One night came on a hurricane,
The sea was mountains rollin',
When Barney Buntline turned his quid
And said to Billy Bowlin'--
"A strong nor'wester's blowin', Bill,
Oh, don't you hear it roar now?
Lord help 'em, how I pities all
Unhappy folks on shore now!
Foolhardy chaps as lives in towns,
What dangers they are all in;
And now a'tremblin' in their beds,
For fear the roof should fall in!
Poor creatures, how they envies us,
And wishes, I've a notion,
For our good luck in such a night,
To be upon the ocean!
And then, for them kept out all day
On business from their houses,
Who late at night are hurryin' home
To cheer their babes and spouses,--
While you and I upon the deck
Are comfortably lyin',
My eyes, what tiles and chimbley-pots
About their heads are flyin'!
We seamen, too, have often heard
How men are sold and undone
By overturns in carriages,
And thieves and fires in London;
We know what risks all landsmen run,
From noblemen to tailors;
So, Bill, let us thank Providence
That you and I are sailors!"
Capt. W. Pitt, R.N.
Perloj en Dezerto.--Arabo, vojperdinte en la dezerto, kaj
jam nenion manĝinte de du tagoj antaŭe, sentis sin ekmorti per
malsato. Pasante apud puto, kie la karavanoj trinkigas siajn
kamelojn, li ekvidis sur la sablo lederan saketon. Li ĝin prenis kaj
palpis. "Estu Dio laŭdata!" li diris; "kompreneble en tio estas aŭ
daktiloj aŭ aveloj." Plena je tia dolĉa espero, li rapidas malfermi
la saketon, sed vidante ĝian enhavon, "Ho ve!" li ekkriis, "estas
nur perloj!"--(6266).