So to return their manners, and nary-wise for fun, He raised himself with dignity, and then fired off his gun: So all allowed that he must be one of the heavenly chaps, Since he went about with lightning and dispensed with thunderclaps. They took him on their shoulders, and he let it go for good, And went into their city in the which a temple stood, And sot him on the altar, and made him their salams, And brought him pleasant coco-nuts, with chickens, po and yams. And from that day henceforward, in a captivating style, He relegated, as he pleased, the natives of that isle; And when an unbeliever rose—as now and then were some, He cured their irreligion with a little taste of rum. He settled all their business, and he did it very well, So everything went booming like a blessed wedding bell; Eleven lovely feminines attended to his wants, And a guard of honour followed him to all his usual haunts. Now what mortal men are made of, that they can’t put up with bliss, I do not know, but this I know, that Sam got tired of this; He wished that he was far away, again aboard a ship, And all he thought of—night and day—was givin’ ’em the slip. And so one night when all was still and every soul asleep, He got into a good canoe and paddled o’er the deep, But oh the row the natives made, when early in the morn They came to worship Samuel, and found their god was gone! Then Samuel travelled many days, but had the luck at last To meet a brig from Boston where he shipped before the mast; And he gave it as his sentiments, and no one thought it odd, He was better off as sailor than when sailing as a god. Now many years had flown away when Samuel was forgot, There came a ship for pearl shell unto that lonely spot; They went into the temple, and what do you suppose They found the natives worshipping—a suit of Samuel’s clothes! And this was the tradition of the people of the soil, How once a great divinity had ruled upon their isle; Four fathom tall, with eyes like fire, and such was their believin’, One night he got upon the moon—and sailed away to Heaven! “Wall, it’s a fact,” cried Doolittle, “I’ll swear A rover ain’t contented anywhere; But if he is a real sailor slip, He’s happiest on the hull—aboard a ship— For there at times he has his tallest fun, Especially if ’tis a dandy one Where all is fine—O mateys, that’s the thing!” He raised his voice, and thus began to sing: (While up and down he merrily did prance) Unto the air of _Dance, the Boatman, dance!_ ----- [8] _Vide_ Appendix. THE DANDY SHIP