Tote-Road and Trail; Ballads of the Lumberjack (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1917. Excerpt: ... IF FORTUNE CAME If old Dame Fortune came to-day up in the timber on a hike An' told me I could have my way, have any treasure that I like-- I wonder just what I would say, for just what blessin' I would strike. Offhand I guess I'd ask for cash, for money is a handy thing. I've had enough to make a splash or two myself in town in Spring; I've drawed my stake an' made a flash an' had my little yearly fling. Offhand I guess I'd ask for dough, for that's what most men think of first-- The thing that keeps us peggin' so, the thirst that's like a whisky thirst; The thing that's helped a few I know, an' twice as many others cursed. IF FORTUNE CAME I'd ask a million bucks or two, so I could ditch the timber tall An' know that it an' me was through, the corduroy an' four-turn haul-- That all that I would have to do was spend my money, that was all. I'd buy myself a house in town with Brussels carpet on the floor; I'd quit the booze an' settle down an' never hit it any more; I'd put on style, an' do it brown--for that's, I guess, what money's for. I'd set an' loaf the time away, I'd start again a-livin' white; I'd can this dirty pipe of clay an' get a meersch'um that was right; I'd eat my old three squares a day, an' sleep a good eight hours at night. But some vacation, so to speak, I'd like to have it now an' then-- To leave my cash an' take a sneak up here along with other men An', say, put in about a week in this old lumber camp again. I'd like to just come ivalkin' in an' find you all a-seitin' here IF FORTUNE CAME I'd like to just come walkin' in an' find you all a-set tin' here, An' wash in that old pail of tin, an' drink a cup of coffee clear, An' then git out an' work like sin, just as I've done for forty year. I'd like to set beside the fire upon the norway deaconseat An' listen to s...