THE HALF-DROWNED SKIPPER.

T'other day up the water aw went in a boat, Aw brush'd up my trowsers, put on my new coat; We steer'd up wor boat 'lang side of a keel, And the luiks o' the Skipper wad frighten'd the Deil. Fol de rol, &c. So thinks aw, wi' the keel we'll gan a' the way, And hear a few words that the skipper may say, For aw was sure if ought in the keel was deun wrang, The Skipper wad curse, aye, and call every man. Fol de rol, &c. Now we'd just getten up to the fam'd Skinners' Burn, When the Skipper bawl'd out that the keel was to turn: Wye he shouted and roar'd like a man hung in chains, And swore by the keel he would knock out their brains. Fol de rol, &c. The little Pee-dee jump'd about on the deck, And the Skipper roar'd out he wad sure smash his neck; "What for?" says the Pee-dee, "can one not speak a word?"— So he gav him a kick—knock'd him plump owerboard. Fol de rol, &c. There was nyen o' the bullies e'er lost a bit time, But flung their great keel-huiks splash into the Tyne; They brought up the Pee-dee just like a duck'd craw, And the Skipper, wi' laughin', fell smack ower an' a'. Fol de rol, &c. Now the keelmen being tired of their Skipper se brave, Not one e'er attempted his life for to save; They hoisted their sail, and we saw no more, But the half-drown'd Skipper was swimming ashore. Fol de rol, &c.