First, those used where a few strong pulls are needed, as in boarding a tack, hauling aft a sheet, or tautening a weather-brace. "Haul the Bowline," is a favorite for this purpose. The shantyman, as the solo singer is called, standing up "beforehand," as high above the rest of the crew as he can reach, sings with as many quirks, variations and quavers as his ingenuity and ability can attempt, "Haul the bow-line, Kitty is my darling;" then all hands join in the chorus, "Haul the bow-line, the bow-line _haul_," shouting the last word with great energy and suiting action to it by a combined pull, which must once be witnessed by one who desires an exemplification of "a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether." This seldom fails to make the ropes "come home." HAUL THE BOW-LINE. [Illustration: Haul the bow-line, Kit-ty is my dar-ling; _Chorus._ Haul the bow-line, the bow-line _haul_. ][Music] Then the song is repeated with a slight change in words, "Haul the bow-line, the clipper ship's a rolling," &c., and next time perhaps, "Haul the bow-line, our bully mate is growling." Great latitude is allowed in the words and the shantyman exercises his own discretion. If he be a man of little comprehension or versatility, he will say the same words over and over, but if he possesses some wit, he will insert a phrase alluding to some peculiarity of the ship, or event of the time, which will cause mouths to open wider and eyes to roll gleefully, while a lively pull follows that rouses the sheet home and elicits the mate's order "Belay!" A good shantyman is highly prized, both by officers and crew. His leadership saves many a dry pull, and his vocal effort is believed to secure so much physical force, that he is sometimes allowed to spare his own exertions and reserve all his energies for the inspiriting shanty. Another common song is:-- HAUL AWAY, JOE. [Illustration: Way, haul away; O, haul away, my Ro-sey. _Chorus._ Way, haul a-way; O, haul a-way, _Joe_. ][Music] And another:-- JOHNNY BOKER. [Illustration: Oh do, my Johnny Boker, Come rock and roll me o-ver, _Chorus._ Do, my Johnny Bo-ker, _do_. ][Music] In both of these, the emphasis and the pull come at the last word of the chorus: "Joe" and "do," as they end the strain, put a severe strain on the rope. In the second set of working songs, I would place those that are used in long hoists, or where so large a number of pulls is required that more frequent exertion must be used, than is called for by the first set, lest too much time be occupied. The topsail halyards call most frequently for these songs. One of the most universal, and to my ear the most musical of the songs, is "Reuben Ranzo." A good shantyman, who with fitting pathos recounts the sorrows of "poor Reuben" never fails to send the topsail to the mast-head at quick notice, nor to create a passing interest in the listener to the touching melody:-- REUBEN RANZO. [Illustration: