You'll be so kind As tell the wind How you may be, And send me words By little birds To comfort me! And O, my darling, O, my pet, Whatever else you may forget, In yonder isle beyond the sea, O, don't forget you've married me! [Illustration] [Illustration] THE SAILOR BOY TO HIS LASS I go away, this blessed day, To sail across the sea, MATILDA! My vessel sails for various parts At twenty after three, MATILDA; I hardly know where we may go, Or if it's near or far, MATILDA, For CAPTAIN HYDE does not confide In any 'fore-mast tar, MATILDA! Beneath my ban that mystic man Shall suffer, _coûte que coûte_, MATILDA! What right has he to keep from me The Admiralty route, MATILDA? Because, forsooth! I am a youth Of common sailors' lot, MATILDA! Am I a man on human plan Designed, or am I not, MATILDA? But there, my lass, we'll let that pass! With anxious love I burn, MATILDA. I want to know if we shall go To church when I return, MATILDA? Your eyes are red, you bow your head; It's pretty clear you thirst, MATILDA, To name the day--What's that you say?-- "You'll see me further first," MATILDA? I can't mistake the signs you make, Although you barely speak, MATILDA; Though pure and young, you thrust your tongue Right in your pretty cheek, MATILDA! My dear, I fear I hear you sneer-- I do--I'm sure I do, MATILDA-- With simple grace you make a face, Ejaculating, "Ugh!" MATILDA. Oh, pause to think before you drink The dregs of Lethe's cup, MATILDA! Remember, do, what I've gone through, Before you give me up, MATILDA! Recall again the mental pain Of what I've had to do, MATILDA! And be assured that I've endured It, all along of you, MATILDA! Do you forget, my blithesome pet, How once with jealous rage, MATILDA, I watched you walk and gaily talk With some one thrice your age, MATILDA? You squatted free upon his knee, A sight that made me sad, MATILDA? You pinched his cheek with friendly tweak, Which almost drove me mad, MATILDA! [Illustration] I knew him not, but thought to spot Some man you wished to wed, MATILDA! I took a gun, my darling one, And shot him through the head, MATILDA! I'm made of stuff that's rough and gruff Enough, I own; but, ah, MATILDA! It _did_ annoy your poor old boy To find it was your pa, MATILDA! I've passed a life of toil and strife, And disappointments deep, MATILDA; I've lain awake with dental ache Until I fell asleep, MATILDA; At times again I've missed a train, Or p'raps run short of tin, MATILDA, And worn a boot on corns that shoot, Or, shaving, cut my chin, MATILDA!