Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/334

 the foot rope parted, and I fell into the fore-rigging, which broke my fall, and thence onto the wharf,  where I was taken up unconscious. Orders were at once given to carry me to Gritney Hospital. While on my way there I regained my consciousness, and, as soon as  I understood the situation, told my friends to about-ship  and leave me at John Gannoes’, in New Orleans. After arriving there I lay on my beam-ends for over two  months, during which time I had also a severe attack of  cholera. The weather was very hot and the epidemic raged frightfully. After remaining quiet several weeks I felt improved, and gained considerable strength. While convalescing, I received the following lines:

He kissed me and then he said farewell While the tears rolled down his cheeks, It seemed to me like his funeral knell And robbed my love of all its sweets.

Oh! Charlie, dear Charlie, return to thy home, Thy Jennie is weeping, is weeping and lone.

O’er the ocean he’s gone his fortune to seek, Oh! may he his fortune acquire; Then hie to his home, where fond love shall complete His Jennie’s most ardent desire.

Oh! Charlie, dear Charlie, etc.

But if for dear Charlie no fortune is there, If strangers are heartless and cold. Oh, may he return to his Jennie and share That love which is dearer than gold.

Oh! Charlie, dear Charlie, etc.