Select Poetry.

Otago Witness, Issue 657, 2 July 1864, Page 4

Select Poetry.

THE BALLAD OF " LITTLE BILLEE."

BY THACKERAY.

This grotesque little ballad Thackeray woul* sometimes good-humouredly sing himself whe& pressed, in a grave, characteristic kind of recitftave, each line repeated twice : — There were three sailors in Bristol city, Who took a boat and went to sea. But first with beef and captain's biscuit, , And pic >led pork, they loaded she. There was guzzling Jack and gorging Jimmy,. And the youngest he was little Biflee. Now, very soon, they were so greedy, They didn't leave not one split pea. Says guzzling Jack to gorging Jimmy, '• I am extremely hungaree." Says gorging Jim to guzzling Jacky, " We have no provisions, so we must eat we. 1*"1 *" Says guzzling Jack to gorging Jimmy, " O gorging Jim, what a fool you be! There's little Bill is young and tender, " We're old and tough, so let's eat he." *' O Bill, we're going; to kill and eat you, So undo the collar of your chemie." When Bill received this infumation, He used his pocket-handkerchie. •' O let me say my catechism, As my poor mammy taught to me." "Kake haste, make haste," says guzzling Jacky, While Jim pulled out bis snickersnee. So Bill went up the main-top-gallant mast, Where down he fell on his bended knee.

He scarce had come to the Twelfth Command--ment. When up he jumps, " There's land, I see. " There's Jerusalem and Madagascar, And North and South Araerikee. " There's the British fleet a-ridiner at anchor. With Admiral Nelson, X.C.8." So when they came to the Admiral's vessel, He hanged fat Jack and flogged Jimmee. But as for little Bill, he made him The captain of a seventy-three.