De Stove Pipe Hole

William Henry Drummond | Apr 1854 - Apr 1907 | Irish

Dat' very cole an' stormy night on Village St. Mathieu, We'en ev'ry wan he's go couché, an' dog was quiet too – Young Dominique is start heem out to see Emmeline Gourdon, Was leevin' on her fader's place, Maxime de Foregeram.

Poor Dominique he's lak dat girl, an' love her mo' de tam, An' she was make de promise-sure some day she be his famme, But she have worse old fader dat's never on de worl', Was swear onless he's riche lak diable, no feller's get his girl.

He make it plaintee fuss about hees daughter Emmeline, Dat's mebbe nice girl, too, but den, Mou Dieu, she's not de queen! An' w'en de young man's come aroun' for spak in on de door, An' hear de old man swear "Baptem"! he's never come no more.

Young Dominique he's sam' de res' – was scare for old Maxime, He don't lak risk hese 'f too moche for chances seein' him, Dat's only stormy night he come, so dark you cannot see, And dat's de reason w'y also, he's climb de gallerie.

De girl she's waitin' dire for heim – don't care about de rain, So glad for see young Dominique he's comin' back again. Dey bote forgot de old Maxime, an' mak de embrasser An' affer dey was finish dat, poor Dominique is say –

"Good-bye, dear Emmeline, good-bye' I'm goin' very soon, for you I got no better chance, dan feller in de moon – it's all de fault your fader, too, dat I be go away, he's got no use for me at all – I see dat ev'ry day."

"He's never meet me on de road but is say, "Sambré"! an' if he ketch me on de house, I'm scare he's killin' me, so I must lef' ole' St. Mathieu, for work on 'noder place, An' till I make de beeg fortune, you never see ma face."

Den Emmeline say, "Dominique, ma love, you'll always be An' if you kiss me two, l'ree tame I'll not tole nobody – But prenez garde ma fader, please, I know he's getting' ole – All sam' he offen walk de house upon de stockin' sole."

Good-bye, good-bye, cher Dominique! I know you will be true. I don't want no riche feller me, ma heart she go wit you." Dat's very quick he's kiss her den, before de fader come, But don't get too much pleasurement – so 'fraid de ole Bonmhomme.

Wall' jus' about dey're half way t'roo, with all dat love beezness, Emmeline say, "Domique, w'at for you're scare lak all de res'.? Don't see mese'f mouche danger now de ole man come aroun"' W'en minute after dat, dere's noise lak house she's fallin' down.

Den Emmeline she holler, "Fire! Will no one come for me"? And Dominique is jomp so high, near bus' de gallerie – "Help! Help! Right off", sombody shout, "I'm killin' on ma place; It's all de fault ma daughter, too, dat girl she's ma disgrace."

He's kip it up long tam lak dat, but no hard tellin' now, W'at's all de noise upon de house – who's kick heem up de now? It seem Bonhomme was sneak aroun' upon de stokin' sole, An' fre't'ing den de ole man walk right t'roo de stove pipe hole.

W'en Dominique is see heem dere, wit' wan leg hanb below, An' noder leg straight out above, he's glad for ketch heem so – De ole man can't do not'ing, den, but swear and ax for w'y, Nobody tak heem out dat hole before he's comin' die.

Den Dominique he spek lak dis, "Mon cher M'sieur Hourdon I'm not rich city feller, me I'm only habitant But I was love more I can tole your daughter Emmeline, An' if I marry on dat girl, Bagosh! She's lak de Queen."

"I want you mak de promise now, before it's come too late, an' I mus' tole you dis also, dere's not mche tam to wait. You foot she's hanging down so low, I'm 'fraid she ketch de cole, Wall! If you give me Emmeline, I pull you de hole."

Dat make de ole man swear more hard he never swear before, An' wit' de foot he's got above, he's kick it on de floor, "Non, non", he say. "Sapre tonnerre! She never marry you, an' if you don't look out you get de jail on St. Mathieu. "

"Correc'" young Dominique is say, "Mabbe de jail's right place, but you got wan small corner, too", I see it on de face, so if you don't lak geeve de girl on wan poor habitant dat's be mese'f, I say, "Bonsoir, mon cher M'sieur Gourdon".

"Com back, come back" Maxine is shoutin'. I promise you de girl. I never see no wan lak you – no never in the worl'! It's not de nice trick you was play on man dat's getting' ole, But do jus' w'at you lak so long you pull me out de hole."

"Hooray! Hooray" Den Dominque is pull heem out toute suite, an' Emmeline she's helpin' too for place heem on de feet, an' affter dat de ole man's tak' de young peep down de stair, w'ere he is go couché, right off, an' dey go on parloir.

Nex' Sunday morning dey was call by M'sieu le Curé, Get marry soon, an' ole Maxine geeve Emmeline away, Den affer dat dey settle down lak habitant is do, An' have de mos' fine familee on Village St. Mathieu.