[Margaret Pilkington]

A young woman is perched on the parapet of a bridge over a river....about to jump.
A man approaches and tells her that it is a daft thing to do....that she should not end her life in the water of this dirty river.
He gets the woman to open up and she relates a heart rending life story.
The man then says 'What if i could take you away fro all this?'
the woman then asks how.
He tells her that he is a sailor and he is just about to board his ship for Italy.
He paints a wonderful picture of how her life would be if she went with him on board and set up a new life in a warm country.
The woman asks how this would be posssible.
The chap tells her he will find her a place on board where she will not be found...get food and drink to her and finally when they dock he would smuggle her into Italy.

The woman gets down off the parapet and they go to his ship.
He finds her a cosy cubby hole and tells her she will be safe.
Pretty soon she fells the ship moving.
The chap comes along regularly and gives her food and wine.
Pretty soon they are in a relatiionship.
One day there is much hurrying and scurry ing heard.
By and by the door to the cubby hole opens and there stands the Captain.
He wants to know what the heck she is doing there so the girl relates the story.... and asks how long it will be before they get to Italy.
The Captain laughs and says ' This is the Mersey Ferry...girl you really have been screwed......she nods her head and says Yes he has been doint that too!