 | [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes |  |
BALLAD OF THE CANAL.
We were crowded in the cabin,
Not a soul had room to sleep;
It was midnight on the waters,
And the banks were very steep.
Not a soul had room to sleep;
It was midnight on the waters,
And the banks were very steep.
'T is a fearful thing when sleeping
To be startled by the shock,
And to hear the rattling trumpet
Thunder, “Coming to a lock!”
To be startled by the shock,
477
Thunder, “Coming to a lock!”
So we shuddered there in silence,
For the stoutest berth was shook,
While the wooden gates were opened
And the mate talked with the cook.
For the stoutest berth was shook,
While the wooden gates were opened
And the mate talked with the cook.
As thus we lay in darkness,
Each one wishing we were there,
“We are through!” the captain shouted,
And he sat down on a chair.
Each one wishing we were there,
“We are through!” the captain shouted,
And he sat down on a chair.
And his little daughter whispered,
Thinking that he ought to know,
“Is n't travelling by canal-boats
Just as safe as it is slow?”
Thinking that he ought to know,
“Is n't travelling by canal-boats
Just as safe as it is slow?”
Then he kissed the little maiden,
And with better cheer we spoke,
And we trotted into Pittsburg
When the morn looked through the smoke.
And with better cheer we spoke,
And we trotted into Pittsburg
When the morn looked through the smoke.
| [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes | |