THE HUSBANDS' BOAT, A MARGATE MELODY

See! what craft Margate Harbour displays, There are luggers and cutters and yawls, They sail upon sunshiny days, For land-sailors arn't partial to squalls. There's Paterfamilias takes out the lot Of the progeny he may own, But the Saturday Evening boat has got A freight that is hers alone. By far the most precious of craft afloat, Is the Saturday Evening "Husbands' Boat." There are husbands with luggage, and husbands with none, There are husbands with parcels in hand, They bring down to wives whom they lately have won, Who pretty attentions command. There are husbands who know whate'er time it may be Their wives on the jetty will wait For that Hymeneal argosy, With its matrimonial freight. Oh! the most precious of craft afloat Is the Saturday Evening "Husbands' Boat." But the Monday Morning is "Monday black", That when at school we knew, For the husbands to business must all go back, And the wives look monstrous blue; So loud the bell rings, and the steamer starts On her way to Thames Haven again, And amid those who leave are as many sad hearts, As there are amid those who remain. Coming or going of craft afloat, The most prized one is the "Husbands' Boat."