Wau-Bun: The "Early Day" of the North-West

by Mrs. John H. Kinzie

“Come in,” cried the old gentleman, rising and walking toward the door.

Bell. Here sir, I have brought Fry to you, as you ordered.

Justice. Fry, you great rascal! What for you kill M. Rolette’s calf?

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”[E] 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.

[E] Master—or to use the emphatic Yankee term—boss.

Their songs are of a light cheerful character, generally embodying some little satire or witticism, calculated to produce a spirited, sometimes an uproarious chorus.[[28]]

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

Bourgeois.	Par derriere chéz ma tante, Par derriere chéz ma tante,
Chorus.	Par derriere chéz ma tante, Par derriere chéz 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.
Bourgeois.	Il-y-a un coq qui chante, Il-y-a un coq qui chante.
Chorus.	Il-y-a un coq qui chante, &c.
Bourgeois.	Demande une femme à prendre Des pommes, des poires, des raves, des choux, &c.
Chorus.	Des pommes, des poires, &c.
Bourgeois.	Demande une femme à prendre, Demande une femme à, &c.
And thus it continues until the advice is given successively.
	Ne prenez pas une noire. Car elles aiment trop à boire, Ne prenez pas une rousse. Car elles sont trop jalouses.