The Female Sailor
Come, all you pretty females, whoever you be,
I pray you give attention and listen unto me:
It’s of a brisk young lady, worth thousands of gold,
How she ventured her life, for a jolly sailor bold.
One day with her father, she instantly went,
To view his fine vessel, it was her intent;
On board of one fine vessel, the George, by name,
She first saw this young man, which caus’d her much pain.
When first she beheld this beautiful swain,
She though it a pity, he should venture the main;
She turn’d to her father, and to him did say,
Ah! is this your captain, I pray do tell to em.
O no, my dearest daugher, her father thus spake,
He is not my captain, he is the chief mate;
He is a fine youth, William Brown is his name,
And for seven long years he has crossed the main.
From fine London city, this young man set sail,
Bound for Liverpool, with a sweet pleasant gale.
When she heard he had sail’d, resolved was she,
To follow this young man by land or by sea.
She pack’d up her jewels, and costly array,
And to Liverpool came, without more delay;
But when she came there, she heard he was gone
To a port in America, called St. Johns.
Resolved was she to follow her dear,
And to cross the salt seas, without dread or fear;
The wind it blew calm, and the elements clear,
And to St. John’s, New Brunswick, this lady did steer.
But, oh! fatal to tell, when she arrive there,
She went to the ship, to find out her dear;
She asked for William Brown, for that was his name,
The captain said, fair lady, he is drown’d in the main.
With great grief and anguish this lady did mourn,
She thought to her parents, she would not return;
Her golden locks she cut off, as you will understand,
Blue jacket and trowsers, she quickly put on.
She went on boeard the Hero, without more delay,
And inquired for the captain, as you may plainly see;
He enter’d her as cook, and steward likewise,
But little did he think she was a maid in disguise.
For three years and better, she sail’d on the main,
And still there were none couuld to the secret obtain;
For when in port, she was as jolly as a sailor could be,
Her grog she would drink, and kiss the girls merrily.
The ship was for Liverpool, and near to the port,
The captain was inclin’d to pass away a joke;
And to his great surprise, he found she was a maid,
When he arrived in Liverpool, the secret he betray’d.
To the Commerce, Steam Packet, she was resolv’d to go,
Not thinking that the captain or any one would know;
She had not been on board half and hour or more,
Before that the constables brought her on shore.
It’s then before the magistrate, she had to appear,
And she told them her story, without dread or fear;
She said she was determined to follow the sea,
And in a short time commander she would be.
Then said the magistrate, what is your name,
And where does your father dwell, tell me the sam;
S-a-A-a-H-n, it is my own name,
I’m a rich merchant’s daughter, from London I came.
Then the magistrate addressed the captain, and said,
Have you any thing to say, concerning this fair maid;
Your honor, said the captain, I have nothing for to say,
But only beg you will give her in charge unto me.
Then the captain he took this fair damsel away,
And she dressed herself like a lady so gay;
He vow’d that he lov’d her as dear as his life,
So now his late steward, has become his charming wife.
Other website link: Library of Congress