142 



FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL AND RECORD BOOK. 



For sixty odd years, through all kinds of 



weather, 

 He sailed the salt water in sunshine and 



storm, 



Sharing the comforts and dangers together 

 With shipmates many but now they're all 

 gone. 



>Tis thrilling, I tell you, to hear him repeat 

 The narrow escapes he has had in his day ; 



And many's the evening I've taken my seat 

 In his chimney-corner so cozy and gay. 



" Wa'al, "bout as nigh as I can remember," 

 (The skipper most always commences this 



way,) 



" 'Twas eighteen forty -two, the first of Novem- 

 ber, 

 Comin' from mackrellin' in Penobscot Bay. 



" Thatcher's Light we saw just 'afore the day 



broke, 

 Didn't the wind howl? what a wild-lookin" 



sky! 

 When out from the for'castle curled up a 



smoke, 



An' then follored a blaze most half-mast 

 high! 



" We did all we could to smother the fire. 

 'Twasn't any use tryin' to stop its fierce 



glow; 



It kep' on a blazin' higher an' higher ; 

 'Twas soon quite sartin the old Betsey must 

 go. 



" We jumped in the boat as soon as we could; 



I shiver to think of that mornin's cruise ; 

 Obleeged to take passage in just what we 

 stood, 



Life was dear to as then fault-findin's no 



" We contrived to keep the old boat alive, 

 'Twas ' nip and tuck ' in that heavy sea ; 



But the good Lord helpeth those who strive, 

 An' he sent a vessel that's my idee. 



" For nineteen seasons, one arter the other, 

 I went to Georges an' that's no boys' play 1 



'Twas there the sea washed off deckmy young 



brother, 

 An' afore my own eyes he drifted away. 



" We couldn't save Mm, I knew that full well ; 



But I heard him shout, and my name loudly 



call; 

 Then I saw his dear face as he rose and fell 



On a white-capped billow and that was all 



" Many a night arter, I've waked up from sleep 

 At hearin' that call, and my dead brother's 

 form 



Has appeared, as if comin" up from the deep; 

 I saw him so plainly and then he was gone. 



" I went one season more, that of 'sixty-two ; 

 Time of the big blow you remember it 



well: 



What destruction and sorrow then did accrue 

 From that storm on Georges, words fail me 

 to tell I 



" Such a terrible night I Oh I didn't it blow I 

 An' over a hundred vessels were there ; 



When one parted her cable, away she'd go 

 Right into another, and down went the pair. 



" We rode it out, safely, but how, I can't tell ; 



Fifteen of the fleet ne'er again h'isted sail ; 

 An' a hundred and thirty-eight lives went to 



swell 



The losses on Georges, in that dreadful 

 gale." 



