A gent and lady take a trip
Along Pacific coast in ship,
And with them is little daughter,
For she doth enjoy the water.
The little maiden is adored
By all the sailors are aboard;
The wheelsman often child did coax
To go up with him to his box.
And she is a great favorite too
Among the whole of the deck crew;
On lower deck was strange cargo,
Three men chained on way to Fargo.
They are ruffians desperate,
And law and order both they hate,
But conquered by this little child,
Who talked to them and on them smiled.
These men, though they were bound in chains,
They soon forgot their rage and pains,
And felt she was an angel, sent
For to request them to repent.
Sheriff with pistols in his hand,
O’er those men lie held command;
But vessel struck ’gainst sunken rock
And child went o’erboard with the shock.
Bill Jones, though chained hand and foot,
Cried, “Sheriff please now do not shoot,
And little darling I will save
From sinking in a watery grave.”
His hands and feet they both were tied,
Yet danger all he bold defied;
It seems the Lord doth efforts bless,
With teeth he seized the child by dress,
And held her head above the wave
’Till rescue comes them both to save;
All on board were glad to see
The sheriff set brave Bill Jones free.