Sailor's Yarn.

While voyaging on northern seas             For days we could not catch a breeze,             But were held fast as if in vice             Surrounded by the bergs of ice,             We could not move the ship or boat             But on low, flat iceberg we did float;             Of provisions we took good store             With big oars we rowed the berg to shore,             And pride and joy each one feels             When we had caught ten thousand seals,             And our brave boys each one they dare             To boldly capture great white bear;             On floating berg we built with boards             A storehouse for to hold our hordes,             We had a stove and stock of coal,             So we enjoyed this voyage droll,             In centre of berg we dug a hole             And erected a strong pole,             The frost and ice soon held it fast             And well it served us for a mast,             On which we stretched out our sails             And scud along before the gales,             Until we came to an island             And on its sides it seemed highland,             And Britain being queen of seas,             For her this island we did seize,             To give her new coaling station             For to benefit the nation,             So when we had sailed landward             We erected British standard             On the highest mountain top,             Which graceful down to sea did slope,             We cast our anchor in its side             So to explore it far and wide,             But what was our astonishment             Without the least admonishment,             Our island soon away did float             As if it was a mighty boat.             Can you believe this wondrous tale?             It proved to be a monster whale,             And o'er the ocean quick it flew             With our great iceberg and our crew,             Until it came to Newfoundland,             Where all did safe on the ground land;             Poor whale was stranded on the beach             And his sea home no more could reach,             Our crew in great wealth each on shares,             By selling whale and seals and bears,             We hired steam tug to reach our ship,             Now free from ice we had quick trip,             And she being loaded down with seal,             And we all shared in common weal,             For joy each of us had reason,             Making two trips in one season.