.%^ fSss^s Class Book h n o.zU % iiiq COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. NORT' SHOR' VERSES NORT' SHOR' VERSES By RICHARD D. WARE BOSTON Luce & Company 1917 Copyright, 1917, by L. E. Bassett r I "^ SEP 2S 1917 eCLA473760 CONTENTS Tranquil McGraw i The Migrant 4 The Smelt Shanty 7 Ma' Lou' II The Girls 14 The Sandpiper 17 The Silver Thaw 19 The Coffin 24 The Chickens 2^ The Masterpiece 30 The Lobster Boats 34 Mr. Saltonstall 37 The Ghost 39 The Teamsters 42 The Herring Fishing 44 The Poachers 46 Philomele 50 The Dance 52 The Lawsuit 56 The Sinkbox 60 FOREWORD AFLAT country, covered with fir and spruce to sandy beach or wide areas of marsh or tundra. Looking from the sea, an untouched forest. Looking from its shade, waste and desert places. Down through the evergreens come shallow rivers, thoroughfares to and from the back land for canoes and dugouts, here and there the cleared land of farms along the banks. Off shore from the wide mouths of some of these streams, a line of outer beach, cast up in the never ending struggle between tide and current, making wide shallow bays between. Beach and bay seem salient of this North Shore of New Brunswick between the Miramichi and Bay Chaleur. THE BEACH The gleaming constellations fade away Till in the east alone the morning star Shines like a beacon on the outer bar, And lights its pathway far across the bay. I. 11. Nort^ Shor' Verses Into the sea the curtains of the night Roll down, tinged roseate ere they disappear. While overhead the opal sky grows clear, All radiant with the great sun's dawning light. Out from the gloom, far as the eye can reach, Blending with sea and sky into the mist Where the wide bay and river keep their tryst, Looms the dark shadow of the long low beach. All desolate it lies save here and there A gray, storm beaten hut, where in the spring The fisher folk their hard won booty bring. And make rude shelter till the winds are fair. A band of horses, scattered lowing herds Of cattle turned half wild roam there, alone Of all the beasts to claim it for their own And hold a tenure in that realm of birds. High in the air, arrayed in echelon, The honking geese come from their northern isles. Across the sky in undulating files Long lines of sable cormorants wing on. Nort' Shor^ Verses HI. Far in the shallows lonely herons stand, Like sentinels on guard upon their posts, Croaking hoarse warning to the feathered hosts Of coming peril to their peaceful land. On the low bars the herring gull's harsh cries Make protest, while the burgomaster scolds For some rare morsel which his subject holds As treasure trove, and clamors for the prize. Like flakes of foam tossed on a listless wind White kittiwakes with gentle call flit by. And whirling hordes of restless terns give cry Till with their screams the very skies are dinned. The turnstone chuckles as he breaks his fast. The strident curlew making answer shrill. The yelping tatlers, watchful, never still. Mock at the whistling plover speeding past. All these and more join in the symphony, Making the solitude more wild and lone, While never ceasing, rolls in undertone. The diapason of the mighty sea. IV. Nort' Shor' Verses Many of the people who live here are French, descendants of the old time Acadians. Many English, meaning by that persons of English, Scotch or Irish descent, live here too, and it is natural that in their intimate intercourse the persons of both races should undertake to speak the language of their neighbors. The English purport to speak French, rather shame- facedly. The educated persons of French descent speak as good English as one generally hears, but it is the speech of the Frenchman of the farm, the fish- ing boat or the lumber camp which has the flavor and tang to it which makes his English interesting. There is no fixed standard of conformity. It is doubtful it a given speaker would express himself in exactly the same way a second time. So it is impossible to say that all the French on the North Shore speak English as I have attempted to set it down in their mode here. But a kind of dominant form appears from averaging personal equations and that I have endeavored to adopt and adapt to verse. The vocabulary of these people is small for their lives are very limited. They are closely in touch with the seasons and the occupations and food supply which come with them. The English words for all these things they know and use. They do most of their Nort' Shor' Verses V. swearing in English, as does the rest of the world. Broadly speaking, they have an English vocabulary for things, but not for thoughts. They still think in French. All this makes the words at the disposal of one who wishes to express these people in verse very few in number, so perforce one must be simple in recording their simple themes. In the matter of pronunciation, certain words which would never even force a rhyme in academic English are entirely consonant as they are spoken on the Nort' Shor'. And now to some of the people there and the things of which they speak. R. D. W. NORT' SHOR' VERSES TRANQUIL McGRAW Bonjou' M'sieu'; McGraw? Tranquil? La maison ? Ouai ; ou demeure-t-il ? Ouai, je comprends ; vous parlez bien Monsieur; vous etes Americain? Je croyais; mais je park I'Anglais; Dat be more easier to say For you? I work once at Bangor; I know dat man — Tranquil McGraw. He fine man too; stonemason? Ouai; De bes' along de whole Nort' Shor' ; He get big wages every