A rainy day in camp! and you wonder how the C. P.
And the G. T. competition will affect the Golden West—
But these problematic matters only tend to make you sleepy,
And again beneath the blankets, like a babe you sink to rest.
Cometh now the giant moose heads, that no eye of man can number—
Every rain-drop on the roof-tree is a plunging three-pound trout—
Till a musk ox in a snow-drift turns and butts you out of slumber,
And you wake to hear Bateese say, "Dat 's too bad,
de fire 's gone out."
A rainy night in camp! with the blazing logs before us,
Let the wolf howl in the forest and the loon scream on the lake,
Turn them loose, the wild performers of Nature's Opera Chorus
And ask if Civilization can sweeter music make.
Josette
I see Josette on de car to-day,
Leetle Josette Couture,
An' it 's easy tellin' she 's been away
On market of Bonsecour—
'Cos dere 's de blueberry on de pail
Wit' more t'ing lyin' about—
An' dere 's de basket wit' de tail
Of de chicken stickin' out.
Ev'ry conductor along de road
Help her de bes' he can,
An' I see dem sweat wit' de heavy load,
Many a beeg, strong man—
But it 's differen' t'ing w'en she tak' hol',
Leavin' dem watchin' dere—
For wedder de win' blow hot or cole
Josette never turn a hair.
Wonderful woman for seexty-five—
Smart leetle woman sure!
An' if he 's wantin' to kip alive
On church of de Bonsecour
De pries' he mus' rise 'fore de rooster crow,
Or mebbe he 'll be too late
For seein' dere on de street below,
Josette comin' in de gate.