[Picture: The Sailors and Ship]
Tom Hazard was an unthinking boy, and would not settle to any business at
home, and so ventured one day in a frolic to go on the water with a party
of young folks; and, as Tom staid out late at night, he was met on coming
ashore by a press-gang, who took him on board a man-of-war, from which,
after some time, he made his escape, and entered on board the _Desperate_
Privateer, hazarding his life for a golden chain, or a broken limb. And
now, poor fellow, when it is too late, he sorely laments his situation,
for, having lost a leg, he wanders with some of his companions, and joins
in their mournful ditty.
We poor sailors, lame and blind,
Now your charity would sue;
Treat us not with words unkind,
But a spark of pity shew.
Where the stormy billows roar,
Many a year we plough’d the main:
Far, to east or western shore,
Luxuries for you to gain.
Far from friends and houses warm,
(Comforts such as you can boast,)
We have braved the howling storm,
Shipwreck’d on a desert coast.
Many a hardship have we known;
Round and round the world we’ve past;
Now, our limbs and eye-sight gone,
Come to beggary at last!