Launch the lifeboat!

by Mrs. O. F. Walton

One night we sailed as usual
And all at first went right;
We filled the boat with large cod-fish
And turned back when 'twas light.
But up then rose the breakers,
The wind blew wild and strong,
The waves were dashing on the rocks
And hurled our boat along.
How should we reach the harbour?
How should we rightly steer?
Oh! Who would give a helping hand?
Our hearts were filled with fear.
There was no bonny lifeboat
To skip above the wave,
To come across the raging tide,
To rescue and to save.
The people on the island
Were running to the pier:
The master stood upon the shore.
And watched as we drew near.
But all of them were helpless
As helpless as could be,
They cried aloud, they rushed along,
They waded in the sea!
Not one of them could reach us
Not one could give us aid;
It was a fearful time my boy,
And we were sore afraid.
But standing by my master,
And gazing on the sea.
Was Neptune, his Newfoundland dog,
A noble fellow he!
He leapt into the water.
And met the billows' strife.
Fighting each big wave as it came,
And struggling for his life.

SAVED BY A DOG.

At last we saw him near us,
We wondered what he meant,
We called to him to come on board.
His strength was almost spent.
But Neptune would not heed us,
Though he swam round and round;
What could the dog have come to do?
What reason could be found?
At last Bill Fisher shouted;
"Throw him a rope, my lad;
He may have come to give us help,
I only wish he had!"
At once the dog plunged forward
To catch the rope we threw;
We knew he meant to save us then.
Our trusty friend and true.
He passed the rocks in safety.
Then leapt upon the sand;
We heard them give a shout of joy
When he had reached the land.
They seized the rope, they dragged us,
You should have seen, my boy,
How Neptune watched us come ashore,
And wagged his tail for joy.
They hoisted up the signal
To spread the news around:
That every man of us was there,
That all were safe and sound.

HOISTING THE SIGNAL.

And each man on the island,
Both near and far away,
Came over to pat Neptune's head
For his good work that day.
Now I must hurry homewards,
There's Harry's wife and lad,
They've caught sight of the father's boat
He likes to meet his dad!

You'll see him come ashore now;
Ah! There he is! I'm right,
I thought when they jumped off the boat
That Harry was in sight.
It's like the old days over
To watch him come from sea.
She looks for him as Polly then
So often looked for me.