g if we never meet again.
Sing tura-la, tura-la, tura-lara ley.

Oh, cruel was th' engagement in which my true love fought, And cruel was
the cannon-ball as knock'd his right eye out; He used to ogle me with
peepers full of fun, But now he looks askew at me, because he's only
one. Sing tura-la, etc., etc.

"Eh! wid your turla-la. You call dat singing?" cried Opposition Bill,
stumping up, with his fiddle in his hand. "Stop a little. How you do,
Mr. Tom? how you do, pretty lady? Now I sing you a song, and show dat
fellow how to make music. Stop a little, Miss Virginny."

"Well," said Bill Harness, "I'll just let you sing, that Miss Saunders
may judge between us."

Virginia felt half inclined to go away; but as the pensioners always
treated her with as much respect as any of the ladies of the officers of
the hospital, I pressed her arm that she might stay. Opposition Bill
then struck up as follows, saying, "Now I give you a new 'Getting
upstairs.'"

On board of a man-of-war dey hauled me one day, And pitch me up de side
just like one truss of hay. Such a getting upstairs I nebber did see,
Such a getting upstairs.

Dey show me de masthead, and tell me I must go, I tumble on de rattling,
and break my lilly toe. Such a getting upstairs I nebber did see, etc.

Dey pipe de hands up anchor, and Massa Boatswain's cane Come rattle on
our backs, for all de world like rain. Such a getting upstairs, etc.

And den dey man de rigging, the topsails for to reef, And up we scull
together, just like a flock of sheep. Such a getting upstairs, etc.

Dey send de boats away, a Frenchman for to board, We climb de side with
one hand, de oder hold de sword. Such a getting upstairs, etc.

Now here I sent to Greenwich because I lost a leg, And ab to climb up to
de ward upon my wooden peg. Such a getting upstairs, etc.

"Dere, now; I ask you, Mister Tom, and de young lady, which sing best,
dat fellow, or your humble servant Bill--dat's me?"

"You sing very well, Bill," said Virginia, laughing, "but I'm not able
to decide such a difficult point."

"Nor more can I; it is impossible to say which I like best," continued
I. "We must go home now, so good-by."

"Thanky you, Mister Tom; thanky you, Missy. I see you wish to spare him
feelings; but I know what you tink in your heart."

Virginia and I now left the hospital. There was one subject which was
often discussed between my sister and me, which was, my situation with
regard to Bramble