day ! From Burn' Church to St. Isadore Dey sen' for heem, an' Chatham too Sometam, when dere is work to do. De Neguac stone church — you saw? He boss dat job — Tranquil McGraw. De pries', he proud o' dat all right; Fine buildin' for de peop' live dere. Out in de bay it mak' great sight, I Nort' Shor' Verses An' on de Sunday for de prayer De team' dey come from all aroun'; In all de parish you won't foun' One team dat isn' goin' for Dat church he buil' — Tranquil McGraw I go dere once ; de priest he spe'k About de house upon de rock ; How she not fall in de eart'qu'eke But Stan' up strong again' de shock An' fall not, when de oders fall; An' all de eye turn to de wall. Dey un'erstan' good, when dey saw God's house he buil' — Tranquil McGraw. An' den de pries' say by de work You know de man, or something lak; Le Bon Dieu, He no call de shirk Xor tak' to Heem de man dat strike. An' den I t'ink, eef He call me Some day, chez moi, at Tracadie, I be all right ; pas peur pour moi Eef I lak' heem — Tranquil McGraw. Nort' Shor' Verses You buir de house? He ees de man You want for dat, ah, c'est b'en sure; He lay de stone to mak' her stan' Jus' like de rock in de scripture. He work like two man all alone ! He mix de mort', he face de stone; He fix de stove-pipe so she draw, — He dam fine man— Tranquil McGraw. THE MIGRANT We tak de lobster boat one day, Me an' de ole Philos An sail aroun' besi' de bay Out w'ere de codfish was ; Ten' 'leven f adorn w'ere we lay; De Ian' seem almos' los'. We catch dem purty good all right Until de tide turn nor' W'en dey seem los' de appetite An' won' tak clam no mor. An' den de win' she come, a fright, Nor'wes' right off de shor'. Philos he say she goin' to las' An' he right too, ba gee! Befor' we got de anchor fas' She's takin' on de sea, But we h'ist all de sail we da's An' beat for de gully. 4 Nort' Shor' Verses She poun' an' jump like anyt'ing; I never see de wors'; De squall dey hit her an' she swing Mos' clear off on de co'rs', Wen all to once we hear de sing Of leetle bird dat's los'. We see heem comin' 'cross de wave All jompin' up aroun'; One tarn he mak eet de close shave, — We tink dat tarn he drown, But he jomp too; he purty brave Way off dere off de groun'. He's comin' for de boat for sure. An' w'at you t'ink o' dat ! De firs' place w'ere he come aboar' Was on Philos' ole hat, Lak fedder trimmin' de girl' wore He sit so still an' plat. He still! He soun' asleep, dat's w'y; De minute he Ian' dere He grab de hat an' close de eye; Nort' Shor' Verses He sure all be't for fair; An' Philos lay de hat insi', — He res' mos' quiet dere. Bimeby he wake all right encore ; He ruffle up de coat An' pick for bug aroun' de boar' An' mak chirp in de t'roat. He seem no want to fly some more ; Jus' tromp aroun' de boat. He stay wit' us de whole way t'rough Till we come in de bay, So calm an' still you'd never knew De blow outsi' dat day. An' den de leetle feller flew Off to de beach away. An' ole Philos he say lak priere, He watchin' at heem go, "Wen I am ole an' wore wit' care I t'ink I'd lak to know Dere'U be a boat to tak me w'ere It's calm an' still, jus' so." THE SMELT SHANTY Dose leetle house, tar-pape' an' lat'? Dey everyw'ere plaintee : You ax dey use for tak de bat'? Non, dose be smelt shantee. De fisherman dey Hve in dose De winter on de ice ; No matter how de col' win' blows Dey're warm you be surpris'. Eet mos lak village on de bay After de firs' ice come, Wen all de man mak prepare An breeng de leetle home. De smelt be leetle feesh all right But beeg t'ing for de peop'. Some tam de one haul on de night Pay all de winter keep. You on de jomp on all de tide' De fishin' bad nor good, 7 8 Nort' Shor' Verses An' res' de w'ile dey set in side An' mak pile on de wood. Some tarn some feller fetch de treat Wit some f rien' dat he foun', An' all pile on de bonk an' seat An' tell de yarn aroun'. I 'member me I hear dat way About de tarn Jock Breaux Get mash hess'f de mos' firs' day He try mak new seine go. De seine he never work befor'; She shap' lak de beeg purse ; She come all roll up from de stor' An' have to spread her firs'. So Jock he open up her mout' For measure on piquet An' start to turn her insi' out Befor' he mak her set. She won' come out so he crawl in To catch hoi' on de en' An' den hees tro'ble dey begin Lak w'at de devil sen'. Nort' Shor' Verses He mash de button on de sleeve An' w'en he try feex dat De win' she give de seine a heave An' she knock off de hat. He grab for heem, de seine grab too, An' mash de feet aroun', An' w'en he try to haul dem t'rough, She mak de arm fas' boun'. An' den he holler an' he bawl All tie' lak bag o' meal, An' roun' de ice he flop an' crawl Jus' lak strange kin' o' seal. Some feller' in de shantee near All come a-jompin' out, An' can' make out de firs' dey hear Wat all de row about. Mos' o' de word he lettin' go, Jus' same w'en makin' priere. But w'en dey see ol' Jock dey know Soch t'ing don' come from dere. De t'ing he roar I won' tell you ; Mos' everyt'ing he say, An' sure I hope dat de bon Dieu Have turn de ear away. 10 Nort' Shor' Verses Dose fellers mos die laffin' 'fore Dey get him out again, An' den dey feex t'ing up once more An' help heem wit' de seine. But dey don' chop for heem no hole, For dere' no need to do; De way ole Jock he swear dey tol' Jus' melt de ice clear t'rough. MA' LOU' We don' see de oV Ma' Lou' Polin' up along de shor' From de Portage any mor', For he die de fall afor', An' de ole