Then up arose the Oysterman, and to himself said he, “I guess I’ll leave the skiff at home, for fear that folks should see; I read it in the story-book, that, for to kiss his dear, Leander swam the Hellespont,--and I will swim this here.”
And he has leaped into the waves, and crossed the shining stream, And he has clambered up the bank, all in the moonlight gleam; Oh! there were kisses sweet as dew, and words as soft as rain,-- But they have heard her father’s step, and in he leaps again!
Out spoke the ancient Fisherman,--“Oh! what as that, my daughter?” “’T was nothing but a pebble, sir, I threw into the water.” “And what is that, pray tell me, love, that paddles off so fast?” “It’s nothing but a porpoise, sir, that’s been a swimming past.”
Out spoke the ancient Fisherman,--“Now bring me my harpoon! I’ll get into my fishing-boat, and fix the fellow soon.” Down fell that pretty innocent, as falls a snow-white lamb, Her hair drooped round her pallid cheeks, like seaweed on a clam.
Alas, for those two loving ones! she waked not from her swound, And he was taken with the cramp, and in the waves was drowned; But Fate has metamorphosed them, in pity of their woe, And now they keep an oyster-shop for Mermaids down below.
Who is it that sits in the kitchen and weeps, While tick goes the clock, and the tabby-cat sleeps,-- That watches the grate, without ceasing to spy Whether purses or coffins will out of it fly?
’Tis Betty; who saw the false tailor, Bob Scott, Lead a bride to the altar, which bride she was not. ’Tis Betty, determined love from her to fling, And woo, for his riches, the dark Cinder-King.
Now spent tallow-candle-grease fattened the soil, And the blue-burning lamp had half wasted its oil, And the black-beetle boldly came crawling from far, And the red coals were sinking beneath the third bar;
When _“one!”_ struck the clock--and instead of the bird Who used to sing cuckoo whene’er the clock stirred, Out burst a grim raven, and uttered _“caw! caw!”_ While Puss, though she woke, durst not put forth a claw.
Then the jack fell a-going as if one should sup, Then the earth rocked as though it would swallow one up; With fuel from Hell, a strange coal-scuttle came, And a self-handled poker made fearful the flame.