VAGRANT VERSE

Southland Times, Issue 19311, 1 August 1924, Page 4

VAGRANT VERSE

“THE TALE OF THE HEATHER BELLE.” (Written for the Southland Times). Have you heard the yarn of the “Heather Belle,” It’s a story I always like to tell As I was one of the crew at the time, In the early months of nineteen nine. We had shipped at Melbourne a cargo of wool, And sailed direct for the Port of Hull To make a passage we had every chance, Just eighty days to the coast of France. Strange to relate, on the other hand, We had sighted neither sail nor land, So it happened as it will often do “Dame Rumour” was busy among the crew. In fact, t’was Harry, the Finn, who said —He once had damaged his great square head— The day of judgment had come to hand, And a flood had covered all the land. On this day the wind had fallen light, And fog had hidden the sun from sight, Suddenly from the for’castle head Came an awful shriek from Ginger Ned. Rushing aft, with white and deadly face, Pointing away 'neath the lee main brace Where lay hundreds of bodies floating round, Tho’ never a cry or never a sound. Then somebody thought and rubbed “Alfa Button,” And the corpses changed to Australian mutton Which had floated out of the after part Of the as. “Suevie” wrecked on the “start* —R. Westella Blug, 15/7/24.