patch'up canoe She done for too. Fonny t'ing dat name, dat's true; "Bad wolf" w'at it mean you say, For he not'ing 't all dat way; Bon courage an' toujou'gaie, Mos' lak some kin' dog you knew Nor de Ma' Lou. All hees life he ron de bay In de ol' patch'up canoe. I suppose she once be new Afore all de leak' come t'rough, But he tar her up some way An' mak her stay. II 12 Nort' Shor' Verses But he proud o' her, no fear, An' de ol' man alway' say She de fas'est on de bay If he feex her up some day; She be all right sure nex' year If he be here. He go shootin' in de fall On de ol' sink-box he buil' Off de ol' boar' off de mill Leakin' so she lak to fill Wen dere any kin' o' squall Or wave at all. But he proud o' her, no fear, An' de ol' man alway' say She de tightes' on de bay If he feex her up some day; She be all right sure nex' year If he be here. An' you never see de wors' Dan de gun all tie wit' tow An' de lock all rus' up so Nort' Shor' Verses 13 Mos' de tarn she never go ; Me, I let de bird' go firs' For fear she burs'. But he proud o' her, no fear, An' de ol' man alway' say She shoot hardes' on de bay If he fix her up some day. She be all right sure nex' year If he be here. Everyt'ing he have de bes'; All content and satisfy : Jus' de sam' he goin' to try Mak her better by an' by; But he never mak success To do de res'. An' now it come dis year An' de ol' patch'up canoe An' de sink-box an' gun too Dey are all t'rough; For dey all know purty clear Dat he ain't here. THE GIRLS De winter he is gone at las'; I know she soon be spring; De goose he honkin' in de bay An' leetle bird mak sing. But dere's no need o' e'der dera Be tellin' dat to me Wen flock o' girl come back some more Head* for de factoree. Girl', girl', girl'! Dey're all come in for hirin'. Girl', girl', girl'! Dey're all aroun' de place. Off de back wood' dey're arrivin', Off de farm' dey come a-drivin' An' ba gee, I lak to see dem Wit' de purty laffin' face. Dey come between de ice go out An' w'en de herraw run, Two, t'ree day an' dey're gone ag'in 14 Nort' Shor' Verses 15 Ontil de fishin's done. Dey pick de lobster for de can, — Dat's w'at de job dere be, But plaintee girl she pick her man Off on de factoree. Girl', girr, girl' ! etc. An' w'en she got heem pick' an can' An' tout b'en marie Dere never come de spring some more Dat she can' kip away. I spec' she 'member her dat night Wen he ax her to be Hees famme — an' squeeze her purty tight Off on de factoree. Girl', girl', girl' ! etc. Wen she gran'mere she jus' de same'; She get too ol' to teach ; She hire wit' de yo'nges' girl An' rosh off on de beach. She mak de pique-nique over dere i6 Nort' Shor' Verses An' one t'ing certainlee, De girl' stay girl' all res' her life Off on de factoree. Girl', girl', girl'! etc. THE SANDPIPER In winter tarn it purty still along de bay an' in de wood' Wen all de bird' dey gone away ; It mak too col' for dem to stay Wit'out no wood pile an' no food, But dey come back jus' soon dey can; dey lak de Nort' Shor' purty good. De ole goose come along de firs', right off de open water show ; He mus' be watchin' off de sky For see w'ich course he mak de fly So queek he always seem to know. He soun' good too w'en he call out de spring she come an' winter go. Some morn' bimeby you wak' by hear de robin singin' in de tree ; It bon fortune he in your fiel' ; De grain an' potat' mak gran' yiel' Were de firs' robin firs' get see. 17 i8 Nort' Shor' Verses It fine to see heem sittin' dere an' hear heem mak de melodie. An' w'en de ice is off de shor' you go an' tak de ole bateau For set de net for de herraw; An' roun' de crick de firs' you saw De leetle san' snipe an' you know De musique feller come for shor' w'en he burs' out an' let her go. An' it's toodle-e-oodle-e-oo ! he say W'en he come back again in de spring. It mus' be de springtam get into de t'roat For de fall he don' say mos' not'ing. Toodle-e-oodle-e-oodle-e-oo ! Toodle-e-oodle-e-oo ! An' de leetle bird' song be so full o' de glad It set de man' heart singin' too. THE SILVER THAW De silver t'aw? I know dat t'ing; La gelee blanche we call; She come mos' tarn jus' 'fore de spring, Sometam late in de fall, Wen de rain she come an' it's col', col', col', An' she freeze on de bush and grass. An' de tree' ben' down wit' w'at dey hoi' On de branch, touts pleins de glace. Wen de storm she go an' de sun he shine Ba gee, it mak' great sight. Wen all de fiel' an' bush an' vine Mak' rainbow wit' de light. De win' she mak' dem jomp an' play. An' 'sh-la! in de ear Soun' leetle bell lak cloches des fays Meex een de air you hear. De birch she purties' of all Sure t'ing, I t'ink mesel', All w'ite she gleam t'ru de crystal 19 20 Nort' Shor' Verses Lak gran' bois de chandelle. De spruce an' var mak not moch show ; Dey froze on de solid jonk, Wit' leetle glaciers dat grow On de branch out from de tronk. De silver t'aw she fine to see Wen de -wedder turn roun' gran', But all tarn too I 'member, me, She hard on de poor man. Dere's one tam 'bout t'ree year ago Dis parish don' forget, Wen to de door o' Jean Comeau De silver t'aw brought deat'. Jean build heem small cabane dat fall On lot by de Portage. He got no money mos' at all But plaintee bon courage, So femme an' bebe dere he bring Wile he go in de wood' An' earn de money till de spring Wen he mak feex heem good. Nort' Shor' Verses 2i So dere dey live de winter t'rough, Julie an' le bebe ; It purty lonesome out dere too, — Not many team dat way. I go dere once to mak de smile An' foun' de bebe seek, An' w'en I look at de woodpile I hope dat Jean come queek. 