The Cruise of the Catalpa: A Poem

The cover image was created by the transcriber, based on the original cover, and is placed in the public domain.
A POEM.
BY JOHN J. BRESLIN,
Chief of the Rescuers of the Fenian Prisoners from Freemantle, Australia .
BOSTON: PRESS OF ROCKWELL & CHURCHILL, 39 Arch Street. 1876.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by DANIEL M. LYNCH, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Oh! Wilson and Cranston and Hogan are gone, With Darragh and Hassett and staunch Harrington; For Collins and Johnston have opened the ball, And to join in the dancing, out step Jones and Hall, And they tripped to a tune that was far from being slow; But what’s that to any one, whether or no?
There are two trotting teams on the Rockingham road, From the gloom of a prison each bearing its load, And full hearts are beating with freedom and joy, As they sweep ’round the sand hills and through the Blackboy. With the sunlight of Hope every face is aglow; But what’s that to any one, whether or no?
Near Rockingham jetty, upon the white sand, With revolvers and rifles the Fenians stand— Gay, fearless and free, stepping into their boat; Shove her off! then out oars! on the waters afloat! Now a right saucy Yankee tar takes them in tow; And what’s that to any one, whether or no?
Now Silvee and Toby and Mopsa give way, For the good ship Catalpa lies out in the bay. “Come down, you big Louis,” the captain did roar, “Now what do you say, men? pull off from the shore; You Lombar, keep stroke; pull, men, cheerily, oh!” And what’s that to any one, whether or no?
Now past Garden Island, and clear off the Sound, Make sail on the boat, pass the liquor around; Shift your seats, trim the boat, as she bends to the breeze, And light as a sea-gull skims over the seas; There’s a rest from the oar, while the fair breezes blow; And what’s that to any one, whether or no?