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170 After this, Jonathan Nicholas, of Salem, recited the following impromptu lines:

I wonder what's the dreadful row

They're kicking up in Portsmouth now!

The people running up and down

Crying 'All Salem's come to town!'

Clear the track, the ship is starting!

Clear the track, the ship is starting!

Clear the track, the ship is starting!

And Portsmouth hearts are sad at parting.

They say a man came down to-day

To carry the Witch of the Wave away;

And the people think he ought n't oughter

Just because he 's been and brought her.

They called it rainy yesterday,

But I know better, anyway;

'T was only Portsmouth people crying

To see the good ship's colors flying!

But Captain B. said, 'Hang the sorrow!

The sun is bound to shine to-morrow.'

And when he speaks it's no use talking—

So the clouds and the blues, they took to walking.

And so to-day the sun shines bright,

And Salem sends her heart's delight;

And the good ship flies, and the wind blows free.

As she leaps to her lover's arms—the sea!