'Fore dat, two — t'ree day after den, De silver t'aw come firs', An' I don' mos' have min' me w'en I never see de wors'. De win' she come up in de night Wil' wit' de sleet an' rain. I won'er eef ma roof on tight She blow soch horricane. Nex' mornin' Jean he come to me ; He come out day before An' spen' de night at Tracadie, — Want somet'ings off de store. Dat night he buy hees groceries An pack on hees han'-sled Nort' Shor' Verses An' come my house so moch airlee I mos' not out my bed. He have some tea an' den we go ; I tak' part of hees load. De ice she ma' de fine rainbow An' good haul on de road. An' Jean he laugh an' talk so gay De winter t'rough all right Dat I could not'ing 'tall to say, — An' den hees face turn w'ite. De leetle house stan' dere all right, — Wit'out no roof at all. De win' blow heem off on de night; Mos' to de road he fall. De door swing open mak de moan Lak some one seek to die, An' Jean he rosh t'rough dere alone De fear in bot' his eye. Den me, — an' oh, Bon Dieu I see Wat pauvre Jean Comeau saw Wen he come foun' hees familee Deat in de silver t'aw. Nort' Shor' Verses 23 Behin' de empty stove she crawl, La femme wit' le bebe, All wrap in quilt an' leetle shawl To keep de col' away. She do her bes', but ah, tout vain, Wen roof an' stove-pipe go. Dey die dere in de col' an' rain Jus' lak we fin' dem so. Tout cr>^stal were dey settin' dere, — An' seem de bes' rainbow Com' jompin' in de sunlight w'ere Bebe hees quilt mak' show. THE COFFIN Sometam eet Strang' how t'ing come 'roun' Nobody know pourquoi ; Mos' any place you go you foun' Some fonny t'ing you saw. Lak tam w'en Beel Comeau he die An' dey can' fin' no boar', For mak sarceuil for heem to lie ; Dat comical for sure. Beel he poor man but he use' say Dere's one t'ing he mos' proud, Dat ees he bein' pure Frangais An' not lak de meex crowd. He say France mos' gran' in de worl' Of all de ole co'ntree. An' show you w'ere he foun' it tol' In book you call his'tree. De Revolution dey have He say mak all man free, Instead of bein' lak de slav' 24 Nort' Shor' Verses 25 Lak all poor man mus' be. He know de song dey mak dat tarn, — De Marseillaise dey call, An' eet fine musique too, by dam!, Eet mak de back jus' crawl. Beel go to Chatham once and see A French sheep by de shor', A flyin' flag off ole co'ntree Dey call de tri-color. Dat flag, she mak Beel moch excite; She red an' w'ite an' blue. An' he get purty dronk dat night Wile he drink her "salut !" Well, fore he die, anoder sheep, De "Rolluf," she get wreck'. An' Snowball buy her for to streep; She purty bad I 'spec'. An' on de deck was small cabane De boss he say no good, An' give to me an' oder man For mak de fire wood. 26 Nort' Shor' Verses Insi' de cabane all paint' new Wit' plaintee beeg gol' line; Mos' every color on her too; Well b'ys ! eet mak her fine. But we bre'k her up bes' we can ; Save window an' de door', An' den mes'f an' oder man Pole piece' 'cross by our shor'. Den Beel he die afore de fall An' hees famme she sen' wor', Dere can' be enterrement at all Wit'out she get some boar'. An' me, I t'ink of de cabane An' sen' she make dose do; An' w'en I see, dere Beel lie, gran' Wit' red an w'ite an' blue. THE CHICKENS Ned Bushey he toF me dat yarn; He say it true t'ing too, — An' ole Ned he sure hones' man For all me never knew, — 'Bout dat tam w'en all hees poulets An' rooster too he tell Get dronk jus' lak in de ole tam De night afore Noel. Dat mornin' he drive home from town Wit' somet'ing from de store, De oatmeal, rice, raisin', cornmeal An' oder t'ing some more, An' den, it comin' Chris'mas tam Wi't all dose t'ing to eat He get two bottle rye w'iskey To mak hees frien' de treat. Le gros garqon he bring beeg box To tak de t'ing he fin', W'en up he sleep an' down he go Jus' right on de behin'. 27 28 Nort' Shor' Verses De bottle brek, de bag mak tear; De rice an' meal all wet, Wit' raisin scatter lak gateau, Mak plaintee mess you bet. Dere's not'ing ain' no good at all. So Ned he turn aroun' An' say to t'row de stoff away Wile he drive back to town. Wen he come back hees famme meet heem ; "Come queeck, come queeck," she say; "Jus' put de boss' up in de barn An' come see les poulets." He go, and dere upon de floor Lie de 'ole familee, Upon de side, upon de back. Touts mort, mos' certainlee. Dey t'ink de poison come to dem An' no be right to sell ; Jus' same de famme t'ink she make save De fedder jus' as well. So her an' de yo'ng girl tak hoi' An' do dat job all right. Nort' Shor' V'erses 29 De fedder dey mos' fill one tick Wen dey get t'rough come night. Dey leave de bird all in de pile, Tak tick an come away, An' all han' go to bed bimeby, Ontil com' Chris'mas day. Dey all wak' up airlee nex* day By hear de rooster crow. An' dere he be wit' de poulets Stan' out dere in de snow! He scratch de groun' an' lift de head An' give salut de morn', Not so moch fedder on de back Lak w'en he hatch an' born. De bird don' seem moch min' de col' A-walkin' roun' outsi', But mak de sight so comical Ole Ned laff mos' to die. An' den he say, jus' to heesee'f Wile he crawl in de bed, "It better snow have on de feet D'an ice upon de head." THE MASTERPIECE Too bad how plaintee feller swear, But dey don' mean not'ing; Dey jus' mak beeg noise wit' de mout' Lak robin have to sing, But you ought'er hear ol' Jock Breaux Some tam he let her go ! He Frenchman an' spe'k English too. So he know all de word'. He keep bot' language on de jomp De wors' you never heard, Sure ycu ought'er hear ol' Jock Breaux Some tam he let her go ! La Veille des Touts Saints — you know dat, Wat come roun' in de fall, — De boy' an' girl' play all kin' treeck An' no one min' at all, — But you ought'er hear ol' Jock Breaux Some tam he let her go ! 