THE "CHRISTMAS" SHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 306, 23 December 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE "CHRISTMAS" SHIP.

flty M.E.) I'll tell ye the tale of the Christmas Ship For my fingers froze an' two got straight Just as it were told to mc. An' the skipper he swore, an' called the mate. It isn't a tale of a Davy trip Who chopped 'em off. Then he swore his fr. iBut a plain, true tale of the sea. Would he home on Christmas Day. • 'Twas in fifty five on v winter's night "We tacked an tacked for a month or two I There's a similar start to 'The Midshipmite') An' the rain camp down, an' the wind it blew. Tha; iln- gfxid ship christened the 'Starboard Light' An' I warmed up my dibits, I'd only two. Sall'-n mil of -l-'riscu Hay. Which I'd christened Sam and May. And the mate he swore by the strength of his grog An' I piped my eye with my 'alf a hand That barring Shipwreck, fire, or fog. And strained my eyebplls for sight uf land. An' as sure as ever he kept his log, And the mate :-'iro."led up and swore bed s . We'd be home on Christmas Day. In the docks on Christmas Day. 'She sta-ted fair did the 'Starboard Light,' "Well at last we felt our hopes must sink And punched away with ail her might, When out o' the sky there breaks a chink She were a craft; so trim and tight. Of -sun. and the omen made us think And we heard the first mate say. What the mate 'iid have to say. 'With a clipper like this, and the breeze alright An' the mate he swore, as he always did. Yon can tick yourselves in your bunks at night. An' in lib. es'itement swallowed his 'quid' An k"ep up yer spirits, blithe an' bright. Then hoisted his slacks an' said 'no kid' We'd he home on Christmas Day." We'd be home on Christmas Day. "Well, at last, wiih joy. we Bights ihe 'Horn "An" the crew all 'oped we'd make the trip An' li.'.v a blizzard we go,-s that morn 'Cause tin- mate had swore he'd give us 'glp' An' ~ur jaws they dropped, an' we felt f,.r : • If w- didn't manage to ge: the ship il puis It ihe mil.lest way I. VVeu docked on Christmas Pay. And 'Chips' got ready In patch the rent. Wei', we made the port an '•>■)■ fixed All' lighten us up if We g.il 11 den!. Hill «nm«hnw or o! her we', mixed An' the male he swore, and swure be meant I'or Ihe day we ibx-ked v.;, ,• n:y-slxth ; To get home on Christmas Day. It wasn't Christmas Dai. "It snowed like fun. an' alofi I goes. Still It. isn't a tale of a Davy trip 'Anglng 01. ilirlit l.y my two big iocs. Ktir n plain tree tale of the sea. Tv reef the topsail, an' goodness knows My pal was an A R. aboard the ship, 11.,w I ever survived the day. An' h,.- toid the taie to mc.