ILLINOIS
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Production Note
Project Unica
Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign 2015








j U 500053
* ii) i:: -T’ : t -
To the PUBLIC,
B AVING at my leifure Hours written 1 a few Verfes for my own Amufement, I was, by fome Friends, perfuaded to put them in Print, as they thought it might prove an agreeable Amufement to others: And as I have no other Defign but to promote Piety and Peace,
I now commit them to the Prefs.
'T. V ■»
y, „• •
The wife and -learned may j-uflly think it a very mean Work ; but to fuch, let me de-fire them to confider, that the greateft Ploufes,
A 2	and[	4	]
and Cities, have finall Materials to ailifl in the Building. The Pin in the Tile is made of the fame Heart of Oak as the largeft Beam: And if my mean Performance can be of any Ailiftance towards building the heavenly Jerufalem; may I be there, as a Pin in a Tile, on the Porch, or as a Part of the meaneit Materials of a thatcht Cottage.THE
COUNTRY FARMER’S RAMBLE,
¡5 I R, unto you, thefe lines I fend,
Hoping acceptance of a friend ;
And as I am not learn’d in letters,
I beg the favour of my betters;
That if you think it worth infpe&ion,
You’ll pleafe to give it due corre&ion;
Or when you read it, if you find,
Nothing to pleafe, or mend the mind ;
Be pleas’d, to fend it back again,
Let love and friendihip ftill remain.
T here

T here is a Cod, who dwells on high, m
H e all my thoughts and adtions fpy,
O mighty God ! and Saviour near,
M ay I but pray, and wilt thou hear ?
A iiift me, to my dying hour,
S ave thou my foul from Satan’s power.
C ould I, when I eaeh day begin,
R efolve, and try to keep from fin*
O ur God, with grace, would me fupply,
*	'	*•	l - ^ J '• > t • ' ...
U pon me look moil lovingly :
C ould I, thus walk in wifdom’s . ways,
H ow happy then would be my days.THE
RAMBLE.
A S on my bed one night I lay,
My mind, and body, both at eafej My peniive Heart, did foftly fay,
I’m made, my maker for to pleafe.
This is a weighty thing I find,
Why do I not compofe to fieep,
Or otherwife, employ my mind,
To till the land, or feed my iheep.
The thought return’d, with feeming dread,
Man doth a double duty owe,
B
ThisC a 3
This land and cattle they were made,
All for the ufe of man I know.
How then can I, poor helplefs man,
My maker juft obedience give;
It is too little, all I can,
To ferve my God while here I live.
Now as I thus did muling lay,
The cock did crow, and day did peep;
This is, I thought a lucky way,
To roufe the droufy from their ileep.
I inilantly, ilart from my Bed,
And now in putting on my cloths,
Thefe following thoughts came in my head, And moil awaking thoughts are thofe.[	3	]
The firft return of light, thinks I,
Is emblem of eternal day,
The cock, like trumpet’s founding cry, Arife ye dead, and come away.
Now being dreit, and coining down, My workmen waiting, thus did aik ;
Mailer, to do your work we come, Pleafe to diredt us each our talk.
Then, unto God I thus did pray,
May I addrefs myfelf to you,
Do thou, Inilrudt me in the way,
That I my mailer’s will may do.
My plowman is the next I fee,
The weather’s very ilormy now;
B 2
Mailer,[	4 ]
Mailer, I’m come to know if we,
May reil to day, not go to plow. Why Dick, what do you mean by this, Do you think not to work this day, If this your day’s work you fhall mifs, How then can you expett the pay. Mailer, you know, as well as I,
There can be no good working now, Black clouds do darken all the iky,
Who in God’s name can go to plow.
I can t, if tis my life to fave,
Ido confefs my heart does fail,
The thunder roars, and clouds do wave, It does juft now begin to hail.[	5	]
But if you pleafe, to yield to this,
And give me leave to reft this day;
I’ll future feafons, never mifs,
But do your work without delay.
