Mon Dieu, I don't lak see poor Paul go drown hese'f." + +So he's mak' beeg jomp on water, jus' de sam you see some otter + An' he's pass on place w'ere Paul is tryin' hard for keep afloat, +Den we see Napoleon ketch heem, try hees possibill for fetch heem + But de current she's more stronger, an' de eddy get dem bote. + +O Mon Dieu! for see dem two man, mak' me feel it cry lak woman, + Roun' an' roun' upon de eddy, quickly dem poor feller go, +Can't tole wan man from de oder, an' we'll know dem bote lak broder, + But de fight she soon is finish--Paul an' 'Poleon go below. + +Yass, an' all de tam we stay dere, only t'ing we do is pray dere, + For de soul poor drownin' feller, dat's enough mak' us feel mad, +Torteen voyageurs, all brave man, glad get any chances save man, + But we don't see no good chances, can't do not'ing, dat's too bad. + +Wall! at las' de crib she's come way off de rock, an' den on some way, + By an' by de w'ole gang's passin' on safe place below de Cuisse, +Ev'ryboddy's heart she's breakin', w'en dey see poor Paul he's taken + Wit' de young Napoleon Doré, bes' boy on de St. Maurice! + +An' day affer, Bill McKeever fin' de bote man on de reever, + Wit' deir arm aroun' each oder, mebbe pass above dat way-- +So we bury dem as we fin' dem, w'ere de pine tree wave behin' dem + An de Grande Montagne he's lookin' down on Marcheterre Bay. + +You can't hear no church bell ring dere, but le rossignol is sing dere, + An' w'ere ole red cross she's stannin', mebbe some good ange gardien, +Watch de place w'ere bote man sleepin', keep de reever grass from creepin' + On de grave of 'Poleon Doré, an' of poor Paul Desjardins. + + + +DE NOTAIRE PUBLIQUE. + + +M'sieu Paul Joulin, de Notaire Publique + Is come I s'pose seexty year hees life +An' de mos' riche man on Sainte Angelique + W'en he feel very sorry he got no wife-- +So he's paint heem hees buggy, lak new, by Gor! + Put flower on hees coat, mak' hese'f more gay +Arrange on hees head fine chapeau castor + An' drive on de house of de Boulanger. + +For de Boulanger's got heem une jolie fille + Mos' bes' lookin' girl on paroisse dey say +An' all de young feller is lak Julie + An' plaintee is ax her for mak' mariée, +But Julie she's love only jus' wan man, + Hees nam' it is Jérémie Dandurand +An' he's work for her sak' all de hard he can + 'Way off on de wood, up de Mattawa. + +M'Sieu Paul he spik him "Bonjour Mamzelle, + You lak promenade on de church wit' me? +Jus' wan leetle word an' we go ma belle + An' see heem de Curé toute suite, chérie; +I dress you de very bes' style à la mode, + If you promise for be Madame Paul Joulin, +For I got me fine house on Bord à Plouffe road + Wit' mor'gage also on de Grande Moulin." + +But Julie she say "Non, non, M'Sieu Paul, + Dat's not correc' t'ing for poor Jérémie +For I love dat young feller lak not'ing at all, + An' I'm very surprise you was not know me. +Jérémie w'en he's geev me dat nice gol' ring, + Las' tam he's gone off on de Mattawa +Say he's got 'noder wan w'en he's come nex' spring + Was mak' me for sure Madame Dandurand. + +"I t'ank you de sam' M'Sieu Paul Joulin + I s'pose I mus' be de wife wan poor man +Wit' no chance at all for de Grande Moulin, + But leev all de tam on some small cabane." +De Notaire Publique den is tak' hees hat, + For he t'ink sure enough dat hees dog she's dead; +Dere's no use mak' love on de girl lak dat, + Wit' not'ing but young feller on de head. + +Julie she's feel lonesome mos' all dat week, + Don't know w'at may happen she wait till spring +Den t'ink de fine house of Notaire Publique + An' plaintee more too--but love's funny t'ing! +So nex' tam she see de Notaire again, + She laugh on her eye an' say "M'Sieu Paul +Please pass on de house, or you ketch de rain, + Dat's very long tam you don't come at all." + +She's geev him so soon he's come on de door + Du vin de pays, an' some nice galettes, +She's mak' dem herse'f only day before + An' he say "Bigosh! dat is fine girl yet." +So he's try hees chances some more--hooraw! + Julie is not mak' so moche troub' dis tam; +She's forget de poor Jérémie Dandurand + An' tole de Notaire she will be hees famme. + +W'en Jérémie come off de wood nex' spring, + An' fin' dat hees girl she was get mariée +Everybody's expec' he will do somet'ing, + But he don't do not'ing at all, dey say; +For he's got 'noder girl on Sainte Dorothée, + Dat he's love long tam, an' she don't say "No," +So he's forget too all about Julie + An' mak' de mariée wit' hese'f also. + + + +A CANADIAN VOYAGEUR'S ACCOUNT OF THE NILE EXPEDITION. + +"MAXIME LABELLE." + + +Victoriaw: she have beeg war, E-gyp's de nam' de place-- +An' neeger peep dat's leev 'im dere, got very black de face, +An' so she's write Joseph Mercier, he's stop on Trois Rivieres-- +"Please come right off, an' bring wit' you t'ree honder voyageurs. + +"I got de plaintee sojer, me, beeg feller six foot tall-- +Dat's Englishman, an' Scotch also, don't wear no pant at all; +Of course, de Irishman's de bes', raise all de row he can, +But noboddy can pull batteau lak good Canadian man. + +"I geev you steady job for sure, an' w'en you get 'im t'roo +I bring you back on Canadaw, don't cos' de man un sou, +Dat's firs'-class steamboat all de way Kebeck an' Leeverpool, +An' if you don't be satisfy, you mus' be beeg, beeg fool." + +We meet upon Hotel Dufresne, an' talk heem till daylight, +An' Joe he's treat so many tam, we very near get tight, +Den affer w'ile, we mak' our min' dat's not bad chance, an' so +Joseph Mercier he's telegraph, "Correc', Madame, we go." + +So Joe arrange de whole beez-nesse wit' Queen Victoriaw; +Two dollar day--work all de tam--dat's purty good l'argent! +An' w'en we start on Trois Rivieres, for pass on boar' de ship, +Our frien' dey all say, "Bon voyage," an' den Hooraw! E-gyp'! + +Dat beeg steamboat was plonge so moche, I'm 'fraid she never stop-- +De Capitaine's no use at all, can't kip her on de top-- +An' so we all come very sick, jus' lak one leetle pup, +An' ev'ry tam de ship's go down, de inside she's go up. + +I'm sorry spoke lak dis, ma frien', if you don't t'ink it's so, +Please ax Joseph Mercier hese'f, or Aleck De Courteau, +Dat stay on bed mos' all de tam, so sick dey nearly die, +But lak' some great, beeg Yankee man, was never tole de lie. + +De gang she's travel, travel, t'roo many strange contree, +An' ev'ry place is got new nam', I don't remember, me, +We see some fonny t'ing, for sure, more fonny I can tell, +But w'en we reach de Neel Riviere, dat's feel more naturel. + +So many fine, beeg sojer man, I never see before, +All dress heem on grand uniform, is wait upon de shore, +Some black, some green, an' red also, cos' honder dollar sure, +An' holler out, "She's all right now, here come de voyageurs!" + +We see boss Generale also, he's ride on beeg chameau, +Dat's w'at you call Ca-melle, I t'ink, I laugh de way she go! +Jomp up, jomp down, jomp ev'ry place, but still de Generale +Seem satisfy for stay on top, dat fonny an-i-mal. + +He's holler out on Joe Mercier, "Comment câ va Joseph +You lak for come right off wit' me, tak' leetle ride yourseff?" +Joseph, he mak' de grand salut, an' tak' it off hees hat, +"Merci, Mon Generale," he say, "I got no use for dat." + +Den affer we was drink somet'ing, an' sing "Le Brigadier," +De sojer fellers get prepare, for mak' de embarquer, +An' everybody's shout heem out, w'en we tak' hole de boat +"Hooraw pour Queen Victoriaw!" an' also "pour nous autres." + +Bigosh; I do hard work mese'f upon de Ottawa, +De Gatineau an' St. Maurice, also de Mattawa, +But I don't never work at all, I'sure you dat's a fack +Until we strike de Neel Riviere, an' sapré Catarack! + +"Dis way, dat way, can't keep her straight," "look out, Bateese, look out!" +"Now let her go"--"arrete un peu," dat's way de pilot shout, +"Don't wash de neeger girl on shore," an' "prenez garde behin'," +"W'at's matter wit' dat rudder man? I t'ink he's goin' blin'!" + +Some tam of course, de boat's all right, an' carry us along +An' den again, we mak portage, w'en current she's too strong +On place lak' dat, we run good chance, for sun-struck on de neck, +An' plaintee tam we wish ourseff was back on ole Kebeck. + +De seconde Catarack we pass, more beeger dan de Soo, +She's nearly t'orty mile for sure, it would astonish you, +Dat's place t'ree Irishman get drown, wan day we have beeg storm, +I s'pose de Queen is feel lak cry, los' dat nice uniform! + +De night she's very, very cole, an' hot upon de day, +An' all de tam, you feel jus' lak you're goin' melt away, +But never min' an' don't get scare, you mak' it up all right, +An' twenty poun' you los' dat day, she's comin' back sam' night. + +We got small bugle boy also, he's mebbe stan' four foot, +An' firs' t'ing ev'ry morning, sure, he mak' it toot! toot! toot! +She's nice enough upon de day, for hear de bugle call, +But w'en she play before daylight, I don't lak dat at all. + +We mus' get up immediatement, dat leetle feller blow, +An' so