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The original copy was borrowed from, and filmed with, the kind consent of the following institution: National Library of Canada Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la der- nidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE ', le symbole V signifie "FIN". L'exemplaire film6 fut reproduit grdce d la gdn^rositd de I'dtablissement pr§teur suivant : Bibliothdque nationale du Canada Maps or plates too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper Iftft hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes ou les planches trop grandes pour Stre reproduites en un seul clich6 sont filmdes d partir de I'angle sup6rieure gauche, de gauche d droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Le diagramme suivant illustre la m^thode : 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■4 4 I By WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND The Habitant, and Other French-Canadian Poems. The Voyageur, and Other Poems. Johnnie Courteau, and Other Poems. The Great Fight. G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS NEW YORK AND LONDON <*iRf .."^^^'^V.-rv # H t * C- (*> *■% S > .' ' ) I / 'I'okon ! hccs sojer nc\cr fiyhl more l)r.iYf; Tks dem poor habitants." SB^i»sa»*-' ■ ■ . 1 I ■. M ■ I A >• 1 '«i,■>• >•>• ^.v WILLIAM HENRY DRUMMOND, MD. a WITH AN INTRODUCTION HV LOUIS FRECHETTE AND WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY •REDBRICK SIMPSON COBURN TH/K TYEIGHTH THOU S A .VD rilE MUSSON BOOK CO. LIMITED LONDON TORONTO ENGLAND CANADA (;. /'. prr.v.iMs so.vs, xi-ir vork r - '■ ■: S 5 9 8 01 (."ol'VKKiH r. 1897 HV (; F. PUTNAM'S SONS T( GKOR TH] 1: m TO MY DEAR FRIEND AND FORMEK TEACHER GKORGE MURRAY. Esq., B.A., A.K.C.. F.R.S.C. THESE VERSES ARE DEDICATED WITH SINCERE ADMIRATION AND RESPECT IP -4^ i O Cucil pi up, eut 1 pat/) A^ hui ] confi jama patJi merit Nc clairi il en OUtil: INTRODUCTION ON mc dcmandc, pour cc charmant volume, un mot de preface en fran^ais; le voicir Ouand, en 1863, jc publiai mon premier re- cueil de poesies — ecrites au college, pour la plupart, — le grand poete americain Longfellow eut la flatteuse bienveillance de m'appeler T/te patiifindcr of a iiciu IcDid of song. Avec mille fois plus de raison puis-je aujourd*- hui passer le compliment a mon sympathiquc confrere et ami, I'auteur de ce livre; car, si jamais quelqu'un, chez nous, a merits le titre de pat Ji finder of a nczu land of song, c'est assur6- ment lui. Non seulement il a d^couvert le champ, la clairiere, la vallee fertile et encore inexplor^e ; il en a fait I'exploitation a sa maniere, avec des outils et des moyens de son invention ; et, fier VI Introduction de sa conqucte, il laissc, dc son cpaulc robustc, tonibcr h nos picds Ic fruit dc son travail, la gcrbe planturcusc aux ors vicr^cs, a Taronic sauvaj^c, aux savourcuscs promcsscs, toutc fraichc ct toutc crissantc dans sa rusticitc sainc. N'cst-cllc pas, en cffct, d'unc ori^inalitc pni commune, I'idoc dc prendre un pauvre illettrc, de le prc'scnter comme un type national a part, de lui mettre aux levres une lani^ue (^ui n'cst pas la sienne et ([u'il ne connait ([u' a denii; d'en faire en menie temps un personnage bon, doux, aimable, honnete, intelligent et droit, I'esprit en 6vc[\, le cujur plein d'une po6sic native stimulant son patriotisme, jetant un rayon lumineux dans son modeste interieur, bcr^ant scs heures reveuscs dc souvenirs loin- tains ct melancoliqucs ? Et cela sans que jamais, dans cc portrait d'un nouveau genre, le plus subtil dcs criticpics puisse surprendre nuUc part Ic coup dc crayon dc la caricature! Dans scs inimitablcscontes villagcois, George Sand a peint Ics paysans du Berry sous dcs de- hors tr6s int^rcssants. Ellc nous les montrc I ■s^:- Introduction Vll robust(\ avail, lu Tarome -;, toulc rusticite ilitc \)v\\ ; illcttrc, il a part, jui n'cst a dcnii; age boil, ct droit, c poesie ,'tant un ntcricur, nirs loin- rait d'lin criticpics .c crayon 3, Gcon^c s des dc- , montrc ^3; ineinc d'un sciitinu.-nt ties affinc dans leur sini- j)licitc naive ct leur cc^rdiale boidioniic. Mn ' soinine, elle en fait des natures, des tenipera- nients, (pielque chose de t)'pi(iue, en mcnic temps (ju' li.innonieux de teinte et de forme. Mais (jeorL;c: Sand faisait jjarler ses pcrson- na^^es dans la lan<^ue du pa}'s, dans la lan^ue de la chauiniere, dans leur propre dialecte, enfin. I'dle n'a\ait, pour ainsi dire, (}u' a faire penetrer le- souflle de son talent sous le rescau dc la phrase, pour aninier celle-ci (1*1111 relict dc ly- risine ou d'une vibration attendric. La tachc abordce par M. Druminond pr6scn- tait un caractere beaucouj) ])his difficile. lei, le poete avait bieii, il est vrai, le milieu a saisir, place, droit en face de son objectif. 11 6lait asscz familier avec ses acteurs ])our Ics grouper avantaL;eusement, en mena^eant Ics effets d'ombres et de lumiere. 11 est naturelle- ment asscz artiste j)our ne rien ne^lii Wreck of the '•Julie Plante" 9 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, Wen 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. ' i De night was dark lak' wan black cat, De wave run high an* fas', Wen 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. ^mmmmmmmmim'n lO The Habitant 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. I • (1 VENEZ ici, mon cher ami, an' sit down by me — so An' I will tole you story of old tam long ago — Wen ev'ryt'/ng is happy — w'en all de bird is smg 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, u 12 The Habitant Dat *s horn ma dear ole modcr blow — an only t'ing she play Is ** vicns done vite Napoleon — 'peche toi pour votre souper. " — A.n' w'en he 's hear da"- 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 — Car> leau 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 | g . familee, Dat 's ten gargon an' t'orteen girl, was mak' it ,| ^j^. twenty t'ree H Le Vieux Temps 13 But fonny t'Ing de Gouvernement don't geev de firs' prize den Lak w'at dcy say dey geev it now, for only wan douzaine. Dc English peep dat only got wan familee small size Mus' be feel glad dat tarn dere is no bonder 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 fu.. 