I fear this is too oft thecaufe,
When wicked man doth God defpife,
He then will feek to him for grace,
When clouded age doth dim his eyes.
Affli&ing ftorms will feize the heart,
And thundering confcience make him fail,
What mortal man, can bear the fmart,
When vengeance threatens him like hail.
If ever this, ihall be my cafe,
And I like Dick fuch promife make,
I hope[ 6 ]
X hope that Chrifl will give me grace,
I never may that promiie break.
Here is my neighbour coming now,
He Teems to bend his courfe this way,
Here’s anger fixed on his brow,
What can he have with me to fay.
Farmer faid he, when coming near,
The corn, the laid grift that I had,
1 ou play d the cheat, I vow and fwear,
It is intolerable bad,
It did but very little make,
It was dreit in the twilley range,
I had but two loaves and a cake,
He went his way, and vow’d revenge.
This[	7	]
This was the wife deceiv'd the man,
She barter’d half that grift away,
She had a right to fell the bran,
For Butter, fugar, and tea, to pay.
Shall I, then as my neighbour’s wife,
Deceiv’d her hufband of his grift,
Shall foft alluring fweets in life,
Tempt man to fell, his foul from Chrift.
I fent their nextrgriil not fo good,
As what they had in former times,
They did deferve reftraint of food,
As puniihment for thefe their crimes.
So now the woman comes apace,
She feems with pride, to fwell and huff,
1 could[ 8 ]
I could not well difeern her face,
It was fo all bedaub d with fnufF.
When ihe into mv houfe did come,
A pail with water, {landing by,
To all the faid I anfwer’d mum,
I point my hand, llie iixt her eye.
The w'ater ferv’d her for a glafs,
She took her hand, and put therein,
And with the fame fhe waiht her face,
And faid, now I am clean again.
Her lovely face I then did view,
I own, I look’d on her awhile,
To fee thofe charms again renew,
She bluiht for ihame, then did ihe fmile.May woman when her face is foul, Thus look, and waih the filth away, So likewife may the guilty foul;
And thus, I unto God did pray.
Almighty Lord look thou on me,
Hold forth thy arm, guide thou mine ( Man in thy holy word may fee His finful foul’s deformity ;
And grant that when I look therein,
I may with thy all faving grace,[ IO ]
Had been the caufe of all their Woes, They then a meifenger did fend ; Hoping that I would be fo good,
Not to requite their former ill,
But to fupply them Hill with food,
That they again might have their fill. Now if that you, will be fo kind,
And plenty unto us reftore;
And not our former faults remind,
We’ll give you thanks for evermore.
Now let me well confider this, f And what I do deferve from God$ Perhaps it is my wickednefs,
Provokes him for to fend his rod.
If manr » ]
If man with plenty, plenty fpend,
In rioting and diiconteritj It is but juil with God to fend A fcarcity, for punilhment.
Then may we kneel to God and pray,
Or moil devout before him Hand;
Entreat him not to turn away j But blefs us with his liberal hand,
That we again the time might fee
Our iheaves to ftand, in full ear'd ranks} That all my friends may join with me,
To give our Giver hearty thanks,
A furly neighbour next I meet,
As I was walking on my way}
C 2
We[ 12 ]
We both together in the ftreet,
He fcoft at me, and thus did fay.
You put your colt on t’other day,
To help four horfes draw;
But wicked Will, took one away,
The Juft ice faid ’twas his by law.
Now wicked Will, is run away,
He left two baftards and a whore;
And that fame Juftice now will fay,
You are compell’d to keep the poor.
Ben {'wore that Jack, and Tom, and He, Stole more than thirty iheep away;
My Lord faid, Ben’s a knave T fee,
I’ll not hear what he hath to fay.
Ben’s[ J3 ]
Ben’s wife and Tom’s they both agree, And hope that you will be fo kind, To pay the goaler off his fee,
And not to leave thefe men confin’d; But you have loft enough in iheep,
The profecution coft the wool;
You might as well have been a deep,
As fpend your money like a fool.
