
A lively anthology of verse and song, this volume captures the rough‑hewn spirit of early‑20th‑century lumber camps and front‑line trenches alike. The author’s plain‑spoken, dialect‑rich lyrics were sung around campfires from British Columbia to Maine, and even echoed over the battlefields of France and the deserts of the Middle East. Readers will hear bawdy limericks, sturdy “come‑all‑ye” chants, and solemn war ballads that once rallied workers and soldiers alike. The introduction explains how popular demand from fellow timbermen inspired the collection, promising a genuine taste of the frontier’s musical folklore.
Illustrated with sketches by a wartime lieutenant, the book weaves together images of pine forests, Christmas in Quebec, and military scenes, grounding the verses in vivid, period‑appropriate scenery. While the tone can be cheeky, it also carries a heartfelt tribute to the sacrifices of everyday heroes—lumberjacks, soldiers, and their families. The blend of humor, patriotism, and rustic charm offers listeners a window into a bygone era where song was both work‑song and rallying cry.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (104K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2011-09-22
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1864–1923
Best known by the pen name Oscar Dhu, this Scottish-Canadian writer turned frontier history, lumber-camp life, and wartime feeling into lively poems and stories. His work carries the voice of ordinary people rather than polished literary airs.
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