THE STORMY-PETREL. A thousand miles from land are we, The sails are scattered abroad like weeds; The hull, which all earthly strength disdains,They strain and they crack; and hearts like stone Their natural hard proud strength disown. Up and down! up and down! From the base of the wave to the billow's crown; And 'midst the flashing and feathery foam The stormy petrel finds a home; A home, if such a place may be, For her who lives on the wide wide sea, On the craggy ice, in the frozen air, And only seeketh her rocky lair To warm her young, and to teach them to spring At once on the waves on their stormy wing! O'er the deep! o'er the deep! Where the whale and the shark and the sword-fish sleep, Outflying the blast and the driving rain, The petrel telleth her tale in vain; For the mariner curseth the warning bird Which bringeth him news of the storm unheard. PROCTER. NEPTUNE'S EASY SHAVING SHOP, KEPT BY JOHN JOHNSON. disguised recognized libation nautical grotesque prosperous christen alteration majesty dialogue respondent unmixed The performers then appeared as follows: First, the fiddler, playing as well as he could on an old fiddle, "See the Conquering Hero comes!" Next four men, two abreast, disguised with matting and rags, so as completely to prevent them from being recognized, each armed with a boat-hook. Then came Neptune himself, also disguised, mounted upon the carriage of the largest gun in the ship, and followed by the barber, barber's mate, swab-bearer, shaving-box carrier, and as many of the ship's company as chose to join them, dressed in such a grotesque manner as to baffle all description. Arrived on the quarter-deck, they were met by the captain, when his briny majesty immediately dismounted, and the following dialogue ensued: "Are you the captain of the ship?" 66 I am." "What is the name of your ship?" "The 'Neptune,' of London." "Where is she bound to ?" "Greenland." "What is your name ?" "Mathew Ainsley." "Are you engaged in the whale fishery ?" "I am. "Well, I hope I shall drink your honour's health, and I wish you a prosperous fishery." Here the captain presented the first libation of three quarts of rum. Neptune, filling a glass with evident satisfaction, unmixed with sea-water, exclaimed, 66 Here's a health to you, captain, and success to our cause! Have you got any fresh-water sailors on board? for, if you have, I must christen them so as to make them useful to our King and country." "We have eight of them on board, at your service," said the captain, "I therefore wish you good morning!" The procession then returned in the same manner as it came, the candidates for nautical distinction following in the rear. After descending the forehatchway, they collected between-decks, when all the offerings to Neptune were given to the deputy (the cook), consisting of whiskey, tobacco, &c. The barber then stood ready with his box of lather, and the landsmen were brought before Neptune, when the following dialogue took place with each, only with the alteration of the man's name: "What is your name?” "Gilbert Nicholson." "Where do you come from ?" "Shetland." "Have you ever been to sea before ?" "No." “Where are are you going to ?" "Greenland." At each of these answers, the brush (dipped in the lather, consisting of soap-suds, oil, tar, paint, &c.) was thrust into the respondent's mouth and over his face; then the barber's man scraped his face with a razor made of a piece of iron hoop well notched. He was then wiped with a damask towel (a boat-rug dipped in filthy water), and this ended the ceremony. VESPERS. Child, amidst the flowers at play, Father, by the breeze of eve Called thy harvest-work to leave ;— Traveller, in the stranger's land, Warrior, that from battle won Kindred by one holy tie Heaven's first star alike ye see- MRS. HEMANS. THE EXILE OF ERIN. There came to the beach a poor Exile of Erin: But the day-star attracted his eyes' sad devotion; Where my forefathers lived shall I spend the sweet hours; Or cover my harp with the wild-woven flowers, Erin, my country, though sad and forsaken, And sigh for the friends who can meet me no more. Where is my cabin door, near to the wild wood? Sisters and sire, did ye weep for its fall? Where is the mother that look'd on my childhood? And where is the bosom friend, dearer than all ? Yet, all its sad recollections suppressing, One dying wish my lone bosom can draw: Buried and cold, when my heart stills its motion, CAMPBELL. |