A neighbour ftill more wife than he,
By chance, was coming by that way; He faid now hearken unto me,
And mind the words that I fhall fay: Beware, avoid all difcontent,
Submit unto our wholfome laws;
And[	14	1
And if you feek for punidiment,
Still let the judge decide the caufe.
Strive now to gain your Saviour dear, Then chearfully you’ll bear thefe lodes Look on the crofs that Chrift did bear, You will with patience bear all erodes.
The next it was my fervant maid,
She aik’t me when I’d have my meal; The butcher now was come ihe faid,
To kill the calf, to have fome veah She thinks this calf mud now be good, The cow, have been fome time in grafs And veal you know was Angels food,
And milk and butter is the fauce.[ *5 3
I faid, dont talk of veal or Sauce, .
The Butcher he ihall take the lamb;
Jienow is feeding in thegrafs,
Or fporting by his loving dam,
J know that lamb is very good,
I do intend to have a pie;
The butcher took away his blood,
And that young lamb, he did not cry.
To fee the lamb lay down his head,
This very thing brought to my mind*
My faviour Chrift, rofe from the dead,
And fpnday points the day I find.
That lamb is ilain the feaft is made.
May I prepare, and thither go j It is a noble feaft indeed,
There’s food for foul and body too.
.As
i[ *6 ]
As this young innocent lay dead,
The ihepherd and his wife came by; The man did figh, hung down his head, The woman did fit down and cry.
The ihepherd faid, O! Mailer dear,
I .
Why did you take this lovely lamb; Now you have ruin’d us I fear,
Look now upon the mournful dam.
You have no better in your flock,
For ihe does feldpm go ailray;
She breeds, the bell lambs in the flock, And you have took her lamb away. There s one that does your fences break,
^ ou m,ght have took her lamb from ihe;t iy 3
tiefe’s one, her lamb fhe’ll never take,-Take her’s, yoa’ll takeoff care from me.
You might have took that lamb from one,
That’s not fo comely to behold;
And there’s one, juft by you gone,-That never comes into the fold;
'¡U
This lamb might foon been took away,
And plac’d for to increafe your flock;
And pleafe to give me leave to fay,
He was the beauty of the flock.
See how the loving ewe doth grieve,
Unwilling from her lamh to go;
if you will give the butcher leave,
I think that he will take the ewe.
The
D{ 18 3
The woman now began to rife>
Though ihe with trouble was fo weak 3 She wip’d her cheeks, and dry’d her eyes,
And with a ligh began to fpeak:
Alas! this lamb he now is dead*
In which I took fo much delight3 How often have I itrok’d his head,
And neck, that was fo clean and white:
He prettily would by me Hand,
When that his dam was feeding by;
He’d take and eat from off my hand,
And look with meek and gentle eye:
And when that I this lamb had fed,
• r ‘	' r
Perhaps the ewe wou’d walk away;
Then he wou’d run and tofs his head,
And with the others ik ip and play:
ThisC r9 ]
Jhis now does fill my mind with grief*
But, who wijl hear me thus complain j I cannot find the lead relief,
Nor bring my lanab to life again.
Why, butcher, didffc thou not refufe,
For once, our mailer’s harih command,
And not my pretty lamb abufe,
To fpare his life, to flay thy hand.
Then I at length began to fpeak^
To find they made fo much ado,
I think you both are very weak,
I love my iheep, as well as you :
I paid the purchafe for the coil,
And brought home thofe that went ailray *
D 3	You[ *0 ]
You fuffer’d not for what was loft,
By thieves, at night, or hearts of prey: You make ado about this lamb,
I took him, this you plainly fee,
And I the proper owner am;
For all the flock belongs to me :
•	r. but: ’Ui >
If this lamb had been plac’d aflde,
Perhaps he might have gone artray;
He might by accident have dy’d,
Or been devour’d by hearts of prey.
As for the ewe, you need not fear;
She’s one that I will never fell;
Of her, I’ll take a fpecial care,
Becaufe ihe breeds her lambs fo well.