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 tarn I 'member bes* is w*en I 'm twenty wan year — me — An* so for mak' some pleasurement — we geev wan large soiree 1 H The Habitant De whole paroissc she be invite — de Cur^ he 's come too — Wit plainiee 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 mal^ on Trois Rivieres — An* w'en Bonhomme Latour commence for tune up hees fidelle It mak' us all feel very glad — I'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 I! h;'' Le Vieux Temps 15 Tak' hole de beeg Marie Juneau an* dance upon de floor Till Marie say " Excuse to me, I cannot dance no more." — IS A.n' den de Cur^ *s mak* de speech — ole Curd 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 Vou 're s'pose for dance on Paul Laberge, not Telesphore Gagnon. iarn len Mon oncle Al-fred, he spik lak* dat — *cos he is boss de floor, An' so we do our possibill an' Hen commence encore. i6 The Habitant Dem crowd of boy an' girl I'm sure keep up until nex' day If ole Bateese don't stop heseff, he come so fatigu^. An' affcr dat, we eat some t'ing, tak' leetle drink also An' de Cur6, he 's tole story of many year ago— Wen 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. i I i i ^|!{ 'III (iii ; 1 |f ! iiv 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 Cur^ 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 Comt^, an* jus' got eighteen ; ^ar — lU Dey Som{ '!!!'"''. I Lc Vicux T cnipj 17 I Hlack hair — black eye, an' chick ros^c dat 's lak wan fameuse on de fall Ikit don't si)ik 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 bonder* acre — mebbe a leetle more — Nice sui^ar 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 ; lie say " Ba gosh — ma girl can wash — can keep de kitchen clean Den change her dress — mak' politesse before God save de Queen." )elle got 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 ^mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmr -.■i.a;;", is,;.t»*'';- : ■ .j.i-i>iE'*[ i8 The Habitant 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' it 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 tarn you get de fever — some tarn you 're lak snowball An' all de tarn 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 W( Le Vieux Temps 19 Rut bimeby 1 come more brave — an' tak' El- mire she's ban' ■' Laisse-moi tranquille " Elmire she say " You mus' be crazy man." ' Yass — yass I say " mebbe you t'ink I 'm wan bceg loup garou, Dat 's forty t'ousand 'noder girl, I lef* dem all for you, I s'pose you know Polique Gauthicr 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. 20 The Habitant He \s only upset t'rcc — four tarn — 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 *t was 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 '11 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'^oo de wood hesef upon ma las' portage. An' 'ii !(. Hut ; ' *' DE PAPINEAU GUN." AN INCIDENT OF THE CANADIAN REBELLION OF 1837. B ON jour, M'sieu' — you want to know 'Bout dat ole gun — w'at good she 's for r W'y! Jean Batccse Bruneau — mon pere, Fight wit' dat gun on Pap'ncau War! Long tarn 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. Dc English don't ack square dat tarn, 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 habitant&> ■1 22 The Habitant Mon pere he leev to Grande Brul6 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, Were 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 / **De Papineau Gun" 23 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 lieem 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! J 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 off en w'en we are alone, we lak for spik about De tarn w'en we was come beeg man, wit' moustache on our mout'. ' I Bateese is get it on hees head, he *s too moche educate For mak' de habitant farmerre — he better go on State — ! I How Bateese Came Home 25 An' so wan summer evening we 're drivin' liome dc cow He 's tolc me all de whole beez-nesse — jus' lak you hear me now. Wat 's use mak' foolish on de farm ? dere 's no good chances lef An' all dc tam you be poor man — you know dat 's true you'se'f ; \Vc 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 mcbbe 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 majority, for go on parliament Den bull' fine house on borde I'eau — near w'ere de church is stand More finer dan de Presbytere, w'en I am come riche man ! ' ' 26 The Habitant 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' I'argent, You spen' it jus' lak Yankee man, an' not lak habitant. ** For me Batcese! I tolc 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. I say He I say Was II, i V How Bateese Came Home 27 J 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 comehooraw! but stop de soon she can An' beeg swell feller jomp off car, dat *s boss by nigger man. i i 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 — ef I say" Hello Bateese! Hello! Comment ga 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 ? " 28 The Habitant 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!" m i > 4 ** 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 *' Were 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!