we start heem off again, for pull de beeg batteau, +De sojer man he's nice, nice boy, an' help us all he can, +An' geev heem chance, he's mos' as good lak some Canadian man. + +Wall all de tam, she go lak dat, was busy every day, +Don't get moche chance for foolish-ness, don't get no chance for play, +Dere's plaintee danger all aroun', an' w'en we're comin' back +We got look out for run heem safe, dem sapré Catarack. + +But w'ere's de war? I can't mak' out, don't see no fight at all! +She's not'ing but une Grande Piqnique, dat's las' in all de fall! +Mebbe de neeger King he's scare, an' skip anoder place, +An' pour la Reine Victoriaw! I never see de face. + +But dat's not ma beez-nesse, ma frien', I'm ready pull batteau +So long she pay two dollar day, wit' pork an' bean also; +An' if she geev me steady job, for mak' some more l'argent, +I say, "Hooraw! for all de tam, on Queen Victoriaw!" + + + +MEMORIES. + + +O spirit of the mountain that speaks to us to-night, +Your voice is sad, yet still recalls past visions of delight, +When 'mid the grand old Laurentides, old when the earth was new, +With flying feet we followed the moose and caribou. + +And backward rush sweet memories, like fragments of a dream, +We hear the dip of paddle blades, the ripple of the stream, +The mad, mad rush of frightened wings from brake and covert start, +The breathing of the woodland, the throb of nature's heart. + +Once more beneath our eager feet the forest carpet springs, +We march through gloomy valleys, where the vesper sparrow sings. +The little minstrel heeds us not, nor stays his plaintive song, +As with our brave coureurs de bois we swiftly pass along. + +Again o'er dark Wayagamack, in bark canoe we glide, +And watch the shades of evening glance along the mountain side. +Anon we hear resounding the wizard loon's wild cry, +And mark the distant peak whereon the ling'ring echoes die. + +But Spirit of the Northland! let the winter breezes blow, +And cover every giant crag with rifts of driving snow. +Freeze every leaping torrent, bind all the crystal lakes, +Tell us of fiercer pleasures when the Storm King awakes. + +And now the vision changes, the winds are loud and shrill, +The falling flakes are shrouding the mountain and the hill, +But safe within our snug cabane with comrades gathered near, +We set the rafters ringing with "Roulant" and "Brigadier." + +Then after Pierre and Telesphore have danced "Le Caribou," +Some hardy trapper tells a tale of the dreaded Loup Garou, +Or phantom bark in moonlit heavens, with prow turned to the East, +Bringing the Western voyageurs to join the Christmas feast. + +And while each backwoods troubadour is greeted with huzza +Slowly the homely incense of "tabac Canayen" +Rises and sheds its perfume like flowers of Araby, +O'er all the true-born loyal Enfants de la Patrie. + +And thus with song and story, with laugh and jest and shout, +We heed not dropping mercury nor storms that rage without, +But pile the huge logs higher till the chimney roars with glee, +And banish spectral visions with La Chanson Normandie. + + "Brigadier! répondit Pandore + Brigadier! vous avez raison, + Brigadier! répondit Pandore, + Brigadier! vous avez raison!" + +O spirit of the mountain! that speaks to us to-night, +Return again and bring us new dreams of past delight, +And while our heart-throbs linger, and till our pulses cease, +We'll worship thee among the hills where flows the Saint-Maurice. + + + +PHIL-O-RUM JUNEAU. + +A STORY OF THE "CHASSE GALLERIE." + + +In the days of the "Old Regime" in Canada, the free life of the +woods and prairies proved too tempting for the young men, who +frequently deserted civilization for the savage delights of the +wilderness. These voyageurs and coureurs de bois seldom returned in +the flesh, but on every New Year's Eve, back thro' snowstorm and +hurricane--in mid-air--came their spirits in ghostly canoes, to +join, for a brief spell, the old folks at home and kiss the girls, +on the annual feast of the "Jour de l'an," or New Year's Day. The +legend which still survives in French-speaking Canada, is known as +"La Chasse Gallerie." + + +He sit on de corner mos' every night, ole + Phil-o-rum Juneau, +Spik wit' hese'f an' shake de head, an' smoke + on de pipe also-- +Very hard job it's for wake him up, no matter + de loud we call +W'en he's feex hese'f on de beeg arm-chair, + back on de kitchen wall. + +He don't believe not'ing at all, at all 'bout + lates' new fashion t'ing +Le char 'lectrique an' de telephome, was talk + w'en de bell she ring +Dat's leetle too moche for de ole bonhomme, + mak' him shake it de head an' say +"Wat's use mak' de foolish lak dat, sapré! + I'm not born only yesterday." + +But if you want story dat's true, true, true, I + tole you good wan moi-meme +An de t'ing you was spik, dat I don't believe, + for sure she was beat all dem. +So he's cough leetle cough, clear 'im up de + t'roat, fill hees pipe wit' some more tabac, +An' w'en de chil'ren is come tranquille, de + ole man begin comme câ. + +L'enfant! l'enfant! it's very strange t'ing! + mak' me laugh too w'en I hear +De young peep talk of de long, long tam of + seventy, eighty year! +Dat's only be jus' eighty New Year Day, an' + quickly was pass it by +It's beeg, beeg dream, an' you don't wake up, + till affer you're comin' die. + +Dat's true sure enough, you see curi's t'ing, + if you only leev leetle w'ile, +So long you got monee go all de place, for + mebbe t'ree t'ousan' mile, +But monee's not everyt'ing on dis worl', I tole + you dat, mes amis, +An' man can be ole lak' two honder year, an' + not see it, La Chasse Gal'rie. + +I never forget de fine New Year night, nearly + seexty year ago, +W'en I'm lef' it our place for attend soiree, + on ole Maxime Baribault, +Nine mile away, I can see tin roof, on church + of de St. Joseph, +An' over de snow, de leaf dat die las' fall, + was chasin' itse'f. + +Dere was some of de neighbor house I call, + dat's be de ole fashion style, +An' very nice style too, mes amis, I hope she + will las' long w'ile, +I shak' it de han', I drink santé, an' kiss it + de girl she's face, +So it's come ten o'clock, w'en I pass on road, + for visit Maxime hees place. + +But I'm not go more mebbe t'ree arpent, w'en + de sky is get black all roun', +An' de win' she blow lak I never see, an' + de beeg snowstorm come down. +I mak' it my min' she's goin' be soon, de very + bad night for true, +Dat's locky I got plaintee whiskey lef', so I + tak' it wan leetle "coup." + +Purty quick affer dat, I'm comin' nice place, + was stan'in' some fine beeg tree +W'ere de snow don't dreef', an' it seem jus' + lak dat place it is mak' for me, +So I pass it on dere, for mak' safe mese'f, + w'ile de storm is blow outside, +As if all de devil on hell below, was tak' + heem some fancy ride. + +Wan red fox he's comin' so close, so close, + I could ketch him wit' de han', +But not on de tam lak dis ma frien', "Marche + toi all de quick you can," +Poor feller he's tire an' seem los' hees way, + an' w'en he reach home dat night +Mebbe he fin' it all was close up, an' de door + it was fassen tight. + +But w'at is dat soun' mak' de hair stan' up, + w'at is it mean, dat cry? +Comin' over de high tree top, out of de + nor'-wes' sky +Lak cry of de wil' goose w'en she pass on + de spring tam an' de fall, +But wil' goose fly on de winter night! + I never see dat at all. + +On, on t'roo de night, she is quickly come, + more closer all de tam, +But not lak de cry of some wil' bird now, + don't seem it at all de sam'; +An' den wit' de rush of de win', I hear + somebody sing chanson +An' de song dey sing is de ole, ole song, + "Le Canayen Errant."' + +But it's mak' me lonesome an' scare also, jus' + sam' I be goin' for die +W'en I lissen dat song on night lak dis, so + far away on de sky, +Don't know w'at to do at all mese'f, so I go + w'ere I have good view, +An' up, up above t'roo de storm an' snow, she's + comin' wan beeg canoe. + +Den somebody call it ma nam' out loud, firs' tam + it was scare me so, +"We know right away, dat was you be dere, hello + Phil-o-rum, hello!" +An' soon I see him dat feller spik, I 'member him + too mese'f, +We go de sam' school twenty year before, hees + nam's Telesphore Le Boeuf. + +But I know on de way canoe she go, dat de crowd + he mus' be dead man +Was come from de Grande Riviere du Nord, come + from Saskatchewan, +Come too from all de place is lie on de Hodson + Bay Contree, +An' de t'ing I was see me dat New Year night, + is le phantome Chasse Gal'rie. + +An' many de boy I was see him dere, I know him + so long before +He's goin' away on de far contree--for never + return no more-- +An' now on phantome he is comin' home--t'roo + de storm an' de hurricane +For kiss him de girl on jour de l'an, an' see + de ole peep again. + +De beeg voyageur w'at is steer canoe, wit' + paddle hol' on hees han' +Got very long hair was hang down hees neck, + de sam' as wil' Injin man +Invite me on