The herald., 1837-03-08

well enough now; but think you had better shit
the boy on one Of your nags. SO away with you lit
tie one" said he giving him slap on the back, and
mind do you heara victualled on board the day dis
charged !"
6 Come on deck here" said Bill and, do you
hear turn 10 and dance us hornppe as we go along.
Strike up, old Scrapehard, and tip your best horn
| pine and squadron, make sail y
| "In short time we had got off the harbor, and
were unlading the cargo, when Joe along, GO
ing about fourteen knots his tllerropes lost and his
| ship running away with him.
"Shorten SAIL said Bill, 'or you'll be aboard the
"Luf, Joe luf, and weather it," said I. ''My eyes,
| there he goes, right end on! and down came the
horses pitching Joe over the bows.
"Nothing ever hurt his health but going without
his ship wrecked, her stemp piece stoyei in, and
that she was blged and lying over on her stnrboard
side The crew were all safe and we prepared to en-
ter the harbor. caught hold Of Betsy by the fpper
and Bill was behind with Moll Davis. She was ra.
ther the worse for her allowance in the morning, and
would sing, although chap who said ne was clerk
in the establishment tried to stop her.
"To the devil wild you" said Mo Davis. Do
you Think you black looking raven, that won't sing
a song on the day of Betsy's marrage| And she
set off at the top Of her voice, which rather thick
and hoarse than otherwise, and she beloved out
something about sweet William" Now il SO turn
ed that William was the name of the soldier and
Betsey thinking it was meant for sho! at her. turn
ed round and whipped off the ribbon from her bonnet
in trice. / caught hold of Betsy by the arm, and
Bill held Moll Davis, or should have had fight
be11re the marriage, for all the other women rushed
up to take Bstsys part except one or two, who al
ways liked fight, and therefore took the weakest
side in order to make sure OF one. This brought US
all TO our reasons, and we walked into the church as
quiet and as orderly as men at a funeral.
Well we were all ranged one alongside of each
other round some rail-work, inside Of which stood
the parson; and he soon began to read something
which of us seemed TO understand until he look
ed me full in the face with one eye and said nc, will
you have this woman 10 thy welded wifeW Now
the parson squinted bit with the other andI thought
his eye, which looking towards his starboard ear
was upon Mol Davis and as understood the words
To mean whether would take Moll Davis to my
welded wife, and thought that this was kind Of ma
sir she's abused her shamefully, and when this is
over she may box her trotters where she likes" Bill
cut in, and said he, ~ think Tom is right for she
had no business to sing what she did," And Betsy
said, "No, cur reverence, she shan't come to me-"
"The clerk began to say something but Bill soon
stopped him by saying, "Avaust heaving, young
man-hadnt you better take reef in your jawng
tacks, and double your distance?'
"I'he clergyman explained what it meant and he
asked me again.
"CertainIy, sir" said Ii "I csme here for that
same purpose"
"You must say" said the clerk, aIpiH."
Certainly" eaid l.
"That won't DO, "continued the devil-dodger; "you
fed"
"We got through the business in about quarter
of an hour, and we were then taken into room to
sign names.
'sWell, never could write, for never had no edu-
cation like; SO clapped cross, such as we make 10
the paper about the prize-agents Well Betsy could
not write so she stuck another Then they told Bill
he must witness it, and he couldn't write either; and
then Moll Davis made her mark, which was a large
black blot the book; for she then all nohow,
and dabbed down the pen, and then showed il athwart
the clerks muzzle But the best ct all was Bill when
he heard the little chap in black ask for fee.
"Whats that7" said Bill. 81 never heard that Ii
quor before"
"Its money want" said the clerk" any little
gift-a crown or So"
aTake that upon your crown" said Bill, and he
put the clerks hat on, and giving il rap, fattened
in the jibsheel and only left the crown and chin to
be seen.
snow, then" said l, after all hands had kissed
Betsy, /" the devil take the hindmost and let's have
ride round the town. And, perhaps" said respect
fully-"perhaps your worship will come with US =
won't stow you in the cabin you shall be up aloft
amongst the seamen on the quarterback, where you
the ship is properly worked" And am bless
ed if don't think ne thought going to press
OH.
"No sooner was he gone than the little black fel-
low followed us out, and began to say something
quite dlsrespectful to Bill VINO quietly turned round,
took the little chap under his arm and clapped him
in amongst the women. They began to play " none
Of my child" aad showed him about from one to an
other uatil, as sailing along at good rate
the door few open, and out went old straight-har,
with shot in his stern which nearly SEM him across
the street.
GAN Portsmouth turned out to see us. There was
Watson touching up his horse over the tarail, and il
kicked up behind high enough TO have lifted the
spanker- boom from the crulch and went on worse
than ever roared out for him 10 pass within hail,
but the animal would not answer IFS helm at all but
slewing round like boat in an eddy, il made start
on one side, and in went Dick Watson into gentle
mans breakfastparlour; whilst away went the horse,
tossing up its head and tail, and kicking and hnging
in all directions; this cleared the passage for the
squadron and on we went through the crowd.
Whenever the boys cheered, | stood up and return
ed the salute with equal number of guns. Slap we
went through one street, down another; round one
corner then another; Bill and on the top of the
coach, standing the roof and cheering. Old Scrape
hard was fddling like good one the youngser,
with his hat held up over his head, standing on
one leg like famngo, and slewing about like dog
vane in calm; whilst the women had got their heads
out Of the windows and made more row than the de-
vii in gale Of wind. AT last the horses were near
coming to an anchor without our ranging the cables.
They were bltted already SO we drove down to the
Point took the brides in and got our crew and pas
sengers all SAFE Then il was that we got to work
with the knives and forks; and we played rare stick
at eating We stuck al it, dancing and smoking, un-
Ill ten o'clock at night when all hands drunk
as OWLS and had given Betsy nearly all my money
TO take care Of which she did right we'll for never