-- How Batecsc Came Home 29 Jkt fancy drink lak " Collings John " de way he put it down Was long tarn since I don't see dat — I t'ink he 's goin' drown ! — An' fine cigar cos' five cent each, an' mak' on Trois-Rivi^res 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 Batcese, hees fader come for heem, an' tak' heem home all right Do 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 — du m't )me )n't Wall ! all de winter w'en we have soiree dat 's grande affaire Bateese Trudeau, dit Waterhole, he be de boss man dere — Vou 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. 30 The Habitant You 'member w'en dc hard tam come on Les Etats Unis An' plaintee Canayens go back for stay deir own contr6e ? 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 di '"^m, an* say "Bon jour, mon vieux I hope you know Bat . rudeau 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." -A? w How Batccsc Came Home 31 " I ^ot no inonce — 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 fricn' 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 Can ad aw " 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 ! ee ;re 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 dor^ — 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. 32 The Habitant It don't tak' long for tolc de news " Bateese come off de State " An' purty soon we have beeg crowd, lak vil- lage she 's en fete Bonhomme Maxime Trudeau hese'f, he s comin' wit' de pries' An' pass' heein on de " Room ^r eat " w'ere he is see Bateese. Den ev'rybody feel it glad, for watch de em- brasser An' bimeby de ole man spik " Bateese you here for stay ? " Bateese he 's cry lak beeg bebfe, " 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." Ice I >o > )U Ide How Batccse Came Home 33 Wall! w'cn de ole man an' Batecse come off de Magasin Bateese is los' hces Yankee clothes — he 's dress lak Canayen Wit' bottes sauvages — ceinture flech^ — an' coat wit' capuchon An' spik Fran^ais au nature!, de sam' as habi- tant. »u IX ;t 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 Na- poleon Kebeck she 's good enough for me — HootHW pour Canadaw." 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! ius' lak de Queen. An De Nice Lcetlc Canadicnne 35 Dcii come for fin' out she is niak' it herse'f, For she ain't got moche monee for spen', But all de sam' tarn, she was never get lef, Dat nice leetle Canadienne. Wen " un vrai Canayen " is mak' it marine, You t'ink he go leev on beeg fiat An' bodder hese'f all de tarn, 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, Were he leev lak blood rooster, an' save de I'argent, Wit' hees nice leetle Canadienne. lak, lay, 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. she 's quick an' she 's smart, an' got plain- tee 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; 36 The Habitant 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. it ii I 'POLEON DORfi. A TALE OF THE SAINT MAURICE. YOU have never hear de story of de ;> ung Napoleon Dore ? Los' hees life upon de reever w'en de lumber drive go down ? Were 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. A.11 de winter on de Shaintee, tarn she *s good, and work she *s plaintee, But we 're not feel very sorry, w'en de sun is warm hees face, Wen 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. i 38 The Habitant 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 tarn. 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 marie^. 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 tarn you pass on some place, you don't never pass before." w . M» *-W)-^ * - ■■ "^-r 'Polcon Dore 39 But we *11 not t'ink mochc of danger, for de rapide she 's no stranger Many tarn 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 '11 never drown noboddy, an' we '11 never bus' somet'ing. Dcrc was Telesphore Montbriand, Paul Desjar- dins, Louis Guyon, Bill McKeevcr, 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. le roU Dis is jus' de tarn I wash me, I could spik de good English — me — For tole you of de pleasurement we get upon de spring, Wen de win' she 's all a sleepin', an' de raf she go a sweepin' Down de reever on some morning, w'ile 1^ rossignol is sing. 40 The Habitant Ev'ryt'ing so nice an* quiet on de shore as we pass by it, All dc 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. i:!| 'Poleon Dore 41 But bad luck is sometam fetch us, for becg^ strong win' come an' ketch us, Jus' so soon we struck de rapide — jus* so soon we see de smoke, A.n' 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' Could n'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 *11 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 Dor6, heem I start for tole de story. Holler out, " Mon Dieu, I don't lak see poor Paul go drown hese'f. '* 42 The Habitant So he 's mak' becg jomp on water, jus' de sam you sec 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 '11 know dem bote lak broder, But de fight she soon is finish — Paul an' 'Poleon go below. Vass, an' all de tarn 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 d< not'ing, dat 's too bad. i.ii 'Polcon Dorc 43 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'cn dey see poor Paul he 's taken Wit' de young Napoleon Dor6, bes' boy on de St. Maurice! An' day affer, Bill McKeever fin' de bote man on de reever, Wit' deir arm aroun' each oder, mcbbe pass above dat way — So we bury dem as we fin' dem, w'ere de pine tree wave bchin' dem An de Grande Montague he 's lookin' down on Marcheterre Bay. g : 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. DC NOTAIBC PUBLIQUE M 'siEU Paul Joulin, de Notairc Pub- lique Is come I s'pose^ ^/fllU'W r / //// seexty year hees //''I'' life An' de mos' riche man on Sainte Angelique Wen 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 **Dc Notairc Publique** 45 An' all de young feller is lak Julie An' plaintee is ax her for mak' marine, lUit Julie she 's love only jus' wan man, llees 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. t3 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, ch6rle; I dress you de very bes* style k 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 III "=« 46 The Habitant Wit* no chance at all for dc Grande Moulin, But leev all de tarn 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' tarn 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 tarn 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. 