Politeness Pays

James Finnegan, a sailor bold, Who, naturally, went to sea, ft as never known to swear or scold ; A mighty pleasant man was he. 'Twas his belief one never lost By trying hard to be polite, And 'twas Lis rule at any coet, To do a favor when he might. While sailing in the southern sea His ship was wrecked ; ships often are, Hls mates were lost, but saved was he By cliuging to a floating spar. He gained an island that was nigh, And there he met a new mischance ; At once he was made captivo by The barbarous inhabitants. They grabbed him with avidity Ana bound him to an unrigut stake; Piled wood about him. Ite could see They meantfthat he alive should bake. Now James was not at all inclined To undergo a fricassce, But s{ill was to his fate resigncd Because, forsooth, he had to be. A chief then tried to make a flre By puttlag friction to a stick, A toilsome task. He did perspire So much it almoöt made him sick. James pitied him, and then bethought Himself of matches. Chanced it he Had some in a tin box and not The least bit damaged by the sea. His hands were freo ; a match he drew From out the box; all to him turned Their gaze. As sailors always do, He seratched it on his leg. It burned, He held it out for them to take ; They tonk it not, as you may guess ; WUL ti So 1..J Luiv,i A IJldiUf?Some fled with yells of diré distrc, The boldest dared not cut the band That bound his body to the stake. They gave him then to understand That all he wanted he could take ; He ran the island, was ( he boes Till rescued by a passing bark. A'o savagc ever dared to cross The man whose leg could strike a spark.