boar' dat phantome canoe, for + show it dead man de way-- +Don't lak it de job, but no use refuse, + so I'll mak' it de embarquer. + +Den wan of de gang, he mus' be foreman, say + it's tam for have leetle drink, +So he pass heem black bottle for tak' un "coup," + an' it's look lak ma own I t'ink, +But it can't be de sam', I'll be swear for dat, + for w'en I was mak' de go, +I fin' dere is not'ing inside but win', an' + de whiskey's phantome also. + +Dey be laugh affer dat, lak dey tak' some fit, + so de boss spik him, "Tiens Phil-o-rum, +Never min' on dem feller--mus' have leetle sport, + dat's very long way we come, +Will you ketch it de paddle for steer us quick + on place of Maxime Baribault?" +An' he's ax me so nice, I do as he please', + an den away off she go. + +Wan minute--two minute--we pass on dere, + Maxime he is all hooraw! +An' we know by musique dat was play inside, + mus' be de great Joe Violon, +Dat feller work fiddle on very bes' way, + dat nobody never see +Mak' de boy an' de girl, ole peep also, + dance lak dey was go crazee. + +You s'pose dey was let me come on dat house? + Not at all, for de boss he say, +"Phil-o-rum, it's long tam we don't see our fren', + can't get heem chance ev'ry day, +Please stop on canoe so she won't blow off, + w'ile we pass on de house an' see +Dem frien' we was lef' an' de girl we spark, + before we go strange contree." + +An' me I was sit on canoe outside, jus' lak + I was sapré fou, +Watchin' dem feller dat's all dead man, + dance heem lak Loup Garou. +De boss he kiss Marie Louise, ma girl, + dat's way he spen' mos' de tam, +But of course she know not'ing of dat + biz-nesse--don't lak it me jus' de sam'. + +By tam I'm commence it for feel de col', + dey're all comin' out encore, +An' we start off again t'roo de sky, hooraw! + for mak' de visite some more, +All de place on de parish we go dat night, + w'erever dey get some dance, +Till I feel it so tire, I could sleep right off, + but dey don't geev it me no chance. + +De las' place w'ere passin' dat's Bill Boucher, + he's very good frien' of me, +An' I t'ink it's near tam I was lef' dat crowd, + so I'll snub de canoe on tree, +Den affer dead man he was safe inside, an' + ev'rywan start danser, +I go on de barn wat's behin' de house, for + see I can't hide away. + +She's nice place de barn, an' got plaintee warm, + an' I'm feel very glad be dere, +So long dead feller don't fin' me out, an' ketch + it me on de hair, +But s'pose I get col', work him hard all night, + 'cos I make it wan leetle cough, +W'en de rooster he's scare, holler t'ree, four tam, + an' whole t'ing she bus' right off. + +I'll never see not'ing so quick again--Canoe an' + dead man go scat! +She's locky de rooster he mak' de noise, bus' + ev'ryt'ing up lak dat, +Or mebbe dem feller get me encore, an' tak' me + on Hodson Bay, +But it's all right now, for de morning's come, + an' he see me ole Bill Boucher. + +I'm feel it so tire, an' sore all de place, wit' + all de hard work I do', +'Cos I'm not very use for mak' paddle, me, on beeg, + beeg phantome canoe, +But Bill an' hees boy dey was leef me up, an' + carry me on maison +W'ere plaintee nice t'ing dey was mak' me eat, + an' drink it some whiskey blanc. + +An' now w'en I'm finish, w'at you t'ink it youse'f, + 'bout story dat you was hear? +No wonner ma hair she is all turn w'ite before I + get eighty year! +But 'member dis t'ing, I be tole you firs, don't + los' it mes chers amis, +De man he can leev him on long, long tam, an' + not see it La Chasse Gal'rie! + + * * * * * + +He sit on de corner mos' every night, ole + Phil-o-rum Juneau, +Spik wit' hese'f, an' shak' de head, an' smoke + on de pipe also, +But kip very quiet, don't wak' him up, let him + stay on de kitchen wall, +For if you believe w'at de ole man say, you + believe anyt'ing at all. + + + +DE BELL OF ST. MICHEL. + + +Go 'way, go 'way, don't ring no more, ole bell of Saint Michel, +For if you do, I can't stay here, you know dat very well, +No matter how I close ma ear, I can't shut out de soun', +It rise so high 'bove all de noise of dis beeg Yankee town. + +An' w'en it ring, I t'ink I feel de cool, cool summer breeze +Dat's blow across Lac Peezagonk, an' play among de trees, +Dey're makin' hay, I know mese'f, can smell de pleasant smell +O! how I wish I could be dere to-day on Saint Michel! + +It's fonny t'ing, for me I'm sure, dat's travel ev'ryw'ere, +How moche I t'ink of long ago w'en I be leevin' dere; +I can't 'splain dat at all, at all, mebbe it's naturel, +But I can't help it w'en I hear de bell of Saint Michel. + +Dere's plaintee t'ing I don't forget, but I remember bes' +De spot I fin' wan day on June de small san'piper's nes' +An' dat hole on de reever w'ere I ketch de beeg, beeg trout +Was very nearly pull me in before I pull heem out. + +An' leetle Elodie Leclaire, I wonner if she still +Leev jus' sam' place she use to leev on 'noder side de hill, +But s'pose she marry Joe Barbeau, dat's alway hangin' roun' +Since I am lef' ole Saint Michel for work on Yankee town. + +Ah! dere she go, ding dong, ding dong, its back, encore again +An' ole chanson come on ma head of "a la claire fontaine," +I'm not surprise it soun' so sweet, more sweeter I can tell +For wit' de song also I hear de bell of Saint Michel. + +It's very strange about dat bell, go ding dong all de w'ile +For when I'm small garçon at school, can't hear it half a mile; +But seems more farder I get off from Church of Saint Michel, +De more I see de ole village an' louder soun' de bell. + +O! all de monee dat I mak' w'en I be travel roun' +Can't kip me long away from home on dis beeg Yankee town, +I t'ink I'll settle down again on Parish Saint Michel, +An' leev an' die more satisfy so long I hear dat bell. + + + +PELANG. + + +Pelang! Pelang! Mon cher garçon, + I t'ink of you--t'ink of you night and day-- +Don't mak' no difference, seems to me + De long long tam you're gone away. + + * * * * * + +De snow is deep on de Grande Montagne-- + Lak tonder de rapide roar below-- +De sam' kin' night, ma boy get los' + On beeg, beeg storm forty year ago. + +An' I never was hear de win' blow hard, + An' de snow come sweesh on de window pane-- +But ev'ryt'ing 'pear lak' it's yesterday + An' whole of ma troub' is come back again. + +Ah me! I was foolish young girl den + It's only ma own plaisir I care, +An' w'en some dance or soirée come off + Dat's very sure t'ing you will see me dere. + +Don't got too moche sense at all dat tam, + Run ev'ry place on de whole contree-- +But I change beeg lot w'en Pelang come 'long + For I love him so well, kin' o' steady me. + +An' he was de bes' boy on Coteau, + An' t'ink I am de bes' girl too for sure-- +He's tole me dat, geev de ring also + Was say on de inside "Je t'aime toujours." + +I geev heem some hair dat come off ma head, + I mak' de nice stocking for warm hees feet, +So ev'ryt'ing's feex, w'en de spring is come + For mak' mariée on de church toute suite. + +"W'en de spring is come!" Ah I don't see dat, + Dough de year is pass as dey pass before, +An' de season come, an' de season go, + But our spring never was come no more. + + * * * * * + +It's on de fête of de jour de l'an, + An' de worl' outside is cole an' w'ite, +As I sit an' watch for mon cher Pelang + For he's promise come see me dis very night. + +Bonhomme Peloquin dat is leev near us-- + He's alway keep look heem upon de moon-- +See fonny t'ing dere only week before, + An' say he's expec' some beeg storm soon. + +So ma fader is mak' it de laugh on me' + "Pelang he's believe heem de ole Bonhomme +Dat t'ink he see ev'ryt'ing on de moon + An' mebbe he's feel it too scare for come." + +But I don't spik not'ing I am so sure + Of de promise Pelang is mak' wit' me-- +An' de mos' beeg storm dat is never blow + Can't kip heem away from hees own Marie. + +I open de door, an' pass outside + For see mese'f how de night is look +An' de star is commence for go couché + De mountain also is put on hees tuque. + +No sooner, I come on de house again + W'ere ev'ryt'ing feel it so nice an' warm, +Dan out of de sky come de Nor'Eas' win'-- + Out of de sky come de beeg snow storm. + +Blow lak not'ing I never see, + Blow lak le diable he was mak' grande tour; +De snow come down lak wan avalanche, + An' cole! Mon Dieu, it is cole for sure! + +I t'ink, I t'ink of mon pauvre garçon, + Dat's out mebbe on de Grande Montagne; +So I place chandelle we're it's geev good light, + An' pray Le Bon Dieu he will help Pelang. + +De ole folk t'ink I am go crazee, + An' moder she's geev me de good night kiss; +She say "Go off on your bed, Marie, + Dere's nobody come on de storm lak dis." + +But ma eye don't close dat long long, night + For it seem jus' lak phantome is near, +An' I t'ink of de terrible Loup Garou + An' all de bad story I offen hear. + +Dere was tam I am sure somet'ing call "Marie" + So plainly I open de outside door, +But it's meet me only de awful storm, + An de cry pass away--don't come no more. + +An' de