X

THE FINE PACIFIC ISLANDS

(HEARD IN A PUBLIC-HOUSE AT ROTHERHITHE)
The jolly English Yellowboy Is a ’ansome coin when new, The Yankee Double-eagle Is large enough for two. O, these may do for seaport towns, For cities these may do; But the dibbs that takes the Hislands Are the dollars of Peru: O, the fine Pacific Hislands, O, the dollars of Peru! It’s there we buy the cocoanuts Mast ’eaded in the blue; It’s there we trap the lasses All waiting for the crew; It’s there we buy the trader’s rum What bores a seaman through.... In the fine Pacific Hislands With the dollars of Peru: In the fine Pacific Hislands With the dollars of Peru! Now, messmates, when my watch is up, And I am quite broached to, I’ll give a tip to ’Evving Of the ’ansome thing to do: Let ’em just refit this sailor-man And launch him off anew To cruise among the Hislands With the dollars of Peru: In the fine Pacific Hislands With the dollars of Peru! Tahiti, August 1888.
XI

AULD REEKIE

When chitterin’ cauld the day sall daw, Loud may your bonny bugles blaw And loud your drums may beat. Hie owre the land at evenfa’ Your lamps may glitter raw by raw, Along the gowsty street. I gang nae mair where ance I gaed, By Brunston, Fairmileheid, or Braid; But far frae Kirk and Tron. O still ayont the muckle sea, Still are ye dear, and dear to me, Auld Reekie, still and on!

XII

THE LESSON OF THE MASTER