“‘ Tis a woeful yarn,” said the sailor man bold Who had sailed the northern-lakes — “No woefuler one has ever been told Exceptin’ them called‘ fakes.’”
“Go on, thou son of the wind and fog, For I burn to know the worst!” But his silent lip in a glass of grog Was dreamily immersed.
Then he wiped it on his sleeve and said: “It's never like that I drinks But what of the gallant gent that's dead I truly mournful thinks.
“He was a soldier chap — leastways As‘ Colonel’ he was knew; An’ he hailed from some'rs where they raise A grass that's heavenly blue.
“He sailed as a passenger aboard The schooner‘ Henery Jo.’ O wild the waves and galeses roared, Like taggers in a show!
“But he sat at table that calm an’ mild As if he never had let His sperit know that the waves was wild An’ everlastin’ wet!—
“Jest set with a bottle afore his nose, As was labeled‘ Total Eclipse’ ( The bottle was ) an’ he frequent rose A glass o’ the same to his lips.
“An’ he says to me ( for the steward slick Of the‘ Henery Jo’ was I ): ‘ This sailor life's the very old Nick — On the lakes it's powerful dry!’
“I says:‘ Aye, aye, sir, it beats the Dutch. I hopes you'll outlast the trip.’ But if I'd been him — an’ I said as much — I'd‘ a’ took a faster ship.
“His laughture, loud an’ long an’ free, Rang out o'er the tempest's roar. ‘ You're an elegant reasoner,’ says he, ‘ But it's powerful dry ashore!’”
“O mariner man, why pause and don A look of so deep concern? Have another glass — go on, go on, For to know the worst I burn.”
“One day he was leanin’ over the rail, When his footing some way slipped, An’ ( this is the woefulest part o’ my tale ), He was accidental unshipped!
“The empty boats was overboard hove, As he swum in the‘ Henery's wake’; But‘ fore we had‘ bouted ship he had drove From sight on the ragin’ lake!”
“And so the poor gentleman was drowned — And now I'm apprised of the worst.” “What! him?‘ Twas an hour afore he was found — In the yawl — stone dead o’ thirst!”
Cookies on Poetry Cove