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The Matrimonial Ship

The Matrimonial Ship image
Parent Issue
Day
5
Month
January
Year
1883
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

At the sllvcr wedding of Mr. and Mr.. WIckham of Battle Creek, some verses were written which wcre 80 nicely turnc1 that we have deoided to put tliem in type. Mr. Wiokbam is a nephew of Mis. Lucy A. Howe of this city. - [Ed.] ,v. Tb Matrimonial Slilp. To Mr and Mrs. VVickham, on the 35Ü1 Aunivcrsary of thcir Wedding. By an 07, Sailor, Twcuty-five years have pa&sed away : Twenty-tive vean ago to-day Thou did'st eniuark, to take a Irip la the Matrínionial Ship. The ship was btrong, and bright nud ftrw ; A captain and mate coinposed the crew, Aod setting; the sails to the gentlc brece, tiet out togethcr to rí1 hiVV seas; Smi that are sturmy, or seas that are cali ; Depcodt altogcther ou the Male and her Man. The anchor U neiffhed, the sails they uufur] ; And proudly the bauner totiiebrctze tliey hurl ; Their bannor with its motto i letters of goM ; Our country's motto, ín days of oíd : 'Uuitd we staud, divided we fail." In fear thcy may loóse it ín Mime suddeu suall, They mouut aloit to the hcad of the ma-t. And there tJiey naii it, tirm aud fast. Her proAv was turoci towards the setting1 sun, ihe proudly ami r iltly throuh the waters run, Iaving behind them the old home nest; Stekinjf a home in tlie land of the west. Their anchor was flung and firmly it caught, In a beaKtlful Crcck where a BatUc was fouht. Not long had they Iaïn at t)u famoui Creek, Beforc the goon mate was taken down sick ; She shook and she shook, till tiic frame to Mrong, Began to grow weak and face grew wan : The captain did delve both early and late ' His duties to do and to wait on his mate ; Whom each day did grew worsc.and so piteously cry, "O I take me back home, or 1 die ' I die !" The anchor was promptly and speedily weighcd, And the voyage back to the old harbor made, There, brealhing the air of her denr old home, Again on hercheeks did the roses bluom. Ere long the good captain with hls usual unrest liegan to look wistfully towards the land ol' the wet. Once more the old anchor was raised with zeal, And her prow poioled west by the mate at the wheel. The voy age once more was successful and quick. And the anchor again dropped in the same lamottn Creek. And thus another battle began, By the heroic Mate and her brave Old Man. Anon dark clouds, would dim tlie sky, And storms would rage, the waves roll high. The captain in anger paced the deck, Trying in vain, the storm to check. The veseel shook front deck to keel, The mate stood silent at the wheel ; Her eyes turned upward towards the sky linploring aid from Him on high; To give her strength to stand the blast, Until the threatening storm had passed. . Ah t well she knew, that one word said Would brïng the storm upon her head. And thus, it is. with one and all, Sunshine and shade, a culin or squall. At intervals, young sailors came, On the ship fl log to enroll their name;' First, tall Herbert filis the mate with joy, And next comes Wirt the butcher boy ; The black-eved Nell, with music and son, Gladdena their hearts as they sail along ; Nest, Clara-Beli, with roguish eye, Alights aboard a.s they're sailing br; And Fredric, the Great, who caroe along la?t, Is tïlling the place before the mast. Tall Herbert, long admlrlng a beautiful clipper, Deterts the old ship to become its ¦kipper; And spying some fat cattle, calmly chewing tlieir cud, Voung Wirt takes French leave, to go shed thelr blood; The balance of the crew still reinaln on the snip. And, I trust, wiil not leave her till the end of the trip. Sail on, good shïp, with music and song To caira the wares as you glide along ; Ia peace may you sail, a quarter of a century more, And at last arrtve aafely at the other ühore : And cast your anchor In the harbor therc, Forever free from sorrow and care ; In tlie sweet Haven of joy and rest, Where stonns never come - eternally blessed. The captain of % vessel Is comro only caÜed "Th Oïd Man1 by thcsailors.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News