Japhet, in Search of a Father

by Frederick Marryat

Chapter LXVI

I fall in with Timothy.

About a month after this, I heard a sailor with one leg, and a handful of ballads, singing in a most lachrymal tone,

"Why, what's that to you if my eyes I'm a wiping? A tear is a pleasure, d'ye see, in its way"—

"Bless your honour, shy a copper to Poor Jack, who's lost his leg in the sarvice. Thanky, your honour," and he continued,

"It's nonsense for trifles, I own, to be piping, But they who can't pity—why I pities they. Says the captain, says he; I shall never forget it, Of courage, you know, boys, the true from the sham,"

"Back your maintopsail, your worship, for half a minute, and just assist a poor dismantled craft, who has been riddled in the wars—"'Tis a furious lion.' Long life to your honour—'In battle so let it—'

"'Tis a furious lion, in battle so let it; But duty appeased—but duty appeased—

"Buy a song, young woman, to sing to your sweetheart, while you sit on his knee in the dog-watch—

"But duty appeased'tis the heart of a lamb."