The New Year's Gift (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834 Excerpt: ...know your A. B. C. THE FISHER-BOY. BY MARY HOWITT. Ah Fisher Boy, I well know thee, Brother thou art to Marion Lee What did'st thou think I knew thee not Could'st thou believe I had forgot? For shame, for shame what? I forget The treasures of thy laden net And how we went one day together, One day of show'ry summer-weather, Up the sea-shore, and for an hour Stood sheltering from a pelting shower; Within an up-turned ancient boat, That had not been for years afloat No no, my boy I liked too well The old sea stories thou did'st tell; I liked too well thy roguish eye--Thy merry speech--thy laughter sly; Thy old sea-jacket, to forget--And then the treasures of thy net Oh Andrew thou hast not forgot, I'm very sure that thou hast not, All that we talked about that day Of famous countries far away --Of Crusoes in their Islands lone, That never were, nor will be known; And yet this very moment stand Upon some point of mountain land, Looking out o'er the desert sea, If chance some coming ship there be. Thou know'st we talked of this--thou know'st We talked about a ship-boy's ghost--A wretched little orphan-lad Who served a master stern and bad, And had no friend to take his part, And perished from a broken heart, Or by his master's blows, some said, For in the boat they found him dead, And the boat's side was stained and red And then we talked of many a heap Of ancient treasure in the deep, And the great serpent that some men, In far-off seas, meet now and then, Of grand sea-palaces that shine Through forests of old coralline; And wondrous creatures that may dwell In many a crimson Indian shell; Till I shook hands with thee, to see, Thou wast a poet--Andrew Lee Though thou wast guiltless all the time Of putting any thoughts in rhyme Ah--little Fisher Boy ...