Reminiscences

our Captain, to shear the lambs and ewe, All in the merry month of June, of all times in the year, It always comes in season the ewes and lambs to shear, And there we must work hard boys,until our backs do ache, And our master,he will bring us beer whenever we do lack. Our master he comes round to see his work done well, He says, boys, " Shear them close, for there is but little wool !" " O yes, Master," then we reply, " we'll do it well if we can," When our Captain calls, " Shear close, boys," to each and every man, And at some places still we have this story all day long, " Shear them well and close, boys," and this is all their song. And then our noble Captain doth unto our master say, " Come let us have one bucket of your good ale I pray " ; He turns unto our Captain, and makes him this reply, " You shall have the best of beer, [ promise, presently," Then out with the bucket, pretty Betsy she doth come, And Master says, " Maid, mind and see, that every mau has some." This is some of our pastime, as we the sheep do shear, And though we are such merry boys, we work hard I declare, chapter{Section 4And when 'tis night and we are done, our master is more free, And fills us well with good strong beer, and pipes and tobaccee, And so we sit and drink, and smoke, and sing and roar, Till we become more merry far than we had been before. When all our work is done, and all our sheep are shorn, Then home with our Captain, to drink the ale...