| PAGE | |
| Ralph Rackstraw in the Rigging | [Frontispiece] |
| In short, he did everything possible to make everybody on Board thoroughly ill and happy | [2] |
| “I know who takes Sugar-plums to Bed with him” | [14] |
| Sir Joseph Porter was one of the many People who had fallen a Victim to the Beauty of Miss Josephine Corcoran | [24] |
| “My gallant Crew, Good Morning!” | [28] |
| The good Captain was distressed to see his dear Daughter in this bilious Frame of Mind | [34] |
| Luncheon in the Wardroom | [50] |
| So She came on Deck to indulge in a Rêverie all alone | [58] |
| So saying, with tell-tale Tears streaming down her Face, she strode magnificently to her Cabin | [64] |
| Her short and snappish Replies to Sir Joseph’s pretty Speeches at Dinner | [72] |
| Little Buttercup and the Captain | [80] |
| “What are you trying to do?” said Sir Joseph | [90] |
| “Deadeye!” said the Captain, “You here? Don’t!” | [100] |
| A Couple of Marines marched him off under the Command of the smallest Midshipman in the Ship | [112] |
| “I mixed those Children up” | [118] |
| Corcoran presented blushing little Buttercup to Sir Joseph, who gave her Sixpence on the spot | [126] |
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT
| Headpiece to Chapter I | [1] |
| Little Buttercup | [9] |
| Headpiece to Chapter II | [22] |
| Sir Joseph Porter and his Female Relations | [38] |
| “I polished up the handle of the big front door” | [42] |
| Headpiece to Chapter III | [57] |
| Dick Deadeye dipped into the Flour-bin | [67] |
| Headpiece to Chapter IV | [70] |
| “Madam, it has been represented to me that you are appalled at my exalted rank” | [97] |
| “Naughty daughter of mine, I insist upon knowing” | [107] |
| Captain Rackstraw tries to catch sight of his Epaulettes | [122] |
| The End | [131] |
HER MAJESTY’S SHIP PINAFORE
GREAT BRITAIN is (at present) the most powerful maritime country in the world; she possesses a magnificent Fleet, superb officers and splendid seamen, and one and all are actuated by an intense desire to maintain their country’s reputation in its highest glory.
One of the finest and most perfectly manned ships in that magnificent Fleet was Her Majesty’s Ship Pinafore, and I call the ship “Her Majesty’s” because she belonged to good Queen Victoria’s time, when men-of-war were beautiful objects to look at, with tall tapering masts, broad white sails, and gracefully designed hulls; and not huge slate-coloured iron tanks without masts and sails as they are to-day. She was commanded by Captain Corcoran, R.N., a very humane, gallant, and distinguished officer, who did everything in his power to make his crew happy and comfortable. He had a sweet light baritone voice, and an excellent ear for music, of which he was extremely fond, and this led him to sing to his crew pretty songs of his own composition, and to teach them to sing to him. To encourage this taste among his crew, he made it a rule on board that nobody should ever say anything to him that could possibly be sung—a rule that was only relaxed when a heavy gale was blowing, or when he had a bilious headache. Harmless improving books were provided for the crew to read, and vanilla ices, sugar-plums, hardbake and raspberry jam were served out every day with a liberal hand. In short, he did everything possible (consistently with his duty to Her Majesty) to make everybody on board thoroughly ill and happy.
IN SHORT, HE DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE EVERYBODY ON BOARD THOROUGHLY ILL AND HAPPY
Captain Corcoran was a widower with one daughter, named Josephine, a beautiful young lady with whom every single gentleman who saw her fell head-over-ears in love. She was tall, exquisitely graceful, with the loveliest blue eyes and barley-sugar coloured hair ever seen out of a Pantomime, but her most attractive feature was, perhaps, her nose, which was neither too long nor too short, nor too narrow nor too broad, nor too straight. It had the slightest possible touch of sauciness in it, but only just enough to let people know that though she could be funny if she pleased, her fun was always gentle and refined, and never under any circumstances tended in the direction of unfeeling practical jokes. It was such a maddening little nose, and had so extraordinary an effect on the world at large that, whenever she went into Society, she found it necessary to wear a large pasteboard artificial nose of so unbecoming and ridiculous a description that people passed her without taking the smallest notice of her. This alone is enough to show what a kind-hearted and self-sacrificing girl was the beautiful Josephine Corcoran.