Le Traveau Publiques

I’m work on de Traveau Publique, I mek tirty dollar a weeque; Dat’s much better salaire, I can get anywhere, Altho’ I’m good man wid de pique.

My name’s Athanase Brouillette, I’m in de Blue Book, you bet; Where I’m call Architec Dat’s good name, I expec, Altho’ I doant built something yet.

When I came on Ottawa, I’m de most poor you never saw; Now I live like de best, Look pretty good when I’m drest, And pass on Sparks street wid eclat.

It is to laugh to know de way I get my job an’ ver nice pay, I tell you de facs, An’ behine my backs Don’t go an’ give it away.

Laflamme’s have ma job before me, But he’s go on de very much spree; When she’s drink herself dead, I arrive in he’s stead, In de maniere which you shall see--

Mrs. Laflamme doan’t like any To be veuve widout one red penny, So she make bargain wid me Dat I make marry wid she, An’ get de job of Laflamme, you comprenez?

I like dis bargain very well, But when I go myself for sell I doant make foolishness, Just for politesse, So I say, “Wait a minute, ma belle;

De ver first ting you mus’ do, Before we make marry we two, Work de pull, put me in An’ I swear by Gin Flinn, Madam Brouillette, I make you.”

So now I am very tack-tick, I work on de Traveau Publique; An’ feue Madam Laflamme, She makes de grande damme, On de tirty dollar a weeque.