Volume 98 — GRAND OLD BILLEE.[A]

There were three sailors of London city Who found their (Party) ship at sea, Although with programmes, authorised and unauthorised, Most carefully they had loaded she. There was greedy Joe and glosing Jimmy, And the third was named Grand Old Billee; And they were reduced to the piteous prospect Of grubbing on one split (Party) pea. Says greedy Joe to glosing Jimmy, "For captaincy I am hungaree." To greedy Joe says glosing Jimmy, "Then you and I must get rid of he." Says greedy Joe to glosing Jimmy, "With one another we should agree. With me as Captain, and you as First Mate, If it wasn't for Grand Old Billee." "Oh, Billee, we're going to chuck you over, So prepare for a bath in the Irish Sea." When Bill received this information, His dexter optic winked he. "First let me take an observation From the main-top over the Irish Sea!" "Make haste, make haste," says glosing Jimmy, Whilst Joe he fumbled his snickersnee. So Billy went up to the main-top-gallant mast, And began to count o'er the Irish Sea; And he scarce had come to eighty-six, or so, When up he jumps. "Land Ho!" shouts he. "I can see Ould Ireland! There's the Bay of Dublin; With a distant glimpse of Amerikee. And the Parliament upon College Green, bhoys, With a right good glass I can (almost) see." So they went ashore, and the crew when mustered Kicked Guzzling Joe, and cashiered Jimmee. But as for Grand Old Billee, they gave him Of the old "Deal Castle" the captaincy!