The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-10-15
AN OLD SALTS YARN.


fn' weath.r-beaten old salt, sir. and II you'd
There's many yarn could spin you Of life on
the ocean free.
Spin oaei Jus, sit on thst tub, then. and I'll do
my best 10 tell
story Of something o happened when sailed
with the Nancy Bell.
Twas . beautiful summers morning when we
sailed away from the land
And ell OF US jolly and merry-ay every one OF
the band
Though we'd just had TO part with children, pa
rents. swceihearts or wives.
That comes jolly hard, you may guess. sir;
Ht'rt been used TO II all our lives.
I'd just said good by to my Mary-that was my
dear old wife
lShe's new up above the sky. sir. and I'm lead
ing lonely life).
When / saw . woman talking, and listened to
what she said
70 her son. who was going away, sir. from
where he was born and bred:
Remember. my lad. do your duty; be honest
whatever befall;
Nor forget, lad, there's One above others who
watches and wards over all.
Be brave. boy, fear God, and remember through
oil CT your voyage that He
Who watches o'cr those on the shore, lad, viii
care for the tars on the sea-"
didn't 60 in FOR religion" and prayin' weren't
much in my line;
I'd have naught to say to parson they wasn't
no bu siness OF mine.
But somehow the words Of that woman brought
suddenly back to mo
The thought Of the prayers I'd learned, sir,
when child at my mCthcrs knee.
And, thinks /, Ill look to that younGster, and
keep an eye on the lad
With such o mother as that un he oughtn't to
60 to the bad
And did; but, there. there wasn't no need, for
sir. need hardly tell,
He was truly the son OF his mother and he did
his duty--m u.
Six months from the day we started, one
stormy autumn night
We hoped in the early morning old England 8
shores to sight;
Bat scoa the sky grew darker, and gale began
to blow
That threatened to send US down, sir, as food
for the fish below.
Loud thunder rolled. and lightning shot across
the lurid sky.
While pillows lcaped around the ship that
seemed as mountain high.
I'd never seen such q storm, sir, nor Others
more than me;
Twas like SO many demons disporting about
the sea
Yet amid the roar Of the breakers and the
tossing OF the foam.
Came the thought Of their dearloved faces
the wife and the BARNS at home
Home that we were in sight Of! Twas hard
you can understand,
70 be wrecked on Christmas evening. and in
sight Of home and land!
Was there no help. Then the captain, clear
above the pillows roar,
Shouts with o voice OF thunder: Who'll carry
line ashores"
Whot Why, into the waters In Q second more
was he
The brave young sailor lad, sir. a-battling with
the sea.
He carried the line in safety through that ter
rible kissing foam,
Thinking. no doubt of his mother, and . Christ
mas spent At home.
For time We couldn't see him, and we feared
the lad was lost.
Till the hour when all was over, and cry sou
had crossed.
Never soul had persisted, never o soul-bu,
he
he died on Christmas morning from his strug
gle with the sea!
He'd given his life for the crew, SIR and I've
nothing more to tell.
He said twas only his duty, and done for the
Nancy Bell;
twas just o bit Of true courage-at least SO Il
seems to me
Though It's only an old salts story, sailors
yarn O the sea.
Herbert J. Dunn In N. Y. Ledger.