The Voyageur and Other Poems Part 8

Non!--I don't go dere if dey all invite me, Or de worl' itse'f--she come to an' en'.

De Bishop hese'f, ba Gosh! can write me, But Jo-seph Belair, he 's no more ma frien'

Can't fin' me dere if de sky come down, sir, I rader ma girl she would never dance-- But far away, off on de Yankee town, sir, I 'll tak' dem w'ere mebbe dey have a chance.

An' reever an' cove, dough I 'll not forget dem, An' voyageurs too, an' Joe Belair, Can do w'at dey lak, an' me--I 'll let dem Go w'ere dey want to, for I don't care.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Border]

A Rainy Day in Camp

A rainy day in camp! how you draw the blankets closer, As the big drops patter, patter on the shingles overhead, How you shudder when recalling your wife's "You ought to know, sir, That it 's dangerous and improper to smoke a pipe in bed."

A rainy day in camp! is it possible to find better?

Tho' the lake is like a caldron, and aloft the thunder rolls; Yet the old canoe is safely on the sh.o.r.e where you can let her Stay as long as Jupiter Pluvius in the clouds is punching holes.

A rainy day in camp! and the latest publication That the mice have left unnibbled, tells you all about "Eclipse,"

How the Derby fell before him, how he beat equine creation, But the story yields to slumber with the pipe between your lips.

Wake again and turn the pages, where they speak of Lester Wallack And the heroes of the buskin over thirty years ago-- Then in case the damp surroundings cause an inconvenient colic, What 's the matter with the treatment neutralizing H(sub 2)O?

A rainy day in camp! what an interesting collection, In this magazine so ancient, of items small and great-- The History of the Negro, ill.u.s.trating every section, So different from the present White House Colored Fashion Plate!

A rainy day in camp! and you wonder how the C. P.

And the G. T. compet.i.tion will affect the Golden West-- But these problematic matters only tend to make you sleepy, And again beneath the blankets, like a babe you sink to rest.

Cometh now the giant moose heads, that no eye of man can number-- Every rain-drop on the roof-tree is a plunging three-pound trout-- Till a musk ox in a snow-drift turns and b.u.t.ts you out of slumber, And you wake to hear Bateese say, "Dat 's too bad, de fire 's gone out."

A rainy night in camp! with the blazing logs before us, Let the wolf howl in the forest and the loon scream on the lake, Turn them loose, the wild performers of Nature's Opera Chorus And ask if Civilization can sweeter music make.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Border]

Josette

I see Josette on de car to-day, Leetle Josette Couture, An' it 's easy tellin' she 's been away On market of Bonsecour-- 'Cos dere 's de blueberry on de pail Wit' more t'ing lyin' about-- An' dere 's de basket wit' de tail Of de chicken stickin' out.

Ev'ry conductor along de road Help her de bes' he can, An' I see dem sweat wit' de heavy load, Many a beeg, strong man-- But it 's differen' t'ing w'en she tak' hol', Leavin' dem watchin' dere-- For wedder de win' blow hot or cole Josette never turn a hair.

Wonderful woman for seexty-five-- Smart leetle woman sure!

An' if he 's wantin' to kip alive On church of de Bonsecour De pries' he mus' rise 'fore de rooster crow, Or mebbe he 'll be too late For seein' dere on de street below, Josette comin' in de gate.

An' half of de mornin' she don't spen' dere Hangin' aroun' de pew-- Bodderin' G.o.d wid de long, long prayer-- For bote of dem got to do Plaintee work 'fore de day's gone by, An' well she know--Josette-- No matter how busy an' hard she try, De work 's never finish yet.

An' well he know it, de habitant, Who is it ketch heem, w'en He 's drivin' along from St. Laurent-- For it 's easier bargain den-- 'Cos if de habitant only sole De whole of hees load dat way-- Of course he 's savin' de market toll An' not'ing at all to pay.

Dey call her ole maid, but I can't tell--me-- De chil'ren she has got: No fader, no moder, dat 's way dey be-- You never see such a lot-- An' if you ax how she fin' de clothes An' food for de young wan dere-- She say: "Wit' de help of G.o.d, I s'pose; An' de leetle shop down stair."

Comin' an' goin' mos' all de tam, Helpin' dem all along, Jus' lak de ole sheep watch de lamb Till dey are beeg an' strong-- Not'ing lak dat I be seein' yet, An' it 's hard to beat for sure-- She say: "Wit' de help of G.o.d, I s'pose; An' de leetle shop down stair."

[Ill.u.s.tration: "So dat 's de reason dey call Josette Leetle sister of de poor."]

Comin' an' goin' mos' all de tam, Helpin' dem all along, Jus' lak de ole sheep watch de lamb Till dey are beeg an' strong-- Not'ing lak dat I be seein' yet, An' it 's hard to beat for sure-- So dat 's de reason dey call Josette Leetle Sister of de poor.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Josette]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Border]

Joe Boucher

Air--"Car si mon moine."

Joe Boucher was a frien' of mine, Joe Boucher was a happy man, Till he tell a young girl he 'd lak to fin'

Some nice leetle wife for hees new cabane.

Now he 's los' hees life too, All on account of de wife too, An' I know you 'll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller, I know you 'll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

De nam' dat girl she 's Azeel-daw, An' purty good worker, too, dey say-- She don't lose chance for a brave garcon, An' so she marry Joe Boucher.

Now he 's los' hees life too, All on account of de wife too, An' I know you 'll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller, I know you 'll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

Den off on de wood poor Joe he lef', An' w'en he 's home wit' de bird in spring, An' fin' leetle feller jus' lak hese'f, Mebbe Joe don't dance an' Joe don't sing!

Now he 's los' hees life too, All on account of hees wife too, An' I know you 'll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller, I know you 'll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

Dat 's all very well till de fall come along, An' Joe got to go on de bush encore, But w'en he come back he sing no song, For dere was two leetle baby more.

Now he 's los' hees life too, All on account of de wife too, An' I know you 'll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller, I know you 'll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

He don't say not'ing, but he t'ink beeg lot, An' won't tak' a drink for two, t'ree day, But not moche money poor Joe he got, So off on de reever he 's goin' away.

Now he 's los' hees life too, All on account of de wife too, An' I know you 'll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller, I know you 'll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

W'en May come along dat beau garcon He 's only gettin' anoder scare-- For he know by de smile on Azeel-daw She got t'ree fine new baby dere.

Now he 's los' hees life too, All on account of de wife too, An' I know you 'll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller, I know you 'll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

So he kill hese'f dead, dat beau garcon He work so hard for de familee, An' he say, "Too bad, but Azeel-daw, I 'm sorry she marry poor man lak me."

Now he 's los' hees life too, All on account of hees wife too, An' I know you 'll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller, I know you 'll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

Now I know very well dat all poor man He tak' some chance w'en he get marie, So he better look out all de bes' he can, Or he 'll be ketch lak Joe Boucher-- Now he 's los' hees life too, All on account of de wife too, An' I know you 'll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller, I know you 'll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Border]