One day he gave a sum about a herrin' an' a half, An' sez as how the boys was rude when they began to laugh; He must a been a bufflehead to think as people bought Half herrins, when we'm bringin' 'em by thousans into port.
I'm allays sittin' thinkin' when he'm talkin' to the board, About the many things there be a boy can larn aboard; There's sheets to haul an' gear to staw an' reefs to take an' tie, An' wind to watch acomin' in the corner of your eye.
Now if they larned us some o' these, or how to bend a hook, 'Twould be a darned sight usefuller than rubbige in a book; But what's the good o' larnin' how to hold a scriggley pen, An' spell a lot of orkard words, an' say to ten times ten?
'Tis little use to grumble when 'ee have to keep the rules, An' jest so long as there be boys, I count there must be schools; An' tho' they'm good for larnin' if 'ee awnly knaws the way, I'd sooner be a whifflin' arter mack'rel in the bay.
JENNY
When Jenny goes a milkin' in the dewy time o' morn I allays be contrivin' to be callin' at the farm, For her cheeks be red as roses an' her hair like rippled corn, An' I be fairly mazed to kiss the dimple on her arm.
Jenny, Jenny, won't 'ee let me love 'ee? You'm brighter far than any star That's shinin' up above 'ee. Sartin sure, you make me mazed, Iss, me deear, a whist an' crazed; Jenny, Jenny, won't 'ee let me love 'ee?
When Jenny goes to Fairin' with blue ribbons in her hair, I count the Queen of England never looks a half as sweet, An' when she'm in the Country dance no other maids be there, For I never stops a glazin' at the twinkle of her feet.