Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-02
THE YARN OF the "MAMcv BELL" /"

FROM 'THE BAB BALLADs."
Twas on the shores that round our coast
From Deal to Ramsgate span,
That found alone, on piece Of stone.
An elderly naval mar
t1;s hair was weedy. his beard was long,
And Mesdvais Wight Hight 81 On the shore recits.
In singular minor key
go, am cook and captain bold,
And the mate of the Nancy brig,
And bo'sun tight. and midshipmite.
And the crew of the ptain's gig -
And he shook his fist and he tore his hair.
Till really felt afraid,
For couldn't help thinking the man had been
drinking,
And SO simply said:-
80, elderly man, MS little know
And I'll eat my hand il understand
How you can possibly be
'At once cook and n captain hold,
And the mate OF the Nancy brig.
An | q be'su tight, and midshipmite.
And the crew of the captain's gig!'
Then he gave hitch to his trousers, which
Is trick all seamen larn,
And having got rid OF a humping Quia
He spun this painful yarn
80 It was in the good ship Nancy Bell
That We sailed to the Indian sea,
And there on reef We come to grief.
Which has often occurred to me.
"And pretty nigh all q the crew was drowned
(There was seventy-seven o. souD;
And only ten OF the Nsncy's men
Said Here to the muster-roll.
''There was me, and the cook, and the captain
And the mate of the Nancy brig,
And q bO'sun tight and midshlp pmite.
And the crew Of the captain'sglg.
"For month we'd neither wittles nor drink,
Till u hungry we did feel,
So we draw. ed u lot, and. accordn'. shot
The captain for our meal.
1.-The next lot fell to the Nancy's mate.
And delicate dish he made;
Then our appetite with the nidshipmife
We seven survivors stayed.
'And then we murdered the bo sun tight
And he much ressmbied pig;
Then We wlttled free, did the cook and me,
On the crew Of the captain gig.
''Ihen only the cook and me was left.
And the delicate question, Which
or us two goes to the kettle?' arOse,
And We argued it out NJ sich.
"For loved that cook rs brother. ibid,
And the cook he wOrshipprd me;
But wed s,nd.5 both be bowed II we'd either be
In the other chaps hold, you see.
" 'I'll be eat if you dimes OF me. says Tom
Yes, that says l. 'you'll BE.
Pm boiled II die, my friend, quoth l.,
And Exactly So quoth he.
says he: Dear James, to murder me
We're a foolish thing TO do,
For don't you see that you can't cook me,
While can-and wlll-cook you?'
so he boils the water, and takes the salt
And the pepper IN portions true
(Which he never forgot, aud some chopped
shalOt,
Aud some sage and parsley too
''Come here, says he, with proper pride,
Which his smiling features tell;
.'T will soothing be If | let you see
How extremely nice you'll SMELL
| land he stirred it round, ii round and round
| And he sui1ed ut the foaming frOh;
| When i ups with his heels, and smsthers hit
sIueas
In the scum OF the boiling broth.
land eat that cook in week or less.
| And ss l eating be
The last of his chops, why almost drops,
| For vessel in sight see.
And never larf, and never smile,
| And never lark nor play;
| But SIT and crOak, and single joke
lh2re-whIch is to say:
so, l am cook and captain bold
| And the mate of the Nancy brig,
And . bo'sun tight, and InidshlpInite,
| And the crew of the captains gi2?'
| W. :. GILBERT.