Homeward Bound, from "Picture Poesies"

Houghton's image represents the family of a sailor greeting him and his young son on the deck of a ship, shortly after their return from a long voyage. The print first appeared in "A Round of Days" (1866, see 65.629.1), engraved by the Dalziel Brothers and published by Routledge. It was here reissued in "Picture Poesies" (1874) and illustrates a poem by William Allingham (see 21.94.1(28) for the companion image and poem, "Outward Bound"). Houghton had been born in India and based this scene in part on his memories of his own boyhood arrival in England.

Homeward Bound

Head the ship of England!
Shake out every sail!
Blithe leap the billows,
Merry sings the gale.
Captain, work the reck'ning;
How many knots a day!--
Round the world and home again,
That's the sailor's way!
We've traded with the Yankees,
Brazilians, and Chinese;
We've laughted with dusky beauties
In shade of high palm trees;
Across the Line and Gulf-stream--
Round by Table Bay--
Everywhere and home again,
That's the sailor's way!
Nightly stands the North Star
Higher on our bow;
Straight we run for Engladn;
Our thoughts are in it now.
Jolly time with friends ashore,
When we've drawn our pay!--
All about andhome again,
That's the sailor's way!
Tom will to his parents;
Jack will to his dear;
Joe to wife and children;
Bob to pipes and beer;
Dicky to the dancing-room,
To hear the fiddles play;--
Round the world and home again,
that's the sailor's way!