Punch (26.1854)

U4

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

THE BEAR IN THE BOAT.

AN OLD FABLE, NEW MORALISED.

(To the tune, u Froggy would a-wooing go.”)

Thebe was a Bear got into a boat,

Hey for Old Nick so boly !

There was a Bear got into a boat;

He cast off the painter and set her afloat,

With a topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage.

Hey tor Old Nick so holy !

This Boat, you must know, was christened “ War,”
Hey for Old IS ick so holy 1
This Boat, you must know, was christened “ War
’T was forty-eight years since she’d floated before,
With a topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage,

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

The Bear at first felt uncommonly proud.

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The Bear at first felt uncommonly proud.

As he pawed at tiller, and pulled at shroud.

With a topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage.

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The Boat drove at will of wind and tide.

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The Boat drove at will of wind and tide,

The Bear imagined his paw did guide.

With a topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage,

Hey for Ola Nick so holy !

The Winds they began to rise and roar.

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

The Winds they began to rise and roar.

The Boat drifted farther and farther from shore,

With a topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage.

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The Bear thought the winds were whistling his praise.
Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The Bear thought the winds were whistling his praise.
And he thanked ’em, but held on tight by the stays.
With a topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage.

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

The Waves they began to heave and swell,

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

The Waves they began to heave and swell,

And the Boat on their white crests rose and fell,

With a topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage.

Hey for Old N ick so holy !

The Bear thought the waves were bowing to him,

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

The Bear thought the waves were bowing to him.

So he bowed to them, looking green and grim,

With a topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage,

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The W7inds grew louder, the waves more rough,—
Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The Winds grew louder, the waves more rough.

And the Bear looked uneasy and roared “ Enough!”
With his topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage,

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The Wrind it blew the sail from the yard,

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The Wind it blew the sail from the yard.

For the Bear would jam the sheet down hard,

With his topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage,

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

The Waves clean over the gunwale flew.

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

The Waves clean over the gunwale flew.

For the Bear insisted on broaching-to,

With his topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage,

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

Now port, now starboard, the tiller he thrust,

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

Now port, now starboard, the tiller he thrust.

And thought he was steering true and jusr,

With his topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage,

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

With random paws he tugged tack and sheet,

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

With random paws he tugged tack and sheet.

And flattered himself he could sail a fleet,

With his topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage,

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

To cast up his accounts he at last began,

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

To cast up his accounts he at last began,

For sea-sickness spares Bear no more than man
With his topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage.

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

Sick, helpless, and wild with rage and fear.

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

Sick, helpless, and wild with rage and fear.

The sea o’er the boat making breaches clear,

With his topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage.

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

Sails blown to ribbons, mast gone by the board.

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

Sails blown to ribbons, mast gone by the board,

The prostrate Bear his repentance roared.

With his topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage.

Hey for Old Nick so holy !

“ Only let me get out of this cursed boat.

Hey for Old Nick so hol^ !

Only let me get out of this cursed boat,

And I promise I ’ll never again go afloat.

With my topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage
Hey for Old Nick so holy ! ”

What did wind and wave for Bruin’s prayer ?

Hey for Old Nick so holy!

What did wind and wave for drain’s prayer ?

Did they swamp the Boat and swallow the Bear ?
With his topsy-turvy, cannon and scrimmage ?

Hey for Old Nick so holy !