The Post Captain 615 And the man who did the preachin' took his twenty of the sum, Which you see that out of thirty left a tenner for the bum. And the couple passed the summer at Bar Harbor with the rest, Greatly changed in their appearance and most elegently dressed. Any fowl with change of feathers may a brilliant bird be come: Oh, how hard is life for many! oh, how sweet it is for some! Charles Godfrey Leland. THE POST CAPTAIN WHEN they heard the Captain humming and beheld the dancing crew, On the "Royal Biddy" frigate was Sir Peter Bombazoo; He could whistle, on his fingers, an invigorating reel, Or rattle off a rondo on the bottom of a pail. Then porters with their packages and bakers with their buns, And countesses in carriages and grenadiers with guns, And admirals and commodores arrived from near and far, To listen to the music of this entertaining tar. When they heard the Captain humming and beheld the dancing crew. The commodores severely said, "Why, this will never do!" And the admirals all hurried home, remarking, "This is most Extraordinary conduct for a captain at his post." Then they sent some sailing-orders to Sir Peter, in a boat, And he did a little fifing on the edges of the note; But he read the sailing orders, as of course he had to do, And removed the "Royal Biddy" to the Bay of Boohgabooh. Now, Sir Peter took it kindly, but it's proper to explain Then a topman saw the pirate come a-sailing in the bay, Then the Pirate cried derisively, "I've heard it done before!" Then the Pirate banged Sir Peter and Sir Peter banged him back, And they banged away together as they took another tack. Then Sir Peter said, politely, "You may board him, if you like," And he played a little dirge upon the handle of a pike. Then the "Biddies" poured like hornets down upon the Pirate's deck And Sir Peter caught the Pirate and he took him by the neck, And remarked, "You must excuse me, but you acted like a brute When I gave my imitation of that double-jointed flute." So they took that wicked Pirate and they took his wicked crew, And tied them up with double knots in packages of two. And left them lying on their backs in rows upon the beach With a little bread and water within comfortable reach. Robinson Crusoe's Story 617 Now the Pirate had a treasure (mostly silverware and gold), And Sir Peter took and stowed it in the bottom of his hold; And said, "I will retire on this cargo of doubloons, And each of you, my gallant crew, may have some silver spoons." Now commodores in coach-and-fours and corporals in cabs, And men with carts of pies and tarts and fishermen with crabs, And barristers with wigs, in gigs, still gather on the strand, But there isn't any music save a little German band. Charles E. Carryl. ROBINSON CRUSOE'S STORY THE night was thick and hazy Carried down the crew and captain in the sea; For they never, never found 'em, And I know they didn't come ashore with me. Oh! 'twas very sad and lonely In a rocky little cavern, And I sit and watch for people at the door. I spent no time in looking For a girl to do my cooking, As I'm quite a clever hand at making stews; But I had that fellow Friday Just to keep the tavern tidy, And to put a Sunday polish on my shoes. I have a little garden That I'm cultivating lard in, As the things I eat are rather tough and dry; For I live on toasted lizards, Prickly pears and parrot gizzards, And I'm really very fond of beetle pie. The clothes I had were furry, And it made me fret and worry When I found the moths were eating off the hair; And I had to scrape and sand 'em, And I boiled 'em and I tanned 'em, Till I got the fine morocco suit I wear. I sometimes seek diversion In a family excursion, With the few domestic animals you see; As refreshment for the parrot, Then we gather as we travel And we chip off little specimens of stone; Just to give the day a scientific tone. If the roads are wet and muddy Studies ornamental writing, While the Cat is taking lessons on the drum. We retire at eleven, And we rise again at seven; And I wish to call attention, as I close, To the fact that all the scholars Are correct about their collars, And particular in turning out their toes. Charles E. Carryl. Ben Bluff 619 BEN BLUFF BEN BLUFF was a whaler, and many a day Had chased the huge fish about Baffin's old Bay; He turned up his nose at the fumes of the coke, So Ben cut his line in a sort of a huff, As soon as his whales had brought profits enough, A big one she was, without figure or waist, But Ben, like a whaler, was charmed with the match, For Greenland was green in his memory still; And often when softened by bumbo and flip, Would cry till he blubbered about his old ship. No craft like the Grampus could work through a floe, What knots she could run, and what tons she could stow! And then that rich smell he preferred to the rose, By just nosing the hold without holding his nose. Now Ben he resolved, one fine Saturday night, A snug arctic circle of friends to invite; |