Wall! all de winter w'en we have soirée 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 première 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 contrée?
Wall! jus' about 'dat tam again I go Rivière 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 know Bateese Trudeau was educate wit' you
I'm jus' come off de State to see ma familee encore
I bus' mesef on Central Fall—I don't go dere no more."
"I got no monee—not at all—I'm broke it up for sure—
Dat's locky t'ing, Napoleon, de brakeman Joe Latour
He's cousin of wan frien' of me call Camille Valiquette,
Conductor too's good Canayen—don't ax me no tiquette."
I tak' Bateese wit' me once more "Hotel du Canadaw"
An' he was glad for get de chance drink some good w'isky blanc!
Dat's warm heem up, an den he eat mos' ev'ryt'ing he see,
I watch de w'ole beez-nesse mese'f—Monjee! he was hongree!
Madame Charette wat's kip de place get very much excite
For see de many pork an' bean Bateese put out of sight
Du pain doré—potate pie—an' 'noder t'ing be dere
But w'en Bateese is get heem t'roo—dey go I don't know w'ere.
It don't tak' long for tole de news "Bateese come off de State"
An' purty soon we have beeg crowd, lak village she's en fête
Bonhomme Maxime Trudeau hese'f, he's comin' wit' de pries'
An' pass' heem on de "Room for eat" w'ere he is see Bateese.
Den ev'rybody feel it glad, for watch de embrasser
An' bimeby de ole man spik "Bateese you here for stay?"
Bateese he's cry lak beeg bebè, "Bâ j'eux rester ici.
An if I never see de State, I'm sure I don't care—me."