{
 "id": "james-mcintyre/tom-norton",
 "title": "Tom Norton",
 "ordinal": null,
 "subtitle": "A Tale of Shipwreck",
 "poet": "James McIntyre",
 "poet_slug": "james-mcintyre",
 "language": "en",
 "book": "Poems of James McIntyre",
 "book_slug": "poems-of-james-mcintyre",
 "book_kind": "volume",
 "sequence": 81,
 "container": null,
 "epigraph": null,
 "first_published": {
  "year": 1889,
  "venue": "Poems of James McIntyre (1889)",
  "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.",
  "uncertain": false,
  "sources": [
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_11791"
  ]
 },
 "source": {
  "kind": "standard-ebooks",
  "repo": "standardebooks/james-mcintyre_poetry",
  "file": "poetry.xhtml",
  "upstream": [
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_09542",
   "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36068",
   "https://archive.org/details/cihm_11791"
  ],
  "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)"
 },
 "verification": {
  "level": "structural-only",
  "last_checked": "2026-08-20"
 },
 "stats": {
  "n_lines": 200,
  "n_stanzas": 50,
  "n_parts": 0,
  "longest_line_chars": 44,
  "max_indent": 0
 },
 "site_ready": true,
 "parts": [],
 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "That staunch good ship, The Albatross,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Dismantled in a storm did toss,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For the wind it blew terrific,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In the Southern Pacific.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The ship went down and of the crew",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Those that were saved of them were few;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In various ways they strove to float",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On chicken coop and spar and boat.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Tom Norton, the second mate,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Met with a romantic fate;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Most of his poor comrades sank,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But safe he floated on his plank.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Although he was in a sad plight,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Tossed about by day and night,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For he had little food or drink.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet brave Tom’s courage did not sink.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The seventh day with joy he sees",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "An island cover’d with palm trees,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And as the sea was now quite calm,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He floated slow to isle of palm.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Here nature pleasantly doth smile",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On this dear little lonely isle;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The natives soon do him espy,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And cast on him a longing eye.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "They thought his flesh they would like raw,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The first white man they ever saw;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His skin to them seem’d sweet and clean,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But they found he was far too lean.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "So after talking o’er the matter,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They resolved to make him fatter,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they put him in a bamboo cage,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the king’s daughter did engage",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The beautiful and youthful Wambo",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To feed captive in the cage of bamboo;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She fed her captive all so well,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That soon in love with him she fell.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "For each day he seem’d to sweeten,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Too good by far for to be eaten,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So she resolved him to save,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And her father’s wrath to brave.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "King Bomba wished to make great feast,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And slaughter poor Tom like a beast;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For to the nation King did boast,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Tom would make a glorious roast.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But those who wished for slices raw,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They would get a chance to crunch their jaw,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On some pieces of long Tom pork",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They could set their teeth to work.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Poor Tom they all resolved to slay,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To grace the feast on King’s birthday;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But the daughter of King Bomba",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Resolved they should not use Tom so.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "So she selected one dark night,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And her footsteps were so light;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She knew the guards she could slip by",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Before they her could e’er espy.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "She full determined him to save",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "By hiding him in a small cave",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That she discovered o’er the lake,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Well hid among the rocks and brake.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Her steps so light she did not rouse the",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sleeping guards, they were so drowsy;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She whispered in the ear of Tom",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That she would find him better home.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "She knew the cannibals would rage,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When they would find an empty cage;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But innocence she could slam so,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They would not suspect Miss Wambo.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The waters of this lake doth lave",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The mouth of this hidden cave;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In her canoe Bomba’s daughter",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Quickly rowed him o’er the water.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "This little cave doth bushes screen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Save her none else had ever seen",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This cosy, safe and snug retreat,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Where her dear lover she could meet.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "For she so dearly loved poor Tom,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He was so far away from home;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To him a helping hand she’d lend,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And she would be his warmest friend.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "She promised Tom to bring him roots,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And coconuts and banyan fruits;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She was so skilful with the oar,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Each night she would replace the store.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But a great tumult did arise",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When savages lost their fat prize",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For King’s birthday it now was near,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Tom’s flesh they prized so dear.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "They searched for him both day and night,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And it was a romantic sight",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To see these naked barbarous men",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Search each hill and nook and glen.