THE BALLAD OF ORASMUS NUTE,

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 114, 10 November 1900, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE BALLAD OF ORASMUS NUTE,

There was once a, Quaker, Orasmus Nute, A With a. physog as stiff as a cowiiide boot^ And .he skippered a ship from" George-i town, Maine, — ■ • t In the 'way-back days of the pirates' reign. And the story I tell it has to do With Orasmus Nute and a black flag crew ; The tale of the upright course he wen* In the face of a certain, predicament. For Erasmus Nute was a godly man And ho faithfully fallowed ike Quake* plan <{ Of love for all and a' peaceful life And a horror of warfare and bloody strife. While above the honours of seas and fleets He prized his place on "the facing .seats."' Ah, Orasmus Hute, Orasmus Mute, . He never disgraced his plain drab suit. Now often he sailed for spice and teas , 'Way off some place through the Bar* bary seas ; And once Jfor a venture his good ship bora Some unhung grindstones, a score 6r« more. Now, never in all of his trips till then Had he spoken those godless pirate men. But it chanced one day near a foreign shore The sail of a stivmge craft toward him bore; ' ~ And as soon as the rig was clearly seen The mate allowed 'twas a black lateen. Now- a black lateen, as all men knew, Was the badge of a bold, bad pirate crew. So the mate he crammed, to its rusty neck >v A grim "Long Tom" on the quarter deck, Then leaned oni its mu.tv.le a bit to pray And waited to hear -wJiat the skipper would saj*. For Orasmus Nute, Orasmus Nuta. He stepped below to change his suit. He asked as on deck he came again,— "Does thee really think tho«e are pirate" men?" "Yea, verily,' 1 answered the Quaker mate, "And they come at a most unseemly' gait." Orasmus Nute looked over the rail At the bulging sweep of the huge black " sail ; ' ", Said he, "We are keeping-our own isfcraighb path, • ' And I'm sorry to harm those men of, wrath, < Yet, brother, perchance we are justified In letting Thomas rebuke their pride ' \ We'll simply give, 'em a dashi of fright. So be' sure, my friend, thee have aimed jusfc fight." He squinted his eye along the rast, "Now shoot," said he, '"'if thee .thinks thea must." Ker-booano ! the old Long Thomas roared,; And the big lateen flopped overboird. And Orasmus Nute, Orasmus Nnite, Seemed puzzled to find that he could 1 ' shoot. • ~ , "Now what are those sinful naen about?" He asked, as he heard a hoarse, long shout. And the Quaker. mate he answered ' "Lo 1 j They've out with their oars, and here they row !" . ' > "Now, what in. the name of William Perm," Cried Orasmus Nute, "can ail those men? Perchance they are after our load of stones, Will thee rofl them up here, Brother I Jones? We'll save them all the work we can— As a Quaker should for his fellow man." So as soon as the fierce, Wack pirate i drew Up 'longside, that Quaker crew i Rolled those grindstones down pell-mell, And every stone smashed through the shell Of the pirate zebec, and down it w«nt, And ojl of the rascals to aoomi were, sent, While Orasmus Nute leaned over the side, "No thanks, thee 'rt welcome, my friends," he cried. v It chanced one wretch from the sunken craft Made a clutch at a rope that was trailj ing aft, And up he was swarming with frantic , hope, ! When Qrasmus cried, "Does thee want that rope?" So he cut it away with one awiffc hack , v-ith a smile for the pirate as he- dropped back. \And the Quaker skipper surveyed the sea, "God loveth the generous man," quoth he. Then Orasmus Nute, Ovasmus Nute, Went down and resumed his Qsuaker suit. — Holmaa F. Day in Augijst( Ainslee's Magazin^!

Hi* Wife— "Now don't forget while ye're in the city to get some of them 'lectric-liglit plants we've heard 90 much; I about. We can just as well fcttow 'em 1 ouxsalves, au' iave oil."