30 Nort' Shor' Verses 31 De or peop' say de devil com' An' hunt de soul' dat night, An' so dey burn lamp' an' chandelle For scare heem wit' de light; But he never hear ol' Jock Breaux Some tam he let her go ! An' on dat night dey mak' de priere Afore dey blow dem out, Deirse'f and familee for save From devil flyin' 'bout. An' you ought'er hear ol' Jock Breaux Some tam he let her go ! Some boy' know Jock Breaux do dis t'ing An' bring de beeg black ram Wit' ogly eye an' long curl' horn An' wait for hees bed tam. An' you ought'er hear ol' Jock Breaux Some tam he let her go. Dey watch ontil he kneelin' dere An' den dey h'is' de ram, An' in de middle o' de priere 32 Nort' Shor' Verses Right t'rough de window — ^bam ! An' you ought'er hear ol' Jock Breaux Some tarn he let her go! He tak one look, — an' w'en he see De devil dere hese'f, Wit' horn an' tail an' beeg red eye, He almos' los' hees bre'f : An' you ought'er hear ol' Jock Breaux Some tarn he let her go ! De ram he bawl an' shak' de horn An' Jock jomp off de floor. Right t'rough de oder window-sash, — Don' bodder wit' no door, An' you ought'er hear ol' Jock Breaux Some tam he let her go ! But w'en he get outsi' de house An' foun' he get away He shout 'bout bonder' kin' o' damn An' mos' de sam sacres. Sure you ought'er hear ol' Jock Breaux, Dat tam he let her go ! Nort' Shor' Verses 33 He spen' de night at neighbor' house ; He won' dare go back home, An' you go ax heem, he say now Sure 'nuf de devil com', But you'll never hear ol' Jock Breaux Lak de tam he let her go ! THE LOBSTER BOATS From 'Scuminac to Shippegan, Along de 'ole Nort' Slior', From Miscou on to Caraquet, An' den ag'in some mor', Men are workin' on de fact'ree beach' Afor' de bre'k o' day ; All han' torn out to ron de line' An' get de boat' away. Torn out ! Lonch ho ! Up you're gettin dere ! Com' ! Let's 'ear som' feet in dere a-t'ompin' on de flo'r! Wak' up b'ys ! Get your tea ! Shak' up b'ys! Come wit' me Were de boat' is layin' Out dere on de shor'. Dey're layin' up among de grass. De keel' all frozen in, But dere's a crew o' t'orty man 34 Nort' Shor' Verses 35 To haul dem clear ag'in ; An' de fair full moon is shinin' To 'elp dem tak' de hoi', An' eet mak' de dirty oiler' Look lak' suit' o' gleamin' gol'. Torn out! Lonch ho! Up you're gettin' dere! Com' ! Let's 'ear som' feet in dere a-t'ompin' on de fio'r! Wak' up b'ys ! Get your tea I Shak' up b'ys ! Come wit' me Were de boat' is layin' Out dere on de shor'. 'Eave up de ballas' into her An' stow de c'il' o' line ! Mak' fas' de buoy' an' anchor' dere! De tide's a-raisin' fine ! All clear! H'is' up de for's'l, — vite! De wave' is at her snout ! Aboar', aboar', an' min' de sheet! De b'ys will shov' 'er out! 36 Nort' Shor' Verses Now b'ys ! Lift 'er b'ys ! Chock a roller dere ! Ever}^body tak' a leetle all aroun' de boat! Jack 'er b'ys! jomp 'er b'ys ! Walk 'er b'ys ! homp'er b'ys ! Dere she goes a-roUin' ! W'oop-ee! she's afloat! MR. SALTONSTALL I 'member me mos' twenty year' De firs' Americain' com' 'ere For shootin' on de beach an' flat' ; Dey seem to fin' gran' sport in dat. Dey kin' man too; I know mos' all; I guide for Mr. Saltumstall. At John Wishar' dey use' to boar'. I get my man 'tween t'ree an' four An' den we sail across de bay To mak' de beach 'for' bre'k o' day. De bird' sure dere jos' at de dawn, An' so be Mr. Sollonstorn. 'Fore den me call all dem bird' snipe, But he know forty name' ba cripe', De black breas'— an' de red breas' too, De torn-ston', yallerleg, corlew ; I learn dem all an' plaintee mor' Wen I guide Mr. Saltonstor'. 37 38 Nort' Shor' Verses One tarn we camp in ol' fact'ree, An' ba gosh how he 'ate de flea ! Dere plaintee dose out on de beach, An' sure dey go for heem lak leech. "De leetle fellers," w'at he call. Wen I guide Mr. Sontalsall. Wen he go he give me de suit O' oiler' an' hees robber boot' He wear up 'ere, an two box' shell' ; Ba gee, he tre't me purty well. I wish he comin' back nex' fall An' me guide Mr. SoUumstall. ^ THE GHOST Las' 'arves' tarn Will Wishart foun' He have de fine crop in de groun' O' potat'. Dey mus' be dog, so he engage A crowd from down by de Portage To do dat. Dey all get dere plaintee airlee ; Will kip de store an' have good tea An' molass'. He give dem wages an' four meal' ; He know how he mus' mak' dem feel For work fas'. All hand' work hard, de girl' an' men, An' Will, he glad to see de en' So com' queeck, W'en after workin' two, t'ree day, Com' evenin' dey say dey won' stay,- Dey're 'omeseeck! 