The Admiralty saw how ill

They'd treated CAPTAIN REECE; He was restored once more aboard The saucy Mantelpiece.

Bal

THE SAILOR BOY TO HIS LASS.

I

GO away this blessed day,

To sail across the sea, MATILDA !
My vessel starts for various parts
At twenty after three, MATILDA.
I hardly know where we may go,

Or if it's near or far, MATILDA,
For CAPTAIN HYDE does not confide
In any 'fore-mast tar, MATILDA !

Beneath my ban that mystic man

Shall suffer, coûte qui coûte, MATILDA !
What right has he to keep from me
The Admiralty route, MATILDA ?

Because, forsooth! I am a youth
Of common sailors' lot, MATILDA !
Am I a man on human plan
Designed, or am I not, MATILDA ?

Bal

But there, my lass, we'll let that pass!
With anxious love I burn, MATILDA.
I want to know if we shall go

To church when I return, MATILDA?
Your eyes are red, you bow your head;
It's pretty clear you thirst, MATILDA,
To name the day-What's that you say
"You'll see me further first," MATILDA?

y?

I can't mistake the signs you make,

Although you barely speak, MATILDA;

Though pure and young, you thrust your tongue Right in your pretty cheek, Matilda !

My dear, I fear I hear you sneer—
I do—I'm sure I do, MATILDA !
With simple grace you make a face,
Ejaculating, "Ugh!" MATILDA.

Oh, pause to think before you drink
The dregs of Lethe's cup, MATILDA!
Remember, do, what I've gone through,
Before you give me up, MATILDA !
Recall again the mental pain

Of what I've had to do, MATILDA!
And be assured that I've endured
It, all along of you, MATILDA !

Do you forget, my blithesome pet,
How once with jealous rage, MATILDA,

I watched you walk and gaily talk
With some one thrice your age, MATILDA?
You squatted free upon his knee,

A sight that made me sad, MATILDA!
You pinched his cheek with friendly tweak,
Which almost drove me mad, MATILDA!

I knew him not, but hoped to spot
Some man you thought to wed, MATILDA!
I took a gun, my darling one,

And shot him through the head, MATILDA! I'm made of stuff that's rough and gruff Enough, I own; but, ah, MATILDA !

It did annoy your sailor boy

To find it was your pa, MATILDA !

I've passed a life of toil and strife,
And disappointments deep, MATILDA ;
I've lain awake with dental ache

Until I fell asleep, MATILDA !
At times again I've missed a train,

Or p'rhaps run short of tin, MATILDA, And worn a boot on corns that shoot, Or, shaving, cut my chin, MATILDA.

But, oh no trains-no dental pains-
Believe me when I say, MATILDA,
No corns that shoot-no pinching boot
Upon a summer day, MATILDA-
It's my belief, could cause such grief

As that I've suffered for, MATILDA,

My having shot in vital spot

Your old progenitor, MATILDA.

Bethink you how I've kept the vow
I made one winter day, MATILDA-
That, come what could, I never would

Remain too long away, MATILDA.
And, oh the crimes with which, at times,
I've charged my gentle mind, MATILDA,

To keep the vow I made and now
You treat me so unkind, MATILDA !

For when at sea, off Caribbee,

I felt my passion burn, MATILDA, By passion egged, I went and begged The captain to return, MATILDA.