Hei£ 21 ]
Her feed, the fweeteft grafs ihall be;
And if the fun doth dart his beams,
She then, in pleafant ihades, by me,
Shall be refreiht, with cooling dreams :
And, as ihe is not us’d to ilray,
I took her lamb, ihe now doth fee;
So flic will look, and walk this way,
Which leads towards my houfe and me;
And as ihe treads the peaceful path,
And walketh in this pleafant way.
Protedled by my rod and itaff,
i biiv/ fioii’/iw * P tr„
She’ll be improving day by day:
And, on a time unknown to thee,
Mv friends will all together come;[ ** ]
Then I will take this ewe to me.
And make my feail for Harveft-home.
As words and time now on did pafs,
And fome did hear what others fay,
Of iheep, and feeding in the grafs,
I caft my eye another way.
A neighbour’s child, a lovely boy,
Was ftanding by his mother’s fide;
He was but jufi: return’d from play,
He figh’d, grew fick, fell down, and dy’d. The man flood like a lump of clay,
The mother, ihe was almoft wild;
And nothing could they either fay ;
But Chrift, my Saviour, take my child.
AtC 23 3
Àt length, thus fpoke thè gentle fair,
Cheer up, my fpoufe, and do not weep j For men, at bell, but fervants are,
God is our mailer, \ve his iheep.
Now, in thè field, I took a walk,
Towards thè plowmen, was my way 5 It was to fee, to hear, and talk
Of who did work, or who did play i It is thè month of Aprii now,
The month of March is pali and gone ; Now, Men and boys, ’tis time to plow,
The month of May is eoming on.
Come, Seedfman, now ilrip and away ;
Come, Boys, and drive them on with fpeed ;
Mailer[	24	3
Mailer, we’ll do as you do fay :
But you rnufl find us meat and feed. The horfes have eat all the hay ;
The oats and beans will foon be gone; We now do want another boy,
And we mull have more feed anon. Young Dick has but a groat a day,
Now work is hard, and days be long, And you muil either raife his pay,
Or elfe to-morrow he’ll be gone.
And then fpoke up the harrow boy,
My mailer, when does Betty bake?
1 thought that this had been the day,
For we to have our Eailer cake;
'! . j /I
tl
)
At laflAt lail came on the man behind,
And I mud likewife hear his tale j Mailer, I hope you’ll be fo kind,
To fill the bottle now with ale,
I then reply'd to him behind,
Were fervants all like fuch as you, Be mailer either crofs, or kind,
He ilill would have his work to do.
Now here unto my mind I call,
My mailer faid, with noble grace,
t	«... -
You muil be fervant unto all,
If you will be the chief in place.
What now I fix my thoughts upon,
It is my chief, my greateil Joy,[	26	]
I mean my daughter, and my fan,
A lively girl, a lovely boy.
Whitfunday now is coming on,
Both youth, and nature all is gay j My children they from fchool are come,
And this is now the month of May:
What greater bleffings can I fee,
Than two fuch children here is given,
Limbs, life, and knowledge, this muil be The wife good work of God from heav’n.
Although that I your father be,.
I can no more thefe gifts command $
No more than this pen, now with me,
Can write all this without my hand.
Now[ *7 3
Now you my Ton are come from fchool,
I hope you learn your book right well*
Have you now learn’d the golden rule ?
How can you write, how can you fpell ?
Yes, I can work the rule of three;
I think you’ll find me not to blame;
And if you pleafe my work to fee,
I now will write, and fpell my name :
J f I can learn my duty right,
0 n God I’ll call both day and night j H e always will my prayer hear,
N o evil have I caufe to fear.
My daughter fees her brother's book,
And finds him thus to write his name;
E 2	She[ 28 ]
She faid, now if you pleafe to look,
I think, that I can do the fame.
M y God will always fafely keep,
An Innocent, and harmlefs maid;
R ight well may I, then wake or ileep, Y oung as I am, I’m not afraid.
