Next, the made dishes proceeding to scan,

With wisdom becoming a greedy old man;

Looking so charmingly youthful and gay,

I laugh in his face at his airs of gourmet;

Admitting myself but three things to be nice—

Champagne, lobster salad, and strawberry ice.

Then pass the people in sparkling review;

I ask fifty questions beginning with Who?

[pg 46]

Midnight approaches—a sense of repose

Floating about me, my eyelids half close;

Rising, I languidly say, 'By the bye,

Who is the Captain?' he laughs in reply,

Stands up in front of me, just face to face,

Makes me a bow with an air and a grace:

'The Captain this moment before you' you see—

That's my nickname in the country,' says he.

Pleasantly sleepy I felt ere he spake,

Now I am thoroughly widely awake;

A shock passes through me of horrid surprise,

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