Page:Poor man's counsel, or, The married man's guide.pdf/4

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When thou for thy labour ſome money has got,
Be ſure do not ſpend it in toſſing the pot,
Make haſte to thy wife and children ſmall,
And that will ſupply them when for bread they call.
’Twould be a great grief to thee whilſt thou doſt live,
To hear the babes cry and have nothing to give.

Whatever affliction befal thee or thine,
Then do thou not murmur or ſeem to repine,
For God who hath given thee means to ſubſiſt,
Can take it away whenſoever he liſt.
Wherefore be contented whatever betide,
Submit with all patience and God will provide.

Take care to remember what here I have told,
And value it better than ſilver or gold,
When you are inclined to wander and ſtray,
Perhaps this may bring you into the right way.
And by your example all others may ſee,
It is good to be careful and live honeſtly.

The SHADY GREEN TREE.

AS I was a walking one midſummer morning,
down by a ſhady green tree,
There did I behold a moſt beautiful virgin,
ſitting down under the ſhady green tree.

I ſtept up to her and ſaid my dear jewel,
you are the firſt girl that e'er wounded me,
You ſhall not want for gold or ſilver,
If you will ſet your affection on me.

She ſaid, kind Sir, you are better deſerving,
I am a poor girl of low degree,
Beſides your parents will be ſcolding,
ſo in my ſtation contented I'll be.

Talk not of friends or of any relations,
they have no portion for to give me,
As I am a young man, and you are a virgin,
married to morrow to you I'll be.