So now we pafs the time away,
In pleafant days, and chearful hours; Sometime at Book, fometime at play, Sometime we walk and gather flowers: And if we go without the gate,
In fields and meadows walk abroad ; There we may view and meditate The works of nature, and of God.To view thofe fields and meadows gay,
Here we abide fome time from home;
As flowers in the month of May,
So are thefe children now in bloom.
Here we with flowers fport and play;
We gather them to fill the hand :
So youth is often took away,
By God’s permiflion, or command.
It was upon a ftormy day,
The boy at book, the maid with needle, Young Polly, ihe to me did fay,
I pray explain to me this riddle.
A RIDDLE.
Although I am talking of riddles and rimes I fhall fee all my neighbours thefe holy day tii[ 3° 3
Among thofe already, who came in my view,
I came by onehoufe that I very well knew;
There wasgrandiir, and grandam, and grandchild beiide, Two mothers, t\yo daughters, $here like wife ^bide;
A father, two lifters, in counting them o’er,
I found that the number was no more than four:
It may feem very itrange, but this we muft grant.
That there is one among them, who is her own aunt;
If to my underitanding, you make this appear.
I’ll give juft obedience, love, honour and fear.
THE ANSWER.
To debauch his own child, when a wife he hath got It is plain that this man i$ more naughty ¿ban Lot;
And that daughter muft likewife be wicked or wild,
That by her Own father, fliall fo have a child,
Thefet 31 j
Thefe are faults, as I think, that will not be forgiven; But I dare not fet bounds, to the mercies of Heav’n:
But if this be the caufe, as to me it appears,
Then the old ones muil be the young ones grandlirs;
The mother, and daughter, two mothers now be,
And the daughter, and child, are two daughters I fee: And both of one father, two lifters, you’ll grant,
And the child’s mother’s fitter muft be her own aunt.
They both gave ear to what I did fay,
John dropt his pen, and Poll her needle ;
John faid it was the other day,
That he was aik’d the following Riddle :
A country man, and four fons, did all together live, The father told his fons, that this his fubftance, he would
Be twee n
give[	3^	]
Between them, if they could agree to take and live in
peace;
They all agreed the father iliould divide, as he pleafe : My corn, in Buihels is, you fee, juft ten and four fcore; And as in years you all now be, fo I’ll divide my ftore j Firft, thirty-three, I give to thee, and take it for thy own; And twenty-fix, is what I fix, on thee my fecond fon : Nineteen is what iliall be thy lot, he to the third did fay, And twelve muft be thy part, faid he, unto his youngeft boy;
Now with this corn, think it no fcorn, that you my council take,
Each go to market with his own, each his own fortune
make. *.
TheyC 33 [
They did their father’s council take, and all to market went;
And when they’d done, they home did come, and all appear’d content :
They fold, by quarter, equal price, a thing moil certain true,
And fo by buihel did likewiie, as I declare to you:
Each fold juft his own proper lliare, each took his only fum,
And each alike took prudent care, to bring his money
I;	• • ~ . '
home.
Think ye their father’s .¿jreat furprife, when home to him they come,
To find each was alike in price, and each alike in fum.

F
If vou[	34	]
If you explain this unto me,
As lifters you have lately done,
I’ll yield all juit fidelity,
Love, fear, and honour, as your fon.
To anfwer this; thefe four men fold all their quarters
by fhillings ten :
And when the markets it did rife, they fold their
buihels at that fame price;
And by this rule that I do teach, they had juft fifty
fhillings each:
00	then the money of all thefe men, amounts to pounds juft ten.
And here, I think it not amifs,
1	hat you ihould fomthing learn by this;
It’s[	35	]
It’s not, who have the greateft flock,
That always have the beft of luck;
For fortune is at no one's call :
But time and chance befal us all.
I have among my betters feen,
With men of worth, in great efleem.
Fortune has favour’d the youngeft brother,
Not for his worth, or want in Mother.
Dear children, now I you intreat,
Learn no ill words, do no ill things $
You will not lack for cloaths or meat.
