Poems Class of 29 (1851-1889) | Page 9

in full blow;?In ripening manhood, suppose we should say,?Just nearing his prime, as we boys are to-day!
Oh say, can you look through the vista of age?To the time when old Morse drove the regular stage??When Lyon told tales of the long-vanished years,?And Lenox crept round with the rings in his ears?
And dost thou, my brother, remember indeed?The days of our dealings with Willard and Read??When "Dolly" was kicking and running away,?And punch came up smoking on Fillebrown's tray?
But where are the Tutors, my brother, oh tell!--?And where the Professors, remembered so well??The sturdy old Grecian of Holworthy Hall,?And Latin, and Logic, and Hebrew, and all?
"They are dead, the old fellows " (we called them so then,?Though we since have found out they were lusty young men).?They are dead, do you tell me?--but how do you know??You've filled once too often. I doubt if it's so.
I'm thinking. I'm thinking. Is this 'sixty-eight??It's not quite so clear. It admits of debate.?I may have been dreaming. I rather incline?To think--yes, I'm certain--it is 'twenty-nine!
"By Zhorzhe!--as friend Sales is accustomed to cry,--?You tell me they're dead, but I know it's a lie!?Is Jackson not President?--What was 't you said??It can't be; you're joking; what,--all of 'em dead?
Jim,--Harry,--Fred,--Isaac,--all gone from our side??They could n't have left us,--no, not if they tried.?Look,--there 's our old Prises,--he can't find his text;?See,--P----- rubs his leg, as he growls out "The next!"
I told you 't was nonsense. Joe, give us a song!?Go harness up "Dolly," and fetch her along!--?Dead! Dead! You false graybeard, I swear they are not!?Hurrah for Old Hickory!--Oh, I forgot!
Well, one we have with us (how could he contrive?To deal with us youngsters and still to survive?)?Who wore for our guidance authority's robe,--?No wonder he took to the study of Job!
And now, as my load was uncommonly large,?Let me taper it off with a classical charge;?When that has gone off, I shall drop my old gun--?And then stand at ease, for my service is done.
/Bibamus ad Classem vocatam/ "The Boys"?/Et eorum Tutorem cui nomen est "Noyes";/?/Et floreant, valeant, vigeant tam,/?/Non Peircius ipse enumeret quam!/
THE OLD CRUISER
1869
HERE 's the old cruiser, 'Twenty-nine,?Forty times she 's crossed the line;?Same old masts and sails and crew,?Tight and tough and as good as new.
Into the harbor she bravely steers?Just as she 's done for these forty years,?Over her anchor goes, splash and clang!?Down her sails drop, rattle and bang!
Comes a vessel out of the dock?Fresh and spry as a fighting-cock,?Feathered with sails and spurred with steam,?Heading out of the classic stream.
Crew of a hundred all aboard,?Every man as fine as a lord.?Gay they look and proud they feel,?Bowling along on even keel.
On they float with wind and tide,--?Gain at last the old ship's side;?Every man looks down in turn,--?Reads the name that's on her stern.
"Twenty-nine!--Diable you say!?That was in Skipper Kirkland's day!?What was the Flying Dutchman's name??This old rover must be the same.
"Ho! you Boatswain that walks the deck,?How does it happen you're not a wreck??One and another have come to grief,?How have you dodged by rock and reef?"
Boatswain, lifting one knowing lid,?Hitches his breeches and shifts his quid?"Hey? What is it? Who 's come to grief?Louder, young swab, I 'm a little deaf."
"I say, old fellow, what keeps your boat?With all you jolly old boys afloat,?When scores of vessels as good as she?Have swallowed the salt of the bitter sea?
"Many a crew from many a craft?Goes drifting by on a broken raft?Pieced from a vessel that clove the brine?Taller and prouder than 'Twenty-nine.
"Some capsized in an angry breeze,?Some were lost in the narrow seas,?Some on snags and some on sands?Struck and perished and lost their hands.
"Tell us young ones, you gray old man,?What is your secret, if you can.?We have a ship as good as you,?Show us how to keep our crew."
So in his ear the youngster cries;?Then the gray Boatswain straight replies:--?"All your crew be sure you know,--?Never let one of your shipmates go.
"If he leaves you, change your tack,?Follow him close and fetch him back;?When you've hauled him in at last,?Grapple his flipper and hold him fast.
"If you've wronged him, speak him fair,?Say you're sorry and make it square;?If he's wronged you, wink so tight?None of you see what 's plain in sight.
"When the world goes hard and wrong,?Lend a hand to help him along;?When his stockings have holes to darn,?Don't you grudge him your ball of yarn.
"Once in a twelvemonth, come what may,?Anchor your ship in a quiet bay,?Call all hands and read the log,?And give 'em a taste of grub and grog.
"Stick to each other through thick and thin;?All the closer as age leaks in;?Squalls will blow and clouds will frown,?But stay by your ship till you all go down!"
ADDED FOR THE ALUMNI MEETING, JUNE 29,
1869.
So the gray Boatswain of 'Twenty-nine?Piped to "The Boys" as