  BY HENRY H. CORNISH IT’S like this here, Your Honor, see? As near as I can tell, A gentleman hired my boat, and he Was quite a proper swell. He brought a lady down with him To make a longish trip And so we scrubbed her thoroughly— Judge—The lady? Tar—No! The ship Well—cutting off my story short To come to what befell We started, but put back to port Which much annoyed the swell. She fell between two waterways And got a nasty nip, So we rigged her out with brand-new stays— Judge—The lady? Tar—No-o! The ship. At last we put to sea again And started for the west, All spick and span without a stain When all at once, I’m blest, Her blooming timbers got misplaced, Which quite upset the trip, The water washed around her waist— Judge—The lady’s? Tar (nodding)—And the ship’s. That’s all, I think, Your Honor, now, I’ll state to you my claim. Five hundred dollars, you’ll allow, Won’t build her up the same. Her rudder’s gone, her nose is broke, Her flag I’ve had to dip She’s lying now upon the mud— Judge—The lady? Tar—No-o-o-o! The ship. |
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