Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/334

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Twenty Years Before the Mast.
307

yard the foot rope parted, and I fell into the fore-rigging, which broke my fall, and thence onto the wharf, where I was taken up unconscious. Orders were at once given to carry me to Gritney Hospital. While on my way there I regained my consciousness, and, as soon as I understood the situation, told my friends to about-ship and leave me at John Gannoes’, in New Orleans. After arriving there I lay on my beam-ends for over two months, during which time I had also a severe attack of cholera. The weather was very hot and the epidemic raged frightfully. After remaining quiet several weeks I felt improved, and gained considerable strength. While convalescing, I received the following lines:

Dear Charlie.

He kissed me and then he said farewell
While the tears rolled down his cheeks,
It seemed to me like his funeral knell
And robbed my love of all its sweets.

Oh! Charlie, dear Charlie, return to thy home,
Thy Jennie is weeping, is weeping and lone.

O’er the ocean he’s gone his fortune to seek,
Oh! may he his fortune acquire;
Then hie to his home, where fond love shall complete
His Jennie’s most ardent desire.

Oh! Charlie, dear Charlie, etc.

But if for dear Charlie no fortune is there,
If strangers are heartless and cold.
Oh, may he return to his Jennie and share
That love which is dearer than gold.

Oh! Charlie, dear Charlie, etc.