STEPHENVILLE

The Poem

Bill Whelan

2024 04 06

This was printed 6 May 1911 in St John’s Evening Herald, reprinted from Western Star 3 May:

STEPHENVILLE          

We had, las' night, what you call

  'eet?

In Steveneele, one great concert.

It beat the gravel one, you bet!

We do not let them go 'head-not

  yet!

Twas bon-alright de udder

  one-!

But ours-mais oui-so full of

  fun-

Twas what you say?- 'knock

  spots off dat?'

Or, pat it quick in one cocked hat.'

You know de hall, jus' 'cross the

  road

From our 'eglise? Twas dere

  we goed

To hear 'em sing an' play an

  ack

Mar', but 'twas gran' an' dat's a

  fac'!

Ma foi,’ but 'twas some great-

  dam show!

They sang like the leetel op--{?}

An May McLeod, she beat 'em

  all

Her song-it brought down the

  hall.

An' Meek Ase, he recite a piece

He wrote hisself. Its ver' much

  ease

For him to make a pome 'n song.

I guess it no take heem ver' long.

He told how poor Jesso did die,

An' call him hero-dat's no lie!

He died you know to safe hees

  wife

An' burnt heem much, so cost

  hees life.

Mar's woemions 'a nos moutow

Dat means go back concert you

  know.

An' 'bout it all to tell some more

Which pleases me well, dat does

  --fur shore.

Well Mrs. John Joy, she tole de

   fate

Of pore Ireland, in ninety-eight.

She make you cry, some, too, you

bet!

An' den dere's leetel Antoinette

Who sang like wan, wot you call

  eet?

One night-in-gale dat sings so

  sweet.

An' Mees Schomph too tak' part

  also,

Twas moch too short before we

  go

I hope, all same, to leeve until

Un autre concert, in Stephenville.

                      Une fille de la village