Wau-Bun: The Early Day in the Northwest

by Mrs. John H. Kinzie

Fry,—I did not kill M. Rolette's calf.

Justice (shaking his fist).—You lie, you great —— rascal! Bell, take him to jail. Come, gentlemen, come, let us take a leetle quelque-chose.

* * * * *

The Canadian boatmen always sing while rowing or paddling, and nothing encourages them so much as to hear the "bourgeois"[5] take the lead in the music. If the passengers, more especially those of the fair sex, join in the refrain, the compliment is all the greater.

Their songs are of a light, cheerful character, generally embodying some little satire or witticism, calculated to produce a spirited, sometimes an uproarious, chorus.

The song and refrain are carried on somewhat in the following style:

BOURGEOIS.—Par-derrière chez ma tante,
Par-derrière chez ma tante.

CHORUS.—Par-derrière chez ma tante,
Par-derrière chez ma tante.

BOURGEOIS.—Il y a un coq qui chante,
Des pommes, des poires, des raves, des choux,
Des figues nouvelles, des raisins doux.

CHORUS.—Des pommes, des poires, des raves, des choux,
Des figues nouvelles, des raisins doux.