Found in A Dictionary of the Isle of Wight Dialect by William Henry Long (London: Reeves & Turner, 1886), page 139; also in the Bodleian Library, where it is called THE OLD MISER.


THE LOST SAILOR

'Tis of an old miser who in London did dwell.
He had but one daughter, whom a sailor loved well,
And when the old miser was out of the way,
She was always with her sailor by night and by day.

Soon as the old miser he heard of the news,
Straightway to the captain he immediately goes,
Crying: "Captain, bold captain, I have good news to tell.
I have got a young sailor for a bargain to sell.

“So what you give me?" this old man did say.
"I'll give you ten guineas, and take him away.
I'll send him a-sailing, right over the main.
He shall never come to England to plague you again."

Now when this young damsel she heard of the news,
Away to the captain she hastily goes,
Saying: "Captain, bold captain, I have bad news to tell.
You have got my young sailor for a transport to sell."

She out of her pocket pulled handfuls of gold,
And down on the deck the guineas they rolled,
Crying: "Captain, bold captain, all this I'll give you,
For my jolly young sailor, my right and my due."

"Oh no," says the Captain, "that never can be,
For only last night he was sold unto me.
I will send him a-sailing right over the main.
He will never come to England to court you again."

"Bad luck to my father, wherever he be.
I feel in my own heart he has ruined me.
I'll away to my couch and then lay myself down,
And day and night long for my sailor I'll mourn."