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properly particular about the friends they made； And somehow thus they
settled it without a word of mouth … That GRAY should take the northern
half； while SOMERS took the south。
On PETER'S portion oysters grew … a delicacy rare； But oysters were a
delicacy PETER couldn't bear。 On SOMERS' side was turtle； on the
shingle lying thick； Which SOMERS couldn't eat； because it always made
him sick。
GRAY gnashed his teeth with envy as he saw a mighty store Of turtle
unmolested on his fellow…creature's shore。 The oysters at his feet aside
impatiently he shoved； For turtle and his mother were the only things he
loved。
And SOMERS sighed in sorrow as he settled in the south； For the
thought of PETER'S oysters brought the water to his mouth。 He longed to
lay him down upon the shelly bed； and stuff： He had often eaten oysters；
but had never had enough。
How they wished an introduction to each other they had had When on
board the BALLYSHANNON！ And it drove them nearly mad To think
how very friendly with each other they might get； If it wasn't for the
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arbitrary rule of etiquette！
One day； when out a…hunting for the MUS RIDICULUS； GRAY
overheard his fellow…man soliloquizing thus： 〃I wonder how the playmates
of my youth are getting on； M'CONNELL； S。 B。 WALTERS； PADDY
BYLES； and ROBINSON？〃
These simple words made PETER as delighted as could be； Old
chummies at the Charterhouse were ROBINSON and he！ He walked
straight up to SOMERS； then he turned extremely red； Hesitated； hummed
and hawed a bit； then cleared his throat； and said：
I beg your pardon … pray forgive me if I seem too bold； But you have
breathed a name I knew familiarly of old。 You spoke aloud of ROBINSON
… I happened to be by。 You know him？〃 〃Yes； extremely well。〃 〃Allow
me； so do I。〃
It was enough： they felt they could more pleasantly get on； For （ah；
the magic of the fact！） they each knew ROBINSON！ And Mr。 SOMERS'
turtle was at PETER'S service quite； And Mr。 SOMERS punished
PETER'S oyster…beds all night。
They soon became like brothers from community of wrongs： They
wrote each other little odes and sang each other songs； They told each
other anecdotes disparaging their wives； On several occasions； too； they
saved each other's lives。
They felt quite melancholy when they parted for the night； And got up
in the morning soon as ever it was light； Each other's pleasant company
they reckoned so upon； And all because it happened that they both knew
ROBINSON！ They lived for many years on that inhospitable shore； And
day by day they learned to love each other more and more。 At last； to their
astonishment； on getting up one day； They saw a frigate anchored in the
offing of the bay。
To PETER an idea occurred。 〃Suppose we cross the main？ So good
an opportunity may not be found again。〃 And SOMERS thought a minute；
then ejaculated； 〃Done！ I wonder how my business in the City's getting
on？〃
〃But stay；〃 said Mr。 PETER： 〃when in England； as you know； I
earned a living tasting teas for BAKER； CROOP； AND CO。； I may be
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superseded … my employers think me dead！〃 〃Then come with me；〃 said
SOMERS； 〃and taste indigo instead。〃
But all their plans were scattered in a moment when they found The
vessel was a convict ship from Portland； outward bound； When a boat
came off to fetch them； though they felt it very kind； To go on board they
firmly but respectfully declined。
As both the happy settlers roared with laughter at the joke； They
recognized a gentlemanly fellow pulling stroke： 'Twas ROBINSON … a
convict； in an unbecoming frock！ Condemned to seven years for
misappropriating stock！！！
They laughed no more； for SOMERS thought he had been rather rash
In knowing one whose friend had misappropriated cash； And PETER
thought a foolish tack he must have gone upon In making the acquaintance
of a friend of ROBINSON。
At first they didn't quarrel very openly； I've heard； They nodded when
they met； and now and then exchanged a word： The word grew rare； and
rarer still the nodding of the head； And when they meet each other now；
they cut each other dead。
To allocate the island they agreed by word of mouth； And PETER
takes the north again； and SOMERS takes the south； And PETER has the
oysters； which he hates； in layers thick； And SOMERS has the turtle …
turtle always makes him sick。
Foonotes：
（1） 〃Go with me to a Notary … seal me there Your single bond。〃 …
MERCHANT OF VENICE； Act I。； sc。 3。
（2） 〃And there shall she； at Friar Lawrence' cell； Be shrived and
married。〃 … ROMEO AND JULIET； Act II。； sc。 4。
（3） 〃And give the fasting horses provender。〃 … HENRY THE FIFTH；
Act IV。； sc。 2。
（4） 〃Let us； like merchants； show our foulest wares。〃 … TROILUS AND
CRESSIDA； Act I。； sc。 3。
（5） 〃Then must the Jew be merciful。〃 … MERCHANT OF VENICE；
Act IV。； sc。 1。
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（6） 〃The spring； the summer； The chilling autumn； angry winter；
change Their wonted liveries。〃 … MIDSUMMER NIGHT DREAM； Act IV。；
sc。 1。
（7） 〃In the county of Glo'ster； justice of the peace and CORAM。〃
MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR； Act I。； sc。 1。
（8） 〃What lusty trumpet thus doth summon us？〃 … KING JOHN； Act V。；
sc。 2。
（9） 〃And I'll provide his executioner。〃 … HENRY THE SIXTH （Second
Part）； Act III。； sc。 1。
（10） 〃The lioness had torn some flesh away； Which all this while had
bled。〃 … AS YOU LIKE IT； Act IV。； sc。 3。
（11） Described by MUNGO PARK。
（12） 〃Like a bird。〃 … SLANG EXPRESSION。
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