Select Poetry.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 308, 22 January 1875, Page 3

Select Poetry.

THE DISCOVERY OF TOBACCO. There were three jolly sailors bold, As sailed across the sea;" They braved the storm, and stood the gale, And got to Virgin-nee. . ' ;'Twas in the days'of good "Queen Bess Or 'praps a bit .before— And now these here three sailors bold "Went cruising on the shore. A lurch to starboard—one to port Now forrard, boys go we: Withahaui; andaho! aiidhearty •'That's your, sort!".: To find'otit Tobac-kee. • Says Jack, '' Thislere's a rummy land; " Says Tom," Well, shiver me, The sun shines out as precious hot , As ever I did see." Says Dick, " Messmates, since here we be," And give his eye a wink, " We've come to find out Tobac-kee : Which means a drop to drink." Says Jack, says he, " The Injins think—" Says Tom, "I'll swear as they Don't think at all." Says Dick, °Your'e right; I It aint their nat'ral way. But I want to find out, my lads, i This stuff of which they tell; For, if as it aint meant to drink, I Why, it must be to smelL" i Says Tom, says he, " To drink, or smell, I don't think this here's meant." I Says Jack, says he, " Blame my old eyes . . If I'll believe it's scent! " I "Well then, "says Dick, "if that ain't square, It must be meant for meat; i So come along, my jovial mate'l3; . To find what's good to eat." They corned across a great green plant* A-growing tall and true; • . ' Says Jack, says he, "I'm precious dry!" And picked a leaf, to chew; ' While Tom;takes up a sun-dried bit A-lying by the trees: . v. He rubs it in his hands to dust; And then begins to sneeze. Another leaf picks nimble Dick, And dries it m the sun; • .And rolls it up all neat and tight—- ' " My lads," says he, in fun, " I mean to cook this precious weed." And then from out iis poke, *With burning glass he lights the end, And quick blows up the smoke. Says Jack, says he, " Of Paradise I've heerd.some people teil." Says Tom, says he, " This here will do, Let's have another .smell." Says Dick,-his face all pleasant smiles, A-looking through a cloud—"lt strikes me here's the.cap'en bold, . And now we'll all he rowed." Up come's brave" Hawkins on the beach—"Shiver my.hull!" he cries; -- • " What" a these here games, my merry men?" And then—" Why, blame my eyes! Here's one as chaws, and one as'snuffs, And t'other of the three Is smoking like a ehimbley pot-^ They've found out Tobac-kee!" So if as ever you should hear Of Raleigh and them lies About his servant and his pipe, And him as ." fire " cries— ' You say as'twas three sailors bold, -As sailed to Virgin-nee, ; ' < In brave old Hawkins' gallant ship, Who found out Tobac-kee A lurch to starboard—one to portNow forrard, boys, go we: Withahaul, and a ho! and hearty "That's your sort!" To find out Tobac-kee. —'Once a Week.' ,