POETRY.

THE BALLAD OF THE 'EASTERN CROWN.' I'VE sailed in 'ookers plenty since first I went to sea, An' sail or steam, an' good or bad, was all alike to me ; There's some 'ave tried to starve me, an' some 'ave tried to

drown. .

But I never met the equal o' the 'Eastern Crown.' 'Er funnel's like a chimley, 'er sides is like a tub ; An' pay is middlin' scanty, an' likewise so is grub; She's 'ard to beat for steerin' bad, she's 'ard to beat for grime, An' rollin' is 'er 'obby—ob, she's rollin' all the time !

Rollin' down to Siugapore—rollin' up to Maine— Rollin' round to Puget Sound, an' then 'ome again! A long roll, an' a short roll, an' a roll in between— An' the crew cursin' rosy when she ships it green!

We sailed for Philadelphia, New York, an' Montreal. Dischargin' general cargo at our various ports o' call; We knocked about a year or so lemma Callao an' Nome, An' then to Portland, Oregon, to load wi deals for 'owe.

She's met with accidents a few (which is 'er usual way); She scraped the bowsprit off a barque in Ban Francisco Bay; She's shed propeller blades an' plates wherever she 'as been ... An' last she's fouled 'er bloomin' screw on a German sub- marine!

Rollin' in the sunshine—rollin' in the rain— Rollin' up .the Channel—an' we're 'owe again! A long roll, an' a short roll, an' a roll in between— An' the crew cursin' rosy when she ships it green!

As on the Igh an' draughty bridge I stood my wheel one day, If we should sight a submarine" (I 'card the old man say), I'd do on Admirals retired an' other folks 'are said, I'd run the old Red Duster up an' ring 'Full speed ahead !'

I'd sink before I'd 'save 'er to or 'Rut my colours down By gosh, they'll catch a Tartar if they catch the 'Eastern Crown' ! •

Fee thought it out both 'igh an' low, an' this seems best to me—

Person a zigzag course" (he says) "an' see what I shall see!"

Rollin' through the Doldrums—rollin' in the foam— Rollin' by the Fastnet—an' we're nearly 'ome! A long roll, an' a short roll, an' a roll in between— An' the crew cursin' rosy when she ships it green!

'E Said it an' e meant it, an' e acted as 'e said, When sure enough we sighted one abeam o' Lizard 'Ead ; You should 'axe 'card the engines grunt—you should 'are seen 'er roll, She was beatin' all 'er records as they shovelled on the coal ...

They missed 'er by a spittin' length—'er vollin' served 'Cr well; But it served 'er better after, as you're goin' to 'ear use tell; For she some'ow rolled 'erself atop o' the bloomin' sub- marine,..

An' the oil upon the waters was the last of it we seen.

Rollin' up to London Town (an' down by the bow !)— Rollin"ome to Surrey Docks—ain't we 'cross now ? A. long roll, an' a short roll, an' a roll in between— An' the crew cumin' rosy when she ships it green!

C. Fox SMITH,