Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1901 — BILL AND ME. [ARTICLE]

BILL AND ME.

There was brother Bill and me, wv was both s* us A. B. In the fine bark Obediah at North Amenkey We was known by *ll the crew to love each other true. And we never told a story nor a naughty U*. not we. We was somewhere off the pole, where we’d gone to pick up coal. When Bill was took .sudden with a wery bod ecurvey; So he laid down on his side and wery quietly died. Baid the captain, "LeC s consign him to the bottom of the sea.” Then they sewed him in his berth, ami he mid goodby to earth When they took and hove him overside our gallant little bark; While 1 stood and piped my eye, the crew they For we saw him sliding wholesale down the mouth of a big shark. That was more nor 1 could stand, so, iwsung of my hand, I jumped and followed William into that hungry shark. But when I got inside I could ha’ mt and cried. For I hadn't got no matches, and the place was awful dark. So I cuts into Bill’s bed and his pockets tries instead, When he upe and gives a grumble and blames both my eyes; When I told him he was dead, be said he'd punch my bead, A-picking of his pockets and a-telling at him lies. I soon found be wasn’t dead, tut only frut instead, And the shark it thawed him quickly, tor soon he was quite well. Then a roaring fire we lit, and we roasted shark * bit. And that shark he got quite hungry, so delidous was the smell. When we couldn't eat no more, we thought we’d go ashore. So we goes and cuts a hatchway in the middle of its back. And a bridle then we geared, and then tbe eb.rk we steered Down south tor New York city in lees nor half a crack. Now, this may seem absurd, but, if you doubt my word. Why, go to New York city and ask Mr. Barnum there. For he bought that shark, did be, which any on* may see, And Bill and me is always known as such a truthful pair. —Pick Me Up.