morning sun, w'en he's up at las', + Fin' me w'ite as de face of de snow itse'f, +For I know very well, on de Grande Montagne, + Ma poor Pelang he's come dead hese'f. + +It's noon by de clock w'en de storm blow off, + An' ma fader an' broder start out for see +Any track on de snow by de Mountain side, + Or down on de place w'ere chemin should be. + +No sign at all on de Grande Montagne, + No sign all over de w'ite, w'ite snow; +Only hear de win' on de beeg pine tree, + An' roar of de rapide down below. + +An' w'ere is he lie, mon cher Pelang! + Pelang ma boy I was love so well? +Only Le Bon Dieu up above + An' mebbe de leetle snow bird can tell. + +An I t'ink I hear de leetle bird say, + "Wait till de snow is geev up it's dead, +Wait till I go, an' de robin come, + An' den you will fin' hees cole, cole bed." + +An' it's all come true, for w'en de sun + Is warm de side of de Grande Montagne +An' drive away all de winter snow, + We fin' heem at las', mon cher Pelang! + +An' here on de fête of de jour de l'an, + Alone by mese'f I sit again, +W'ile de beeg, beeg storm is blow outside, + An' de snow come sweesh on de window pane. + +Not all alone, for I t'ink I hear + De voice of ma boy gone long ago; +Can hear it above de hurricane, + An' roar of de rapide down below. + +Yes--yes--Pelang, mon cher garçon! + I t'ink of you, t'ink of you night an' day, +Don't mak' no difference seems to me + How long de tam you was gone away. + + + +MON CHOUAL "CASTOR." + + +I'm poor man, me, but I buy las' May + Wan horse on de Comp'nie Passengaire, +An' auction feller w'at sole heem say + She's out of de full-breed "Messengaire." + +Good trotter stock, also galluppe, + But work long tam on de city car, +Of course she's purty well break heem up, + So come leetle cheap--twenty-wan dollarre. + +Firs' chance I sen' heem on St. Cesaire, + W'ere I t'ink he's have moche better sight, +Mebbe de grass an' de contree air + Very soon was feex heem up all right. + +I lef' heem dere till de fall come 'long, + An' dat trotter he can't eat grass no more, +An' w'en I go dere, I fin' heem strong + Lak not'ing I never see before. + +I heetch heem up on de light sulkee, + L'enfant! dat horse he is cover groun'! +Don't tak' long tam for de crowd to see + Mon choual he was leek all trotter roun'. + +Come down de race course lak' oiseau + Tail over datch boar', nice you please, +Can't tell for sure de quick he go, + S'pose somew'ere 'bout two, t'ree forties. + +I treat ma frien' on de whiskey blanc, + An' we drink "Castor" he's bonne santé +From L'Achigan to St. Armand, + He's bes' horse sure on de whole comté. + + * * * * * + +'Bout week on front of dis, Lalime, + Dat man drive horse call "Clevelan' Bay" +Was challenge, so I match wit' heem + For wan mile heat on straight away. + +Dat's twenty dollarre on wan side, + De lawyer's draw de paper out, +But if dem trotter come in tied, + Wall! all dat monee's go on spout. + +Nex' t'ing ma backer man, Labrie, + Tak' off his catch-book vingt cinq cents, +An' toss Lalime bes' two on t'ree + For see who's go on inside fence. + +Bateese Lalime, he's purty smart, + An' gain dat toss wit' jockey trick. +I don't care me, w'en "Castor" start, + Very soon I t'ink he's mak' heem sick. + +Beeg crowd of course was dere for see + Dem trotter on de grand match race +Some people come from St. Remi + An' some from plaintee 'noder place. + +W'en all is ready, flag was fall + An' way dem trotter pass on fence +Lak not'ing you never see at all, + It mak' me t'ink of "St. Lawrence."[1] + +"Castor," hees tail was stan' so straight + Could place chapeau on de en' of top +An' w'en he struck two forty gait + Don't seem he's never go for stop. + +Wall! dat's all right for firs' half mile + W'en Clevelan' Bay commence for break, +Dat mak' me feel very moche lak smile, + I'm sure "Castor" he's took de cake. + +But Lalime pull heem hard on line + An' stop "Clevelan'" before go far, +It's all no good, he can't ketch mine + I'm go more quicker lak express car. + +I'm feel all right for my monee, + For sure mon Choual he's took firs' place, +W'en 'bout arpent from home, sapré, + Somet'ing she's happen, I'm los' de race. + +Wan bad boy he's come out on track, + I cannot see dat bad boy's han'; +He's hol' somet'ing behin' hees back, + It was small bell, I understan'. + +Can spik for dat, ma horse go well, + An' never show no sign of sweat, +Until dat boy he's ring hees bell-- + Misere! I t'ink I hear heem yet! + +Wall! jus' so soon mon Choual "Castor" + Was hear dat bell go kling! klang! kling! +He's tink of course of city car, + An' spose mus' be conductor ring. + +Firs' t'ing I know ma trotter's drop + Dat tail was stan' so straight before, +An' affer dat, mebbe he stop + For me, I don't know not'ing more. + +But w'en I'm come alive again + I fin' dat horse call "Clevelan' Bay" +Was got firs' place, an' so he's gain + Dat wan mile heat on straight away. + +An' now w'erever I am go + Bad boy he's sure for holler an' yell +Dis donc! Dis donc! Paul Archambault! + W'at's matter wit' your chestnutte bell? + +Mak' plaintee troub' dem bad garçons, + An' offen ring some bell also, +Was mad! Could plonge on de St. Laurent + An' w'at to do, "Castor" don't know. + +Las' tam I pass de railway track + For drive avec mon frere Alfred, +In-jinne she's ring, "Castor" he's back, + Monjee! it's fonny I'm not come dead! + +Toujours comme ça! an' mak' me sick, + But horse dat work long on les chars +Can't broke dem off on fancy trick + So now I'm busy for sole "Castor." + +[Footnote 1: "St. Lawrence," the Canadian "Dexter."] + + + +OLE TAM ON BORD-A PLOUFFE. + + +I lak on summer ev'ning, w'en nice cool win' is blowin' + An' up above ma head, I hear de pigeon on de roof, +To bring ma chair an' sit dere, an' watch de current flowin' + Of ole Riviere des Prairies as she pass de Bord-a Plouffe. + +But it seem dead place for sure now, on shore down by de lan'in'-- + No more de voyageurs is sing lak dey was sing alway-- +De tree dey're commence growin' w'ere shaintee once is stan'in', + An' no one scare de swallow w'en she fly across de bay. + +I don't lak see de reever she's never doin' not'in' + But passin' empty ev'ry day on Bout de l'ile below-- +Ma ole shaloup dat's lyin' wit' all its timber rottin' + An' tam so change on Bord-a Plouffe since forty year ago! + +De ice dat freeze on winter, might jus' as well be stay dere, + For w'en de spring she's comin' de only t'ing I see +Is two, t'ree piqnique feller, hees girl was row away dere, + Don't got no use for water now, on Riviere des Prairies. + +'Twas diff'rent on dem summer you couldn't see de reever, + Wit' saw-log an' squar' timber raf', mos' all de season t'roo-- +Two honder man an' more too--all busy lak de beaver, + An' me! I'm wan de pilot for ronne 'em down de "Soo." + +Don't 'member lak I use to, for now I'm gettin' ole, me-- + But still I can't forget Bill Wade, an' Guillaume Lagassé, +Joe Monferrand, Bazile Montour--wit' plaintee I can't tole, me, + An' king of all de Bord-a Plouffe, M'sieu' Venance Lemay. + +Lak small boy on hees lesson, I learn de way to han'le + Mos' beeges' raf' is never float upon de Ottawaw, +Ma fader show me dat too, for well he know de channel, + From Dutchman Rapide up above to Bout de l'ile en bas. + +He's smart man too, ma fader, only t'ing he got de bow-leg, + Ridin' log w'en leetle feller, mebbe dat's de reason w'y, +All de sam', if he's in hurry, den Bagosh! he's got heem no leg + But wing an' fedder lak oiseau, was fly upon de sky! + +O dat was tam we're happy, an' man dey're alway singin', + For if it's hard work on de raf', w'y dere's your monee sure! +An' ev'ry summer evenin', ole Bord-a Plouffe she's ringin' + Wit' "En Roulant ma Boulé" an' "J'aimerai toujour." + +Dere dey're comin' on de wagon! fine young feller ev'ry wan too, + Dress im up de ole tam fashion, dat I lak for see encore, +Yellin' hooraw! t'roo de village, all de horse upon de ronne too, + Ah poor Bord-a Plouffe! she never have dem tam again no more! + +Very offen w'en I'm sleepin', I was feel as if I'm goin' + Down de ole Riviere des Prairies on de raf' de sam as den-- +An' ma dream is only lef' me, w'en de rooster commence crowin' + But it can't do me no harm, 'cos it mak me young again. + +An' upon de morning early, wen de reever fog is clearin' + An' sun is makin' up hees min' for drive away de dew, +W'en young bird want hees breakfas', I wak' an' t'ink I'm hearin' + Somebody shout "Hooraw, Bateese, de raf' she's wait for you." + +Dat's voice of Guillaume Lagassé was call me on de morning + Jus' outside on de winder w'ere you look across de bay, +But he's drown upon de Longue "Soo," wit' never word of warning + An' green grass cover over poor Guillaume Lagassé. + +I s'pose dat's meanin' somet'ing--mebbe I'm not long for stay here, + Seein' all dem strange t'ing happen--dead frien' comin' roun' me so-- +But I'm sure I die more happy, if I got jus' wan more day here, + Lak we have upon de ole tam Bord-a Plouffe