1 " De Notarie Publique " 47 Wen J^remie come off de wood nex' spring, An' fin' dat hees girl she was get marine Everybody 's expec' he will do something, But he don't do not'ing at all, dey say;' For he 's got 'noder girl on Sainte Doroth^e, Dat he 's love long tarn, an' she don't sav " No," ^ So he 's forget too all about Julie An' mak' de marine wit' hese'f also. ■•M»'w»MMfeaM*M*llta . '.•...'.'n'.T'trfr, r"-**!-*' rTr-^.i-ri'r.AfiBBB << 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 bonder voyageurs. 48 Ai ** Maximo Labelle" 49 " I got dc plaintee sojer, mc, bccg 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 Cana- dian 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 becg, 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 Mercicr he 's telegraph, " Correc', Ma- dame, we go." ■ .■.^— .-.-j.-.-.:.L ..,., L. -^^^ .^.^^^ ^^ .^-^ ^ r- "■■■-TTIfflWOTn i ^ i. W ii _ ^■v ; 7 1^55 ^52 50 The Habitant So Joe arrange dc wliole beez-nesse wit' Queen Victoriaw ; Two dollar day — work all de tarn — dat 's purty good r argent ! An' w'en we start on Trois Rivieres, for pass on boar' de ship, Our frien' dcy 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 leetlc 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, Plea; 3 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. Da Joil **Maximc LabcUc" 51 Dc gang she 's travel, travel, t'roo many strange con tree, An' ev'ry place is got new nam', I don't re- member, me, We see some fonny t'ing, for sure, more fonny I can tell, But w'en we reach cle Neel Riviere, dat 's feel more naturel. So many fine, beeg sojer man, I never see be- fore. All dress heem on grand uniform, is wait upon de shore, Some black, some green, an* red also, cos* bonder dollar sure, An' holler out, " She 's all right now, here come de voyageurs! " n\ ley Ivas Wc 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. 52 The Habitant 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 sakit, an' tak* it off hces 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 cm- barquer. 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 Ot tawa, De Gatineau an' St. Maurice, also de Mat- tawa, But I don't never work at all, I 'sure you dat 's a fack Until we strike de Neel Riviere, an* sapr^ Catarack ! S] 1) ''Maxime Labelle" 53 " Dis way, dat way, can't keep her straight," " look out, Bateese, look out ! " " Now let her go " — " arrets un pcu," dat *s way de pilot shout, " Don't wash de neegcr girl on shore," an " prenez garde bchin'," ''' Wat 's matter wit' dat rudder man ? It 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'cn 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. ; s Dc seconde Catarack we pass, more beeger dan dc Soo, She 's nearly t'orty mile for sure, it would as- tonish you, Dat 's place t'ree Irishman get drown, wan day we have beeg storm, 1 s'pose de Queen is feel lak cry, los* dat nice uniform ! 54 The Habitant Dc night she 's very, very cole, an' hot upon An' all de tarn, 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, rhe 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 dc 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' gecv heem chance, he 's mos' as good lak some Canadian man. li'i *' Maxime Labclle " 55 Wall all de tarn, 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 sapr^ Catarack. Rut 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. :le us lak 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 1' argent, I say, " Hooraw! for all de tarn, on Queen Victoriaw ! *' §m'' ^^^■'^ MQW ^'■Mi '5M 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 frag- ments of a dream, We hear the dip of paddle blades, the ripple of the stream, 56 M Memories 57 '1 he 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 lin- g'ring echoes die. But Spirit of the Northland! let the winter breezes blow, And cover every giant crag with rifts of d.l ing snow. 58 The Habitant Freeze every leaping torrent, bind all the crys- tal lakes, Tell us of fiercer pleasures when the Storm King awakes. And now the vision changes, the winds aic 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 Cana- yen" Memories 59 a Rises and sheds its perfume like flowers of Araby, O 'er all the true-born loyal Enfants de la Patrie. And thus with soni; and story, with laugh and jest and shout, \Vc 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! r^pondit Bandore Brigadier! vous avez raison, Brigadier! repondit Bandore, Brigadier! vous avez raison! " IS 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, vVe '11 worship thee among the hills where flows the Saint-Maurice. ^ C(;r'"|j|?" <0'//^:- I'm/ n PHUDRUM g JUNE^m i:^=^«:-r^?::^^?^-^-'^'' ■^ A STORY OF THE ** CIIASSE GALLERIE. In the (lays of the "Old Regime" in Canada, the f'ee life of the woods and ])iairies proved too tenii)tinji for the youii}; men, who frequently deserted civilization for ihe sava^^e de- lights of the wilderness. These voyageurs and coureurs de 1 ois seldom returned in the ilesh, but on every New Year's Eve, back thro' snowstorm an 1 hurricane — in mid-air — came their spirits in ghostly canoes, to join, for a brief siiell, the old folks at home and kiss the girls, on the annual feast of the " Joui deran,''or New Year's Day. The legend which still survives in French-speakin^j Canada, is known as " La Chass- nL( before He 's <'()in' a\va\- 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 i^irl on jour de I'an, an' see de ole peep again. De becg voya^^eur w'at is steer canoe, wit' paddle liol' on hees han' Got very long hair was hang down hees neck, de sam' as wiF Injin man Invite me on boar' dat piiantome canoe, for show it dead man de wa}^ — Don't lak it de job, but no use refuse, so I '11 niak' 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' ur coup," an' it 's look lak ma own I t'ink, But it can't be de sam', I '11 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. Phil-o-rum Juneau 67 Dey be lciUL;ii affcr dat, lak dcy tak' some fit, so de boss spik him, " Ticns 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 pjass 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 ofT, w'ile we pass on de house an' see Dem frien' we was lef an' de girl we spark, before we go strange contree." 