39 40 Nort' Shor' Verses Will, he sure got dat t'ing to stop; Mebbe he lose de 'ole hees crop If dey go. He say dey go an' get deir tea, An' w'ile dey're eatin', Will dey see Away go. Dat seem all right, so dey hang 'roun' Ontil eet gettin' dark dey foun' For walkin'. An' den de 'ole crowd start along Wit' plaintee shout, an' laugh an' song An' talkin'. Dey com' along to de causeway All proud to mak' de get-away. An' stop dere. From out a bush dere com' a groan; An' den a w'ite t'ing mak' a moan! Two drop dere. One holler "qu'ous ce que ci que c'aw!" Anodder, "w'at's dat t'ing I saw A-wavin !" Nort' Shor' Verses 41 "A ghos' !" anodder one yell out, An' all hand' torn aroun' about A-ravin'. Two feller tak' across de ma'sh, An' Will could hear mor'n t'orty spash' O' fallin' As he Stan' dere an' wave de sheet He'd wrop hees se'f de head an' feet, An' bawlin'. Wen he com' 'onie dere was de crowd, So scare' no one dare spik aloud Wen he say ''You t'ink you stick to de potat'? I t'ought I hear some bawlin' at De causeway." Nex' day dey dig away lak mad; Mos' every one t'ink sure dey had A warnin'. An' w'en com' evenin', dere's de crop; Ba gee, Will have to let dem stop Till mornin'. THE TEAMSTERS Aw, de haulin's well mos' done ; Anodder touch o' sun Sure mak' de road' a fright, altogedder. De ice she goin' fas an' eet never boun' to las' Onless dere com' a shif o' nor'-wes' wedder. De ronner' grit an' grin' An' de track dey leave behin' Cut' right down to de groun' in forty place'. De bridge', dey are all bare An' she' meltin' everyw'ere. Eet play 'Ell on de riggin' an' de trace'. Haulin' down to Tracadie, To Tracadie, to Tracadie, Any man who say can 'ave de job for all o' me. Liftin', shiftin' every load, Haulin', crawlin' down de road, Dat's de trip we mak to Tracadie. But w'en we all get t'rough, De firs' t'ing dere's to do Is mak' de start de neares' place is handy, 42 Nort' Shor' Verses 43 Wit' som' "square face" up to Joe' For de finger' an' de toe' Or leetle drink oflf Charley' ole French brandy. He say " *ave dis one wit' me," An' de b'ys dey all agree, An' de bottle go a-tackin' 'cross de table Till dey 're jos' a leetle full ; — Den dere's jos' anodder pull An' we go an' get de horse' out in de stable. Trottin' 'ome from Tracadie, From Tracadie, from Tracadie, Anyman an' everyman feel' jos' as fine as me. Jinglin' janglin' up de road. Every b'y's a proper load Wen he start' away from Tracadie. THE HERRING FISHING Wen de ice she go out, aroun' de first' o' May Den de herraw dey com' een down to Neguac bay. No one know' w'en de word com' t'rough, So eet's grab all de net' an' shove de canoe, An' all hand' aboar' for Hay Islan'. All de boat' an' de scow' an' de leaky ol' bateaux An' de pirog' an' canoe', anyt'ing to mak' her go. Start along wit' de sail an' de paddle an' de pole For to fetch wit' de tide at de bass fishin' hole. All hand' boun' for Hay Islan'. Den dey tie on de stone an' drive de picquet pole'. An' dey set de ol' net' on de channel by de shoal Were de weed' an' de grass cover' t'ick w'it' de spawn, An' den mak' de camp on de beach till de mom' An' de flood o' de tide at Hay Islan'. All de float' dey be down an' dat mean de net' be full, An' dey know dat ees so w'en dey tak' hoi' for de pull. Dere dey hang in de mash' by de bonder' in de row, 44 Nort' Shor' Verses 45 An' dey shine in de sun lak de gran' rainbow, All roun' de boat' at Hay Islan'. Wen dey shak' out de feesh, all de flappin' o' de tail' On de boat' feel de air full o' shinin' silver scale' An' dey steeck on de face an' de w'isker' an' de han' So dat w'ich be de herraw an' w'ich be de man Dat hard to say at Hay Islan'. THE POACHERS De law, she fonny t'ing ba gee ; Som' tarn she mak' de common sense An' oder tarn she mak' eet be Som' leetle t'ing de grand offence. Now tak' eet een dese riviere De salmon ac' soch fonny way Dey don' ron up 'fore September An' den be close tam, de law say. An' t'ink o' de poor man who see De beeg feesh jompin' by hees door Wit' no meat for hees familee ! Dat seem' to me de fuUish law. An' all de b'y' dey t'ink so too, An' w'en dey know de salmon ron De firs' dark night dey tak' canoe An' net' an' all aboar' for fon. 01' Simon Murray go en garde. He dead now; good ol' feller too; He purty cute, an' he work hard 46 Nort' Shor' Verses 47 A' paddlin' dat ol' canoe. Som' tarn me get de net jos' set An' dere de Simon 'long de shor' Mos' in de alder' he can get, — An' I don' feesh dat net no mor'. Some' tarn dey set an ol' net firs' An' set de good net up mor' high, So w'en he com' he tak' de wors' An' don' com' w'ere de oder lie. Som' tarn dey fool heem, som' tam no ; Som' tam dey mak' de dam good haul ; Som' tam he tak' de net an' go, An' dat's de way all t'rough de fall. I 'member me one treeck all right T'ree feller play on de ol' man; Dey know he com' down home one night An' so dose feller mak' de plan Dat tam dey go an' feesh de stream, An' so de ol' man never knew Dey pass hees place, dey tak' de team An' don' go up in de canoe. 48 Nort' Shor' Verses Dat all work fine an' dere dey be. Dey tie de hors' a leetle back, An' bile de kettle for deir tea Afore de night com', black, black, black. Den een de bush' by de piquette, A-list'nin' for ol' Simon's pole, Dey hear de salmon strike de net, A-sploshin' w'en de mash tak' hoi'. Dat soun' good too ; dey know for sure Dey plaintee feesh for all han' dere W'en dey haul een an' mak' secure, — An' den out on de riviere Dey hear de cough ol' Simon mak', An' den dey hear heem bomp de float'; An' all de salmon in de tak' Seem tryin' to jomp een hees boat. Vite! vite! one of de feller say; Grab hoi' de seine an' de piquette An' han' dem een to me dis way; or Simon never tak' dis net. So den de feller w'at he tol' He tie her to de hors' een dere, Nort' Shor' Verses 49 An' w'en oV Simon got de hoi' Dey h'ist heem out o'dat for fair. He com' right out o' de canoe, Den t'rough de mud up een de wood', or Simon an' de salmon too. An' de ol' man was bawlin' good. But dey don' stop de hors' at all. An' w'en he