of long ago! + + + +THE GRAND SEIGNEUR. + + +To the hut of the peasant, or lordly hall, +To the heart of the king, or humblest thrall, +Sooner or late, love comes to all, +And it came to the Grand Seigneur, my dear, + It came to the Grand Seigneur. + +The robins were singing a roundelay, +And the air was sweet with the breath of May, +As a horseman rode thro' the forest way, +And he was a Grand Seigneur, my dear, + He was a grand Seigneur. + +Lord of the Manor, Count Bellefontaine, +Had spurr'd over many a stormy plain +With gallants of France at his bridle rein, +For he was a brave Cavalier, my dear-- + He was a brave Cavalier. + +But the huntsman's daughter, La Belle Marie, +Held the Knight's proud heart in captivity, +And oh! she was fair as the fleur de lys, +Tho' only a peasant maid, my dear, + Only a peasant maid. + +Thro' the woodland depths on his charger grey +To the huntsman's cottage he rides away, +And the maiden lists to a tale to-day +That haughtiest dame might hear, my dear, + That haughtiest dame might hear. + +But she cried "Alas! it may never be, +For my heart is pledged to the young Louis, +And I love him, O Sire, so tenderly, +Tho' he's only a poor Chasseur, my Lord, + Only a poor Chasseur." + +"Enough," spake the Knight with a courtly bow, +"Be true to thy lover and maiden vow, +For virtue like thine is but rare, I trow, +And farewell to my dream of love, and thee, + Farewell to my dream of thee." + +And they say the gallant Count Bellefontaine +Bestowed on the couple a rich domain, +But you never may hear such tale again, +For he was a Grand Seigneur, my dear, + He was a Grand Seigneur! + + + +M'SIEU SMIT. + +THE ADVENTURES OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN THE CANADIAN WOODS. + + +Wan morning de walkim boss say "Damase, + I t'ink you're good man on canoe d'ecorce, +So I'll ax you go wit' your frien' Philéas + An' meet M'sieu' Smit' on Chenail W'ite Horse. + +"He'll have I am sure de grosse baggage-- + Mebbe some valise--mebbe six or t'ree-- +But if she's too moche for de longue portage + 'Poleon he will tak' 'em wit' mail buggee." + +W'en we reach Chenail, plaintee peep be dere, + An' wan frien' of me, call Placide Chretien, +'Splain all dat w'en he say man from Angleterre + Was spik heem de crowd on de "Parisien." + +Fonny way dat Englishman he'll be dress, + Leetle pant my dear frien' jus' come on knee, +Wit' coat dat's no coat at all--only ves' + An' hat--de more stranger I never see! + +Wall! dere he sit on de en' some log + An' swear heem in English purty loud +Den talk Français, w'ile hees chien boule dog + Go smellim an' smellim aroun' de crowd. + +I spik im "Bonjour, M'sieu' Smit', Bonjour, + I hope dat yourse'f and famille she's well?" +M'sieu Smit' he is also say "Bonjour," + An' call off hees dog dat's commence for smell. + +I tell heem my name dat's Damase Labrie + I am come wit' Philéas for mak' de trip, +An' he say I'm de firs' man he never see + Spik English encore since he lef' de ship. + +He is also ax it to me "Damase, + De peep she don't seem understan' Français, +W'at's matter wit' dat?" An' I say "Becos + You mak' too much talk on de Parisien." + +De groun she is pile wit' baggage--Sapré! + An' I see purty quick we got plaintee troub-- +Two tronk, t'ree valise, four-five fusil, + An' w'at M'sieu Smit' he is call "bat' tubbe." + +M'sieu Smit' he's tole me w'at for's dat t'ing, + An' it seem Englishman he don't feel correc' +Until he's go plonge on some bat' morning + An' sponge it hees possibill high hees neck. + +Of course dat's not'ing of my beez-nesse, + He can plonge on de water mos' ev'ry day, +But I t'ink for mese'f it mak foolishness + An' don't do no good w'en your bonne santé. + +W'en I tell 'Poleon he mus' mak' dat job, + Dere's leetle too moche for canoe d'écorce, +He's mad right away an' say "Sapré diable! + You t'ink I go work lak wan niggerhorse? + +"I'm not manufacture dat way, bâ non, + Dat rich stranger man he have lot monee, +I go see my frien' Onésime Gourdon, + An' tole heem bring horse wit' some more buggee." + +Wall! affer some w'ile dey'll arrange all dat, + 'Poleon an' hees frien' Onésime Gourdon, +But w'en 'Poleon is tak' hole of bat', + He receive it beeg scare immediatement! + +Dat chien boule dog, I was tole you 'bout, + I am not understan' w'at good she's for, +Eat 'Poleon's leg w'it hees teet' an' mout, + 'Poleon he is feel very mad--by Gor! + +Of course I am poule heem hees tail toute suite + But I don't know some reason mak all dis troub', +W'en I hear me dat Englishman, M'sieu Smit' + Say 'Poleon, w'at for you took my tubbe? + +"Leff 'im dere--for I don't low nobodee + Walk heem off on any such way lak dat; +You may tak' all de res', an' I don't care me-- + But de man he'll be keel who is tak' my bat'." + +"I will carry heem wit' me," say M'sieu Smit'-- + "W'erever dat tubbe she mus' go, I go-- +No matter de many place we visite, + An' my sponge I will tak' mese'f also." + +Philéas say "Damase, we mus buil' some raf' + Or mebbe some feller be sure get drown"; +Dis geev me plaisir, but I'm scare mak' laf', + So I'll do it mese'f, inside, way down. + +At las' we are start on voyage, sure nuff, + M'sieu Smit' carry tubbe on de top hees head, +Good job, I t'ink so, de lac isn't rough, + Or probably dis tam, we're all come dead. + +De dog go wit' Onésime Gourdon, + An' Onésime afferwar' say to me, +"Dat chien boule dog is eat 'Poleon + Was de more quiet dog I never see." + +But fun she's commence on very nex' day + W'en we go camp out on de Castor Noir. +Dat Englishman he'll come along an' say + "I hope some wil' Injun she don't be dere. + +"I have hear many tam, dat de wood be foule + Of Injun w'at tak' off de hair your head. +But so surely my name she's Johnnie Boule + If I see me dem feller I shoot it dead." + +Philéas den pray harder, more quick he can + Mebbe he's t'ink dat's hees las' portage +De moder hees fader, she's Injun man + Derefore an' also, he is wan Sauvage. + +I say "Don't mak' it some excitement; + Saison she is 'close' on de spring an' fall, +An' dem peep dat work on de Gouvernement + Don't lak you shoot Injun dis mont' at all." + +Nex' day M'sieu Smit' is perform hees plonge + We see heem go done it--Philéas an' me, +An' w'en he's hang up bat' tubbe an' sponge + We go on de wood for mak' Chasse perdrix. + +An' mebbe you will not believe to me, + But w'en we come back on de camp encore +De sponge of dat Englishman don't be see, + An' we fin' beeg bear she's go dead on shore. + +Very fonny t'ing how he's loss hees life, + But Philéas he'll know hese'f purty quick, +He cut M'sieu Bear wit' hees hunter knife, + An' sponge she's fall out on de bear stummick. + +Day affer we get two fox houn' from Boss + Dat's good for ketch deer on de fall an' spring, +Den place Englishman w'ere he can't get los' + An' tole heem shoot quicker he see somet'ing. + +Wat's dat leetle deer got no horn at all? + She'll be moder small wan en suite bimeby, +Don't remember mese'f w'at name she's call, + But dat's de kin' start w'en de dog is cry. + +We see heem come down on de runaway + De dog she is not very far behin' +An' w'en dey pass place M'sieu Smit' is stay + We expec' he will shoot or make noise some kin'! + +But he's not shoot at all, mon cher ami, + So we go an' we ax "Is he see some deer?" +He say "Dat's long tam I am stay on tree + But I don't see not'ing she's pass on here." + +We spik heem once more, "He don't see fox houn'?" + W'at you t'ink he is say, dat Englishman? +"Yes, I see dem pass quickly upon de groun', + Wan beeg yellow dog, an' two small brown wan." + +He's feel de more bad I don't see before + W'en he know dat beeg dog, she's wan small deer, +An' for mak' ev'ryt'ing correc' encore + We drink I am sure six bouteilles de bière. + +Nex' day--dat's Dimanche--he is spik to me, + "Damase, you mus' feel leetle fatigué, +You may slep' wit' Philéas w'ile I go an' see + I can't get some nice quiet tam to-day." + +So for keep 'way skeeter, an' fly also + Bouteille from de shelf M'sieu Smit' he tak', +Den he start wit' his chien boule dog an' go + For nice quiet walk on shore of lac. + +We don't slep' half hour w'en dere's beeg, beeg yell, + Lak somet'ing I'm sure don't hear long tam, +An' we see wan feller we cannot tell, + Till he spik it, "Damase! Philéas!! dam dam!!!" + +Den we know it at once, mon cher ami, + But she's swell up hees face--hees neck an' han'! +It seem all de skeeter on w'ole contree + Is jump on de head of dat Englishman. + +Some water on poor M'sieu Smit' we'll t'row, + An' w'en he's tranquille fin' out ev'ryt'ing; +Bouteille he's rub on, got some nice sirop + I was mak' mese'f on de wood las' spring. + +Dere was jus' 'noder t'ing he seem for care + An' den he is feel it more satisfy, +Dat t'ing, my dear frien', was for keel some bear, + If he'll do dat wan tam, he's prepare for die. + +Philéas say he know w'ere some blue berree + Mak' very good place for de bear have fonne, +So we start nex' day on