THE MERCHANTMAN.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 267, 18 September 1917, Page 8

THE MERCHANTMAN.

(A Timely Reminder of the Empire’s heavy debt.) Whither away, whither away, Oh! merchantman in blue? For cold, cold are the seas to-day, and wreckage wide they strew. The good ship Nancy’s blown to bits, the trawler Ella’s missing, The Elmtree’s gone, and o’er the Prince the bitter waves are hissing. So keep on shore and go not forth, Oh ! merchantman in blue, For foe and fire, and cold and wave, they also threaten you. But I must go, but I must go, and (ross the seas to-day, And take the stuff" and fetch the food to keep the wolf away. To-night you’ll sleep so warmly, but my bed may haply be. Somewhere with rock for pillow, and for coverlet the sea. Oh! surely I’ve no wish to die, but England must be fed, And I’d sooner brave the danger than skulk on shore instead. But know you, know you, merchantman, brave merchantman in blue, But three days since upon the sea they found a ghastly crew,

Nine men dead in an open boat adrift upon the waves, See what befalls the merchantman who mine and German braves. Now with your piteous stories I pray prevent me not, Poor Dick and Bill and Ja<k and Bert, ah, me! i knew the lot; And faith ! the> met an ugly death, ere cast up on the coast, But they’ll maybe meet their Maker with stouter hearts than most. So tho’ the Nancy’s blown to bits, the trawler Ella’s missing, The Elmtree gone, and o’er the Prince the bitter waves are hissing, We'll sail to-day in biting winds, and leave the warmth o’ land, And may the good Lord keep us in the hollow of His hand.