Chapter THE EIGHTH (4)

"Ay, squall indeed," said the captain of the forecastle: "here it comes with a vengeance!" he bellowed out with stentorian lungs. "Hard up with the helm--hard a-weather." In an instant the sea was one sheet of foam; the wind came whistling like the rustling of ten thousand arrows in their swiftest flight; a report like the discharge of a heavy piece of artillery was heard forward, and away flew the jib like a fleecy cloud to leeward. The frigate heeled over, carrying everybody and everything into the lee scuppers; the lightning hissed and cracked as it exploded between the masts, making everything tremble from the keel to the truck; broad sheets of water were lifted up and dashed over the decks fore and aft: indeed, it seemed as if the gale were striving to raise the ponderous vessel from the ocean for the purpose of plunging it into the dark abyss; a thick mist-like shroud hung round her, alow and aloft, as she struggled to lift herself against the tempest. The topsail halliards were let go; but the nearly horizontal position of the masts prevented the sails from running down. Inevitable destruction for the moment threatened to engulph them all, when "crack, crack, crack!" away went the topmasts over the side; the spanker sheet had been cut away, and off bounced the spanker after the jib. The frigate partially righted, and Lord Eustace and his officers rushed to the deck. But the squall had passed: the moon again shone beautifully clear; the deceitful sky and still more deceitful ocean were all smiles, as if nothing had happened,--though the evidences of their wrath were but too apparent in the dismantled state of his Majesty's ship. But we must again leave them, as we did before, to

"Call all hands to clear the wreck."

THE USEFUL YOUNG MAN.
A SECOND SERIES. BY WILLIAM COLLIER.

"There's one of us in every family."

To make ourselves useful's a duty we owe
To mankind and ourselves in our sojourn below;
To return good for evil, and always "to do
Unto others as you'd have them do unto you:"
So I bear all with patience, resolved, if I can,
To act well my part as a Useful Young Man!

But, alas! _entre nous_, 'tis a difficult task,
As seldom I'm left in life's sunshine to bask;
For I'm hurried, and worried, imposed on by all,
Who think I should run at their beck or their call:
"So obliging," folks say, "is their favourite Sam,
That he well earns the name of the Useful Young Man!"

Each morning at breakfast I'm doomed to peruse
"The Herald," and "Post," for "the family news,"
While the toast, eggs, and coffee, which fall to my lot,
Get a pretty considerable distance from hot:
Yes, such are the COMFORTS--deny it who can?--
That fall to the share of each Useful Young Man!

If Jane, or Maria, for work should agree,
The dear creatures invariably send down for me
To make myself useful, and read while they knit,
Paint, draw, or do anything they may think fit.
Thus, Sam--poor pill-garlic!--they safely trepan:
Alack! what a life leads a Useful Young Man!

If the day's rather wet, and they can't gad about,
They think nothing whatever, of sending me out:--
"Now, Sam, my good fellow, just pop on your hat;
Run to _Howell's_ for this thing, and _Holmes's_ for that;
You'll make yourself pleasant we know, if you can,--
What a comfort to have such a Useful Young Man!"

When John, our fat butler, or Bridget, the cook,
Have leisure for reading "some novelty book,"
They ne'er think of asking my leave to peruse,
But help themselves freely to just what they choose:
Making free with my novels is no novel plan,
For THEY own Master Sam's such a useful Young Man!

Once Thomas, the footman, kissed Anne on the stairs,
Who loudly squalled out, just to give herself airs;
When my father ran down, in great anger, to see
What the cause of the squeaking and squalling could be.
Tom had bolted; but not till they'd settled a plan
To throw all the blame on _the Useful_ Young Man!

When the Opera we visit, I'm kept in the rear
Of our box, and can scarce get a glimpse, I declare,
Of the stage, or the audience;--so only remain,
To trot up to _Dubourg_ for _punch à la Romaine_,
To run out for a book, or to pick up a fan:--
Alas! what a drudge is a Useful Young Man!

But sad is my fate when I go to a rout.
If a toothless old maid sits a partner without,
The beaux are looked o'er, but they always agree
To fix the _agreeable_ task upon me;
For to dance with all _bores_, 'tis the province of Sam,
'Deed the file of each victimised Useful Young Man!

If we're late at the dance, and no coach to be had,
There's Sam! the dear fellow! the exquisite lad!
He'll search all the stands in the town, but he'll gain
A coach for his friends--though it's pelting with rain
Oh! such are the _pleasures_--deny it who can--
That fall to the lot of a Useful Young Man!

To be nice about trifles is not over wise;
Where's the churl that finds favour in woman's bright eyes?
To be nice about trifles, is trifling with folly,
For the right end of life is but left to be jolly;
So I'll make up my mind just to stick to this plan,
And PAG _out_ my _terms_ as a Useful Young Man.

REMAINS OF HAJJI BABA.