morning earlee, + An' M'sieu Smit' go wit' hees elephan' gun. + +Wan woman sauvage she is come be dere, + Mebbe want some blue berree mak' some pie, +Dat' Englishman shoot, he is t'ink she's bear, + An' de woman she's holler, "Mon Dieu, I'm die!" + +M'sieu Smit' he don't do no harm, becos + He is shake hese'f w'en he shoot dat squaw, +But scare he pay hunder' dollar cos' + For keel some sauvage on de "close" saison. + +T'ree day affer dat, we start out on lac + For ketch on de water wan Cariboo, +But win' she blow strong, an' we can't get back + Till we t'row ourse'f out on dat canoe. + +We t'ink M'sieu Smit' he is sure be drown, + Leetle w'ile we can't see heem again no more, +An' den he's come up from de place go down + An' jomp on hees bat' tubbe an' try go shore. + +W'en he's pass on de bat', he say "Hooraw!" + An' commence right away for mak' some sing; +I'm sure you can hear heem ten-twelve arpent + 'Bout "Brittanie, she alway mus' boss somet'ing." + +Dat's all I will tole you jus' now, my frien'; + I s'pose you don't know de more fonny case, +But if Englishman go on wood again + I'll have more storee w'en you pass my place. + + + +WHEN ALBANI SANG. + + +Was workin' away on de farm dere, wan + morning not long ago, +Feexin' de fence for winter--'cos dat's + w'ere we got de snow! +W'en Jeremie Plouffe, ma neighbor, come + over an' spik wit' me, +"Antoine, you will come on de city, + for hear Ma-dam All-ba-nee?" + +"W'at you mean?" I was sayin' right off, me, + "Some woman was mak' de speech, +Or girl on de Hooraw Circus, doin' high + kick an' screech?" +"Non--non," he is spikin'--"Excuse me, + dat's be Ma-dam All-ba-nee +Was leevin' down here on de contree, two + mile 'noder side Chambly. + +"She's jus' comin' over from Englan', on + steamboat arrive Kebeck, +Singin' on Lunnon an' Paree, an' havin' + beeg tam, I expec', +But no matter de moche she enjoy it, for + travel all roun' de worl', +Somet'ing on de heart bring her back here, + for she was de Chambly girl. + +"She never do not'ing but singin' an' makin' + de beeg grande tour +An' travel on summer an' winter, so mus' be + de firs' class for sure! +Ev'ryboddy I'm t'inkin' was know her, an' I + also hear 'noder t'ing, +She's frien' on La Reine Victoria an' show + her de way to sing!" + +"Wall," I say, "you're sure she is Chambly, + w'at you call Ma-dam All-ba-nee? +Don't know me dat nam' on de Canton--I hope + you're not fool wit' me?" +An' he say, "Lajeunesse, dey was call her, + before she is come mariée, +But she's takin' de nam' of her husban'--I + s'pose dat's de only way." + +"C'est bon, mon ami," I was say me, "If I get + t'roo de fence nex' day +An' she don't want too moche on de monee den + mebbe I see her play." +So I finish dat job on to-morrow, Jeremie he + was helpin' me too, +An' I say, "Len' me t'ree dollar quickly for + mak' de voyage wit' you." + +Correc'--so we're startin' nex' morning, an' + arrive Montreal all right, +Buy dollar tiquette on de bureau, an' pass on + de hall dat night. +Beeg crowd, wall! I bet you was dere too, all + dress on some fancy dress, +De lady, I don't say not'ing, but man's all + w'ite shirt an' no ves'. + +Don't matter, w'en ban' dey be ready, de foreman + strek out wit' hees steek, +An' fiddle an' ev'ryt'ing else too, begin for + play up de musique. +It's fonny t'ing too dey was playin' don't lak + it mese'f at all, +I rader be lissen some jeeg, me, or w'at you call + "Affer de ball." + +An' I'm not feelin' very surprise den, w'en de + crowd holler out, "Encore," +For mak' all dem feller commencin' an' try leetle + piece some more, +'Twas better wan' too, I be t'inkin', but slow + lak you're goin' to die, +All de sam', noboddy say not'ing, dat mean + dey was satisfy. + +Affer dat come de Grande piano, lak we got on + Chambly Hotel, +She's nice lookin' girl was play dat, so of + course she's go off purty well, +Den feller he's ronne out an' sing some, it's + all about very fine moon, +Dat shine on Canal, ev'ry night too, I'm sorry + I don't know de tune. + +Nex' t'ing I commence get excite, me, for I + don't see no great Ma-dam yet, +Too bad I was los all dat monee, an' too late + for de raffle tiquette! +W'en jus' as I feel very sorry, for come all + de way from Chambly, +Jeremie he was w'isper, "Tiens, Tiens, prenez + garde, she's comin' Ma-dam All-ba-nee!" + +Ev'ryboddy seem glad w'en dey see her, come + walkin' right down de platform, +An' way dey mak' noise on de han' den, w'y! + it's jus' lak de beeg tonder storm! +I'll never see not'ing lak dat, me, no matter + I travel de worl', +An' Ma-dam, you t'ink it was scare her? Non, + she laugh lak de Chambly girl! + +Dere was young feller comin' behin' her, walk + nice, comme un Cavalier, +An' before All-ba-nee she is ready an' piano + get startin' for play, +De feller commence wit' hees singin', more + stronger dan all de res', +I t'ink he's got very bad manner, know not'ing + at all politesse. + +Ma-dam, I s'pose she get mad den, an' before + anyboddy can spik, +She settle right down for mak' sing too, an' + purty soon ketch heem up quick, +Den she's kip it on gainin' an' gainin', till + de song it is tout finis, +An' w'en she is beatin' dat feller, Bagosh! + I am proud Chambly! + +I'm not very sorry at all, me, w'en de feller + was ronnin' away, +An' man he's come out wit' de piccolo, an' + start heem right off for play, +For it's kin' de musique I be fancy, Jeremie + he is lak it also, +An' wan de bes' t'ing on dat ev'ning is man + wit' de piccolo! + +Den mebbe ten minute is passin', Ma-dam she is + comin' encore, +Dis tam all alone on de platform, dat feller + don't show up no more, +An' w'en she start off on de singin' Jeremie say, + "Antoine, dat's Français," +Dis give us more pleasure, I tole you, 'cos w'y? + We're de pure Canayen! + +Dat song I will never forget me, 'twas song of + de leetle bird, +W'en he's fly from it's nes' on de tree top, + 'fore res' of de worl' get stirred, +Ma-dam she was tole us about it, den start off + so quiet an' low, +An' sing lak de bird on de morning, de poor + leetle small oiseau. + +I 'member wan tam I be sleepin' jus' onder some + beeg pine tree +An song of de robin wak' me, but robin he + don't see me, +Dere's not'ing for scarin' dat bird dere, he's + feel all alone on de worl', +Wall! Ma-dam she mus' lissen lak dat too, w'en + she was de Chambly girl! + +Cos how could she sing dat nice chanson, de sam' + as de bird I was hear, +Till I see it de maple an' pine tree an' Richelieu + ronnin' near, +Again I'm de leetle feller, lak young colt upon + de spring +Dat's jus' on de way I was feel, me, w'en Ma-dam + All-ba-nee is sing! + +An' affer de song it is finish, an' crowd is mak' + noise wit' its han', +I s'pose dey be t'inkin' I'm crazy, dat mebbe + I don't onderstan', +Cos I'm set on de chair very quiet, mese'f an' + poor Jeremie, +An' I see dat hees eye it was cry too, jus' sam' + way it go wit' me. + +Dere's rosebush outside on our garden, ev'ry spring + it has got new nes', +But only wan bluebird is buil' dere, I know her + from all de res', +An' no matter de far she be flyin' away on + de winter tam, +Back to her own leetle rosebush she's comin + dere jus' de sam'. + +We're not de beeg place on our Canton, mebbe + cole on de winter, too, +But de heart's "Canayen" on our body, an' + dat's warm enough for true! +An' w'en All-ba-nee was got lonesome for + travel all roun' de worl' +I hope she 'll come home, lak de bluebird, + an' again be de Chambly girl! + + + +DE CAMP ON DE "CHEVAL GRIS." + + +You 'member de ole log-camp, Johnnie, up on de Cheval Gris, +W'ere we work so hard all winter, long ago you an' me? +Dere was fourteen man on de gang, den, all from our own paroisse, +An' only wan lef' dem feller is ourse'f an' Pierre Laframboise. + +But Pierre can't see on de eye, Johnnie, I t'ink it's no good at all! +An' it wasn't for not'ing, you're gettin' rheumateez on de leg las' fall! +I t'ink it's no use waitin', for neider can come wit' me, +So alone I mak' leetle visit dat camp on de Cheval Gris. + +An' if only you see it, Johnnie, an' change dere was all aroun', +Ev'ryt'ing gone but de timber an' dat is all fallin' down; +No sign of portage by de reever w'ere man dey was place canoe, +W'y, Johnnie, I'm cry lak de bebé, an' I'm glad you don't come, mon vieux! + +But strange t'ing's happen me dere, Johnnie, mebbe I go asleep, +As I lissen de song of de rapide, as pas' de Longue Soo she sweep, +Ma head she go biz-z-z lak de sawmeel, I don't know w'at's wrong wit' me, +But firs' t'ing I don't know not'ing, an' den w'at you t'ink I see? + +Yourse'f an' res' of de boy, Johnnie, by light of de coal oil lamp, +An' you're singin' an' tolin' story, sittin' aroun' de camp, +We hear de win' on de chimley, an' we know it was beeg, beeg storm, +But ole box stove she is roarin', an' camp's feelin' nice an' warm. + +I t'ink you're on boar' of de raf', Johnnie, near head of Riviere du Loup, +W'en LeRoy an' young Patsy Kelly get drown