SLAVES FOR SALE!

Habitant country! At St. Simeon!
East of Quebec City....a very small farm!
The farm was a failure and my father was, too!
You need a "green thumb", to make it through!!
Pamphlets, from the government, telling how to plant a field,
Planting pamphlets, instead of corn, might have given a yield!
So many children, like steps on a ladder!
Sixteen altogether....life couldn't be sadder!
Cash?.....NO!!....What was that?....you see.....
Cash was for others, not my sibblings and me!
A man asked, "Do you have sons for sale?"
My dad frowned at him....and then he turned pale!
But, he changed his mind, when he learned about the price!
Ten dollars for each son!! This money would be nice!
Then another reason.....he wouldn't have to feed US!
I heard all of this, decided I'd make a fuss!
I was fourteen....big and tough...so, I'd just run away!
But, dad called the priest and his buggy came that day!
"Do what your father says", is what the old priest said....
So, I was forced to go....like a slave being led!!
At first, I felt so MAD and SAD.....
But, soon I found life NOT SO BAD!
I learned how to farm and profit, too!
Went to school a few months.....well, only two!
Sixteen kids and we all did very well!
A happy ending.....I'm so pleased to tell!

Pauline Banning   W3-923-97-D7

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