And you’ll be company for Kings:
This, Children, you may plainly fee,
You now have knowledge for to know;
f	,
F 2	I giveE- 36 ]
J give you, while you do pleafe me,
The be it of things I can beftow:
Here we abound in peace, and love,
And merrily this month we live j So if you pleafe, our God above,
He everlafting Joy will give.
Now unto fehool again they goes,
My lively girl, my lovely boy ;
None but a father ever knows,
A father’s care, a father’s joy.
Great fatisfa&ion parents find,
With thefe our children, meek and mild :
Eut this fame leilon, let me mind,
God is my father, I his child.
As high
C 37 0
As high as heav’n from earth can be.
And as the fun on waters flnne ;
So great his love is unto me,
So bright his knowledge, more than mine. This, to explain, I am too weak ;
No heart can think, or tongue can tell : This, I believe, and this I fpeak,
It is incomprehenfible.
This is the paradox, I fee;
This knowledge I ihall ne’er attain,
Unlefs the Lord vouchlafe to me,
In loving kindnefs to explain.
Now may I have fome time to think,
What to my children I did fay;
If that[ 3« 3
Jf that my fpirit may not fink ;
What can exceed this month of May?
Did I command, let me obey;
Ufe no ill words, do no ill things :
Then may I on eternal day,
Drefs, dwell, and feaft with King of Kings.
Now children they are gone to fchool,
The days are long, the weather warm,
I lhear my iheep, to fave the wool;
And likewife keep the flocks from harm.
The Shepherd brings the gentle flocks,
Where men, with ihears, now waiting ftand j \ oung women, they take up the locks.
And make the fleeces with their hands :
Young[	39	]
Young men and maidens being gay,
Mind talking more, than working well;
The ihepherd laid mind work, not play,
Then I a pleating tale will tell.
When fed, by mailer’s bounteous hand,
And drinking, o’er a pot of ale;
We with attention fit, or iland,
To hear the ihepherd tell his tale.
And thus the ihepherd he began :
What though you all do look on me;
I think no other calling can Make boail, of fuch antiquity.
Though I do in the fields abide,
My mailer’s harmlefs flocks to keep;
The[	40	]
The firft good man that ever dy’d,
Ev’n he a keeper was of iheep.
Kind Jacob fed the Syrian iheep;.
For which, his wages he obtains :
His fons like wife, their flocks did keep At Dothan, and on Shecliem s plains.
And when they came to Pharaoh’s land,
Where fhepherds then were barely known, They there before the King did itand,
And did their occupation own.
And Mofes great, the man of God,
He, on the mountain, led the iheep;
There he receiv’d the powerful rod,
God’s people for to guide and keep.
And[ 4r ]
And when they came to Canaan’s land, Where wealth, and plenty did abound ; So great a people to command,
The ihepherd, David, then was found: He left the ewes, all great with young, This man of true, and faithful heart;
To rule a people, great and ftrong,
He prudently perform’d his part:
And after, he became a King,
To lead this people unto reft;
Kind Abigal, to him muft bring,
A part of Nabel’s fheep-ihear feaft.
Twice fourteen ages then was fpent,
When lo, a lamb from heav’n was born;
G
This[	42	]
This news, from heav’n, firil was Tent To iliepherds, on that joyful morn.
We find the law and gofpel was,
Firil, by a mefienger from heav’n;
And fo it likewife came to pafs,
It both was firil to iliepherds given:
The ihepherd having told this tale,
Their mailer Handing one among;
.He faid, I pray drink up the ale,
Now mind the work, and hold your tongue.
Now, as the work goes on fo well,
And each do now perform their part;
Ned, he profeil his love for Nell;
And Nell lov’d Ned, with all her heart.
The[	4-3	]
The work was ended with the day,
And each was by their mailer paid;
The ihepherd took the iheep away,
And Ned took care of Nell the maid.
Not many days, or hours pafs,
But we do find fome new employ;
Ned he muit go cut down the grafs,
And Nell muil help to make the hay.
