| |
| I’M sleepin’ las’ night w’en I dream a dream, | |
| An’ a wonderful wan it seem— | |
| For I’m off on de road I was never see, | |
| Too long an’ hard for a man lak me, | |
| So ole he can only wait de call | 5 |
| Is sooner or later come to all. | |
| |
| De night is dark an’ de portage dere | |
| Got plaintee o’ log lyin’ ev’ryw’ere, | |
| Black bush aroun’ on de right an’ lef’, | |
| A step from de road an’ you los’ you’se’f, | 10 |
| De moon an’ de star above is gone, | |
| But somet’ing tell me I mus’ go on. | |
| |
| An’ off in front of me as I go, | |
| Light as a dreef of de fallin’ snow, | |
| Who is dat leetle boy dancin’ dere— | 15 |
| Can see hees w’ite dress an’ curly hair, | |
| An’ almos’ touch heem, so near to me— | |
| In an’ out dere among de tree? | |
| |
| An’ den I’m hearin’ a voice is say, | |
| ‘Come along, fader, don’t min’ de way; | 20 |
| De boss on de camp he sen’ for you, | |
| So your leetle boy ’s goin’ to tak you t’roo. | |
| It ’s easy for me, for de road I know, | |
| ‘Cos I travel it many long year ago.’ | |
| |
| An’ oh! mon Dieu! w’en he turn hees head | 25 |
| I’m seein’ de face of ma boy is dead— | |
| Dead wit’ de young blood in hees vein— | |
| An’ dere he ’s comin’ wance more again | |
| Wit’ de curly hair an’ dark blue eye, | |
| So lak de blue of de summer sky— | 30 |
| |
| An’ now no more for de road I care, | |
| An’ slippery log lyin’ ev’ryw’ere, | |
| De swamp on de valley de mountain too, | |
| But climb it jus’ as I used to do— | |
| Don’t stop on de road for I need no res’ | 35 |
| So long as I see de leetle w’ite dress. | |
| |
| An’ I foller it on, an’ wance in a w’ile | |
| He turn again wit’ de baby smile, | |
| An’ say, ‘Dear fader, I’m here, you see, | |
| We’re bote togedder, jus’ you an’ me— | 40 |
| Very dark to you, but to me it ’s light, | |
| De road we travel so far to-night. | |
| |
| ‘De boss on de camp w’ere I alway stay | |
| Since ever de tam I was go away, | |
| He welcome de poores’ man dat call, | 45 |
| But love de leetle wan bes’ of all; | |
| So dat ’s de reason I spik for you | |
| An’ come to-night to bring you t’roo.’ | |
| |
| Lak de young Jesu’ w’en He ’s here below, | |
| De face of ma leetle son look jus’ so— | 50 |
| Den off beyon’ on de bush I see | |
| De w’ite dress fadin’ among de tree— | |
| Was it a dream I dream las’ night | |
| Is goin’ away on de mornin’ light? | |
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