comin' down de Soo, +Wall! I see me dem very same feller, jus' lak you see me to-day, +Playin' dat game dey call checker, de game dey was play alway! + +An' Louis Charette asleep, Johnnie, wit' hees back up agen de wall, +Makin' soche noise wit' hees nose, dat you t'ink it was moose on de fall, +I s'pose he's de mos' fattes' man dere 'cept mebbe Bateese La Rue, +But if I mak fonne on poor Louis, I know he was good boy too! + +W'at you do over dere on your bunk, Johnnie, lightin' dem allumettes, +Are you shame 'cos de girl she write you, is dat de las' wan you get? +It's fonny you can't do widout it ev'ry tam you was goin' bed, +W'y readin' dat letter so offen, you mus have it all on de head! + +Dat's de very sam' letter, Johnnie, was comin' t'ree mont' ago, +I t'ink I know somet'ing about it, 'cos I fin' it wan day on de snow. +An' I see on de foot dat letter, Philomene she is do lak dis: * * * +I'm not very moche on de school, me, but I t'ink dat was mean de kiss. + +Wall! nobody's kickin' de row, Johnnie, an' if allumettes' fini, +Put Philomene off on your pocket, an' sing leetle song wit' me; +For don't matter de hard you be workin' toujours you're un bon garçon, +An' nobody sing lak our Johnnie, Kebeck to de Mattawa! + +An' it's den you be let her go, Johnnie, till roof she was mos' cave in, +An' if dere's firs' prize on de singin', Bagosh! you're de man can win! +Affer dat come fidelle of Joe Pilon, an' he's feller can make it play, +So we're clearin' de floor right off den, for have leetle small danser. + +An' w'en dance she was tout finis, Johnnie, I go de sam' bunk wit' you +W'ere we sleep lak two broder, an' dream of de girl on Riviere du Loup, +Very nice ontil somebody call me, it soun' lak de boss Pelang, +"Leve toi, Jeremie ma young feller, or else you'll be late on de gang." + +An' den I am wak' up, Johnnie, an' w'ere do you t'ink I be? +Dere was de wood an' mountain, dere was de Cheval Gris, +But w'ere is de boy an' musique I hear only w'ile ago? +Gone lak de flower las' summer, gone lak de winter snow! + +An' de young man was bring me up, Johnnie, dat's son of ma boy Maxime, +Say, "Gran'fader, w'at is de matter, you havin' de bad, bad dream? +Come look on your face on de well dere, it's w'ite lak I never see, +Mebbe 't was better you're stayin', an' not go along wit' me." + +An' w'en I look down de well, Johnnie, an' see de ole feller dere, +I say on mese'f "you be makin' fou Jeremie Chateauvert, +For t'ink you're garçon agen. Ha! ha! jus' 'cos you are close de eye, +An' only commence for leevin' w'en you're ready almos' for die!" + +Ah! dat's how de young day pass, Johnnie, purty moche lak de t'ing I see, +Sometam dey be las' leetle longer, sam' as wit' you an' me, +But no matter de ole we're leevin', de tam she must come some day, +W'en boss on de place above, Johnnie, he's callin' us all away. + +I'm glad I was go on de camp, Johnnie, I t'ink it will do me good, +Mebbe it's las' tam too, for sure, I'll never pass on de wood, +For I don't expec' moche longer ole Jeremie will be lef', +But about w'at I see dat day, Johnnie, tole nobody but yourse'f. + + + +DE STOVE PIPE HOLE. + + +Dat's very cole an' stormy night on Village St. Mathieu, +W'en ev'ry wan he's go couché, an' dog was quiet, too-- +Young Dominique is start heem out see Emmeline Gourdon, +Was leevin' on her fader's place, Maxime de Forgeron. + +Poor Dominique he's lak dat girl, an' love her mos' de tam, +An' she was mak' de promise--sure--some day she be his famme, +But she have worse ole fader dat's never on de worl', +Was swear onless he's riche lak diable, no feller's get hees girl. + +He's mak' it plaintee fuss about hees daughter Emmeline, +Dat's mebbe nice girl, too, but den, Mon Dieu, she's not de queen! +An' w'en de young man's come aroun' for spark it on de door, +An' hear de ole man swear "Bapteme!" he's never come no more. + +Young Dominique he's sam' de res',--was scare for ole Maxime, +He don't lak risk hese'f too moche for chances seein' heem, +Dat's only stormy night he come, so dark you cannot see, +An dat's de reason w'y also, he's climb de gallerie. + +De girl she's waitin' dere for heem--don't care about de rain, +So glad for see young Dominique he's comin' back again, +Dey bote forget de ole Maxime, an' mak de embrasser +An affer dey was finish dat, poor Dominique is say-- + +"Good-bye, dear Emmeline, good-bye; I'm goin' very soon, +For you I got no better chance, dan feller on de moon-- +It's all de fault your fader, too, dat I be go away, +He's got no use for me at all--I see dat ev'ry day. + +"He's never meet me on de road but he is say 'Sapré!' +An' if he ketch me on de house I'm scare he's killin' me, +So I mus' lef' ole St. Mathieu, for work on 'noder place, +An' till I mak de beeg for-tune, you never see ma face." + +Den Emmeline say "Dominique, ma love you'll alway be +An' if you kiss me two, t'ree tam I'll not tole noboddy-- +But prenez garde ma fader, please, I know he's gettin ole-- +All sam' he offen walk de house upon de stockin' sole. + +"Good-bye, good-bye, cher Dominique! I know you will be true, +I don't want no riche feller me, ma heart she go wit' you." +Dat's very quick he's kiss her den, before de fader come, +But don't get too moche pleasurement--so 'fraid de ole Bonhomme. + +Wall! jus' about dey're half way t'roo wit all dat love beez-nesse +Emmeline say, "Dominique, w'at for you're scare lak all de res? +Don't see mese'f moche danger now de ole man come aroun'," +W'en minute affer dat, dere's noise, lak' house she's fallin' down. + +Den Emmeline she holler "Fire! will no wan come for me?" +An Dominique is jomp so high, near bus' de gallerie,-- +"Help! help! right off," somebody shout, "I'm killin' on ma place, +It's all de fault ma daughter, too, dat girl she's ma disgrace." + +He's kip it up long tam lak dat, but not hard tellin' now, +W'at's all de noise upon de house--who's kick heem up de row? +It seem Bonhomme was sneak aroun' upon de stockin' sole, +An' firs' t'ing den de ole man walk right t'roo de stove pipe hole. + +W'en Dominique is see heem dere, wit' wan leg hang below, +An' 'noder leg straight out above, he's glad for ketch heem so-- +De ole man can't do not'ing, den, but swear and ax for w'y +Noboddy tak' heem out dat hole before he's comin' die. + +Den Dominique he spik lak dis, "Mon cher M'sieur Gourdon +I'm not riche city feller, me, I'm only habitant, +But I was love more I can tole your daughter Emmeline, +An' if I marry on dat girl, Bagosh! she's lak de Queen. + +"I want you mak de promise now, before it's come too late, +An' I mus' tole you dis also, dere's not moche tam for wait. +Your foot she's hangin' down so low, I'm 'fraid she ketch de cole, +Wall! if you give me Emmeline, I pull you out de hole." + +Dat mak' de ole man swear more hard he never swear before, +An' wit' de foot he's got above, he's kick it on de floor, +"Non, non," he say "Sapré tonnerre! she never marry you, +An' if you don't look out you get de jail on St. Mathieu." + +"Correc'," young Dominique is say, "mebbe de jail's tight place, +But you got wan small corner, too, I see it on de face, +So if you don't lak geev de girl on wan poor habitant, +Dat's be mese'f, I say, Bonsoir, mon cher M'sieur Gourdon." + +"Come back, come back," Maxime is shout--I promise you de girl, +I never see no wan lak you--no never on de worl'! +It's not de nice trick you was play on man dat's gettin' ole, +But do jus' w'at you lak, so long you pull me out de hole." + +"Hooraw! Hooraw!" Den Dominique is pull heem out tout suite +An' Emmeline she's helpin' too for place heem on de feet, +An' affer dat de ole man's tak' de young peep down de stair, +W'ere he is go couchè right off, an' dey go on parloir. + +Nex' Sunday morning dey was call by M'sieur le Curé +Get marry soon, an' ole Maxime geev Emmeline away; +Den affer dat dey settle down lak habitant is do, +An' have de mos' fine familee on Village St. Mathieu. + + + +"DE SNOWBIRD." + + +O leetle bird dat's come to us w'en stormy win' she's blowin', +An' ev'ry fiel' an' mountain top is cover wit' de snow, +How far from home you're flyin', noboddy's never knowin' +For spen' wit' us de winter tam, mon cher petit oiseau! + +We alway know you're comin', w'en we hear de firs' beeg storm, +A sweepin' from de sky above, an' screamin' as she go-- +Can tell you're safe inside it, w'ere you're keepin' nice an' warm, +But no wan's never see you dere, mon cher petit oiseau! + +Was it 'way behin' de mountain, dat de nort' win' ketch you sleepin' +Mebbe on your leetle nes' too, an' before de wing she grow, +Lif' you up an' bring you dat way, till some morning fin' you peepin' +Out of new nes' on de snow dreef, mon pauv' petit oiseau! + +All de wood is full on summer, wit' de many bird is sing dere, +Dey mus' offen know each oder, mebbe mak' de frien' also, +But w'en you was come on winter, never seein' wan strange wing dere +Was it mak' you feelin' lonesome, mon pauv' petit oiseau? + +Plaintee bird is