THE VOYAGE OF THE "TRUE BRITAIN."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 132, 5 June 1900, Page 8

THE VOYAGE OF THE "TRUE BRITAIN."

(A LEGEND OF 1776.)

It was back in the days of Captain Cook That the barque "True Britain" a long voyage took, With as merry a crew as you could find, And her captain a jolly sailor, kind. They started away with a stiffening breeze, Resolved to explore the southern seas; The captain, each day, with glass in hand, Walked up and down looking out for land. On putting the glass one day to "his eye, .Something floating along, he did espy; He said: "'Tis a mermaid, I do declare, .See her graceful neck- and her flowing -hair; -' . We'll sail away for the beautiful thing, And' list to the song it is said they sing." "Hard-a-port," to the steersman, "Jack," he said, And the barque veered around with can-

vas spread,

And bounded away like a fawn set free, O'er the rippling waves of the deep blue sea.

Now all this occurred in the summer time, 'Neath beautiful skies in this sunny clime, And the pretty tale I am going to tell Befits the place and the season well. They sailed away till they came in sight Of the coral islands, gleaming bright; No prettier picture was ever .seen Than the barque, the sea, and the island sheen. The skipper ordered the anchors out, And then, with his glass he looked about, Determined to wait for a day or two, To prove the tales about mermaids true. The shades oT night were falling fast, When a sound came over tlie waves at lastSo sweet, so clear, and melodious too, That the captain cried out: "It's true; it's true. Quick, man the jolly boat, Jack," he. said, "I'll touch that land ere I go to bed; And see once more this sea nymph fair, And secure a lock of her beautiful hair." Just then the moon shed its silvery rays On the coral islands and pretty bays, And there, in the moonlight, close to land, Was the mermaid, waving her pretty hand And singing a sweet and tuneful lay, But no words could they hear the mermaid say. "Steady's the word as we move'along," Said the captain; "sing us a good sea song." And then, to the beat of the plashing oar, They sang as they never had sung before-, While there, 'mid the seaweed, shells and foam. Was this nymph of the sea, in her coral home. A hundred years have passed since that '• day,

While over the rocks the wavelets still play,

And the nymphs are seen in the moonlight fair.

To bathe In the briny and comb their hair. The only soap that they use, you know, Is* called by the mermaids "TANIWHA." Now, you get a bar and sample It too, And see what a lot of things it will do. It's good for the hands, it's good for the

face. Washes things that are coarse, or finest of lace,

Makes the day that we call our "washing" day.

Like seasons of joy, pass quickly away.