The Habitant and Other French-Canadian Poems | Page 6

Trudeau An offen w'en we are alone, we lak for spik about?De tam w'en we was come beeg man, wit' moustache on our mout'.
Bateese is get it on hees head, he's too moche educate?For mak' de habitant farmerre--he better go on State--?An' so wan summer evening we're drivin' home de cow?He's tole me all de whole beez-nesse--jus' lak you hear me now.
"W'at's use mak' foolish on de farm? dere's no good chances lef' An' all de tam you be poor man--you know dat's true you'se'f; We never get no fun at all--don't never go on spree?Onless we pass on 'noder place, an' mak' it some monee.
"I go on Les Etats Unis, I go dere right away?An' den mebbe on ten-twelve year, I be riche man some day,?An' w'en I mak' de large fortune, I come back I s'pose?Wit' Yankee famme from off de State, an' monee on my clothes.
"I tole you somet'ing else also--mon cher Napoleon?I get de grande majorit��, for go on parliament?Den buil' fine house on borde l'eau--near w'ere de church is stand More finer dan de Presbytere, w'en I am come riche man!"
I say "For w'at you spik lak dat? you must be gone crazee?Dere's plaintee feller on de State, more smarter dan you be, Beside she's not so healtee place, an' if you mak' l'argent, You spen' it jus' lak Yankee man, an' not lak habitant.
"For me Bateese! I tole you dis: I'm very satisfy--?De bes' man don't leev too long tam, some day Ba Gosh! he die-- An' s'pose you got good trotter horse, an' nice famme Canadienne Wit' plaintee on de house for eat--W'at more you want ma frien'?"
But Bateese have it all mak' up, I can't stop him at all?He's buy de seconde classe tiquette, for go on Central Fall-- An' wit' two-t'ree some more de boy,--w'at t'ink de sam' he do Pass on de train de very nex' wick, was lef' Rivi��re du Loup.

Wall! mebbe fifteen year or more, since Bateese go away?I fin' mesef Rivi��re du Loup, wan cole, cole winter day?De quick express she come hooraw! but stop de soon she can?An' beeg swell feller jomp off car, dat's boss by nigger man.
He's dressim on de premi��re classe, an' got new suit of clothes Wit' long moustache dat's stickim out, de 'noder side hees nose Fine gol' watch chain--nice portmanteau--an' long, long overcoat Wit' beaver hat--dat's Yankee style--an' red tie on hees t'roat--
I say "Hello Bateese! Hello! Comment ?a va mon vieux?"?He say "Excuse to me, ma frien' I t'ink I don't know you."?I say, "She's very curis t'ing, you are Bateese Trudeau,?Was raise on jus' sam' place wit' me, dat's fifteen year ago?"
He say, "Oh yass dat's sure enough--I know you now firs' rate, But I forget mos' all ma French since I go on de State.?Dere's 'noder t'ing kip on your head, ma frien' dey mus' be tole Ma name's Bateese Trudeau no more, but John B. Waterhole!"
"Hole on de water's" fonny name for man w'at's call Trudeau Ma frien's dey all was spik lak dat, an' I am tole heem so-- He say "Trudeau an' Waterhole she's jus' about de sam'?An' if you go for leev on State, you must have Yankee nam'."
Den we invite heem come wit' us, "Hotel du Canadaw"?W'ere he was treat mos' ev'ry tam, but can't tak' w'isky blanc, He say dat's leetle strong for man jus' come off Central Fall An' "tabac Canayen" bedamme! he won't smoke dat at all!--
But fancy drink lak "Collings John" de way he put it down?Was long tam since I don't see dat--I t'ink he's goin' drown!-- An' fine cigar cos' five cent each, an' mak' on Trois-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 Bateese, hees fader come for heem, an' tak' heem home all right De ole man say Bateese spik French, w'en he is place on bed-- An' say bad word--but w'en he wake--forget it on hees head--
Wall! all de winter w'en we have soir��e dat's grande affaire Bateese Trudeau, dit Waterhole, he be de boss man dere--?You bet he have beeg tam, but w'en de spring is come encore He's buy de premi��re classe tiquette for go on State some more.

You 'member w'en de hard tam come on Les Etats Unis?An' plaintee Canayens go back for stay deir own contr��e??Wall! jus' about 'dat tam again I go Rivi��re du Loup?For sole me two t'ree load of hay--mak' leetle visit too--
De freight train she is jus' arrive--only ten hour delay--?She's never carry passengaire--dat's w'at dey always say--?I see poor man on char caboose--he's got heem small valise?Begosh! I nearly tak' de fit,--It is--it is Bateese!
He know me very well dis tam, an' say "Bon jour, mon vieux?I hope you