king hard at the purser whilst they
uttered it; but "Nip-cheese" would not take the hint, and lived to return
to England, where he took unto himself a better half, and I hope he is
happy, for who is not so when they take a fair lady for better--I dislike
adding anything further, so, reader, finish it yourself. I hope to get
spliced myself one of these fine days, and I sincerely trust it will be a
long splice. But we must keep a good look-out that in veering the cable
does not part in the hawse, for if it unfortunately does, ah, me! the
separation, most likely will be a permanent one.

Whilst I am on the tender subject of connubial felicity, I will relate a
short dialogue which passed between two of my messmates. The eldest was a
Benedict, the other about twenty, who wished to be initiated, as he
thought he had a kind of side-wind regard for the innkeeper's sister at
Port Royal. "Why," said the first, "I met my wife at a hop in the country
among a parcel of grass-combers. I asked her to dance, which she at first
refused, giving for a reason that, as I was a sailor, I could not know how
to lead down the middle and cast off at top. 'If that's all,' said I, 'my
dear, I know how to do that as well as anybody in the room.' I was now
pushed aside by a lubberly, haymaking chap, who led her out, but who as
much knew how to dance as the captain's cow. After they all sat down, I
asked the catgut scraper if he could play the fisher's hornpipe. He said
yes. I told him to play away, and I would dance it. After veering and
hauling on his instrument for a short time, he brought it out. I then
struck out, with my hat on one side, my arms a-kimbo, and a short stick
under one of them. The bumpkins all stared, and Nancy began to awake and
find out that a sailor knew how to cut a caper. After I had finished, I
ran up to her to pick up her handkerchief, which I thought she had
dropped, but found it was only the tail of her gown. She smiled and gave
me her hand. I thought this a good beginning, and was determined to follow
it up. I observed her plough-tail admirer did not half like seeing me on
such a good footing with her. I had not forgotten his push, and if he had
interfered I should have knocked him down, for I began to feel that I was
already over head and heels in love. About midnight all the clodhoppers
took their departure. As the dance, or merry-making as they called it, was
given at her father's house, I remained as long as I could, a