ISING the British seaman's praise,
A theme renown'd in story:
It well deserves more polish'd lays
O'tis your boast and glory:
When mad-brain'd war spread death around,
By them you are protected;
But when in peace the nation's found,
These bulwarks are neglected.
Then O protect the hardy tar,
Be mindful of his merit,
And when again you're plunged in war,
He'll show his daring spirit.
When thickest darkness covers all,
Far on the trackless ocean,
When lightnings dart, when thunders roll,
And all is wild commotion;
When o'er the bark the white top't waves
With boist'rous sweeps are rolling,
Yet coolly still the whole he braves,
Untam'd amidst the howling.
When deep immerg'd in sulph'rous smoke,
He feels a glowing pleasure,
He loads his gun, he cracks his joke,
Elated beyond measure;
Tho' fore and aft the blood-stain'd deck,
Should lifeless trunks appear,
Or should the vessel float a wreck,
The sailor knows no fear,
When long becalm'd on southern brine,
Where scorching beams assail him,
When all the canvas hangs supine,
And food and water fail him :
Then oft he dreams of Britain's shore,
Where plenty still is reigning,
They call the watch, his rapture's o'er,
He sighs, but scorns complaining.
Or burning on that noxious coast,
Where death so oft befriends him,
Or pinch'd by hoary Greenland frost,
True courage still attends him.
No time can this eradicate,
He glories in annoyance;
He, fearless, braves the storm of fate,
And bids grim death defiance.
Why should the man who knows no fear,
In peace be e'er neglected,
Behold him move along the pier,
Pale, meagre, and dejected:
Behold him begging for employ,
Behold him disregarded;
Then view the anguish of his eye,
And say-are tars rewarded?
To them your dearest rights you owe,
In peace then would you starve them?
What say ye, Britain's sons ?
O no,
Protect them and preserve them!
Shield them from poverty and pain,
"Tis policy to do it;
Or when dire war shall come again,
O Britons ye may rue it.
Mr.Dignum-LONG time I've courted you, miss,
And now I'm come from sea;
We'll make no more ado, miss,
But quickly married be.
Mrs. Bland-I ne'er will wed a tar, sir,
Deceitful, like yourself;
'Tis very plain you are, sir,
A good for nothing elf.
Mr.Dignum-I've ne'er deceiv'd you yet, miss, Though like a shrew you rave; But prithee scold and fret, miss, A storm I well can brave.
Mrs. Bland-False man, you courted Sally,
You fill'd with vows her head;
And Susan in the valley,
You promis'd you would wed.
Sing fal, de ral, &c.
Mr.Dignum-'Tis useless to contend, ma'am,
So let the storm subside;
Our courtship's at an end, ma'am,
You ne'er shall be my bride.
Sing fal, de ral, &c.
Mrs. Bland-My nonsense, pray excuse, sir, (affectionately) O bid be not adieu ! Although I did refuse, sir,
I meant to marry you.
Sing fal, de fal, &c.
Mr.Dignum Then dearest girl, surrender;
Mrs. Bland-Yes, love, I'll be your wife;
Mr.Dignum-And I'll be your defender;
Mrs. Bland-And I'll be true for life.
Both-We'll wed, and the bells shall ring,
And thus we'll merrily sing.
STERN winter, clad in frost and snow,
Had now forbid the streams to flow,
And skaiting peasants swiftly glide,
Like swallows, o'er the slipp'ry tide:
When Mordecai, upon whose face
The synagogue you plain might trace,
Fortune with smiles deceitful bore,
To a curs'd bole but late scimm'd o'er,
Down plumps the Jew, but in a trice,
Rising he caught the friendly ice,
He gap'd, he yell'd a hideous cry,
No friendly hand, alas! was nigh,
Save a poor monk, who quickly ran
To save from death the drowning man;
But when the holy father saw
A limb of the mosaic law,
His hand outstretch'd he quick withdrew;
"For heaven's sake help!" exclaims the Jew,
"Turn christian first," the father cries,
"I'm froze to death!" the Jew replies.
<6 Froze," quoth the monk, "too soon you'll know, There's fire enough for Jews below; Renounce your unbelieving crew, And help is near."-" I do, I do, Drag, drag me out, I freeze, I die." "Your peace, my friend, is made on high, No hour for death so fit as this,
Thus, thus I launch you into bliss."
So said, the father in a trice,
His convert launch'd beneath the ice!
THE moment Aurora peep'd into my room,
I put on my clothes, and I call'd for my groom:
Will Whistle by this had uncoupled the hounds,
Which, lively and mettlesome, frisk'd o'er the
grounds.
And now we're all saddled-Fleet, Dapple, and
Seem'd longing to hear the glad sound-Hark,
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