The captain stared aghast at mate, But when they at the compass look'd, It seem'd non compass mentis. To know at what they shiver'd; But when he stood beside the card, St. Josef! how it quiver'd! No fancy-motion, brain-begot, Now north, now south, now east, Ne'er show'd a plainer tremor; All down the side which holds the Like oil it fell, that name, a spell heart, That needle gave them stitches. On all the fearful faction; The Captain's head (for he had read) With deep amaze, the Stranger Confess'd the Needle's action, And that's the short and long of it; And that's the short and long of it! My voice is weak, And she is tall, But hers-she makes a gong of it; And that's the short and long of it; Against my life She has, in brief, Command in Chief, She'll take a knife, And I'm but Aide-de-camp of it; Or fork, and dart the prong of it; For I am small, And she is tall, For I am small, And she is tall, And that's the short and long of it! And that's the short and long of it! She gives to me The weakest tea, I sometimes think I'll take to drink, And takes the whole Souchong And hector when I'm strong of of it; For I am small, And she is tall, it; For I am small, And she is tall, And that's the short and long of it! And that's the short and long of it! She'll sometimes grip My buggy whip, O, if the bell And make me feel the thong of it; I'd make a gay ding dong of it; For I am small, And she is tall, For I am small, And she is tall, And that's the short and long of it! And that's the short and long of it! |