68 The I lahitant An' mc I was sit on canoe ontsidc, jus' lak I was saprr fou, Watchin' dcni fcUcr dat 's all dead man, dance hcem lak Loup Garou. Dc boss he kiss Marie Louise, ma ^irl, dat 's way he spen' mos* de tani, Ikit of course she know not'in^ of dat biz-ncssc — don't lak it me jus' de sam'. By tarn I 'm commence it for feel de col', dey 're all comin' out e.^^ore, An' wc start off ac^ain t'roo de sky, he >raw! for mak' de visite sonic more. All de place on dc parish we ^o 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 mo no chance. De las* place w'erc passin* dat 's BiH Boucher. he 's very good frien' of me, An' I t'ink it 's near tam I was lef dat crowd, so T '11 snub de canoe on tree, Den affer dead man he was safe inside, an' ev'rywan start danscr, I go on dc barn wat 's behin* dc house, ioi see I can't hide away. Phil-o-ruiii Juneau 69 She 's nice place de barn, an' c^ot ])laintec warm, .111' I 'ni feel very <;iad be dere, So long dead feller don't fin' nie out, an' ketch it me on do hair, Hut s'pose I '^ct col', work him hard all nij^ht, 'cos I make it wan leetle cout^h, VV^'cn dc rooster he 's scare, holler t'ree, four tarn, an' whole t'inj^ she bus' right off. I '11 never see not'ing so quick again— Canoe an* dead man go scat! She 's locky dc rooster he mak' de noise, bus' ev'ryt'ing up lak dat, Or mebbe dem feller get me encore, an* tak' me on Hodson Hay, Hut it 's all right now, for de morning's come, an' he see me ole 13111 l^oucher. 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, Hut Bill an' hees boy dey was leef me up, an' carry me on maison Were plaintee nice t'ing dey was mak' me eat, an' drink it some whiskey blanc. 70 The Habitant An' now w'en I 'ni finisli, w'at you t'ink it yousc'f, 'bout story dat you was hear ? No wonncr ma hair she is all turn w'itc before I ^et eighty year! Ikit '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 dc corner mos* every night, olc Phil- o-rum Juneau, Spik wit' liese'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. i; 1 I ■" n DC @r BELL or MICriEL )U 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. ^'^U ^% v] <^ ^3 ? y!^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 mm IS Ki 'r ■■10 1.4 1.6 / o 4 <. ,^0 % '(/. % lA ^ ^ ,\ ^^ \\ ^9) .V A* ^V ;\ fv -f>. <^.r«> "9." 72 The Habitant An' w'cn it ring, I t'ink i feel de cool, cool summer breeze Dat 's blow across Lac Peezagonk, an' phiy among de trees, Dey're meikin* 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 for- get, but I remember bcs' De spot I fin' wan day on June de small san'piper's nes* t An' dat hole on de reever w'ere I ketch de beeg, beeg trout > SL'^ Was very nearly pull me in before ;^^2\ I pull heem out. An' leetle Elodie Leclaire, I won- ^ — Ha ner if she still l^'gba-rgf' f Leev jus' sam' place she use to eetf on 'noder side de hill, ima Dc Bell of St. Michel 77, But s'pose she iiKirry Joe Barbeau,dat 's alway hangin' roun' Since I am Icf 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 liead of " a la claire fontainc," 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 moncc dat I mnk' w'en T he travel roiin* Can't kip me long away from home on dis beeg Yankee town, I t'ink I '11 settle down again on Parish Saint Michel, An' leev an' die more satisfy so long I hear dat bell. P^^J P ELANG! Pelang! Mon chcr garden, I t'ink of you — t'ink of you night and day — Don't mak' no difference, seems to me De long long tarn 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 dc window pane — ni. Pelang 75 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 rhurrh to'ito c,n>^ '' Wen 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. ■;: ; I 76 The Habitant i ; i' 1 ' i 1 : • '1 1' 1 1 1 : ,- '■ lb. ■ It 's on de fete of de jour de Tan, 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. ole Bon. So ma fader is mak' it dc laugh on me' Pelang he 's believe heem dc homme 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 couch4 De mountain also is put on hees tuqi u\^. Ncj sooner, 1 come on de house again W ere ev'iyt'ing feel ii" so nice an' warm, Dan out of de sky come de Nor' Eas' win — Out of de sky come de beeg snow storm. Pelang n m I Blow lak not'ing I never see, Blow lak le diable he was mak' grande tourj De snow come down lak wan avalanche, An' cole! Mon Dieu, it is cole for sure ! I t'ink, I ti'nk of mon pauvre gar^on, 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 ti'nk of de te/rible Loup Garou An' all de bad story I off en hear. Dere was tarn 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 cuiue 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. 78 The Habitant It 's noon by de clock w'cn dc 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 I'an, Alone by mese'f I sit again. Wile de beeg, beeg storm is blow outside, An' de snow come sweesh on de windovi pane. . t . , , , Pelang 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 chergargon! 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. 