Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-15
A Sailors Yarn.
BY JAMES LAVALLlN.


Wen, mate you've asked me to spin you yarn:
M not much of a hand, for 1 never could larn,
Like book-reading folks, to polish tale:
I'm nearer to home when shorten sail,
Or climb ty the ropes to the gallant-crosstrees.
AS we scud fore the wind or roll in the seas.
What matters it, though? Each one has trade;
SO I'll never say no to q social comrade.
IT'S two-score years, with year or two
Thrown in so that twill come nearer true
{You see Tn not scared like lubbers I've known
Who would think it a crime their ages to own),
Since I signed for voyage to the African coast,
The time was year, or two at the most
/ shipped as Ordinary" 1 was then sixteen
Rathor young, but since ten sailor I'd been.
Our ship was new one. just launched on the wave;
Our captain old salt, we hailed him as Dave;
And the crew that he mustered were sc old-timers"
then,
Except and another young fellow called Ben.
Now, mate, you know when two boys are thrown
Together mong crowd of old tars, and alone,
They're sure to be friendly, and always will chum
And share with each other their 'bacca and rum.
we were out from port just three months to day,
When we dropped the anchor in rock-bound bay,
And lay IN shore till it happened dark,
When we shipped our cargo aboard the bark.
Three hundred huntGnS-as wretched a lot
As ever a SLAYER bartered or caught;
Not one of the crowd but had grim despair
Plain in his face; it was written there.
We were sailing again before the night
Had its veil upifted by the hand Of light;
And our cargo was slowed below in tue hold,
Like hogs III pen, sheep in fold.
Twas the first / saw of the devilish trade,
And tel you, mate, it made afraid
OF Gods just vengeance. 1 was young at the time,
And my heart appalled, by the villainous crime.
We sailed seven days with a favorng wind,
And had left the land many leagues behind.
just after my watch, in my hammock lay,
Taking my comfort, while smoking clay,
When Ben came ill., with face as pale
As a ghost or a felon who'd just broke jail,
And, whispering, said in accents low,
1.-The fever's broke out 'mong the crowd below!" ~
Oh, mate. my heart with fright gave leap,
And the blood in my veins with terror did creep
had heard men before tell with quiyering lip
OF the horrors that reign q fever-struck ship.
1 went on deck: the captain there,
And the rest Of the crew were lingering near.
He approached Us and said, "You know how il
catches;
We must look to ourselves-so batten the matches :!
Some 1nurnlured little; but what could we do?
He was the captain, and we were the crew;
And these land-laws, you know how they treat III
when
The captain IS med,led with by any Of the men,
So we bat:ened the hatches and prisoned the crew
OF wretches below-in cofiness shroud.
Oh! III never forget their fierce cries of doom,
AS shut them up in their horrible tomb.
Ere the day went by, there three Of sick,
And two before morn-it catches you quick.
Then the captain he spoke to the rest, and swore
He'd be bowed if he'd stick to the ship any more
They lowered the two boats, and left US that day.
Helpless and ravng, in our hammocks we lay:
Not a friend was by to comfort cheer,
And the p.ash Of the waves was all we could hear
We drifted along for two weeks Or more,
With never sight Of friendly shore,
Nor ever a glance Of passing sail,
Nor ever a sound of welcome hail
There We're three Of US left when ship went pas
And saw the signal hung to the mast:
just saved rs IN time from a terrible fate,
And they scuttled the ship with the human freight