pain in a pleasure-boat.

a sea eclogue.

“i apprehend you!”—school of reform.

boatman.

shove off there!—ship the rudder, bill—cast off! she’s under way!

 mrs. f.

she’s under what?—i hope she’s not! good gracious, what a spray!

[pg 108]

boatman.

run out the jib, and rig the boom! keep clear of those two brigs!

 mrs. f.

i hope they don’t intend some joke by running of their rigs!

see-view:—broad stares.

boatman.

bill, shift them bags of ballast aft—she’s rather out of trim!

 mrs. f.

great bags of stones! they’re pretty things to help a boat to swim!

boatman.

the wind is fresh—if she don’t scud, it’s not the breeze’s fault!

 mrs. f.

wind fresh, indeed, i never felt the air so full of salt!

[pg 109]

boatman.

that schooner, bill, harn’t left the roads, with oranges and nuts!

 mrs. f.

if seas have roads, they’re very rough—i never felt such ruts!

boatman.

it’s neap, ye see, she’s heavy lade, and couldn’t pass the bar.

 mrs. f.

the bar! what, roads with turnpikes too? i wonder where they are!

boatman.

ho! brig ahoy! hard up! hard up! that lubber cannot steer!

 mrs. f.

yes, yes,—hard up upon a rock! i know some danger’s near!

lord, there’s a wave! it’s coming in! and roaring like a bull!

boatman.

nothing, ma’am, but a little slop! go large, bill! keep her full!

 mrs. f.

what, keep her full! what daring work! when full, she must go down!

boatman.

why, bill, it lulls! ease off a bit—it’s coming off the town!

steady your helm! we’ll clear the pint! lay right for yonder pink!

 mrs. f.

be steady—well, i hope they can! but they’ve got a pint of drink!

boatman.

bill, give that sheet another haul—she’ll fetch it up this reach.

 mrs. f.

i’m getting rather pale, i know, and they see it by that speech!

i wonder what it is, now, but——i never felt so queer!

[pg 110]

boatman.

bill, mind your luff—why bill, i say, she’s yawing—keep her near!

 mrs. f.

keep near! we’re going further off; the land’s behind our backs.