79 MONcno o o a CASTOR I'M poor man, me, but I buy las' May- Wan horse on de Comp'nie Passengaire, An' auction feller w'at sole heetn say She 's out of de full-breed " Messengaire.*' Good trotter stock, also galluppe, But work long tarn on de city car, Of course she 's purty well break heem up, So come leetle cheap — twenty-wan dollarre. i.ii I; ^ Mon Choual "Castor" 8i Firs' chance I sen' hecm on St. Cesaire, Were 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 'lon^r, 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 fricn' on de whiskey blanc. An' we drink " Castor " he 's bonne sant6 Froiu L'Acliigan to St. Armand, He 's bes' horse sure on de whole comt^. '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. 82 The Habitant Dat 's twenty dollnrrc on wan side, Dc lawyer 's draw dc i)apcr out, But if dcni trotter come in tied, Wall ! all dat monce 's ^o on spout. Nex' t'inc^ ma backer man, Labrie, Tak' off his catch-book vingt cinq cents A.n' toss Lalime bcs' 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 " vSt. Lawrence." * r^ aster." hees tail was stan' so straight uld place chapeau un de en' of top An' w'en he struck two forty gait Don't seem he's never go for stop. * "St. Lawrence," the Canadian " Dexter." •"•Wl I Mon Choual "Castor" 8 Wain dat -s all rf-ht for firs' half mile W'en Clevclan" Bay commence for break Dat mak' me feel very moche lak smile, I 'm sure " Castor " he 's took de cake. Hut Lalime pull heem hard on line An' stop " Clevelan' " before -o 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 hoi' 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 mun Choual - Castor " Was hear dat bell go kling! klang! kling[ He 's tink of course of city car, An' spose mus' be conductor ring. 84 The Habitant Firs' t'in« M5IEU 5MIT. ^•«tfO*«»#*0« e #0 Q 9 (^ o ^0 ^ niE ADVENTURES OF AN ENGLISH- MAN IN THE CAN- ADIAN WOODS W AN morning de walkim boss say * ' Damase, I t'ink you 're good man on canoe d'ecorce, So I '11 ax you go wit' your frien' Phil^as An' meet M'sieu' » 'V<^'^' ^ Smit' on Chen- ' i^-^^ "■^ ailW'ite Horse. " He *11 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." M'sicu Smit 95 Wen wc reach Cheiiail, phiintce peep be dere, An' wan frien' of mc, call Placide Chretien, 'Splain all dat w'en he say man from An^leterre Was spik heem de crowd on de " Parisien." Fonny way dat Englishman he *11 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 stranLcer I never see! Wall! dere he sit on de en' some log An' swear heem in English purty loud Den talk Frangais, w'ilc 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 foi smell. I tell heem my name dat 's Damase Labrie I am come wit' Phil^as 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' Frangais, W'at 's matter wit' dat ? " An' I say " Becos You mak' too much talk on de Parisien." 96 The Habitant De groun she is pile wit' baggage — Sapr^! An' I see purty quick w j got plaintee troub — Two tronk, t'ree valise, four-five fusil. An' w'at M'sieuSmit' 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-ncsse, He can plonge on de water mos' ev'ry day, But I t'ink for mcse'f it mak foolishness An' don't do no good w'en your bonne sant6. Wen 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 '11 arrange all dat, 'Poleon an' hees frien' Onesime Gourdon, But w'en 'Poleon is tak' hole of bat', He receive it beeg scare immediatement? , li I, 'Hm m M'sicu Smit 97 Dat cliien boulc do^, I was tolc you 'bout, I am not undcrstan' w'at good she 's for, Eat 'Poleon's leg w'it hccs tcet* an' mout, 'Poleon he is feel very mad — by Gjr! Of course I am poule heem hees tail toute suite But I don't know some reason mak all dis troub*, Wen 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 Jak dat; You may tak' all de res', an' I don't care me — But de man he '11 be keel who is tak' my bat'." ** I will carry heem wit* me,** sayM'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.*' Phil^as 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 '11 do it mese'f, inside, way down. 98 The Habitant At las' we are start on voyage, sure nuff, M'sieu Smit' carry tubbe on dc top hees liead, Good job, I t'ink so, de lac is n't rough, Or probably dis tarn, 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 Wen we go camp out on de Castor Noir. Dat Englishman he '11 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," Phil^as 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." |! , N M'sieu Smit 99 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 'li know hese'f purty quick, He cut M'sieu Bear wit' hees hunter knife, An' sponge she 's fall out on de bear stum, mick. 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 '11 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' lOO The Habitant An' w'en dey pass place M'sicu Smit' is stay We expec' he will shoot or make noise some kin'i 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. iil Nex* day — dat 's Dimanche — he is spik to me, " Damase, you mus' feel leetle fatigu^, You may slep' wit' Phil^as 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', M'sieu Smit lOI s stay se some Den he start wit' his chien boule dog an' go For nice quiet walk on shore of lac. h deer?" tree I here." see fox iman ? groun', il brown 3re in small Diere. < to me, u6, in' see i * ay. he tak*, We don't slep* half hour w'en dere 's beeg, beeg yell, Lak somet'ing I 'm sure don't hear long tarn, An' we see wan feller wc 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 '11 t'row, An* w en he 's tranquille fin' out ev'ry- t'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 '11 do dat wan tam, he 's prepare for die. '-til I02 The Habitant Phildas say he know w'cre 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' wc 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 -hore. W'en he 's pass on de bat', he say " Hooraw! " An' commence right away for mak' some sing ; •II •* M'sieu Smit 103 r m sure you can hear heem ten-twelve arpent 'Bout " Brittanie, she alway mus' boss some- t'ing." Dat 's all I win toie you jus* now, my frien* ; I s'pose you don't know de more fonny case, But if Englishman go on wood again I '11 have more storec 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! Wen Jeremie Plouffe, ma neighbor, come over an' spik wit' me, ** Antoine, you will come on de city, for hear Ma-dam AU-ba-nee ? " ** Wat 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 AU-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', i! .