Upon a fair and iunfhine day,
I walk the meadow with delight;
Where men and maids are making hay : It is, indeed, a pleafing fight.
Beneath a ihady willow tree,
I, by a gentle path, was led;
G 2
And[	44	]
And there I lovingly did fee,
Together litting, Nell and Ned.
When I at firit did them efpy,
I faid, you both were made to love; Kind Sir, faid Nell, none can deny :
It is a gift from God above.
Pray iir, faid Ned, what harm is this, If Nell and I, fhall fo agree ;
Enjoy a more fubftantial blifs,
And do the thing that pleafeth me.
I fmiling on them, thus reply’d:
Your happinefs is not deny’d ;
Would you enjoy true earthly blifs,
And learn the way to happinefs.[ 45	]
The plain and eafy path of life,
Is honeil man, and virtuous wife:
If providence will be fo kind,
And you, of God, this favour find;
You then may both enjoy your part,
Firft join in hand, then join in heart,
In truth and juftice, to abide;
And take true wifdom for your guide.
If fortune fmile, or fortune frown,
Be not pufft up, or much caft down;
Embrace the blifs, or kifs the rod,
Still humbly walk before your God:
With thanks enjoy what he hath given;
Thus learn, and lead the way to heaven.
They[	46	]
They both flood up, and lookt on me; They both reply’d, as from one breath :
Did man and woman fo agree,
It would be heav’n, here on earth.
So now we to our work betake,
And each of us walk on our way;
Ned, he to mow, and Nell, to rake,
And I, among the grafs and hay.
As Ned does now cut off the grafs,
Man, in his prime, is took away j
And, if unto old age we pafs,
We all fhall wither like the hay.
Then may the Chriftian, and the man,
Still think it is the wifeft way,
To[	47	]
To make the bed of life he can:
When fun does fhine, to make good hay.
Now having made, and mow’d the hay,
The meadow is with cattle fed Then we do have a holiday,
And join together Nell, and Ned.
So Nell, is now a wife to Ned,
And promis’d to obey command :
Now they their mailer’s rules obey’d,
And walked on, with hand in hand.
If Ned in field, or with the plow,
Or, for his mailer, works in barn;
Nell will take care to mind the Cow,
And, if ihe fpins, to make good yarn.
They,r 48 ]
They, with their prudent honeft care, Improve their little (lock of wealth ;
And though, but meanly is their fare, Enjoy contentment with their health. No man, that e’er on dainties fed,
Or Woman, who in Palace dwell,
Enjoy more happinefs than Ned ;
Or can be better pleas’d than Nell.
The mailer calleth in the morning,
Not to indulge themfelves in ileep;
I now am come to give you warning, -Provide, make haile, come forth to reap : I he fields, fo bleil, with ripen’d grain, Demand, that all ihould labour now;
The[	49	]
The fruits of all, the care and pain,
» f! 1	|	r - ’ I
Of farmer, feedfrnan, and the plow. As mailer led this joyful train,
They all now after him do walk,
Into a large and fpacious plain;
Where there is room, to work and talk.
As I, thefe fields do now walk by,
I, on the fweeteil flowers tread;
And, if I upward caftan eye,
The lark, is mufick o’er my head.
And if I view the other lide,
6.
More beauty to my fenfes bring;
There fleecy flocks, in folds abide,
I then, with Pleafure, laugh and fing:
IIC 5° 1
For who can choofe, but joyful be,
Or not give thanks, what mortal can,
Such bounty we with pleafure fee ?
And all is for the ufe of man.
If Man, when he’s an infant born,
Could then receive one fingle corn ;
And double it each year he live,
And to the age of man arrive ;
May have, e’er he reiign his breath,
More corn, than will plant all the earth.