lose de hoi' bimeby, Dey kip on till dey out o' call An' den dey mos' near laff to die. An' so he never tak' dat net : Dey save her an' some feesh beside, An' w'en he get back w'ere she set Hees canoe gone off on de tide. He purty lame for walkin' too But he get down some tam nex' day. An' w'en he die he never knew Wat feller' haul deir net dat way. PHILOMELE "All dose my chile, an' dere* som' mor' A-ronnin' 'roun' de place som' w'ere. Dey de bes' crop on de Nort' Shor'; Dere ain' no harves' failin' dere Wen all de man be hommes gallants De way dey be een Canadaw. Sure, — w'en me see me know de name'; Dey got mos' all de name' dere be; De pries' he say las' tam he came He only got lef two or t'ree. Me don' know den w'at he mak' do, — An' still he give dat chile dere two. She christen' Agnes w'en she bom; Me t'ink dat six eight year ago ; An' den de oder chile dey lorn Dat mean de lamb, an' w'en dey know Dey holler "baa" w'en she go by An' w'en she hear, dat mak' her cry. 50 Nort' Shor' Verses 51 So she don' lak be on de way For school nor erran' to de stor', An' w'en me tell de pries' he say- He won' have dose t'ing any mor'. He give her de new name she call' An' dey don' bodder her at all. So Philomele since den she be Dat tres jolie, me t'ink dat so. Wat ees dat t'ing you say to me? Dat mean de t'rosh you say you know? Mon Dieu, don' tell de oder chile Nor dey be w'istlin' all de w'ile. De pries' he feex t'ing up befor' An' put stop to dat fullish game, But me can't go to heem som' mor' An' ax heem for anoder name. He only got two t'ree mor' lef An' me 'n' ma femm.e need dose oursef. THE DANCE Wat shall I 'member me de mos' w'en I be ol' an' tire', A-waitin' for de spring to com' dat I shall never see, An' pass de tarn wit' de ol' pipe clos' up besi' de fire, A-seein' ol' face' een de smoke dat call de memorie' O' de tarn w'en de blood ron hot an' wil' An' de heart an' han' be strong; W'en livin' be som't'ing wort' w'ile An' life can' las' too long. Eet won' be de bigges' shot I mak' On de dock nor brant nor goose ; Eet won' be de tam I see me tak' To de tree from de beeg bull moose. Eet won' be de tam I mos' near die On de track o' de caribou; Eet won' be de tam I ketch outsi' Een de horricane dat blew, But me see een de smoke som' purty face' Wit' mout' pour les bees cheres, De ribbon' flyin' roun' de wais* An' flower' een de hair, 52 Nort' Shor' Verses 53 An' me hear de soun' o' de stompin' feet Wile de feedle sing an' screech. Dat be de memorie mos' sweet — De dance off on de beach. De stomp an' de shoffle on de sand on de floor Soun' lak de growl o' de sea on de shor', An' pound on de brain lak de beat o' de drum, Tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom-tor-raw-rom. De head go 'roun' an' de heart-beat com'; Tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom-tor-raw-rom. De feller wit' de feedle don' mak' no soun'; Dose tune' he play mus' be sure get drown' In de tom-tor-raw-rom-tor-raw-rom. Wen de boss he com' an' he say shut her down Den all han' up for de all han' roun' To de tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom-tor-raw-rom ; An' de girl all holler w'en he put out all de light', An' de feller' hoi' dem tight w'en dey pile out een de night Wit' de tom-tor-raw-rom still a-tompin' een de head An' on dose night' nobody go to bed, For de tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, Tor-raw-rom-tor-raw-rom-tor raw-rom. 54 Nort' Shor' Verses I tak een all de dance' dere den, Firs' on de floor an' up de las', An' I don' mos' remember w'en I let de purty face go pas'. An' den one night at de Gullee I see a new girl t'rough de door, An' I know dat de girl for me. An' I no play dose game' no mor'. I ax her to dance an' she say dat she will do ; Tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom; An' eet ain* very long afore I know dat she knew Dat I be her man an' her tarn com' too; T om-tor-raiv-rom, tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom; So I hug her tight an' she hug me som'; Tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-razv-rom, tor-raw-rom; Her feller see dat an' he want to mak' de fight. But I soon feex dat man all right. Tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom; An' w'en all de light' dey go out, — no heed; De star' mak' all de light' we need. Tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom; Tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom. Nort' Shor' Verses 55 Wen de fishin' be done, I sail her 'cross de bay, An' we go to de pries' an' be maries, An' de frien' an de neighbor' an' all han' com' An' dance t'ree day to de tom-tor-raw-rom, Tor-raw-rom, tor-razv-rom, tor-raiv-rom. Dose be de t'ing I 'member me w'en I be settin' so ; Dose be de fines' memories, so far I see dem now. Som' o' dose t'ing' I bes' forget dey be de one' won' go ; I s'pose dose oder face' sure com' een spite o'all de vow, Wit' de tom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, Tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom. But eef she be dere so I hoi' her han' De waitin' won' be so hard to stan' For she hear too an' onderstan' De tom-tor-razv-rom-tor-raw-rom, tor-raw-rom, Tor-razv-rom, tor-raw-rom, tor-razv-rom. THE LAWSUIT Jim Rober'son he kip de stor', De one dey call Black Jim, An' Joe Connor he buy de flour, One barr'l off'n him. Joe never have no monnaie 'tall An' he boun' for de wood', An' give de order for hees peeg For mak' de bill stan' good. Jim