«1 When Albani Sang 105 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 AU-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, be- fore she is come marine, But she 's takin' de nam' of her husban' — 2 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." io6 The Habitant So I finish dat job on to-morrow, Jeremie he was helpin' me too, An* I say, " Len' me t'rce dollar quickly for mak* de voyage wit' you." Correc* — so we *re startin* nex' morning, an* arrive Montreal all right, Ikiy dollar tiquettc 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, dc fore- man 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" Afferde 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, When Albani Sang 107 T was 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 GO rafifle tiquette! Wen 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 AU-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'yi it *.• jus' lak de beeg tonder storm! ' io8 The Habitant I *11 never see not'ing lak dat, me, no matter I travel de worl', A.n' 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 AU-ba-nee she is ready an' piano get startin' for play, De feller commence wit' hees singin*, more stronger dan ill 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. When Albani Sang 109 For *♦■ *s kin* de musiquc 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 minu^:e is passin'. Ma-dam she is comin' encore, Dis tarn 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 Frangais,* Dis give us more pleasure, I tole you, 'cos w'y ? We 're de pure Canayen! Dat song I will never forget me, *t was song of de leetle bird, Wen 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 tarn I be sleepin* jus' onder some beeg pine tree An song of de robin wak' me, but robin he don't see me. no The Habitant Dcrc 's not'ing for scarin' dat bird dere, he *s feel all alone on dc 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* Riche- lieu 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', When Albani Sang 1 1 1 A^* no matter dc far she be fly in' away on de winter tarn, Back to her own leetle rosebush she *s comiri 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 i )r true! An' w'en All-ba-nee was got lonesome for travel all roun' de worl' I hope she '11 come home, lik 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, Were 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 was n't for not'ing, you 're gettin' rheu- mateez 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 alJ fallin' down; Camp on de "Cheval Gris" 113 No sign of portage by de reever w'ere man dey was place canoe, W'y, Johnnie, I 'm cry lak de beb^, 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 fink you 're on boar' of de raf, Johnnie, near head of Riviere du Loup, Wen LeRoy an' young Patsy Kelly get drown comin' down de Soo, 114 The Habitant 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 ! Wat 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 tarn you was goin' bed, W'y readin' dat letter so offen, you mus have it all on de head I 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. Camp on de ''Chcval Gris" 115 An' I see on dc foot dat letter, Philomene she is do lak dis : * $ $ ^ -iJ -ii 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' tou- jours you 're un bon gargon, 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 f^nls, Johnnie, I go de sam' bunk wit' you Were we sleep lak two brodcr, an' dream of de girl on Riviere du Loup, ii6 The Habitant Very nice ontil somebody call me, it soun' lak de boss Pelang, '* Leve toi, Jcremie ma young feller, or else you '11 be late on de gang." A.n* 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 hik 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, e, an see Jeremie Camp on de ''Cheval Gris" 117 »un' lak or else Fort'ink you 're gan^on agen. Ha! ha! jus' 'cos you arc close de eye, An' only commence for leevin' w'en you 're ready almos' for die! " 'ere do was de ear only i lak de 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 tarn she must come some day, Wen boss on de place above, Johnnie, he 's callin' us all away. fohnnie, ;er, you ere, it 's an' not 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 '11 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 Vil- lage St. Mathieu, Wen ev'ry wan he 's go couch6, an' dog was quiet, too — Voung Dominique is start hcem out see Em- meline Gourdon, Was leevin' on her fader's place, Maxime de Forgeron. Poor Dominique he *s lak dat girl, an* love her mos* de tarn. 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 fel- ler *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 ! De Stove Pipe Hole 119 An' w'en de youn^r man 's come aroun' for spark it on de door, An' hear de ole man swear " Bapteme! "he 's never come no more. on Vil dog was see Em- xime de love her ome day ^er on de e, no fel- Voung Dominique he 's sam' de res',— was scare for ole Maxime, He don't lak risk hcse'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 — daughter [on Dieu, "Good-bye, dear Emmeline, good-bye; I 'm goin' very soon, For you I got no better chance, dan feller on de moon— I20 The Habitant 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' Icf 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 '11 alway be An' if you kiss me two, t'ree tam I '11 not tole noboddy — But prenez garde ma fader, please, I know he 's gettin ole — All sam' he offen walk de house upon de stock- in' 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," be go .t ev'ry e IS say •e he *s ork on ver see a love ot tole know stock- De Stove Pipe Hole 121 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'," Wen 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." le! I art she He 's kip it up long tarn lak dat, but not hard tellin' now, W'at 's all de noise upon de house — who *s kick heem up de row ? 