stow away huge bales of cotton, singing all the while. The song enlivened the gang and seemed to make the work much easier. The foreman often sang this ditty, the rest of the gang joining in the chorus:
"Were you ever in Boston town,
Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie?
Yes, I’ve been in Boston town,
Where the ships sail up and down,
My bonnie Highland laddie, ho!
"Were you ever in Mobile Bay,
Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie?
Yes, I’ve been in Mobile Bay,
Screwing cotton by the day,
My bonnie Highland laddie, ho!
"Were you ever in Miramichi,
Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie?
Yes, I’ve been in Miramichi,
Where you make fast to a tree,
My bonnie Highland laddie, ho!
"Were you ever in Quebec,
Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie?
Yes, I have been in Quebec,
Stowing timber on the deck,
My bonnie Highland laddie, ho!"
At another time we would sing:
"Lift him up and carry him along,
Fire, maringo, fire away;
Put him down where he belongs,
Fire, maringo, fire away;
Ease him down and let him lay,
Fire, maringo, fire away;