haul de flour to hees place Wat de ol' woman kip, An' dere he see de fine yong peeg Besi' de door, aslip. So Jim he see he get de peeg But he don' not'ing say, An' t'ink he let her fat heem up 'Fore takin' heem away. Well, dat raise hell; anoder man He com' wit order off'n Joe, An' after row wit' ol' woman 56 Nort' Shor' Verses 57 He tak' de peeg an go. So w'en Jim t'ink he plaintee beeg An' tak' de team an call, Ba gee, he fin' he get no peeg, An' pork be high dat fall. Now Jim, he Jostice o' de Peace, An' w'en he hear Joe stay Back home ag'in, he sen' polis To sorve de papier Dat say Joe com' to co'rt dat day, An' give heem onderstan' Eef he don't get de monnaie pay' He fetch de peeg or man. O' co'rse de polis fin' no peeg, So he tak' hoi' o' Joe, An' Joe he swear an' talkin' beeg He be dam eef he go; But de polis he hoi' de grip An' chock heem een de team An' set on Joe de res' de trip He haul heem back to Jim. 58 Nort' Shor' Verses He shov' Joe een de back room dere Were Jim tak' heem een han' An' say he got dat treeck to square Or to de jail he Ian'. Den Joe he try to mak' de sneak An' get out t'rough de door, But Jim an' de polis grab queeck An' all han' to de floor. De table fall, de stove she go, De chair dey keeck aroun', An' mak dat room de holy show Wile dey hoF Connor down. Bimeby dey feex heem so he lay; He don' fool dem, no fear. Wen een walk oder man an' say "Dey tell Joe Connor here." *'He be," say Jim, "dat's true dey tol;" An' den de feller say, "Com' Joe, how 'bout dat peeg you stole Wen you leave me las' May?" "By dam," say Jim, "dat leave me beat; Nort' Shor' Verses 59 De peeg an' case I los' ; — " An' den he stan' Joe on hees feet — **But I collec' de cos'." De firs' ponch hit heem een de eye, De nex' one on de jaw; Sure, Joe don' need look at de sky For watch de star' he saw. Den Jim he say to oder man "You bes' collec' your pay Wile de co'rt an' polls on han' See he don' get away." Well, w'en dat feller he get t'rough Joe look lak' he gone blin'. An' sure he mus' be black an' blue Wit' keeck on de behin'. An' den dey t'row heem out de door, An' w'ile he ron away De feller' standin' front de stor' T'ink jostice done dat day. THE SINKBOX At las' de brant com' in de bay. Dey com' on de nor-wes' win' las' night. Dis evenin' I hear feller say He see dem on de bar' a fright. Sure I don' lose anoder day If de sinkbox be dry an' tight. I wish I know dey com' ba gee ! If she float at all I be out dere, Waitin' for bre'k o' day to see, Hearin' de callin' in de air; I rader lie in de sinkbox, me, Dan any oder t'ing I care. It don' seem lak dere be moch fun A-startin' out beneat' de star' In de col' win' to mak de run Across de bay down to de bar' An' get all set afore de sun Com' up and show dem w'ere you are, 60 Nort' Shor' Verses 6i But dere som' t'ing about dat game If you don't know it can' be tol'. Som' way it alway' be de same, Som' way it never seem grow ol', An' in de heart it mak' de fiame Dat kip out all de wet and col', Down in de box de win' don' blow, So I light up de pipe mebbe, An' watch de star' as out dey go Wile de sun crawl up out de sea An' warm de sky into de glow Were jus' afore de black night be. 'Bout den de plover start de cry Off on de ma'sh by de sandhill. 'Bout den de gull' begin to fly T'rough de dim light so gray an' still You t'ink, as dey go driftin' by Dey ghost' o' oder bird' you kill. Den com' de shelldock an' de coot' But me no t'ink dey wort' de shell'. Ba gee, dat tam I mos' near shoot! 62 Nort' Shor' Verses Som' tarn dose shag be hard to tell. Ah ! see dose black dock mak' de scoot ! Dey look in to de box too well. An' den ker-r-ruck, ker-r-ruk soun' clear Across de Vv^in', an' on de sky I see dem makin' de straight steer Wit' de decoy right in de eye. Kip down an' dey com' plaintee near. Now up, an' let bot' barrel' fly! Well, it's dose t'ing you don' forget. I rader see dose beatin' wing W'en in to de decoy dey set Dan any oder livin' t'ing. Ouai, more nor de salmon in de net, Nor listen to de robin sing. It all mak' plaintee yarn, no fear, An' me, I tol' jus' one to you, ^ About de man I guide las' year An' w'at I tell I see him do. Ba gee, dere ain' no man roun' here Care try an' put de sam' treeck t'rough. Nort' Shor' Verses 63 We set on de deep flat' dat day ; Las' year de eel-grass t'ick for fair. I tol' him 'fore I go away De water deep an' he tak' care Don' fill de box so long he stay, Or he drown 'fore I get back dere. So off I go an' down he lie. Long tarn it don' seem be much use. Som' flock o' brant go flyin' by But for de decoy' mak' refuse, An' den I see off on de sky Below de box an' ol' gray goose. He lower in an' set de wing; My man got sure shot I be boun', But he don' seem to see not'ing, Wen bang, de smoke com' out de groun' An' den de oder barrel bring De ol' gray goose a-tumblin' down. An' den my feller wave his arm' An' holler lak he all possess'. I don' see how he com' to harm; 64 Nort' Shor' Verses Mebbe de goose swim off I guess. In dere de grass mak' plaintee calm, But I h'ist up an' do my bes'. Me jus' in tam; in de canoe I haul him out an' down she roll. An' w'at you t'ink dat feller do? He shoot de box, his hand' so col'. An' den he tak' de ol' goose too An' pull de shell' an' plug de hole! Dat tak' mos' nerve I never saw. An' now he gone to war away To fight for France an* Canadaw. I t'ink if he boss dose armees Some tam he feex dat emperaw Jus' lak he feex dat goose dat day. LIBRARY CONGRESS