Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 June 1912 — The ONLOOKER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The ONLOOKER

WILBUR D. NESBIT

AN UNTIE HU. STOW

"I took a trip upon a ahip,” my Uncle William said; "By some strange whim or fancy grim to travel I was led. The ship was named ApoTlyon And had a grip and trolley on, And you must learn that on the stern they, had the figurehead. "We sailed due east a mile at least and then they took my fare— A five-cent piece, my little niece, was alt I had to spare. They rung it on a register And then the captain said: ‘You stir The slightest speck from off this deck and we win not get there.* • ■ "They then sailed west and stopped to rest and then went north again, The captain ate some chocolate and growled at an the men. He said. To keep the balance ’ll Now reef the mafn-to’-gallan’-sT,’ *Tis past belief— a coral reef they hove up there and then "Ten miles or more were we from shore when suddenly we stopped. Then singing songs of rights and wrongs the rail and hull they mopped. I stood and watched them, worrying. And begged they would be hurrying, But with a thud that chilled my blood the anchor then they dropped. •The idle crew had naught to do and took to playing card*. The solemn cook perused a book astraddle of the yards. The mate, whose name was Hannibal Talked of a fearsome cannibal With whom, it seemed, or else I dreamed, he had been jolly pards. "O; such a trip on such a ship X never took before; X begged for speed; they said, indeed, they’d sail that day no more— The captain, very cynical, Was winding up the binnacle _ ; Until in deep and peaceful sleep he snored a dulcet snore. “T dared not cough, I crept right off and walked ten miles to land; I can’t forget X got right wet until I reached the strand; < • ; I tried to be amphibious And sprained both of my tfblas. And that is why, ’twixt you and X, hard work I cannot stand."