"The swallows twitter in the sky,
But bare the nest within the eaves;
The fledglings of my care are gone,
And left me but the rustling leaves.
"And yet, I know my life hath strength,
And firmer hope and sweeter prayer,
For leaves that murmur on the ground
Have now for me a double care.
"The glory of the summer sky
May change to tints of autumn hue;
But faith that sheds its amber light
Will lend our heaven a tender blue.
"O altar of eternal youth!
O faith that beckons from afar.
Give to our lives a blossomed fruit—
Give to our morns an evening star!"
Very distinctive is the work of Doctor William Henry Drummond, the poet of the "habitant" life. De Nice Leetle Canadienne and Leetle Bateese have become household songs. In the former one stanza runs:
"O she's quick, an' she's smart, an' got plaintee heart,
If you know correc' way go about;
An' if you don' know, she soon tole you so.
Den tak' de firs' chance an' get out;
But if she love you, I spik it for true,
She will mak' it more beautiful den,
An' sun on de sky can't shine lak' de eye
Of dat nice leetle Canadienne."
Leetle Bateese is a favourite with reciters who master the dialect, and who frequently delight their audiences by the mingled humour and tenderness of the picture:
"Too sleepy for sayin' de prayer to-night?
Never min', I s'pose it'll be all right;
Say dem to-morrow—ah! dere he go!
Fas' asleep in a minute or so—
An' he'll stay lak dat till de rooster crow,
Leetle Bateese!