jibs are run up and the sheets hauled to windward; the main- and afteryards are braced sharp to the wind, the foretopsail is laid to the mast, and the clipper looks like some great seabird ready for flight. ... // "I wish I was in Slewer's Hall, Lowlands, lowlands, hurra, my boys, A-drinking luck to the old Black Ball, My dollar and a half a day." ... // Nice verse. Interestingly, I believe this is the earliest (?) claim for LOWLANDS AWAY -- in the sense it is ~attributed~ to being sung in 1849. I believe the earliest print reference was Alden's 1882 mention. And this one has the "dollar and a half a day" chorus. Continued... // And while some of the hands bring the anchor to the rail with cat and fish tackle, and: "A Yankee sloop came down the river, Hah, hah, rolling John, Catting anchor here, using a halyard chanty form. There was some discussion about the possible relatives of this "Rolling John" in the "Sydney/SF" thread, viz. "Blow Boys Blow," "Sally Brown," and Sharp's "What's in the Pot a-boiling?" Another idealistic description of the early 1850s come later on: // Then when the sun has dried out ropes and canvas, the gear is swayed up fore and aft, with watch tackles on the chain topsail sheets, and a hearty: // The halliards are led along the deck fore and aft in the grip of clean brawny fists with sinewy arms and broad backs behind them,