And as rough and gruff a sailor
As ever sailed the sea
Was standing near grotesquely
And leering dreadfully.
I replied, though I was frightened,
"It was my father dear
I was calling for across the sea—
I think he didn't hear."
And then the sailor leered again
In such a frightful way,
And made so many faces
I was little loath to stay:
But he started fiercely toward me—
Then made a sudden halt
And roared, "I think he heard you!"
And turned a somersault.
Then a wild fear overcame me,
And I flew off like the wind,
Shrieking "MOTHER!"—and the sailor
Just a little way behind!
And then my mother heard me,
And I saw her shade her eyes,
Looking toward me from the doorway,
Transfixed with pale surprise
For a moment—then her features
Glowed with all their wonted charms
As the sailor overtook me,
And I fainted in her arms.
When I awoke to reason
I shuddered with affright
Till I felt my mother's presence
With a thrill of wild delight—
Till, amid a shower of kisses
Falling glad as summer rain,
A muffled thunder rumbled,—
"Is he coming 'round again?"
Then I shrieked and clung unto her,
While her features flushed and burned
As she told me it was father
From a foreign land returned.