alway hidin' on some place no wan can fin' dem, +But ma leetle bird of winter, dat was not de way you go-- +For de chil'ren on de roadside, you don't seem to care for min' dem +W'en dey pass on way to schoolhouse, mon cher petit oiseau! + +No wan say you sing lak robin, but you got no tam for singin' +So busy it was keepin' you get breakfas' on de snow, +But de small note you was geev us, w'en it join de sleigh bell ringin' +Mak' de true Canadian music, mon cher petit oiseau! + +O de long an' lonesome winter, if you're never comin' near us, +If we miss you on de roadside, an' on all de place below! +But le bon Dieu he will sen' you troo de storm again for cheer us, +W'en we mos' was need you here too, mon cher petit oiseau! + + + +THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE. + + +I read on de paper mos' ev'ry day, all about Jubilee +An' grande procession movin' along, an' passin' across de sea, +Dat's chil'ren of Queen Victoriaw comin' from far away +For tole Madame w'at dey t'ink of her, an' wishin' her bonne santé. + +An' if any wan want to know pourquoi les Canayens should be dere +Wit' res' of de worl' for shout "Hooraw" an' t'row hees cap on de air, +Purty quick I will tole heem de reason, w'y we feel lak de oder do, +For if I'm only poor habitant, I'm not on de sapré fou. + +Of course w'en we t'ink it de firs' go off, I know very strange it seem +For fader of us dey was offen die for flag of L'Ancien Regime, +From day w'en de voyageurs come out all de way from ole St. Malo, +Flyin' dat flag from de mas' above, an' long affer dat also. + +De English fight wit' de Frenchman den over de whole contree, +Down by de reever, off on de wood, an' out on de beeg, beeg sea, +Killin', an' shootin', an' raisin' row, half tam dey don't know w'at for, +W'en it's jus' as easy get settle down, not makin' de crazy war. + +Sometam' dey be quiet for leetle w'ile, you t'ink dey don't fight no more, +An' den w'en dey're feelin' all right agen, Bang! jus' lak' she was before. +Very offen we're beatin' dem on de fight, sometam' dey can beat us, too, +But no feller's scare on de 'noder man, an' bote got enough to do. + +An' all de long year she be go lak' dat, we never was know de peace, +Not'ing but war from de wes' contree down to de St. Maurice; +Till de las' fight's comin' on Canadaw, an' brave Generale Montcalm +Die lak' a sojer of France is die, on Battle of Abraham. + +Dat's finish it all, an' de English King is axin' us stayin' dere +W'ere we have sam' right as de 'noder peep comin' from Angleterre. +Long tam' for our moder so far away de poor Canayens is cry, +But de new step-moder she's good an' kin', an' it's all right bimeby. + +If de moder come dead w'en you're small garçon leavin' you dere alone, +Wit' nobody watchin' for fear you fall, an hurt youse'f on de stone, +An' 'noder good woman she tak' your han' de sam' your own moder do, +Is it right you don't call her moder, is it right you don't love her too? + +Bâ non, an' dat was de way we feel, w'en de ole Regime's no more, +An' de new wan come, but don't change moche, w'y it's jus' lak' it be before. +Spikin' Français lak' we alway do, an' de English dey mak no fuss, +An' our law de sam', wall, I don't know me, 'twas better mebbe for us. + +So de sam' as two broder we settle down, leevin' dere han' in han', +Knowin' each oder, we lak' each oder, de French an' de Englishman, +For it's curi's t'ing on dis worl', I'm sure you see it agen an' agen, +Dat offen de mos' worse ennemi, he's comin' de bes', bes' frien'. + +So we're kipin' so quiet long affer dat, w'en las' of de fightin's done, +Dat plaintee is say, de new Canayens forget how to shoot de gun; +But Yankee man's smart, all de worl' know dat, so he's firs' fin' mistak' + wan day +W'en he's try cross de line, fusil on hee's han', near place dey call + Chateaugay. + +Of course it's bad t'ing for poor Yankee man, De Salaberry be dere +Wit' habitant farmer from down below, an' two honder Voltigeurs, +Dem feller come off de State, I s'pose, was fightin' so hard dey can +But de blue coat sojer he don't get kill, is de locky Yankee man! + +Since den w'en dey're comin on Canadaw, we alway be treat dem well, +For dey're spennin' de monee lak' gentil-hommes, an' stay on de bes' hotel, +Den "Bienvenu," we will spik dem, an' "Come back agen nex' week, +So long you was kip on de quiet an' don't talk de politique!" + +Yass, dat is de way Victoriaw fin' us dis jubilee, +Sometam' we mak' fuss about not'ing, but it's all on de familee, +An' w'enever dere's danger roun' her, no matter on sea or lan', +She'll find that les Canayens can fight de sam' as bes' Englishman. + +An' onder de flag of Angleterre, so long as dat flag was fly-- +Wit' deir English broder, les Canayens is satisfy leev an' die. +Dat's de message our fader geev us w'en dey're fallin' on Chateaugay, +An' de flag was kipin' dem safe den, dat's de wan we will kip alway! + + + +OLE DOCTEUR FISET. + + +Ole Docteur Fiset of Saint Anicet, + Sapré tonnerre! he was leev long tam! +I'm sure he's got ninety year or so, +Beat all on de Parish 'cept Pierre Courteau, + An' day affer day he work all de sam'. + +Dat house on de hill, you can see it still, + She's sam' place he buil' de firs' tam' he come +Behin' it dere's one leetle small jardin +Got plaintee de bes' tabac Canayen + Wit' fameuse apple an' beeg blue plum. + +An' dey're all right dere, for de small boy's scare + No matter de apple look nice an' red, +For de small boy know if he's stealin' some +Den Docteur Fiset on dark night he come, + An' cut leetle feller right off hees head! + +But w'en dey was rap, an' tak' off de cap, + M'sieu' le Docteur he will say "Entrez," +Den all de boy pass on jardin behin' +W'ere dey eat mos' ev'ryt'ing good dey fin', + Till dey can't go on school nearly two, t'ree day. + +But Docteur Fiset, not moche fonne he get, + Drivin' all over de whole contree, +If de road she's bad, if de road she's good, +W'en ev'ryt'ing's drown on de Spring-tam flood, + An' workin' for not'ing half tam' mebbe! + +Let her rain or snow, all he want to know + Is jus' if anywan's feelin' sick, +For Docteur Fiset's de ole fashion kin' +Doin' good was de only t'ing on hees min' + So he got no use for de politique. + +An' he's careful too, 'cos firs' t'ing he do, + For fear dere was danger some fever case, +Is tak' w'en he's come leetle w'isky chaud, +Den 'noder wan too jus' before he go, + He's so scare carry fever aroun' de place! + +On nice summer day w'en we're makin' hay + Dere's not'ing more pleasant for us I'm sure +Dan see de ole man come joggin' along, +Alway singin' some leetle song, + An' hear heem say "Tiens, mes amis, Bonjour!" + +An' w'en de cole rain was commence again + An' we're sittin' at home on some warm cornerre, +If we hear de buggy an' see de light +Tearin' along t'roo de black, black night, + We know right off dat's de ole Docteur! + +An' he's smart horse sure, w'at he call "Faubourg," + Ev'ry place on de Parish he know dem all, +An' you ought to see de nice way he go +For fear he's upsettin' upon de snow, + W'en ole man's asleep on de cariole! + +I 'member w'en poor Hormisdas Couture + Get sick on hees place twenty mile away +An' hees boy Ovide he was come "Raquette" +W'at you call "Snowshoe," for Docteur Fiset, + An' Docteur he start wit' hees horse an' sleigh. + +All de night before, de beeg storm she roar, + An' mos' of de day it's de sam' also, +De drif' was pilin' up ten feet high +You can't see not'ing dis side de sky, + Not'ing but wan avalanche of snow. + +I'm hearin' de bell w'en I go on de well + For water de cattle on barn close by, +But I only ketch sight of hees cheval blanc +An' hees coonskin coat wit' de capuchon + An' de storm tak' heem off, jus' de sam' he fly. + +Mus' be le Bon Dieu dat is help him t'roo, + Ole Docteur Fiset an' hees horse "Faubourg," +'Twas somet'ing for splain-me, wall I don't care, +But somehow or 'noder he's gettin' dere, + An' save de life Hormisdas Couture. + +But it's sam' alway, lak' dat ev'ry day, + He never was spare hese'f pour nous autres, +He don't mak' moche monee, Docteur Fiset, +An' offen de only t'ing he was get + Is de prayer of poor man, an' wan bag of oat. + + * * * * * + +Wall! Docteur Fiset of Saint Anicet + He is not dead yet! an' I'm purty sure +If you're passin' dat place about ten year more +You will see heem go roun' lak' he go before + Wit' de ole cariole an' hees horse "Faubourg!" + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Habitant and Other French-Canadian +Poems, by William Henry Drummond + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HABITANT AND OTHERS *** + +This file should be named 8hbtn10.txt or 8hbtn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8hbtn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8hbtn10a.txt + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, +Andrew Sly and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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