Fifteen years after my father had penned this note, and more than two
years after his death, I received from a West Indian reader of 'Maga,'
who had heard it sung by a naval officer (since deceased), the following
version of the second sea-song:--
"Cruising in the Channel with the wind North-east,
Our ship she sails nine knots at least;
Our thundering guns we will let fly,
We will let fly over the twinkling sky--
Huzza! we are homeward bound,
Huzza! we are homeward bound.
And when we arrive at the Plymouth Dock,
The girls they will around us flock,
Saying, 'Welcome, Jack, with your three years' pay,
For we see you are homeward bound to-day'--
Huzza! we are homeward bound,
Huzza! we are homeward bound.
And when we come to the --- {42} Bar,
Or any other port in so far,
Old Okey meets us with a smile,
Saying, 'Drink, my lads, 'tis worth your while'--
Huzza! we are homeward bound,
Huzza! we are homeward bound.
Ah! but when our money's all gone and spent,
And none to be borrowed, nor none to be lent,
Old Okey meets us with a frown,
Saying, 'Get up, Jack, let John sit down,
For I see you are outward bound,'
For, see, we are outward bound."
III.
ONE OF JOHN DUTFEN'S "QUEERIES."
I am werry much obligated to yeou, Mr Editer, for printin' my lines. I
hain't got no more at spresent, so I'll send yeou a queery instead. I
axed our skule-master, "What's a queery?" and he saa, "Suffen {43a}
queer," so I think I can sute yeou here.
When I was a good big chap, I lived along with Mr Cooper, of Thraanson.
{43b} He was a big man; but, lawk! he was wonnerful paad over with
rheumatics, that he was. I lived in the house, and arter I had done up
my hosses, and looked arter my stock, I alluz went to bed arly. One
night I h'ard {43c} my missus halloin' at the bottom of the stairs.
"John," sez she, "yeou must git up di-rectly, and go for the doctor; yar
master's took werry bad." So I hulled {43d} on my clothes, put the
saddle on owd Boxer, and warn't long gittin to the doctor's, for the owd
hoss stromed along stammingly, {43e} he did. When the doctor come, he
saa to master, "Yeou ha' got the _lump-ague_ in yar lines; {43f} yeou
must hiv a hot baath." "What's that?" sez master. "Oh!" sez the doctor,
"yeou must hiv yar biggest tub full o' hot water, and laa in it ten
minnits." Sune as he was gone, missus saa, "Dew yeou go and call Sam
Driver, and I'll hit {44a} the copper." When we cum back, she saa, "Dew
yeou tew {44b} take the mashin'-tub up-stairs, and when the water biles
yeou cum for it." So, byne by we filled the tub, and missus saa, "John,
dew yeou take yar master's hid; {44c} and Sam, yeou take his feet, and
drop 'im in." We had a rare job to lift him, I warrant; but we dropt him
in, and, O lawk! how he did screech!--yeou might ha' h'ard 'im a mile
off. He splounced out o' the tub flop upon the floor, and dew all we
could we coon't 'tice him in agin. "Yeou willans," sez he, "yeou've kilt
me." But arter a bit we got him to bed, and he laa kind o' easy, till
the doctor cum next mornin'. Then he towd the doctor how bad he was. The
doctor axed me what we'd done. So I towd him, and he saa, "Was the water
warm?" "Warm!" sez I, "'twould ommost ha' scalt a hog." Oh, how he did
laff! "Why, John bor," sez he, "yeou must ha' meant to bile yar master
alive." Howsomdiver, master lost the _lump-ague_ and nivver sed nothin'
about the tub, 'cept when he saa to me sometimes kind o' joky, "John bor,
dew yeou alluz kip {44d} out o' hot water."