A Tale of a Tub
by
1
You may bring to mind I’ve sung you a song,
Of a man of Haarlem town.
I’ll sing of another,–‘t will not take long–,
Of equally great renown.
2
“I’ve read,” said he, “there’s a land afar,
O’er the boundless rolling sea,
Where fat little pigs ready roasted are:
Now, that is the land for me.
3
Where tarts may be plucked from the wild tart tree,
And puddings like pumpkins grow,
Where candies, like pebbles, lie by the sea,–
Now, thither I’ll straightway go.”
4
Now, what do you think I’ve heard it said
Was his boat, his oar, his sail?
A tub, a spoon, and a handkerchief red,
For to breast both calm and gale.
5
So he sailed away, for a livelong day;
And the sun was warm and mild,
And the small waves laughed as they seemed to play,
And the sea-gulls clamored wild.
6
So he sailed away, for a livelong day;
Till the wind began to roar,
And the waves rose high, and, to briefly say,
He never was heard of more.
H. PYLE.