Susan’s Adventures in a British Man of War. Answer to the British Man of War.

Printed and Sold Wholesail and Retail, by G. Jacques Oldham-road, Library, Manchester

Young Susan was a blooming maid, so valiant, stout, and bold,
And when her sailor went on board, young susan, we are told
Put on a jolly sailor’s dress, and daub’d her face with tar,
To cross the raging seas for love, on board of a man of war.
It was in Portsmouth harbour this giant ship was moor’d
And when young Susan shipped there was 900 men on board,
It was then she was contented, all bedaubed with the pitch and tar,
To be with her sweet William on board of a man of war.
They washed the decks, both fore and aft, in winds and tempests cold.
With her hands so soft she went aloft like a jolly sailor bold.
She kept her place with her pretty face bedaubed with pitch and tar,
And no one Susan did suspect on board of a man of war
When in the bay of Biscay, she aloft like lentning flew
Respected by the officers and all the jovial crew,
In battle she would boldly run, fearing wound nor scar,
And done her duty by the gun on board of a man of war.
She faced the walls of China where her life was not insured
And little did young William think his Susan was on board,
By a cannon ball from the batteries she did receive a scar,
And she got slightly wounded, on board of a man of war.
When on the deck young Susan fell, of all the whole ship’s crew,
Her William was the very first to her assistance flew,
She said my jolly sailor I’ve for you received a scar,
Behold your faithful Susan on board of a man of war.
then William on his Susan gazed, with wonder & surprise
He stood some moments motionless while tears stood in his eyes,
He cried—I wish instead of you I had received that scar,
Oh, love, why did you venture on board of a man of war.
At length to England they returned and quickly married were,
The bells did ring and they did sing and banish every care,
They often think upon that day when she received a car,
When Susan followed her true love on board of a man of war.

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BBO Roud Number: 1533

Other website link: National Library of Scotland