414
POEMS OF ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH.
Arrived at last and set ashore, she found
The steamer gone for which she had been bound.
The pious people, in their careless way,
Had made some loose mistake about the day.
She stood; the passengers with whom she crossed
Went off, and she remained as one that 's lost.
Think of the hapless creature standing here
Alone, beside her boxes on the pier.
Whither to turn, and where to try and go,
She knew not; nay, the language did not know.
So young a girl, so pretty too, set down
Here, in the midst of a great sea-port town,
What might have happened one may sadly guess,
Had not the captain, seeing her distress,
Made out the cause, and told her she could stay
On board the vessel till the following day.
Next day, he said—the steamer to Bordeaux
Was gone no doubt, next month the next would go;
For this her passage-money she had paid,
But some arrangement could, he thought, be made,
If only she could manage to afford
To wait a month and pay for bed and board.
She sadly shook her head—well, after all,
'Twas a bad town, and mischief might befall,
Would she go back ? Indeed 'twas but a shame,
To take her back to those from whom she came.
'There 's one thing, Miss,' said he, 'that you can do,
It 's speaking somewhat sudden-like, it's true,
But if you'll marry me, I'll marry you.
May be you won't, but if you will you can.'
This captain was a young and decent man,
And I suppose she saw no better way;
Marry they did, and married live this day.
The steamer gone for which she had been bound.
The pious people, in their careless way,
Had made some loose mistake about the day.
She stood; the passengers with whom she crossed
Went off, and she remained as one that 's lost.
Think of the hapless creature standing here
Alone, beside her boxes on the pier.
Whither to turn, and where to try and go,
She knew not; nay, the language did not know.
So young a girl, so pretty too, set down
Here, in the midst of a great sea-port town,
What might have happened one may sadly guess,
Had not the captain, seeing her distress,
Made out the cause, and told her she could stay
On board the vessel till the following day.
Next day, he said—the steamer to Bordeaux
Was gone no doubt, next month the next would go;
For this her passage-money she had paid,
But some arrangement could, he thought, be made,
If only she could manage to afford
To wait a month and pay for bed and board.
She sadly shook her head—well, after all,
'Twas a bad town, and mischief might befall,
Would she go back ? Indeed 'twas but a shame,
To take her back to those from whom she came.
'There 's one thing, Miss,' said he, 'that you can do,
It 's speaking somewhat sudden-like, it's true,
But if you'll marry me, I'll marry you.
May be you won't, but if you will you can.'
This captain was a young and decent man,
And I suppose she saw no better way;
Marry they did, and married live this day.
