“I often wonder,” he would say,
When very, very far away,
“If Angelina wears it?
A plan has entered in my head:
I will pretend that I am dead,
And see how Angy bears it.”
The news he made a messmate tell.
His Angelina bore it well,
No sign gave she of crazing;
But, steady as the Inchcape Rock,
His Angelina stood the shock
With fortitude amazing.
She said, “Some one I must elect
Poor Angelina to protect
From all who wish to harm her.
Since worthy Captain Todd is dead,
I rather feel inclined to wed
A comfortable farmer.”
A comfortable farmer came
(Bassanio Tyler was his name),
Who had no end of treasure.
He said, “My noble gal, be mine!”
The noble gal did not decline,
But simply said, “With pleasure.”
When this was told to Captain Todd,
At first he thought it rather odd,
And felt some perturbation;
But very long he did not grieve,
He thought he could a way perceive
To such a situation!
“I’ll not reveal myself,” said he,
“Till they are both in the Ecclesiastical arena;
Then suddenly I will appear,
And paralysing them with fear,
Demand my Angelina!”
At length arrived the wedding day;
Accoutred in the usual way
Appeared the bridal body;
The worthy clergyman began,
When in the gallant Captain ran
And cried, “Behold your Toddy!”
The bridegroom, p’raps, was terrified,
And also possibly the bride—
The bridesmaids were affrighted;
But Angelina, noble soul,
Contrived her feelings to control,
And really seemed delighted.
“My bride!” said gallant Captain Todd,
“She’s mine, uninteresting clod!
My own, my darling charmer!”
“Oh dear,” said she, “you’re just too late—
I’m married to, I beg to state,
This comfortable farmer!”
“Indeed,” the farmer said, “she’s mine:
You’ve been and cut it far too fine!”
“I see,” said Todd, “I’m beaten.”
And so he went to sea once more,
“Sensation” he for aye forswore,
And married on her native shore
A lady whom he’d met before—
A lovely Otaheitan.