122 The Habitant 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. Wen 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 habi- tant, 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. De Stove Pipe Hole 123 upon de gilt t'roo Your foot she 's hangiii' down so low, I 'm 'fraid she ketch de cole, Wall ! if you give me Emmeline, I pull you out dehole." wit wan e 's glad ►ut swear •ore he 's \/[on cher nly habi- daughter ; 's lak de 5 fore it *s ot moche 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 *' Saprc 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 v/ori' I 124 The Habitant It *s not de nice trick you was play on man dat 's gcttin' ole, But do jus' w'at you lak, so long you pull me out dc hole." ** Hooraw! Hooraw!" Den Dominique is pull heem out tout suite An' Emmcline she 's helpin* too for place heem on de feet, An' affer dat de ole man *s tak' de young peep down de stair, Were he is go couch^ right off, an* dey go on parloir. Nex* Sunday morning dey was call by M'sieur le Cur6 Get marry soon, an* ole Maxime geev Emme- line away ; Den affer dat dey settle down lak habitar,t is do, A.n* have de mos' fine (; *^ilee on Village St Mathieu. i 1 ' on man I pull me [ue is pull ace heem ung peep ey go on «< T M'sieur V Emme- abitar^t is illage St. DE SNOWBIRD > • OLEETLE 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 tarn, 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 dc wing she grow, ■■ 126 The Habitant Lif you up an' bring you dat way, till some morning fin' you peepin' Out of new nes' on dc 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 'jbin, but you got no tam for singin* So busy it was keepin' you get breakfas' on de snow, *!,! ill some )n pauv' le many be mak' sr seei'p/ n pauv )lace no ) not de :'t seem se mon got nc :fas' on **De Snowbird" 127 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, mor? cher petit oiseau ! THE HABITANT'S JUBILEE ODE I READ on de paper nios' 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 sant6. i 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 sapr^ 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, The Habitant's Jubilee Ode 129 From day w'en de voyageurs come out all de way from ole St. Malo, Flyin' dat flag from de mas' above, an' lone 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'mk dey don't fight no more. An* den w'en dey 're feelin' al/ right agen Bang! jus' lak' she was before. Very offen we 're beatin' dem on de fic.ht 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'^ontree down to de St. Maurice; 9B I30 The Habitant 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 Were we have sam' right as de 'noder peep comin* from Angleterre. Long tarn' 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 gar^on 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 ? B& 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. .w, an attle of The Habitant's Jubilee Ode 131 Spikin* Fran^ais lak' we ahvay do, an 'de Eng. lish dey mak no fuss, An* our law de sam', wall, I don't know me, *t was better mebbe for us. IS axin ir peep de poor n* kin*, So de sam* as two broder we settle down, leevin' dere ban' in ban*, Knowin' eacb 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*. I gar^on an hurt ban* de , it right 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 Wen he 's try cross de line, fusil on bee's ban*. near place dey call Chateaugay. w*en de change ore. Of course it 's bad t*ing for poor Yankee man De Salaberry be dere Wit* habitant farmer from down below, an two bonder Voltigcurs, a^OBB^BB^SSmM '32 The Habitant 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 Ian', She '11 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. f '1 ' s 56, was 11, is de The Habitant's Jubilee Ode 133 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 alwayf aw, we gentil- * Come n't talk us dis ig, but ler, no ght de long as J satisfy OLE Docteur Fiset of Saint Anicet, Sapr6 tonnerre ! he was leev long tarn ! 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 buiP de firs' tarn' 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 P^iset on dark night he come, An' cut leetle feller right off hees head! tarn! sau, 11, am* he m. .1 boy's some me, id! Ole Docteur Fiset 135 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' Were 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-tarn flood. An' workin' for not'ing half tarn' 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. 136 The Habitant Alway singin' some leetle song, An' hear heem say '* Ticns, mes amis, Bon jour! 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 ** Fau- bourg," 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. 11 T is, Bon gain le warm OIc Doctcur Fiset ^Z7 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. ht, teur! 1 *• Fau- em all, ?o e! ure iway iquette " ;ur Fiset, lorse an' I roar, o, Mus' be le Bon Dieu dat is help him t'roo, Ole Docteur Fiset an' hees horse " Fau- bourg," *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' aJway, lak' dat ev'ry day. He never was spare hese'f pour nous autres, He don't mak' mochc 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 " Fau^ bourg! "