Blue is the sea we sail on, And blue is the sky above, And blue are the eyes As sea or skies
Of the maiden whom I love: And blue is the flag we’ re under, And blue is the coat I wear; But brighter the blue,
And deeper the hue In the eyes which I hold so dear! Bluer and brighter and sweeter, Fonder and fair and as true;
Oh it’ s blue love and true love for ever! And God bless the beautiful blue! Now supper being over, every man Lighted his pipe or called for a cigar,
Lolled in his chair — and all again began To order “something lively” from the bar. Jack Saltonstall, intent on keeping peace, Waved a great South Sea club, and said, “I’ m sent
By Providence to act as your police;” And at the table sat as President. He was a man of pleasing dignity, And all allowed he would a captain be,
Calming all quarrels with a word and wink; He had hot rum and lemon for his drink. And as he sat in state, with the club of peace Which he had taken from the chimney-piece,
He said to us: “What tales this bat could tell Of many a battle — many a busted shell, And murdered victims by the surfy shore, And cani-bally feasts when all was o’ er!”
Quoth Sam of Jersey, “I hev seen such things Among them natives, ordered by their kings, As well might make a common pirate weep, And the old devil feel uncommon cheap:
Such derned, infernal deeds, and parst all showin’, Pirates and slavers ain’ t the worst folk goin’. There’ s things to which the worst they do is slow; I’ ve lived among’ em an I ort to know.
And yet among those natives there are some As mild as lambs, and good and humoursome; Who never fight no more than an old hen, Such difference there is in mortal men.
I’ ll tell you now a tale, to make you sport, Of one who chanced among this gentle sort.”
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