 | Sea Songs |  |
31
THE LETTER EDGED WITH BLACK.
The boat came off with letters and nearly all got some;
The one that didn't get one, why, I tell you, he looked glum;
A black-edged one they gave to me, and, Lord! how my hand shook;
And how my heart sank in me as that letter, lass, I took;
Who could it be was dead at home? was it Nan or Jack or you?
I must read it by myself alone, away from all the crew.
The one that didn't get one, why, I tell you, he looked glum;
A black-edged one they gave to me, and, Lord! how my hand shook;
And how my heart sank in me as that letter, lass, I took;
Who could it be was dead at home? was it Nan or Jack or you?
I must read it by myself alone, away from all the crew.
I could at once have cried outright; what would it tell to me?
Oh! wife, lass, how we love you all when we're away at sea!
So I stole down to my bunk, and a minute there I sat;
Though I wanted so to read it, I didn't dare; that's flat;
But at last I took and opened it; it was poor cousin Jack;
Oh, never send again, my lass, a letter edged with black!
Oh! wife, lass, how we love you all when we're away at sea!
32
Though I wanted so to read it, I didn't dare; that's flat;
But at last I took and opened it; it was poor cousin Jack;
Oh, never send again, my lass, a letter edged with black!
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