STORY***


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[Illustration]


BY TRENCH AND TRAIL IN SONG AND STORY

by

ANGUS MACKAY (Oscar Dhu)

Author of
"Donald Morrison--The Canadian Outlaw"
"A Tale of the Pioneers"
"Poems of a Politician"
"Pioneer Sketches"
Etc., Etc.

Illustrated







Mackay Printing & Publishing Co.
Seattle and Vancouver
1918

Copyright 1918 by
Angus MacKay




INTRODUCTION.


A number of the songs in this collection have been heard by campfire and
trail from the camps of British Columbia to the lumber camps of Maine.
Several of the songs have been fired at the Huns "somewhere in France,"
no doubt with deadly effect. And also at the Turks on the long long hike
to Bagdad and beyond.

And it is not impossible that some of my countrymen are now warbling
snatches of my humble verse to the accompaniment of bagpipes on the
streets of the New Jerusalem! Many of the verses have appeared from time
to time in leading publications from Vancouver, B. C., to the New
England States and Eastern Canada; while others appear in print here for
the first time.

From all parts of the land I have received letters at various times
asking for extra copies of some particular song in my humble collection,
which I was not in a position to supply at the time.

I therefore decided to publish some of the songs for which a demand had
been expressed, and in so doing offer to the reading public in
extenuation of my offense the plea that in a manner this humble volume
is being published by request.

I offer no apology for my "dialect" songs as they have already received
the approval of music lovers whose judgment is beyond criticism.

For the errors which must inevitably creep into the work of a
non-college-bred lumberjack, I crave the indulgence of all highbrows who
may resent my inability to comb the classics for copy to please them.
All the merit I can claim is the ability to rhyme a limerick or sing a
"come-all-ye" in a manner perhaps not unpleasing to my friends.

The lumberjacks will understand me, I am sure, and will appreciate my
humble efforts to entertain them.

As for the genial highbrow, should he deem me an interloper in the realm
of letters and imagine that my wild, uncultured notes are destroying the
harmony of his supersensitive soul, I shall "lope" back to the tall
timber again and seek sympathy and appreciation among the lumberjacks of
the forest primeval, where, amid the wild surroundings and the crooning
of the trees, there is health for mind and body borne on every passing
breeze. Yes, there's something strangely healing in the magic of the
myrrh, in the odor of the cedar and the fragrance of the fir.

There the hardy lumberjack is the undisputed lord of the lowlands and
chief of the highlands, and at the present time no soldier in the
trenches or sailor on the rolling deep has a more arduous task to
perform or a more important duty to discharge than he.

Toil on, ye Titans of the tall timbers; steadfast soldiers of the saw,
and able allies of the axe. Carry on till the stately trees which
constitute the glory of the West are converted into ships and planes in
countless thousands, to win the great war for freedom and to make the
world safe for democracy--and lumberjacks!

    THE AUTHOR.




ILLUSTRATIONS


    Frontispiece

    "Where the tall, majestic pine tree branches wave"      124

    "Christmas in Quebec"                                    14

    "Gagne's Cavalry"                                        52

    "Sergeant-Major Larry"                                   76

    "I am now one lumberjack"                               110

    "Another Findlay like your own"                         141

    _Illustrations by
    Lieutenant William R. McKay
    with 161st U.S.A. in France_




CONTENTS


    DESTINY                                   11
    There's a grand, grand view unfolding.

    THE SONS OF OUR MOTHERS                   12
    In the Ramah's of our day.

    CHRISTMAS IN QUEBEC                       15
    I got notice sometam lately.

    THE CLEVELAND MESSAGE                     22
    It is such a fad at present.

    THE SULTAN AT POTSDAM                     27
    Mohammed, Dammed gift of God,

    JOHN LABONNE'S DREAM                      41
    All las' night I was me dreaming,

    THE DERELICT                              44
    I will write a short sketch of a
       free-hearted wretch.

    GAGNE'S CAVALRY                           49
    Ma Rosie write to me somet'ing,

    THE GRIPPE                                54
    To see us now deceivers.

    TRUDEL'S TRAVELS                          58
    Said Joe, I mus' go w'ere de snow
        she don' blow,

    THE END OF THE TRAIL                      71
    I was summoned in the gloaming,

    HOMESICK                                  75
    I am tire' now for roam Rosemarie,

    THE GALLANT 58TH                          77
    O come all ye loyal volunteers,

    THE FENIAN RAID                           82
    From de country of de Eagle,

    A LEAP YEAR PARTY                         87
    The night before last Hallowe'en,

    THE HOLLERNZOLLERN'S PRAYER               91
    Dear Gott, der weight of "right divine,"

    ALASKA BOUNDARY LINE                      95
    Now that little Venezuela,

    THE GUARD OF LAFAYETTE                    99
    Ma Rosie say to me today,

    THE LUMBERJACK                           103
    We have songs on many topics,

    THE BOOK AGENT                           107
    The sun rose in beauty,

    JEAN LABONNE                             111
    I am now one lumberjack,

    CANADIANS, GUARD YOUR OWN                113
    "On feet of clay," false prophets say,

    GUARD THE GAELIC                         116
    Is it not our bounden right?

    THE AMERICAN EAGLE                       120
    Lofty is thy habitation,

    DONALD McLEOD                            123
    The sun hath set and leaves the day,

    OVER THE TOP                             127
    A lusty lad from Lewis,

    THE ALKALI LAND                          130
    I left my old home and my friends in
        the East,

    A CHRISTMAS DREAM                        135
    One Christmas night I sallied forth,




DESTINY


    There's a grand, grand view unfolding
      And it pictures our future goal:
    There's a strong, strong army moulding
      Our land into one great whole;
    There's a world-wide movement holding
      Firm the lines of our destiny:
    And 'twill never cease
    Till the earth