THE OLD FERRYMAN'S NEW FARE.
Air—"Twickenham Ferry."
O-hoi-ye-ho! Ho-ye-ho! Who's for the ferry?
(The moon sails on high, and the snow's coming down,)
A light gleams afar, and the church chimes are merry,
Their message goes pealing o'er country and town.
The ferryman's grey, and the ferryman's old;
But the passenger's young, and the passenger's bold;
And he's fresh as a pippin, and brown as a berry,
He laughs at the night, and he heeds not the cold.
O-hoi-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho-Ho!
O-hoi-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho! "I'm for the ferry!"
(The moon rides on high, and the snow's coming down,)
"Sure it's late that it is, but I care not a penny;
I'll brave the rough river and winter's grim frown."
He'd his hands in his pockets, and oh! he looked brave
As the toughtest old tar who e'er ventured the wave.
With his cheeks like a rose, and his lips like a cherry,
"Ah! sure, and you're welcome! Your presence all crave!"
O-hoi-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho-Ho!
O-hoi-ye-ho, Ho! One flits slow from the ferry,
(The moon rides on high, and the snow's coming down,)
With shadowy form, and with footfall unsteady;
You'd think 'twas a ghost at the dawn-signal flown.
The ferryman turns on the phantom a glance,
But the eyes of the youngster there glitter and dance,
And with youth like a star in the stern of the wherry
There is but one watchword for Time,—tis "Advance!"
O-hoi-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho-Ho!
O-hoi-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho! Old is that ferry,
(The moon rides on high, and the snow's drifting down,)
Still, older that steersman, though stalwart and steady,
And many a journey and fare hath he known.
For the Ferryman's Time, and his fares are the Years,
And they greet him with smiles, and oft leave him in tears,
And the youth who to-night takes his seat in that wherry,
Knows not how 'tis freighted with hopes and with fears.
O-hoi-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho-Ho!
O-hoi-ye-ho-Ho! 'Ninety-Five tries the ferry,
(The moon rides on high, and the snow silvers down,)
There's a smile on his lips, and his laughter is merry;
Right little he bodeth of Fortune's dark frown.
But the Ferryman's old, and the Ferryman knows
That River of Years, with its joys and its woes;
But we'll wish the young fare a snug seat in Time's wherry,
And sun on his way, though he starts 'midst the snows.
O-hoi-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho, Ho-ye-ho-Ho!!