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "In dark nights with burning flambeau",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They search’d, led on by King Bomba;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But Tom his trials he stood so brave,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He felt secure in hidden cave.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But each night he longed for Wambo,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She brought him turtle and clam so",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Large and fat and delicious,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he fend they were nutritious.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "He told his love that story good,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of little Red Riding Hood,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And how the wolf poor child deceives,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This cruel tale her sadly grieves.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "First time she ever heard a story,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It added greatly to Tom’s glory;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The wolf so treacherous she did hate,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And pitied poor Riding Hood’s fate.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "This sad tale so cruel, gory,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It saved Tom’s life this little story;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Tom would been found soon or late,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And would have met a horrid fate.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And she to cave did father bring,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So Tom could tell tale to the King;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The King and daughter both they cried,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Because little Riding Hood died.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Bomba gave to Tom his daughter,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And soon other tales he taught her;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With wonder they oft times would fill her;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Jack in Bean Stalk” and “Giant Killer.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The first so quickly he could walk",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To the top of a tall bean stalk;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It was high as lofty steeple,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There Jack looked down upon the people.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And more wondrous tale of giant,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To the world so long defiant;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Carrying off oxen on his back,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "’Till he was slain by little Jack.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And when e’er she was full of gloom,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He told her tale of “Hop, O’ My Thumb”;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Natives wou’d come from far and near,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These wondrous stories for to hear.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "They brought him coconuts so free,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the bread from the fruit tree;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On fat turtles he could feast,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When he told of “Beauty and the Beast.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Tom thought that it was no crime",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To change tales of prose into rhyme,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As we do here in hopes that tingle",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To the ear will be sweet jingle.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But at last they all refused to",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Listen to anything but “Crusoe,”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "How weary time he did beguile,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Living so long on lonely isle.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "After all with greatest pride, they",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Heard about his black man Friday,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Until they got stories off by heart,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then with their goods they would not part.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "For they were teaching one another.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The King to stop all this bother;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Gave son-in-law a copyright,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He only should the folks delight.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But fortune now on Tom doth smile,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "An English ship anchored on isle,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For they required interpreter",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To bring to them supply of water.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Water on ship was old and stale,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There was a stench from water pail,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But Tom he quickly did procure",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Water from the spring so pure.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "The captain tried Tom to beguile,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And take him off from savage isle,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But Tom eujoyed this kind of life,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And loved his children and his wife.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "From ship Tom got a book of stories,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And in “Arabian Nights” soon glories.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then each savage he delights,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Listening to tales about those Nights.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Tom’s influence no more it fails,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He reads to them those charming tales;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "While with awe on him they look,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As he reads stories from the book.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Bomba Tomba, his eldest son,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He fame and fortune will soon won,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For he can tell them many a whopper",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of “Cinderella and Glass Slipper.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And he is learning now to read,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So natives generous will him feed;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thus he will retain their hearts,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "When his father this life departs.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "This tale a proof it doth afford",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That pen is mightier than the sword;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In warriors no more they glory,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But in the man who tells the story.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "No more they now each other drub,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Flourishing the warlike club;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Spears no more are used for stabbing,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nor their javelins for jabbing.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Except when they do wish to feast",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On the Hesh of some fat beast,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They reserve their bows and arrows,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To shoot the pigeons and sparrows.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "All warlike arts they have forsook,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And reverence the man with book;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Peaceful arts they all now prize,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For Christian truths hath made them wise.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "For Tom impressed them with Christ’s love,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they all hope for Heaven above;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bomba Tomba is now crowned King,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of him will future poets sing.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}