“The Two Budding Lumberjacks”

Description

Two lumberjacks work for the Underhills "upon a floating bog Upon Dungarvon's Flats." Whistling Rufus criticizes them for leaving a log behind. Instead of going back for the log their father takes a fence rail from someone else "and call it square"

Supplemental text

Two Budding Lumberjacks, The
  Partial text(s)

          *** A ***

From Louise Manny and James Reginald Wilson, Songs of Miramichi,
#43, pp. 175-177. From the singing of co-author Albert Peters,
Newcastle, in 1962.

We are two lads, two jolly lads,
  We're fond of fun and joy,
Prince Edward Isle's our native style,
  New Brunswick we'll enjoy.
To lumber woods with much delight
  And force we take our eye,
While working for the Underhills
  The truth we'll ne'er deny.

(6 additional stanzas)

Notes

Manny/Wilson: The song is about an experience Ben [age 12] and Frank [age 14] Peters, and their father Leon taking sub-contracts from Millet Underhill "who ran lumber camps for the Snowball Lumber Company of Chatham." The ballad says they came from Prince Edward's Isle. - BS

Albert Peters, the informant, was the younger brother of the two boys involved in the exploit. Reading the plot, you would probably think this a humorous song. It isn't, somehow. - RBW

References

1. Manny/Wilson 43, "The Two Budding Lumberjacks" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. ST MaWi043 (Partial)
3. Roud #9185
4. BI, MaWi043