But how uncertain is our ilate,
In either plenty, peace, or joy;
For to obtain a fafe retreat,
I all my powers employ:
For lo, a dark black cloud we fee,
Loud thunderclaps afFe£t the car;
A heavyt 51 ]
V»
A heavy ftorm here Toon will be,
And ev’ry one is fill’d with fear :
With fear, and labour almoft fpent,
We take the iheaves, or what we find,
To make a low and feeble tent,
To fave us from the rain, and wind.
The man, who by old age was grey,
Who now was near me fitting by;
Spoke thus unto a little boy,
Who, in much fear, began to cry.
The mighty Lord> who rules above,
He fent us down this thunder ihower,
That we, with his unbounded love,
May likewife know his mighty power
And do not think that God intends,
This rain to fpoil our common food ;
II 2
mm[ s2 3
He, in this life, does often fend
Affli&ions for our real good.
This ftorm continues for fome time,
At length the air is fomewhat clear;
And when the fun begins to fhine,
The ilorm is gone, and fo is fear.
The ihepherd, with his fheep, paine by,
He laid, ] pray don’t fit like fools;
I think the corn will foon be dry,
Come now, get up, and whet your tools. The lhepherd leaning on his crook, i o view the corn, and tliofe that reap ; The reaper faid, 1 pray do look, in yonder corn, there is the iheep.
Now[ 53 3
Now is the faying good, I find,
As here, to me, is plainly (hewn ;
He that another’s work doth mind,
Does oftentimes negledt his own.
Now fome do bind, and others reap,
Some load the team, the mow to make ;
And fome do mow, and fome do grecp,
And others after them mud rake:
This is the time, the weather fair,
For all to work, not idle ftand;
And all do with their mailer’s care,
Perform the work they take in hand.
As walking in the fields was I,
To fee how each perform their pait;
It lb[	54	]
It Co fell out, I came juft by,
Where Dick and Ned did load the cart 3 Juft as the team was moving on,
To take the load of corn away 3 As Dick was leaning on his prong,
He lookt on me, and thus did fay.
Mailer, I hope you’ll be fo kind,
As we do think to end this day 3 One thing you will take care to mind, That we do all expedl our pay 3 And hope that you’ll with us agree,
That we with one united voice,
In pie afure, we your face may fee3 And all together may rejoice.
I plow’d[ ss ]
I plow’d the land, and (ow’d the feed,
And Ned experts to have his part;
To fend it home, I took good heed,
And he doth load it in the Cart.
Here’s Sal, that after us does rake,
And Will, that always drives the plow ;
And Tom, that all the ricks does make, With Jack, that helps to tread the mow :
And I fuppofe you do expert,
That Ned, and I, ihall bring our wives ;
For if that we ihould them neglert,
We then may live uneafy lives.
Thefe words of Dick, puts me in mind, This life, like harveft, foon will end;
Then may we fo, take care to find,
Death, when it comes, our real friend;
MayL 57
M ay I, when life itfelf doth end,
A nd earthly pleafures all do fly;
Y ield up my foul, to Chrifl my friend,
T PI E SECOND, in the Trinity.
ONE THOUSAND thanks to him I’ll : SEVEN HUNDRED more, if then I : AND S I X 1 Y times all this renew,[	58	]
Chrijl talketh with the Wotnaji of Samaria.
A S Chrift, our teaching traveller,
This Son of Virgin Mother ;
Was taking of a journey from One province, to another ;
He through Samaria muft go,
There Sychar’s city lay;
His inclination, and the road,
Leads him, to pafs that way;
And as his fervants went to buy Some food of thofe that fell;
To reft and eafe his weary limbs,
He fat on Jacob’s well;
A woman of the city came,
As he fat on the brink;
She[	59	]
She came for water, there to draw,
He aik’d tor foine to drink.
The woman was furpris’d that he,
Of her, ihould water crave ;
Becaufe that with Samaritans,
The Jews no dealings have.
For in the worihlp of the Lord,
Their law was good, and wife;
And by a fond mifguided zeal,
They others did defpife.
Said he, if thou had it known God’s gilt,
And rightly did believe;
You now would aik of me for drink,
I living water give.
*	I 2	Said